“Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman,such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” That was Pope Benedict quoting a medieaval emperor in his famous “university” speech.
One wonders why he chose those the quote, which the papacy has tried to manage after the uproar that greeted the speech. But the question arises: Who did worse, the Catholic or Islam?
The records of the Catholic Church cannot be expunged from the history books. A short list: The shameless Inquisition, the thousands that were slaughtered in the crusades, support for Nazi rise to power in Germany, initiating the slave trade, papal immorality, belief in evolution against creation, and suppoort for the UN as opposed to God’s kingdom.
The Bible clearly states that these things are wrong and that church should be separate from state. Nowonder the Scriptures foretells the imminent destruction of false religion called Baylon the great. See Isa. 2:4, Matt. 26:52, Joh. 17:16, I Cor. 6:9-10, Jas.4:4, Rev. 18:2,4.
Should President Bush have therefore given such a state reception for the head of the church that has committed the above atrocities? Does the pope’s lip service condemnation of abusive priests matter?
Well, Bush himself does not care about his legacy—if he has any. See what he said when asked about his falling approval rating: “I really am not the kind of guy that sits here and says, Oh, gosh, I’m worried about legacy.”
Such a guy could as well have given 21 gun salutes to Adolph Hitler!
Arthur Zulu is a writer and publisher. To read his works, go to:
http://www.arthurbookhouse.com
Mail to: info@arthurbookhouse.com
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Warren Buffet: The World's Richest Man
“All the world is a stage, and the actors mere players.” When William Shakespeare wrote those words, he was talking of living and dying. But just before you die, sorry, before you act your last play (sounds better), what name are you making for yourself?
Many men—and women too—desire to be remembered in various ways. Consider these:
The shaggy-haired scientist, Albert Einstein (“Imagination is better than knowledge”); the paraplegic former US president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”); the Mahatma or Great Soul of India, Mohandas Gandhi (“Everybody is eager to garland my photos but nobody wants to follow my advice”); the show biz czarina, Oprah Winfrey (“When I look into the future, it’s so bright it burns my eyes.”)
However, there are tritons--sorry again--players in the world’s money market. Not that you are about to read a list of who-is-who in Millionaires' Playground. Nor are we about to launch an inquiry into the origin and wealth of nations (apologies to Adam Smith).
But talking about wealth, who is the world’s richest man? Bill Gates. No, you are living in the past. Warren Buffet. Right, way to go!
You see, the world is changing fast. Like a kaleidoscope. We may be wrong again before you finish reading this.
Because Gates has been downgraded to a third place with a “mere” $58 billion by the Mexican telecom mogul, Carlos Slim, with $60 billion. (Pity Bill Gates!)
But Warren Buffet, the man with an unusual name, possesses—wait a moment--$62 billion! An unusual amount of cash in a cash-strapped world. Did the stars stop twinkling?
On the contrary, the heavenly lights have been shining ever brighter since Buffet, the world’s greatest name in the stock market, began turning around the fortunes of wise folks who invested in his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. From a paltry $42 per share in the 60’s, the insurance and holding company now trades at $68,000 a share! His own stake in Berkshire Hathaway of which he is president, is 38 percent, making him richer than his friend, Bill Gates.
Warren Buffet, fondly called the Oracle of Omaha (I like the musical sound), who now doubles as the world’s richest man, owes his success from pitching tent where angels fear to tread. Where stock market investors would bet their life on companies with interest-rate potentials, the Oracle himself would bet his Gulfstream IV-SP jet (he calls it “The Indefensible”), on undervalued companies with potential high growth rate, and play Michael Micawber—waiting for things to turn up.
That unsurpassed wisdom made him buy Coca-Cola in 1988 then seen as “Wall Street wallflower” trading at $10.96, which five years later skyrocketed to $74.50!
Now the stock market whiz-kid—sorry he is in his 70’s—has enough “change” for collection at Coca-Cola, enough to buy him burgers (he likes them so much). But how much “pocket change”? Thirteen billion dollars! And so has his chain of business benefited from his magic touch.
This oracular wisdom drives investors to attend the Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholders meeting in Omaha called the “Elvis concert” or which the Oracle himself likes to call “Woodstock for Capitalists.”
