Speech - What is intelligence? By: -

What is intelligence? What does it mean to be an intelligent person? Well, the Oxford dictionary defines it as "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills". Now, how can such a broad definition be quantified by a single IQ test? And wouldn't that mean that the idea of intelligence is non-existent in other animals simply because they cannot perform an IQ test?

The fact of the matter is, the very idea of intelligence has perplexed philosophers and anthropologists throughout the ages. The truth is that intelligence is and always has been a very abstract concept that we carve and sculpt ourselves. Picasso, for instance, was no less intelligent than Einstein because he was an artist instead of a physicist. The truth is, they both excelled in their professions and changed the dynamics of the subjects they partook in because of the contributions they made. The point here being; you don't have to be great with numbers, or good at root memorising text books, or coming first come in your class to be classified as intelligent. Like I said, you design your own definition of intelligence as you perceive and interpret things through your own and unique endeavour of life.

However, throughout all of this, one fact remains a constant. We will always be biased towards what we believe intelligence is because we have a very primitive and evolutionary desire to be "more skilled' than the next person and the moment we admit otherwise, the very foundations of our beliefs crumble along with our ego. And as evil as we perceive the ego to be, it is the most significant factor in making us confident. So essentially...if you believe you are intelligent: you will mimic the qualities of an intelligent person. Such is the nature of life.

In summation, I believe that the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle had closest to the best definition of intelligence which included physical, mental and physiological connotations; and I quote: "It is the mark of an intelligent mind to be able to entertain ideas without believing them".

 

Hamlets Intellect - To be or not to be? By: -

William Shakespeare exploits Hamlets wit and intellect from the very moment he walks on stage. This is done through his dialogue with the Kings counsel; Polonius. Hamlet insults him with phrases that could potentially have double meaning and he does so whilst also reading a book which leaves Polonius perplexed as to whom Hamlets words are directed to and he persists on making sense of them. I feel as if this draws the audience into the play and introduces them to Hamlets calibre of thought, height of wit, and ability to make even an advisor look like a fool.

After Hamlets banter session with Rosencratz and Guildenstern, Hamlet becomes more serious and starts to reflect on his own melancholy state. He refers to both his parents as "uncle-father and aunt-mother" and this, in my opinion, is a perfect summation of how emotionally attached he feels to both of them - calling them aunt and uncle shows that he feels no nuclear family connection to them. This also shows that at times he feels mad but at other times he feels sane. He is psychologically stretched to two different extremes of mental well-being and cause of all this is the idea that his father might want vengeance. Hamlet decides to settle this by commanding the actors re-enact the alleged murder scene and hope for a response from Claudius. Players and actors were expected to perform for the royalties during Shakespearean era; an idea that has been nicely interweaved with the storyline. In his soliloquy, Hamlet compares his indecisiveness to bad actors.

 Like Hamlet, Fortinbras is the grieving son of a dead king, a prince whose uncle inherited the throne in his place. But where Hamlet has sunk into despair, Fortinbras has devoted himself to the pursuit of revenge. Here, it is important mainly to note that Fortinbras’s uncle has forbidden him to attack Denmark but has given him permission to ride through Denmark on his way to attack Poland. It is notable that Claudius appears indifferent to the fact that a powerful enemy will be riding through his country with a large army in tow. Claudius seems much more worried about Hamlet’s madness, indicating that where King Hamlet was a powerful warrior who sought to expand Denmark’s power abroad, Claudius is a politician who is more concerned about threats from within his state. This highlights where the kings priorities lie and the fragility of his relationships within his own household.

 

5 Reasons why you would dine at an Arabs house By: -

5 Reasons why you would dine at an Arabs house

From tens to hundreds of varieties of dates to the reputable sauce that is the hummus, the Arab dining table is one that should not be let amiss if given the chance - nay, I daresay: if one hasn't attended a true Arab feast, then they have not seen what it is like to dine. You might consider my declaration hollow, but after reading the reasons I have listed, I hope you perceptions change and you're left craving for an invitation..or you might just walk into an Arabs house uninvited and that brings me to my first point:

1) "Here comes my guest!"

Originally amongst the Bedouins, the subtitled phrase is what was exclaimed when a stranger was spotted from afar by a family member and thus they had "claimed" the guest. Said stranger guest would then be welcomed by a generous meal...even if it means the host family goes without it. This custom has carried out to many Arabs living in urban cities now because one thing that should never be ignored about these humble people is that they take their tradition to the grave. So if you do decide to show up at the house of a traditional Arab, don't be surprised when you're invited for the something more than your regular Mac.

