Back in Time...or the making of a Hero.
Yesterday, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, as I was applying my kohl...
I looked and saw that I have aged 10 years. No, 100 years. No, 1000 years...
I pushed the years forth....another 7'000 years I said to myself. Now push them back another 7'000 years... And I saw Gilgamesh appear in the mirror's reflection.
Maybe that had to do with a program I was watching on the history of the "Visual"...
The first, the very first city in human civilization that wrote a story on a clay tablet, was Sumer. It was the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh had to fight savage beasts and Gods, before he could return "home" as a Hero...in the land of URUK from which "Iraq" is etymologically derived.
Ashurbanipal had heard of this story, he wanted to be a hero as well.
He collected all the cuneiforms and produced the first library known to mankind in Nineveh. But he could not read the cuneiforms. He just relied on the oral tradition, passed from generation to generation-- the story of Gilgamesh.
Ahsurbanipal wanted to be a hero too. So he had the first pictures of a battle made, engraved on the walls of his palace (that numerous modern wars have destroyed).
In it, he fights the lion, and stabs him....It was actually a series of "pictures", and Ashurbanipal came out as the Hero who vanquished the "lion."
We are talking here about centuries before Christ. This is where the very first ideas of amalgamating a "story and picture" came from...
The idea was further elaborated by the Greeks and later on by the Romans, giving a more "human expression" to the various personages that have charaterized Greek and Roman tragedies...
Gilgamesh's cuneiform epic was finally deciphered in the 19th century by an Englishman, called something or the other (I told you I was bad with names...)
Why am saying all of that? Because those of you who love films, may be interested to know where the "concept" of film making came from. A film is made of a "story, pictures and a hero..."
Every film has a hero. Not necessarily in the "warfare" sense of the word, but a hero nonetheless....
And as I looked into the mirror, applying my kohl, putting on my daily mask, hiding behind a face that no longer belongs to me...seeing Gilgamesh appear, I thought of Heroes and Heroines from Uruk and Nineveh, and how our lives have turned into a film...
A film that you watch daily , or that you may have stopped watching for its repetitiveness...
You're probably thinking to yourself, when will the real Hero or Heroine appear and fight the beast and the fake angry Gods, like Gilgamesh did ?
Did it ever occur to you that the Hero may have died at the beginning of the film ?
Ashurbanipal did not foresee that, nor did Gilgamesh...but you --the truthful ones amongst you did-- and so did I.
The rest is just a trailer of more to come.
Or maybe the hero has turned into millions of heroes and heroines quietly leading...
I looked and saw that I have aged 10 years. No, 100 years. No, 1000 years...
I pushed the years forth....another 7'000 years I said to myself. Now push them back another 7'000 years... And I saw Gilgamesh appear in the mirror's reflection.
Maybe that had to do with a program I was watching on the history of the "Visual"...
The first, the very first city in human civilization that wrote a story on a clay tablet, was Sumer. It was the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh had to fight savage beasts and Gods, before he could return "home" as a Hero...in the land of URUK from which "Iraq" is etymologically derived.
Ashurbanipal had heard of this story, he wanted to be a hero as well.
He collected all the cuneiforms and produced the first library known to mankind in Nineveh. But he could not read the cuneiforms. He just relied on the oral tradition, passed from generation to generation-- the story of Gilgamesh.
Ahsurbanipal wanted to be a hero too. So he had the first pictures of a battle made, engraved on the walls of his palace (that numerous modern wars have destroyed).
In it, he fights the lion, and stabs him....It was actually a series of "pictures", and Ashurbanipal came out as the Hero who vanquished the "lion."
We are talking here about centuries before Christ. This is where the very first ideas of amalgamating a "story and picture" came from...
The idea was further elaborated by the Greeks and later on by the Romans, giving a more "human expression" to the various personages that have charaterized Greek and Roman tragedies...
Gilgamesh's cuneiform epic was finally deciphered in the 19th century by an Englishman, called something or the other (I told you I was bad with names...)
Why am saying all of that? Because those of you who love films, may be interested to know where the "concept" of film making came from. A film is made of a "story, pictures and a hero..."
Every film has a hero. Not necessarily in the "warfare" sense of the word, but a hero nonetheless....
And as I looked into the mirror, applying my kohl, putting on my daily mask, hiding behind a face that no longer belongs to me...seeing Gilgamesh appear, I thought of Heroes and Heroines from Uruk and Nineveh, and how our lives have turned into a film...
A film that you watch daily , or that you may have stopped watching for its repetitiveness...
You're probably thinking to yourself, when will the real Hero or Heroine appear and fight the beast and the fake angry Gods, like Gilgamesh did ?