Who wouldn’t like to know the magic wand to turning stocks to mega-bucks? Who wouldn’t like to learn the secrets of the world’s greatest market investor whose holdings have for the past 40 years been galloping ahead of the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
Buffet’s success story gives us a few tips to greatness: Separate yourself from the “maddening crowd,” see tomorrow from today, distinguish between gold and dross, and learn to wait. Only an Oracle possesses those.
So, let us roll out the red carpet—or is it the golden carpet?—and usher in our new hero on stage. And what name has he made for himself? The richest man in the world.
But watch your back, Warren Buffet. The Mexcan is coming! Afteral, all the world is a stage.
Arthur Zulu is a writer and publisher.
To read his works, go to:
http://www.arthurbookhouse.com
Mail to: info@arthurbookhouse.com
Many men—and women too—desire to be remembered in various ways. Consider these:
The shaggy-haired scientist, Albert Einstein (“Imagination is better than knowledge”); the paraplegic former US president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”); the Mahatma or Great Soul of India, Mohandas Gandhi (“Everybody is eager to garland my photos but nobody wants to follow my advice”); the show biz czarina, Oprah Winfrey (“When I look into the future, it’s so bright it burns my eyes.”)
However, there are tritons--sorry again--players in the world’s money market. Not that you are about to read a list of who-is-who in Millionaires' Playground. Nor are we about to launch an inquiry into the origin and wealth of nations (apologies to Adam Smith).
But talking about wealth, who is the world’s richest man? Bill Gates. No, you are living in the past. Warren Buffet. Right, way to go!
You see, the world is changing fast. Like a kaleidoscope. We may be wrong again before you finish reading this.
Because Gates has been downgraded to a third place with a “mere” $58 billion by the Mexican telecom mogul, Carlos Slim, with $60 billion. (Pity Bill Gates!)
But Warren Buffet, the man with an unusual name, possesses—wait a moment--$62 billion! An unusual amount of cash in a cash-strapped world. Did the stars stop twinkling?
On the contrary, the heavenly lights have been shining ever brighter since Buffet, the world’s greatest name in the stock market, began turning around the fortunes of wise folks who invested in his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. From a paltry $42 per share in the 60’s, the insurance and holding company now trades at $68,000 a share! His own stake in Berkshire Hathaway of which he is president, is 38 percent, making him richer than his friend, Bill Gates.
Warren Buffet, fondly called the Oracle of Omaha (I like the musical sound), who now doubles as the world’s richest man, owes his success from pitching tent where angels fear to tread. Where stock market investors would bet their life on companies with interest-rate potentials, the Oracle himself would bet his Gulfstream IV-SP jet (he calls it “The Indefensible”), on undervalued companies with potential high growth rate, and play Michael Micawber—waiting for things to turn up.
That unsurpassed wisdom made him buy Coca-Cola in 1988 then seen as “Wall Street wallflower” trading at $10.96, which five years later skyrocketed to $74.50!
Now the stock market whiz-kid—sorry he is in his 70’s—has enough “change” for collection at Coca-Cola, enough to buy him burgers (he likes them so much). But how much “pocket change”? Thirteen billion dollars! And so has his chain of business benefited from his magic touch.
This oracular wisdom drives investors to attend the Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholders meeting in Omaha called the “Elvis concert” or which the Oracle himself likes to call “Woodstock for Capitalists.”
Who wouldn’t like to know the magic wand to turning stocks to mega-bucks? Who wouldn’t like to learn the secrets of the world’s greatest market investor whose holdings have for the past 40 years been galloping ahead of the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
Buffet’s success story gives us a few tips to greatness: Separate yourself from the “maddening crowd,” see tomorrow from today, distinguish between gold and dross, and learn to wait. Only an Oracle possesses those.
So, let us roll out the red carpet—or is it the golden carpet?—and usher in our new hero on stage. And what name has he made for himself? The richest man in the world.
But watch your back, Warren Buffet. The Mexcan is coming! Afteral, all the world is a stage.
Arthur Zulu is a writer and publisher.
To read his works, go to:
http://www.arthurbookhouse.com
Mail to: info@arthurbookhouse.com
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Barack Obama and the New America
The good thing about dreams is that they are free. But the sad part is that not all dreamers have the gumption to make their dreams happen. That is where Barack Hussein Obama, the US Democratic presidential hopeful, comes in.
