An excerpt from "Death Before Dying"--Sufi poetry from the 17th century

My Granny Nanny Darling (yes–that is the name by which my grandmother prefers to be addressed) and I exchange letters, books and poems from time to time.  I shared with her some Bedouin poetry that I had come across in my grad school research and she shared the below excerpt from The Sufi Poems of Sultan Bahu 1628-1658.  Sultan Bahu was a Sufi saint and prolific writer.  I love the poem below--it captures beautifully many aspects of Sufism but also the prospect of facing death at the end of life.  He remains one of the most popular poets in India and Pakistan today.

Neither am I Sunni nor am I Shi’a–my heart is bitter with both

of them.

All long, dry marches came to an end when I entered the sea

of mercy.

Many nonswimmers tried and lost; a few climbed the other bank.

They made it across safe and sound, Bahu, who clung to the

guide’s hem.

From “Death Before Dying” 

More links:
Sufi Poetry Blog

Some of my favorite poetry books:

CRS (R41957) The National Guard State Partnership Program (Kapp and Serafino)

The National Guard State Partnership Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress by Kapp and Serafino

This is a pretty cool program that not many people know about.  Basically state guard units pair up with other foreign countries.  

"The State Partnership Program (SPP) is a Department of Defense (DOD) security cooperation 

program run by the National Guard. It also serves as a mechanism for training National Guard 

personnel. Since the program began in 1992, it has expanded to the point where nearly every state 

National Guard participates, as do the National Guard of Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin 

Islands, and the District of Columbia."

Link to Report.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4BE1_xKfeEUQ2RoMHFnMFZnSFE/edit?usp=sharing

Summary of 9 requests of the 2000 Amazigh/Berber Manifesto

In my thesis research I found that there's not a good summary of the 9 central requests anywhere (that I could easily find).  So I went through the lengthy and verbose "Berber Manifesto" and summarized its 9 main requests here.

Summary of 9 requests of the 2000 Amazigh/Berber Manifesto

First Request

The Amazigh nature of every Moroccan must be openly and freely debated at the national level.  The “alternance” government is ideally positioned to moderate with the Prime Minister as the leader.

The Second Request

 A constitutional recognition of Tamazight as an official and national language.

The Third Request

Government-sponsored economic affirmative action policies to be implemented on a temporary basis—focused on infrastructure, agriculture, industry, education and training—to bring them on par with the rest of the nation.

The Fourth Request

 Enforce the teaching of Tamazigh at all levels of the education system. Government support for the scientific study of the language to enable competent teaching of it.

The Fifth Request

Creation of a “national scientific commission” to develop a Moroccan (and maghrebian) history syllabus that includes and recognizes (not denigrates) the role of the Imazighen.  This commission shall operate apart from and independently from the ministers of education.

The Sixth Request

Institutionalize Tamazight within the public sphere to include: radion/tv, judicial system, public administration, health care system, local/regional government.  Train and employ Tamazight translators and interpreters to ensure equal access and use for all citizens.  End ban (whether official or not) on registration of Amazigh names in State Registry. 

The Seventh Request

The rehabilitation of Amazigh arts (i.e., literature, dancing, singing, architecture and ecoration) and equality of access and funding within the government (to a level on par with Arab peers).

The Eighth Request

Recognition of historical and given Amazigh names for locations (i.e., villages, cities and regions) in the nation instead of their replacement with Arabic ones due to arbitrary Arabization.  Rightful prioritization of Amazigh notables when naming public institutions (e.g., El-Khattabi is last on the list for avenue names).

The Ninth Request

Qualification of Amazigh cultural associations for official state financial assistance.   Equal financial assistance for publications promoting Amazigh heritage of Morocco as is received by ones in Arabic and French.