Did it ever occur to you that the Hero may have died at the beginning of the film ?
Ashurbanipal did not foresee that, nor did Gilgamesh...but you --the truthful ones amongst you did-- and so did I.
The rest is just a trailer of more to come.
Or maybe the hero has turned into millions of heroes and heroines quietly leading...
Comments
thank you
annie
Yes, Iraq's HERO died at the beginning of the film - more accurately, was murdered. But his legacy will live on. The common human failing is that a man's greatness is seen only after his death - unfortunately, in the case of Iraq, the price for this has been too great.
When, eventually, the grain is separated from the chaff,the millions of heroes and heroines in Iraq, who already exist, will emerge, Layla. Of that, there is absolutely no doubt.
Take care.
In solidarity
"Did it ever occur to you that the Hero may have died at the beginning of the film ?"
I don't think we put it in quite those words, similar. It was not just some Sheik who fortold of what would happen if Saddam was "removed". My Mum did that all by herself, without the help of world powers.
Of course, Mum was not in search of oil.
Nineveh - home. Thanks. You help re-inforce some home truths.
May the ever wise and compassionate Layla grow in love and compassion for all.
So to may Gilgamesh, Iraqi exile.
Together may they lead the world to the promised land that Moses prophesied.
Love All Serve All. Help Ever Hurt Never.
May the uber cool Gilgamesh, Iraqi Exile and Layla lover of justice lead us all together to a world of love, truth, peace and bliss.
Comment'allez vous?
It is I your American Enkidu )))))
My former Archeology professor, his specialty was Sumerian glyphs - he was one of the fewer than 100 people on the planet who could read cuneiform. He did his research in the tells of Northern Iran, before the Khomeni dogs came in to power.
He would regale us with tales of Iranian women wearing mini skirts under their chadors and manteaus.
Of course, the lovely women of Iraq use to wear mini skirts themselves in Baghdad during the 1970s. Hard to imagine such a thing ever with the theocrats in power today.
Au Revoir,
Mon petit papillon.
I am deeply sorry for the horror that has become your life.
I am not proud to be an american.
Corruption has destroyed my life, taken my child from me, and forces me into submission and abuse.
Stand strong, with truth as your back bone. Integrity cannot be taken. This is my very first blog, ever written, because I wanted to thank you for your courage and spirit, that inspires all who are oppressed.
S'abatre sur moi
La neige aussi
Me bruler de froid
Mais tous les "lendemains"
Ne semblent pas si loin
Tant que brule ma foi
J'ai vu la guerre
J'ai vu tomber les hommes
Et le ciel me dire
La poussière que nous sommes
Mais au coeur des combats
Moi je ne tremblais pas
Je ne voyais que toi
Dis-moi où tu t'endors
Quand la peur me dévore
En quel "ailleurs", quel "nord"
Quand à genoux j'implore
Dis-moi où tu t'endors
J'ai vu le temps glisser entre mes doigts
Séparer les amants et creuser les visages
Mais qu'il vole et s'en aille
Moi il ne m'effrait pas
Je te sens près de moi
Je sais les vents, la colère des dieux
Je sais les diables et le mal et le feu
Quand s'assombrit le ciel
Quand la foudre s'abat
Je m'en remets à toi
Dis-moi où tu t'endors
Quand la peur me dévore
En quel ailleurs, quel nord
Quand à genoux j'implore
Dis-moi où tu t'endors
>Did it ever occur to you that the Hero may have died at the beginning of the film ?
Our hero did not die at the begining of the film - if you keep in mind that this war of agression kicked off in 1991. He lasted a good 12 years in the fight and struggle, enduring uprisings, bombings, betrayals (even from the closest kin), and a strangulation of our people...President Saddam took the fight and held out longer than most his enemies hoped or dreamed he could...
I foresee this phase of the war lasting for perhaps another 4-5 years until the invader is subdued.
Until then, the fight goes on.
- Rest in peace President Saddam.
- Long live Iraq
- Long live the Resistance
Our government is trying to hide the truth of what is going on in IRAQ from us. 20 percent of the immoral control the rest.
The soldiers recruited for the war were brainwashed to believe they were fighting for a cause. Now they are starting to form legions to stop the war, and stop the insanity.
So many of us know the taste of your anquish. Hating all of us is the not the answer.
The anger, and hate you feel is self destructive. You are a warrior and a poet. Your true strength lies in transforming the rage into a positive cause. You can be a force of change for your country. Use your spirit for good will, focus on the light, you can cause a ripple effect, and change the tide towards freedom.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1151377721039957577
best as ever
there never was a hero, only stories in our mind,
we don't know a damn thing about this live,
layla keep on,thank you so much for your writing,
ts
Although you are making an literary library of emotions regarding the Iraqi Genocide, it might be interesting to create a audio-visual comprehensive library of all the material related to this genocide as a virtual memorial for its victims in the hope of one day making a real library where one can place the records.
