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27.9%ANMag Issue 27 Personal Maintenance
The Sun Will Rise Tomorrow
By Kinda Adra Mugharbel, Staff Writer
Beirut, Lebanon – What if we could go back in time and change things we have or have not done? Would we be in a better place? What if we had the option to undo things, decisions, even people; would we be more satisfied, happier and in peace? Knowing human nature, I think not because we can never be fully satisfied and the question “What If” will always haunt our hesitant minds.
Mistakes we have done have led us down different routes during our lifetimes. Some have found these turns to be very effective while others realized that they were major downfalls! The real question is though, “When we experience such downfalls, what is the best way to turn these unfortunate occurrences to our advantage?” [More]
Religion
By Saad Manasterli, Staff Writer
Fairfax, Virginia – Religion is a system of symbols, myths, doctrines, ethics, and rituals for the expression of ultimate relevance. Religion can only be understood within the context of the people who are surrounded by and live it, just as any word, whose meaning all depends on its place in a sentence and the inclusion of the emphasis.
To better understand religion, one should rid oneself of any personal belief as to not be biased towards comprehending the faith on which one desires to seek or even to fulfill our human curiosity. Religion can't be understood through the practice of science, for religion and science are based on two different levels of human understanding, yet inadvertently, both seek the truth in their own unique ways. [More]
The Struggle from Within
By Lina Alotri, Staff Writer
Sacramento, California – Many people misinterpret words, but the most misinterpreted word of the 21st century would most likely be Jihad. The word Jihad comes from the Arabic word jahada, which means to struggle, make effort, or to strive. If you ask anyone what Jihad means they would probably say it meant holy war. That is incorrect, because war is not holy. How can we expect people from the west to understand the real meaning of Jihad, if we, the Arabic speakers, are misinterpreting it?
Terrorism and Jihad are not the same on the contrary, they are two absolutely distinctive things, and hold completely different meanings. The definition of terrorism is: the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce especially for political purposes. Jihad is in fact the spiritual and divine struggle from within. It is the discipline to resist one’s own desires and lusts. It is a battle within yourself to resist that which is wrong and to choose that which is right. [More]
They Created Me
By Theo Khoury, Contributing Writer
Beirut, Lebanon – The bus arrived at one of its stops, the door opened and as I entered, the driver gave me a look that said, "We have a criminal in our midst." I looked away and moved to the middle of the bus, the exact location I wanted to be.
Tick … Tick … Tick
I sat near the window laying my head on the glass and stared carelessly through the streets. We never seem to notice how chaotic life can be, with people barely noticing each other. But through all the chaos in front of me, a smile caught my eyes, a beautiful young woman with her friend. She smiled from the heart, not one of those false smiles that most people throw out so easily. It reminded me of how my mother used to laugh; a laugh I never saw lately. [More]