2) "We wish for no rewards nor thanks from you"

  It would be common courtesy for one to feel obliged to return the generous favour of dining through a gift or perhaps even inviting the host family over to your own house  for dinner. However, the subtitled phrase has been extracted straight out of the Holy Quran[76.8-9]. What needs to be noted here is that Islam has been the prime religion of most Arabs for the past 1400 years and so it is so interwoven into their culture that often you hear even the Non-Muslim Arabs use Islamic phrases is common speech. What needs to be taken from this is that regardless of the religion of the Arab, there are several common traditional beliefs that have been derived from Religion and this is a key one of them. So when you do dine at your Arab acquaintances' house, don't be too consumed about the burden of a gift or favour in return.

3) Short visits don't even count.

It is a customary belief that brief visits from guests in which tea or coffee is offered only count as a "stop-by" and not even a real visit. Two things should be noted here; when you are offered "tea" from an Arab, never only expect tea. It will surely be accompanied by extra sweets and perhaps even varieties of tea. Secondly, if you do decide to "stop-by", you will be forced to return for a "proper visit", and at this point it is customary for the Arab to express that it is due to the fact that they couldn't enjoy the company of the guest for long enough. So if you do feel hungry in between that awkward time amid lunch and dinner, feel absolutely free to pay a visit to your Arab friend.

4) Food.

Enough with the side-hospitality; this is the real deal. Arab food can be quite interesting to a guest who is not accustomed to the different spices and textures. Some common Arab dishes that have only recently become popular here in America include Hummus, Shawerma, stuffed grape leaves (dolmas), Baklava, Falafel, Taboula, and Cuscus. Yet, these dishes are not the only types of dishes. Arab food is quite diverse. There are many concoctions of ingredients that make up Arab cuisine.  Wheat makes up bread and pastries. Rice is consumed at almost every meal. Vegetables, such as zucchini, eggplant and onion are cooked with chicken, lamb or beef to produce a semi-stew or kabob. Olive Oil and lemon with a hint of garlic is used to season salads. Beans, yogurt and vegetables are turned into dips and sauces, which are then drizzled over more rice and bread.  The sight, let alone aroma is tantalizing. Oh, and don't feel shy about trying everything out because the host will show great disappointment if their guest hasn't sampled everything and will not stop suggesting, or even forcing, things in your plate until it is blatant that you are stuffed till your throat.

5) "My home is your home"

As soon as you lay foot into the household of your Arab friend, you are bound to be engulfed by antique furniture and Religious imagery of some sort. For reasons that are beyond my intellect, Arabs always manage to create a very welcoming household that invites a guest without demanding their presence. I've left this point to the very last because its veritable impact can only truly be felt after one has stepped foot into the house. Building on from this traditionally devised yet unintentionally created inviting atmosphere, the subtitled  phrase is in fact a traditional greeting offered by the hosts to any guests. The impact this has, along with the atmosphere of the surroundings, truly makes on feel like the place where they stand is where they belong. And if that's how you are left feeling by the end of the evening, then you have felt the full impact of Arab hospitality.
 

Having quantified the aforementioned points, I would highly recommend that one pays a visit to a traditional Arab dinner at least once in their life; oh, and mind you, I'm not an Arab. The only reason I'm so familiar with the formalities is because I've lived a major part of my life in arguably the heart of it all - Saudi Arabia. And with that, I bid you farewell in the traditional manner:

"May peace be upon you"

*Note: This applies to traditional Arab values and mostly every Arab I've ever met but isn't necessarily thoroughly representative.

 

 

What is science fiction and should it be taught in schools? By: -

Science fiction is a genre that combines supernatural scientific speculations with a sense of realism that the audience can relate to. The most redeeming quality of this type of literature is its ability to provoke thought. Yes; simply to make you think. Think about bounteous possibilities without any inhibitions, think about the consequences of these scientific application, and think about how the world could, with the help of science, be a much better place. This is why I think Science fiction should be taught in schools; it encourages this type of thought process in students.

Another quality of Science fiction texts/films is that all the supernatural and unrealistic scientific fantasy is always underpinned by some sort of logic and reasoning. This incorporates the idea that these scientific events could perhaps be a reality if practically considered. The portrayal of the modern industrial society in a sci-fi artwork hundreds of years ago would've seemed far-fetched and even unrealistic to many, but someone must have thought...why not? Why can't we have a world in which the tedious and monotonous jobs of labour are carried out by machines? And that very question is the reason why science fiction should be incorporated into our curriculum. The core academic science subjects fills our heads with practical knowledge, but where do we expect the ideas, the drive, the vision to come from? Sci-fi is the answer.