"The greatest trouble with many of us is that we do not believe enough in ourselves."
Orison Sweet Marden said that. Long before Obama threw his hat in the ring, he had told a friend that one day he will be the president of the United States. He knew he would have to traverse tortuous terrain to get to the White House. What with his background, US money politics, and the unpredictable primary math?
"The stone that was rejected became the head of the corner."
Yet, as soon as he announced his candidature, the sharks were out in the US political waters. There began talk about his color, his inexperience, his Muslim background, and his stand on issues
Hillary Clinton was rated tops and the Kenyan-American was regarded as a greenhorn.
"Like a fairy tale in the snow."
But the locals in Iowa looked him up close and voted the no-hoper as their man of hope.
Political pundits were surprised that Hillary came a distant third. The Iowa victory gave Obama the momentum, and the media predicted an easy ride for him in New Hapshire.
"The bump on the road."
There was a twist in the tale after the Hillary tears and the women voters gave her their votes. Everyone was flummoxed.
Napoleon Hill said: "No one is ever defeated until he has accepted defeat as a reality." Barack Obama probably knew that.
"You do not tap the resources of God until you attempt the impossible."
Perhaps he is also in the know about those words of John L. Mason. He knew Hillary Clinton has the name, the money, and a formidable campaign machine.
With all the odds, Obama went to Super Tuesday.
"The old order changeth yielding place to the new."
Hillary's campaign machine cracked. Her invincibility vanished.
Americans are now singing a new song--change and unity.
Obama wins from the East coast to the West coast, from North to South, and in the center.
"If music be the food of love, play on"
Who knows better than the bard? Obamites have made their candidate's speeches to music. Will he be president? Will his dream come true?
Moral: Do not only dream; act your dream Because according to Robert H. Schuller, "In the battle of life, it is the man with holding power who wins."
Arthur Zulu is a writer, blogger, and publisher. For his works, go to:
http://www.arthurbookhouse.com
Blog: http://arthurbookhousesnaps.blogspot.com
E-mail: info@arthurbookhouse.com
"The greatest trouble with many of us is that we do not believe enough in ourselves."
Orison Sweet Marden said that. Long before Obama threw his hat in the ring, he had told a friend that one day he will be the president of the United States. He knew he would have to traverse tortuous terrain to get to the White House. What with his background, US money politics, and the unpredictable primary math?
"The stone that was rejected became the head of the corner."
Yet, as soon as he announced his candidature, the sharks were out in the US political waters. There began talk about his color, his inexperience, his Muslim background, and his stand on issues
Hillary Clinton was rated tops and the Kenyan-American was regarded as a greenhorn.
"Like a fairy tale in the snow."
But the locals in Iowa looked him up close and voted the no-hoper as their man of hope.
Political pundits were surprised that Hillary came a distant third. The Iowa victory gave Obama the momentum, and the media predicted an easy ride for him in New Hapshire.
"The bump on the road."
There was a twist in the tale after the Hillary tears and the women voters gave her their votes. Everyone was flummoxed.
Napoleon Hill said: "No one is ever defeated until he has accepted defeat as a reality." Barack Obama probably knew that.
"You do not tap the resources of God until you attempt the impossible."
Perhaps he is also in the know about those words of John L. Mason. He knew Hillary Clinton has the name, the money, and a formidable campaign machine.
With all the odds, Obama went to Super Tuesday.
"The old order changeth yielding place to the new."
Hillary's campaign machine cracked. Her invincibility vanished.
Americans are now singing a new song--change and unity.
Obama wins from the East coast to the West coast, from North to South, and in the center.
"If music be the food of love, play on"
Who knows better than the bard? Obamites have made their candidate's speeches to music. Will he be president? Will his dream come true?
Moral: Do not only dream; act your dream Because according to Robert H. Schuller, "In the battle of life, it is the man with holding power who wins."
Arthur Zulu is a writer, blogger, and publisher. For his works, go to:
http://www.arthurbookhouse.com
Blog: http://arthurbookhousesnaps.blogspot.com
E-mail: info@arthurbookhouse.com
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