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| The Grand Turk |
| A question of 'who discovered America?' |
| 2014-11-20 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Can Erdogan tell us what we were doing to ourselves in the past 10-year period. We saw the liquidation of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri to the looting of dozens of cities to the murder of hundreds of thousands of people and to replacing dictators with even worse ones. By repeating the stories of late Libyan Col. Muammar Qadaffy ...a reminder that a single man with an idea can change an entire nation, usually for the worse... , Erdogan has gone from the successful renaissance experience to the ranks of political jesters and swindlers for the sake of satisfying an idle audience through the borrowing of other people's achievements. What Mr. Hazem Saghieh wrote in his article on politicians' confusion during disputes rings true in this case. Saghieh said that they tend to force the political dispute beyond its borders to include culture and history. Therefore, tactics are employed according to the needs of the moment. Who discovered America? If by this we really mean to ask who the first human to set foot on the continent was, then scientists will confirm that thousands of years ago there were neither Arabs nor Moslems. If what is meant is to ask who conquered it, then Moslems may have arrived there later, just as other sailors who traversed the Atlantic Ocean arrived on its eastern shores, but this is of no value. No one is fighting over who discovered the rest of the earth because this is of no value and it's nothing to take pride in. The United State is an extension of European civilization which is an extension of previous civilizations. Our false pride is not limited to narration of history, forging William Shakespeare's origins, claims of being the innovators of aviation, or aggrandizing our contributions in the fields of chemistry, physics and medicine, but also extends to PhD holders and researchers. Our reality will not change and we will continue to go backward with this mentality which does not appreciate education and the sciences and which takes pride in displaying degrees and holding governmental posts. In boasting about the past, like Erdogan is doing, and remaining static as religious fundamentalists do, there is exploitation of people's frustrations and their inability to escape the rut they have been living in for centuries. Erdogan has the Turkish experiment, meaning he has the recent present to draw examples from instead of borrowing valueless folklore from the past. Where is the value in Moslems arriving on a hill that today is known as Cuba if they had no role in its development? Moslems' relationship with America is symbolized by the queues they stand in to attain a visa from American consulates in order to escape their countries and governments and to find a safe haven for their children, a job to make a living, hospitals to treat their diseases and universities to get an education. That is the modern reality. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #14 There is some evidence that Pre Columbian American civilizations carried on trade with Mediterranean civilizations as far back as the time of the Phoenicians. Some where I read that an Egyptian archeologist was performing some studies on a Phaeronic mummy and found traces of Cocaine in the mummy's system. Another story was the discovery of green plant leaves in a Pharoh's sarcophagus, which was identified as tobacco in the study. Because cocaine or cocoa leaves and tobacco are purely Western Hemisphere in origin, some point these odd findings and others as proof that a viable trade network existed between Pre Columbian America and the ME. |
| Posted by: Mystic 2014-11-20 21:54 |
| #13 Lest we fergit, there is still the theory that both a defending Athenian hoplite army + enemy Ameri-Indian army invading the Aegean were both destroyed the day Atlantis got whacked. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2014-11-20 20:17 |
| #12 Tell you what, Recip: you can take it from the current inhabitants---it's yours. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2014-11-20 15:30 |
| #11 This reminds me of Stan Freberg's History of the United States of America audio. Hilarious! Here is the relevant part on the discovery of America: Columbus: Alright-(clears throat) I claim this land in the name of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain! Native: How! Columbus: Well, first I stick the flag in the sand, and then I- King: Watch yourself, Admiral. Natives-they may be hostile. Columbus: Well, we’re all a little hostile now and then; some of us can sublimate, others can’t adjust. You know how it is… King: I know, but you better try and talk to ‘em! Columbus: Alright, alright. Hello there, hello there. We white men--other side of ocean. My name Christopher Columbus. Native: Oh? You over here on a Fulbright? Columbus: Huh? Uh, no,no, I’m over here on an Isabella, as a matter of fact. Which reminds me, I want to take a few of you guys back on the boat with me to prove I discovered you. Native: What you mean, you discover us? We discover you. Columbus: You discovered us? Native: Certainly. We discover you on beach here. Is all how you look at it. Columbus: Yeah, I never thought of that. At any rate, my men and I were wondering if you could spare a little food? Native: What kind num-nums you want? Columbus: Well, what is that strange plant you’re holding there, with yellow kernels? Native: You mean this? (brass fanfare) Columbus: Yes. What is that? Native: French horns. Columbus: No, what you’re holding in your hand. Native: Oh-corn. Columbus: That’s what I thought it was. What else you got to eat around here? Native: Oh, Berries, herbs, naturally grown fruits, and organically grown vegetables. Columbus: That’s what I suspected. What kind of a diet is that? That’s why I’ve come here. To fulfill my dream. Native: You have a dream? Columbus: Yes, I do. Native: Would you like to talk about it? Columbus: I certainly would. My dream is to open the first Italian restaurant in your country. Give me some real food: starches, spaghetti, cholesterol-all the better things. That’s called progress, you see? Native: Hmmmm. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2014-11-20 15:07 |
| #10 Vikings were running around newfoundland 800 years before the Chinese claim, and they left evidence to boot. So land bridge migration folk and then Viking. Then perhaps China and then Spanish. Arab claims are just not credible. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2014-11-20 14:57 |
| #9 |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2014-11-20 14:11 |
| #8 Noodlemen: the Chinese were not even able to discover Taiwan so fantasizing about them going East for thousands of miles despite believing there was nothing there is absurd. |
| Posted by: JFM 2014-11-20 12:10 |
| #7 Am. Indians are genetically related to Mongols or Koreans and up to 1/3 Eurasian (e.g. Steppe dwellers). Not Han Chinese. |
| Posted by: Choting Speaking for Boskone6255 2014-11-20 11:48 |
| #6 Is it Chinese Uyghurs who discovered America, if so, then Erdogan is right. |
| Posted by: Thor Noodleman1711 2014-11-20 11:38 |
| #5 I remember reading that the Indians were Chinese, that makes the Chinese the discoverers. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2014-11-20 11:14 |
| #4 I am more concerned with who is destroying America. |
| Posted by: Airandee 2014-11-20 11:00 |
| #3 Xerox PARC 'discovered' the graphic user interface integral to modern PCs, tablets, and smartphones. They didn't do anything with it. One day Steve Jobs et al visited Xerox PARC and 'voila' the Apple GUI magically appeared. The rest is 'history'. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-11-20 08:35 |
| #2 Erdogan sees himself as the leader of the muslim world and a possible Caliph! |
| Posted by: Paul D 2014-11-20 05:54 |
| #1 Thanks to my brother, I've developed a strong interest in pre-Colombian history. But I gotta ask: Islamo-dudes, what have you done for me lately? And by me, I mean civilization. And by lately, I mean the last 50/100/1000 years. Because I don't see much beyond fatwas and corpses. It's not like y'all invented the transistor or something. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2014-11-20 03:11 |