As a final notion, I would like to say that it is a mark of an intelligent mind to be able to toy with ideas without believing them. Science fiction encourages us to do that. Todays  youth will be the leaders of tomorrow and who wouldn't want motivated, open-minded and ambitious leaders? 

 

How the masses are being entertained and why we should be concerned By: -

As I stare at my father’s eyes, which are entirely absorbed into the LED that lay 10 feet away from the sofa we sit on, I think. I think about what he has invested all these hours in. I think about the reason behind why he continuously watches these political talk shows and the hollow claims made by our purported leaders. Does he believe in potential change, or does there lay a more subtle and perhaps more candid reason behind it all? Are the mainstream news channels the new form of… entertainment?

"Nawaz Sharif roams around Turkey and has reportedly bought a watch worth approximately 1,000,000 Rupees". My father tuts and shakes his head but does he fail to see the hypocrisy in his own actions? Just yesterday, he complained to me about the absurdity of reality shows; "why would we spend valuable hours watching the lives of others? Where does the sense lie in that?" I replied with a sigh of acknowledgement. The argument seems to be that the lives of these politicians affects how we, the people, live. This is  prevalent more so in third world countries where these legislators hold an alarming amount of wealth and power. The media avails this fact by portraying every detail of their lives because they know that people will listen. What other form of entertainment do they have? TV channels are practically free in these countries, a vast amount of the population is in poverty, and man craves for distraction from his daily apprehensions. There is only one place to resort to. It is, in its truest nature, a trap.

Why is this a concern? The nature of modern day news is that it always leaves room for controversy, people take sides in arguments, national interest is sparked and the result is civil unrest. Who is to blame? The subject of the report or the medium by which the report was portrayed to the masses? Surely the subject because if it wasn't for them, there would be no issue of discussion. However, the contrary argument is just as reasonable: the media will always find a topic and promote it to such an extent that people with no association to the matter will feel involved. Also, the occurrence of certain events, such as the elections, is inevitable and reporting outlets take full advantage of such occasions.

"Does Imran Khan deserve to be prime minister this year?"

"Yes", the people reply.

"But did you know that Imran khan doesn't pay his taxes?"

"Then we shall vote for Nawaz Sharif", the people seem eager.

"Imran Khan won Pakistan the cricket world cup, he is dedicated to lead the country to success"

The voters for both parties now seem perplexed, and mass confusion leads to chaos.

Reports show that the previous three elections have resulted in civil unrest across the subcontinent and presently throughout the entire Middle East.

The media speaks the truth but the voter, the watcher, the one being entertained is left wondering... who is to blame? 

 

Immovable object vs Unstoppable force - Which one wins? By: -

There has been many controversies raised regarding the entitled question and it has finally been answered with the help of physics! The answer will certainly astonish you...try to keep up and don't forget to comment and share. Here goes:

The inevitable betrayal By: -

Many might raise controversy over this claim but there exists an inevitable betrayal that will dawn upon every human soul: death. I say that it is a betrayal because the very act of living creates bonds between humans that simply cannot be replaced. From the moment you are conceived, you are blessed with the unconditional love of a mother; friendship creates a tacit agreement of lifelong support of encouragement and support; and marriage is the result of irreplaceable love for the spouse.

But then there's Death. Death steals you from everything that exists on this planet; it erases you from the present. And to me, this definition of what death does seems quite befitting to betrayal because you walk off with Death into the oblivion, turning your back to everything you had. Its not like death gives us a choice and perhaps that's why we decide to forgive the dead and ignore the betrayal but deep inside, embedded in our hearts lies the guilt: he/she left me. 

 

The inheritance of the Mind By: -

I was once asked what the difference was between the brain and the mind. The brain is the physical organ present in your skull that causes you to sense and react to stimuli, maintain balance in the body, and one of the greatest gifts - it makes you capable of higher thinking. The mind however, is an abstract concept used to represent our state of consciousness based on how we perceive and interpret things - it is not physically present.

Science does prove that we genetically inherit certain characteristics from our parents and the capabilities of our brain are also, to a large extent, based on this genetic inheritance. However, the mind is an entirely different thing. We start to develop our minds the moment we are conceived; we ponder over the unconditional love of a mother perhaps, or the everlasting support of a father. This is why we are born with positive energy. As we grow older, we start socializing with other agents of society such as the media and the education system. That is when we truly develop the person we are one day to become. Our views and perspectives on society are altered and we start to think for ourselves, start to develop beliefs that weren't taught to us by our parents and that is the most crucial  stage of ones life. But going back to the question...is the mind inherited?

