Oh Say Can You See?
Nobody’s Opinion: I was watching the last Harry Potter movie the other night, “The Order of the Phoenix.” In the story, Harry Potter and all his friends had to meet in a secret room and practice on defending themselves against the evil they knew was coming, but the “ministry” refused to admit.
And yes, the evil did come. (I’m a big fan of the Harry Potter stories.)
At the end of the movie, Harry Potter gives encouragement to his school friends: “We’ve got something that Voldemort doesn’t. We have something worth fighting for.”
He could have been talking about Western Civilization.
What does this have to do with anything you say?
By the time I post this, it will be my favorite holiday of the year. We are expecting rain here in St. Louis, but that’s nothing new. It almost always rains on the 4th of July, but by some miracles, clears up by nighttime.
For the last three years I have posted maudlin emotional rants on the 4th, but this year, instead of my words…I thought I’d put up the words of someone you might not expect.
His name is Naguib Sawiris. He is an Egyptian multi-billionaire. He is Christian. He believes in God, and God guides him in all endeavors he says. He is the CEO of a telecom company called Orascom Group. And he is one of the most intelligent men I’ve ever heard talk.
It’s refreshing to hear a man with such candor, and integrity. He talks about world issues, and you could tell, he knew the world and all its problems very well. He looks at the world through right and wrong---simply---clearly.
He is hopeful for North Korea (he was going to start selling his cell phones there) but not hopeful about the Middle East. He had business in Iraq but got out because 12 people from his company were kidnapped. He supported Bush’s invasion of Iraq, but said rebuilding has been a failure. Taking away the police force was a big mistake, he said. And by the way…everyone over in the Middle East is just sick to death of the conflicts.
He thinks all the religions need to talk more about religion, and get rid of the fanatics. All Jews, Christians, and Muslims, should deal with them.
Anyway, I saw him on Charlie Rose earlier this week, and Charlie asked him: “What do you think of the United States?”
I quote him word for word here:
Mr. Sawiris: "It is the greatest country on Earth."
Mr. Rose: You say that because?
Mr. Sawiris: "Because it’s a country where there is a rule of law and order. Because it’s a country where a President cannot jail anybody. Because it’s a country if you change your religion, you don’t get lynched. Because it’s a country that fought always for the rights of others. When the Muslims were being slaughtered in Yugoslavia, they were the ones who moved, not the Islamic world.
It’s a country that always stood up for what is right and against what is wrong. It’s a great country. It offered opportunities for everybody, every immigrant, and the world.
It’s a country that is extremely unbiased, and fair. There is no discrimination based on race. It’s a great country. The problem is, in our part of the world, is all of the good side of your country doesn’t get spread. I was lucky. I can know exactly how people are here. They are charitable, they are helpful; they are kind, they are easygoing. They are less restrictive than the Europeans."
Now, if all CEO’s of our own American international companies felt like Mr. Sawiris, maybe America would be in better shape in the world. I’ve heard too many American CEO’s cut America down. It’s refreshing to listen to a man tell the truth.
An Egyptian.
Mr. Sawiris wants to get into China, because that’s where the growth market is. But the Chinese have been totally unfair to everyone, and the United States shouldn’t put up with it, according to him.
Mr. Sawiris reminded me that we have always been the best country in the world. Our Christian foundation has served us well and as he said…you can do anything when God is on your side.
Harry Potter reminded me that we certainly do have something worth fighting for.
Inspirations from unexpected place…but great ones nevertheless.
America---land of the free…home of all the brave. It’s time we started shouting it everywhere, and fighting for what it’s always stood for. There’s right, and there’s wrong---like Mr. Sawiris reflects, it’s pretty simple.
Oh say can you see…..?
Have a great holiday everyone!
And yes, the evil did come. (I’m a big fan of the Harry Potter stories.)
At the end of the movie, Harry Potter gives encouragement to his school friends: “We’ve got something that Voldemort doesn’t. We have something worth fighting for.”
He could have been talking about Western Civilization.
What does this have to do with anything you say?
By the time I post this, it will be my favorite holiday of the year. We are expecting rain here in St. Louis, but that’s nothing new. It almost always rains on the 4th of July, but by some miracles, clears up by nighttime.
For the last three years I have posted maudlin emotional rants on the 4th, but this year, instead of my words…I thought I’d put up the words of someone you might not expect.
His name is Naguib Sawiris. He is an Egyptian multi-billionaire. He is Christian. He believes in God, and God guides him in all endeavors he says. He is the CEO of a telecom company called Orascom Group. And he is one of the most intelligent men I’ve ever heard talk.
It’s refreshing to hear a man with such candor, and integrity. He talks about world issues, and you could tell, he knew the world and all its problems very well. He looks at the world through right and wrong---simply---clearly.
He is hopeful for North Korea (he was going to start selling his cell phones there) but not hopeful about the Middle East. He had business in Iraq but got out because 12 people from his company were kidnapped. He supported Bush’s invasion of Iraq, but said rebuilding has been a failure. Taking away the police force was a big mistake, he said. And by the way…everyone over in the Middle East is just sick to death of the conflicts.
He thinks all the religions need to talk more about religion, and get rid of the fanatics. All Jews, Christians, and Muslims, should deal with them.
Anyway, I saw him on Charlie Rose earlier this week, and Charlie asked him: “What do you think of the United States?”
I quote him word for word here:
Mr. Sawiris: "It is the greatest country on Earth."
Mr. Rose: You say that because?
Mr. Sawiris: "Because it’s a country where there is a rule of law and order. Because it’s a country where a President cannot jail anybody. Because it’s a country if you change your religion, you don’t get lynched. Because it’s a country that fought always for the rights of others. When the Muslims were being slaughtered in Yugoslavia, they were the ones who moved, not the Islamic world.
It’s a country that always stood up for what is right and against what is wrong. It’s a great country. It offered opportunities for everybody, every immigrant, and the world.
It’s a country that is extremely unbiased, and fair. There is no discrimination based on race. It’s a great country. The problem is, in our part of the world, is all of the good side of your country doesn’t get spread. I was lucky. I can know exactly how people are here. They are charitable, they are helpful; they are kind, they are easygoing. They are less restrictive than the Europeans."
Now, if all CEO’s of our own American international companies felt like Mr. Sawiris, maybe America would be in better shape in the world. I’ve heard too many American CEO’s cut America down. It’s refreshing to listen to a man tell the truth.
An Egyptian.
Mr. Sawiris wants to get into China, because that’s where the growth market is. But the Chinese have been totally unfair to everyone, and the United States shouldn’t put up with it, according to him.
Mr. Sawiris reminded me that we have always been the best country in the world. Our Christian foundation has served us well and as he said…you can do anything when God is on your side.
Harry Potter reminded me that we certainly do have something worth fighting for.
Inspirations from unexpected place…but great ones nevertheless.
America---land of the free…home of all the brave. It’s time we started shouting it everywhere, and fighting for what it’s always stood for. There’s right, and there’s wrong---like Mr. Sawiris reflects, it’s pretty simple.
Oh say can you see…..?
Have a great holiday everyone!
Labels: politics
posted by Joyanna Adams at 6:07 PM
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