I saw the lion hunting reliefs (with the cuniform) at The British Museum a few days ago and they are stunning.... of course they were ransacked treasures transported to London. I hear that Iraqi archaeological treasures are once again magically being discovered in people's attics once again and being put up for private sale in london.
N
The theft of Iraqi treasures (and the destruction of ancient archeological sites, such as Babylon) is one more HUMUNGOUS CRIME which the occupiers have committed. In addition to being barbarians and murderers, they are also thieves of the highest order.
We are a Management Consulting Firm based here in New York, USA and a branch office in Baghdad, the Republic of Iraq.
Iraq’s Developmental Program is worth a stunning $100 billion - making it one of the biggest anywhere in the world - and is set to expand further, as more contracts are signed and projects Drawn up. Frenzied activities surround hundreds of projects, worth billions of dollars, and spanning every single sector of Iraq’s rebounding economy. Iraq’s liberal, Open markets - almost entirely free of restrictions - are helping construction sector activity. Below are list of some of the firms that have profited from the re-building process in Iraq
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/top-10-firms-profiting-from-iraq-469707.html
Meanwhile, more leading manufacturers and suppliers from across the globe are seizing lucrative slices of Iraq’s Growing markets, and in doing so are helping positively to forge the future of the country. Benefits from All Iraqi sectors are set to increase further. The country's revenue generation potential - bolstered by abundant oil and other resources, as well as the long-term commitment of global donors to the rebuilding Effort - is enormous. It can rival all other major regional economies. Despite the present security situation, many businesses are already successfully gaining strong foot-hold in the large under-developed and investment-hungry market.
Noamex Inc. is saddled with the responsibility of sourcing for companies from around the world to supply various, compaies Seeking for oil and gas exploration licenses and Government Establishment including Government-sponsored Multi-purpose Co-operative Markets/Malls set up all Over Iraq under the Iraq Development Program. This responsibility is required to be carried out transparently. So if you are seeking for a Supply contract, building contract and oil and gas exploration licenses. Etc Please supply us with confirmation of your intent to supply.
PLS NOTE. Private contractors are welcome too. Offer ends 30th April 2008
NOAMEX IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RE-CYCLING NETWORK LARGELY IN TEXTILES THUS THEY HOPE TO VEIL US DEPREDATIONS AND PREDATION
from Jocelyn Braddell
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The Israel Project Launches Contest and Multi-Lingual Website to Level Internet Playing Field Against Terrorists
Contest Celebrates Israel@60 with $20K in Prizes in Six Languages
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As popular Internet social networks and other Web sites provide dangerous new outlets to glorify murder, ‘martyrdom’ and Iran-backed terrorist agendas, The Israel Project (TIP) is fighting back with an online contest that showcases Israel’s constant commitments to freedom, democratic values and peace.
As part of its new “Israel@60” contest TIP invites all filmmakers, writers and other artists worldwide with a passion for showing the real Israel, to submit entries commemorating Israel’s founding in May 1948.
TIP will award a total of $20,000 to the winning submissions in each of the following formats:
Television Advertisement (30 Seconds)
Video (30 seconds - 7 minutes
Printable Flyer (8 ½ x 11 inches)
Winning entries in the TV and video categories will be posted on youtube.com, allowing viewers worldwide to see and hear Israel’s 60-year struggle to serve as a model for democratic values and a safe haven for minorities persecuted by its neighbors in the Middle East.
TIP’s newly refurbished Web site provides information in six languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic and Russian. Contest entries will be accepted in all of those languages and must be submitted March 31 – June 30. They must be factually accurate and focus on any topic in The Israel Project’s Israel@60 press kit.
Topics in the kit range from freedom of the press and religion to rights for women , Arabs and minorities. Other subject matters include innovations in alternative energy; voting and political rights; Israel’s ongoing efforts for peace; and Israeli leaders’ recent statements about striving for peace.
TIP and its multilingual Web site are dedicated to providing journalists and others accurate information about Israel and the region. To access the English-language press kit, please visit www.theisraelproject.org/60. Parts of the kit also are available in French (www.theisraelproject.org/fr), Spanish (www.theisraelproject.org/es), German (www.theisraelproject.org/de), Arabic (www.theisraelproject.org/ar), and Russian (www.theisraelproject.org/ru). New press kit additions in all languages will be posted daily March 31 – April 4. The winning 30-second ad in English will air on CNN at the Democratic and Republican national conventions.