It all essentially comes down to how well one has been trained by their parents and how much of an influence they have had on you. Because a healthy mind, just like a healthy body, is nurtured. So an open mind represents a rich understanding of the world that surrounds us because the world in full of contradictions and conflicts. An open mind comprehends that, and that in my opinion, is the ultimate hack to life itself.

And as Aristotle very right fully said:

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it"

 

Injustice By: -

Walking on the sidewalk and you get shot on the face by a ball. You instinctively turn around to see who is responsible and you find the face of a five year old, giggling at the blatant ferocity expressed by you. He laughs because he knows you can't do anything. He laughs because society allows.
Your face changes expression and you smile. Smile because he's just having a laugh and to justify this dismissal you tell yourself that you were the same when you were young. And you continue with your life.

That same child grows up and continues to commit these pitiful acts but the magnitude increases after every time he gets away because he wants the rush of adrenaline, the amusement to smile, and the anticipation for a reaction that he never receives. This all continues until these actions become a second habit and almost an addiction.

Once he's an adult, he tests his limits once again and purposefully shoots a ball at you - the same person who ignored him a few years ago. Once you realise it's an adult, you lash out, curse, and raise hell. The law gets called and official sanctions are imposed; perhaps on the both of you. Its mans nature to respond when felt intimidated, to maintain his dignity, and to protect his pride.

But just rewind the story and think: what if you spoke when the child first shot you?

 

How I came to see the desert as my home By: -

I was only nine months old when the plane touched down. Cradled in the arms of my mother, welcoming myself to arguably the most conservative country in the world. A place where women cannot leave their house without Burqas*, shops have to close five times during the day for prayer, and unrelated men and women can’t hold hands in public. Can a thing as freedom exist in a place like that? I had yet to find out.

Having lived in the blistering heat of Saudi Arabia all your life, as a human being, it is still biologically impossible to adapt to the heat that takes over the country in summer. I, a student at a British school, often sought refuge from the sun. Oh, the sun – a great cause of annoyance, smelly sweat, and the frequent fly. Avoid the sun whenever possible. I was only twelve. Oh, how ignorant was I?

I had traveled to many places by the time I was 15 – UK, Spain, France, Italy, USA, Malaysia, Pakistan – but never had I really explored the hell I lived in. Saudi. It was the day after my 15th birthday, my dad decided to take a family trip to the outskirts of the Rub Al Khali* (the empty quarter). Surrounded by nothing but sand, no electricity, no good food, why would anyone even imagine a place like that let alone wanting to visit it? However, I agreed on going because, well, you only live once. And because my dad threatened to take away my PS3 if I didn’t. And so the journey had begun.

We left the house at around 12 AM hoping to catch the breathtaking dessert sunrise. A journey of five hours passed very quickly because… I slept throughout. As I opened my eyes to the purportedly hell I had promised myself to avoid my entire life, I witnessed the most magnificent sight that God had offered to mankind. Like a piece of heaven bestowed on earth just so people could know. Know how insignificant their worries are, how vast the earth actually is, and how nature has the capability to make you hate the things you love and love the things you hate. Twilight had taken over the dessert. It was a purple I cannot describe in contrast with the rich golden of the sand. I stepped out of the SUV ignoring anything mum, dad, or my sister were saying. I had found the place.

Our tent had already been set up. Everyone entered the tent, tired from the road trip, hoping to get some rest. Everyone but me. I sat right outside, my back against the wooden rod that supported the tent, my feet dug into the sand, just glazing into endless, beautifully carved dunes made of glimmering sand and the tiny specks of life far, far away. Only now do I come to realize that we might be the ones missing out – not the Bedouins. I now knew a place where I could seek refuge to from all the hustling of the world, all the daily stresses, where I could just come and…reflect.

The calm of the moment was disrupted by a high pitched sound. I looked up and saw what I had only seen in textbooks. A Golden Eagle. Flying into the horizon, such a prestigious creature, gliding in the air like it possessed the sky. It was everything I wanted to be in life.

My mind and my body were in comprehensive tranquility. This was my Nirvana.


*Burqa: A black dressing worn by females that covers them from head to toe revealing only the hands, eyes and feet.

*Rub Al-Khali: In the Southern part of Saudi Arabia. Largest sand dessert in the world.