Voting for the television advertisement and video entries will take place via youtube.com and will be part of the criteria used by the judges to determine the winners. Winners will be announced July 31. For contest rules, more information and to submit entries please visit www.theisraelproject.org/contest.
TIP decided to expand its Web site and launch the online contest to combat the increasing exploitation of the Internet by terrorist groups and others seeking to celebrate the killing of innocents. For example, a Web page on the free social networking site Facebook exalts the Palestinian terrorist who earlier this month brutally murdered eight students as they studied and celebrated a Jewish holiday in a Jerusalem seminary.
The page featured a photo of the bloodied, bullet-ridden body of one of the dead students, accompanied by Arabic text calling the attack “The Heroic Jerusalem Act.” The picture has since been deleted. Another Facebook page is dedicated to glorifying Iran-backed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who forced Israel into a defensive war in July 2006 after his group killed and kidnapped Israeli soldiers while firing thousands of rockets into northern Israel.
In addition, all major terrorist organizations – Hamas’ Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah – maintain modern Web sites where they boast, in a variety of languages, of their attacks on civilians.
TIP’s new international Web site seeks to reclaim the Internet as a safe space and to show the importance Israel places on ensuring that all of its citizens have the greatest freedoms possible despite dangers ranging from almost daily rocket attacks to threats by Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups to destroy Israel, said TIP Founder and President Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi.
The Israel Project has its own Facebook group as part of its efforts to work for peace. To access it, users must first sign up for Facebook – a free service. Once logged in, paste http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2420004670&ref=mf into the computer’s URL/Web address search bar. Alternatively, after signing in, users may access the group by clicking on the word “groups” under the “applications” feature on the left side of the page and then running a search for The Israel Project.
“People should be able to surf the ‘Net without hitting waves of terrorist Web sites that use the online community to glorify murder, recruit suicide attackers and promulgate anti-Israel propaganda,” Mizrahi said. “Our own expanded presence on the Web, including our online contest, provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Israel’s remarkable progress in promoting democratic values while working for peace. We hope that this contest will spark the creativity of the pro-Israel community around the world to put forward its enthusiasm and ideas. This is an unusual opportunity for Israel advocates worldwide to use their creativity to share their passion for Israel.”
The winning entries will be posted online on youtube.com, a free service, with the goal of providing materials to those who want to learn more about Israel.
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Prizes:
Television Advertisement, 30 seconds $10,000
English: $5,000
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French: $1,000
German: $1,000
Arabic: $1,000
Russian: $1,000
Video, 30 seconds - 7 minutes $7,500
English: $2,500
Spanish: $1000
French:$1000
German: $1000
Arabic: $1000
Russian: $1000
Printable Flyer, 8 ½ x 11 $2500
English: $500
Spanish: $400
French: $400
German: $400
Arabic: $400
Russian: $400
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Thank you for your comments.
Little Deer you are absolutely spot on -- the theft and destruction of Iraq's historical heritage is one huge crime by itself...hardly ever addressed.
Anonymous American woman,
Thank you for visiting and your kind words of solidarity.
Amir, hi,
I am not very good with constructing visual packages...maybe I need to ask the current Iraqi govt, US, Iran and Israel and the Brits to edify an Iraqi holocaust museum.
Anonmyous poet-poetess...
Thank you for the poem. Did you compose it ?
Layth,
Am not so sure anymore...I think Gulf War 1 and the sanctions were Gods that Gilgamesh faced...and now he has returned to his true home...our home.
By the way what do you make out of Muqtada Al-Sadr as of late ?
Iraqi democrat aka in house DJ,
Thanks for the clip -- I need water to extinguish fire...or what do you think ?
TC
Am not sure there are no more heroes...even if they were/are a figment of our imagination, they are nonetheless absolutely necessary....
JocelynB
Thanks for the info, I believe Karlmarxwasright is VERY interested in it and needs some more contact numbers....or links...or websites.
anonmyous preacher,
Spare me...When I will need your sermons, I shall call upon you---And since you are so good with words why don't you preach "love" to your American brethren, after all they are the ones who invaded and occupied, tortured, raped and killed....why preach it to the victim - Have you no shame?
Navcity,
Yep too true, most of the Iraqi antiquities have been looted, traded in, and Israel right after 2003, transported a good chunk of it to Tel Aviv -- a specially designed museum was there for the loot. The Babylon Heritage House.
Here is one song that was played in allot of shops on a set date in September 2001 ;)
Would you like to be Iraq's next minister of culture ? hahahahahhahaha - We'll all boogy on the occasion.
Great song!
This one is for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jLGa4X5H2c&feature=related
Hope you like this one!