http://www.fountainmagazine.com The Fountain en (C) 2012 fountainmagazine.com http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/book-review-may-2013 2003-11-12 10:03:42 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/science-square-may-2013 1600 Years of ...]]> 2003-11-12 10:03:42 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/historical-recurrences-may-2013 2003-11-12 10:16:50 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/questioning-techniques-and-wait-time-may-2013 2012-10-30 13:29:39 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/nanomedicine-may-2013 2008-04-09 03:28:13 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/dont-let-me-down-may-2013 2004-05-11 03:54:26 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/a-subject-of-the-divine-promises-ishmael-may-2013 Abraham Abraham is a figure mentioned in the Torah, Bible, and Qur’an whom Jewish, Christian and Muslim believers regard as the founding patriarch of the Israelites and Ishmaelites. In the Jewish tradition, God promised Abraham that through his offspring, all the nations of the world would come to be blessed (Genesis 12:3), interpreted in Christian tradition as a reference to Christ. Abraham’s generations are presented as part of the crowning explanation of how the world has been fashioned by the hand of God and how relationships of peoples were established by Him. Biblical narratives represent Abraham as a wealthy, powerful and supremely virtuous man. In the New Testament, Abraham is mentioned prominently as a man of faith and an obedient man of God (Hebrews 11). For Muslims, he is a prophet and the ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad through his son Ishmael. He is commonly termed “Khalil Ullah,” the friend of God. Those who maintained the pure monotheistic beliefs of Abraham after him were said to be Hanif, people who rejected idolatry and retained some of the tenets of the religion of Abraham. Well after God’s covenant relationship with Abraham had been established (Gen 13:14-18), he meets with a mysterious character, “… Melchizedek king of Salem …priest of God Most High” (Gen 14:18). Melchizedek blessed Abraham who paid him tithes. On his covenant pilgrimage, Abraham is aided and supported by someone outside of God’s newl...]]> 2009-11-04 07:49:39 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/a-blessing-behind-an-unlikely-veil-vomiting-as-a-healthy-human-reflex-may-2013 2013-04-29 00:00:00 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/butterfly-effect-may-2013 2005-07-28 06:49:56 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/recurring-dna-in-genome-structure-may-2013 2009-08-28 07:55:06 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/qurb-and-bud-may-2013 2003-11-12 09:02:38 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/a-slap-on-the-beach-may-2013 Gyres Gyres are major surface currents that circle the oceans. They are driven by persistent winds and the Coriolis Effect which is caused by the Earth's rotation. The human impact on oceans is displayed by the gyres. They gather trash released into seas from countries around the oceans and through rivers they carry the floating objects and trash spewed from fallen shipping containers. This was dramatically demonstrated when a cargo of sports shoes were lost in the sea in 1990. The shoes floated and drifted with the currents. Eventually thousands of them washed up on shores from Alaska to California. The manufacturer provided the serial numbers of the lost shoes. Beachcombers responded to calls by researchers regarding the time and location that they found the beached shoes. When all the data points were combined, the gyre's circulation period over 3 years was obtained. Tracking a spill of bathtub toys provided similar results. Outsourcing of manufacturing overseas and worldwide supply chains are made possibly by networks of container shipping lines. For reasons of economies of scale, the containers are stacked precariously high on the decks. At rough seas in the open ocean, some of these con...]]> 2013-04-26 00:00:00 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/culture-ofcoexistence-exemplary-cases-of-relationship-between-muslims-and-non-muslims-may-2013 2004-05-08 03:11:59 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/islamic-philosophy-of-science-may-2013 2013-04-26 00:00:00 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/the-wisdom-behind-the-crumbling-of-rocks-may-2013 Weathering of rocks In the literature of geography, the mechanism of weathering (1) has generally been distinguished into two types: mechanical and chemical. These two mechanisms do in fact occur parallel with one another and reinforce each other. To make things more clear, we can use the tea and sugar example. When we press a sugar cube in our hand, it becomes powdery, in other words it becomes weathered. Mechanical weathering occurs in a similar way too. A boulder breaks into parts, small and big, during the tumbling process and the rain water which penetrates into their fractures becomes iced due to the cool weather which causes further cracks on their surfaces. And as the weather becomes warmer over time, more fractures occur on the rock pieces due to the increased effects of the melted ice on those cracks and cavities. This mechanism is more apparent on high mountains because here the weather temperature decreases at a rate of 0.5°C every 100 meters. Salt is another substance which causes enlargement of rock fractures. Salt plays a crucial role on rocks especially at arid regions and on shorelines. Due to hot weather, salty water inside the fractures evaporates and salt crystals remain as evaporation residue. With the frequent occurrence of such evaporation, salt crystals become larger and larger and rock fragments eventually break off. Roots of growing p...]]> 2013-04-26 00:00:00 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/cooking-and-world-peace-may-2013 2013-04-26 00:00:00 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/from-mexican-jumping-beans-to-cyborg-plants-may-2013 2010-09-07 08:46:01 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/contemplative-practices-a-comprative-perspective-on-different-faith-traditions-may-2013 2008-05-29 07:04:47 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/cancer-cellular-anarchy-may-2013 2007-12-31 01:49:42 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/souls-of-immortality-may-2013 2003-11-12 09:02:38 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/editorial-may-2013 2003-11-12 10:03:42 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/an-adoring-journey-march-april-2013 2013-03-01 02:35:19 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/facing-aggression-march-april-2013 Facing Aggression Gómez-Valdés et al. Lack of Support for the Association between Facial Shape and Aggression: A Reappraisal Based on a Worldwide Population Genetics Perspective. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (1) It is a common misconception that some people are profiled to be angry or aggressive because of their physical appearances, particularly their craniofacial shapes. In addition, there have been some studies suggesting that men with certain facial traits (round-shaped faces) are more likely to develop aggressive and unethical behavior. A new study using a sample of around 5000 individuals from 94 different countries has found no correlation between facial shape and aggressive/criminal behaviors. Researchers analyzed fWHRs (facial width-to-height ratio) and 2D/3D craniofacial landmark coordinates to estimate any possible correlation between skull shape and aggressive behaviors in men. First, they utilized the famous skull collection in Hallstatt/Austria to investigate any potential correlation between skull features and life history parameters of individuals, such as their overall fitness. Second, they analyzed the male prisoners convicted of crimes like inter-personal aggression (homicide, robbery etc.) from Mexico City Federal Penitentiary to see whether there is any relation between skull shape traits and aggressive crimes. Analyses of both databases have found no significant correlation between skull shape traits either with the fitness of males or with their aggressiveness. This study has very important social and political implications in today’s societies, as we unfortunately see many ethnical, racial and even physical prejudices. This comprehensive study has undoubtedly showed once more that physical traits cannot be a reliable predictor of complex human behaviors, which are mostly shaped by external factors such as education and socio-cultural practices. Biggest Structure in the Universe Discovered Clowe et al. A structure in th...]]> 2003-11-12 10:03:42 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/how-to-avoid-claiming-divine-favors-april-2013 Question: There are positive developments around the world in the direction of a revival of ethical and spiritual values. How should believers position themselves on a safe ground to avoid claiming divine favors upon themselves? This matter has two aspects; we are concerned with one aspect, while the other one is beyond our capacity. Regarding the aspect associated with us, service to revive ethical values is done only because it is ordered by God. Unless all these deeds—those that make our nights sleepless, ruin our comfort, restrain us from food and drink, tire our minds and bodies—are performed for the good pleasure of God, it means that we have been acting in vain. Having sincere intentions lies at the soul of all actions. Unless this soul exists, both the deeds we have done and the ones we shall do will bear no positive worth. “O you who believe! Respond to God and to the Messenger when the Messenger calls you (in the Name of God) to that which gives you life.” (Al Anfal 8:24) Yes, this is a matter of life-giving, that is, a revival and helping others revive. And this revival, as clearly stated in the above verse, is considered possible only by faith and by making it the essence of life. Our personal thoughts and desires should in no way interfere in our deeds performed for God’s good pleasure in order to reach “the rank of contentment.” This is important, for there is a fine balance here. For instance, the belief that an unfaithful person shall face perdition may cause some sensitive souls to feel resentment; but this is a judgment in which we have no say of. Likewise, it would also put our balance on the brink of collapse if we were to include our personal feelings and push hard on legitimate bounds, or contrarily conceive unnecessary limits even for some legitimate forms of relationship, say, in an effort to prevent sexual misbehavior. Therefore, it is significant to stay in line with what has been prescribed and be content with it especial...]]> 2003-11-12 10:16:50 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/rising-and-collapsing-worlds-in-galaxiesarch-april-2013 By the time you finish reading this sentence, you will have been carried over the earth, passed the sun, and moved through actual space of 1000 kms! In the time it takes you to ponder upon this, you will have moved another 1000 km through real space. Fast isn’t it? This is the speed at which one arm of our galaxy moves through space every second, and we don’t even feel a thing! The motion of stars in their dedicated orbits, black holes, nebulas, and infinite number of other phenomena in the outer space display spectacular and equally thoughtful exhibitions thanks to Hubble and other new technologies. An increasing number of studies are thus devoted to stars, supernovas and interstellar space in recent years. Our contemplation of the universe deepens as we accrue more knowledge about it. Just as a cell is the functional building unit of the body, the main building blocks of the universe are galaxies. Just like every other living thing, galaxies will not be around for eternity; they form, develop, and cease within the cosmic laws that are put in place by their Creator. According latest findings, it is estimated that around 100 billion galaxies exist in the observable universe and that there are galaxies 100,000 light years in size. A year has 31,536,000 seconds. Light travels 300,000 kilometers per second, therefore one light year equals to 946,080,000,000,000,000 (quadrillion) kilometers. Apart from the dispersal of stars, intergalactic distances of galaxies are not much bigger than their own galactic size. For example, the big Andromeda galaxy (the galaxy which is the closest to us) appear from the earth as wide as the sun or moon in the sky and can even be noticed with the naked eye. Latest research in astrophysics revealed that stars are not dispersed equally but rather found together in galaxies as an open system that exchanges energy and matter with its surroundings. A big portion of the galactic space is filled with gas and dust clouds which...]]> 2012-10-30 14:25:45 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/the-journey-of-drugs-through-thebody-march-april-2013 2013-02-26 09:42:29 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/mala-manufacture-of-consent-and-true-freedom-march-april-2013 Mala’, the ruling clique of a particular social order, throughout history have always been at the forefront to control the thoughts and actions of their people. With a new face and form, the mala’ continues today, covertly, without being exposed as a distinctive group, and reaches its objectives by manipulating majority thinking through propaganda, manufacture of consent and acquiring “true” freedom. How can the threat imposed by the present day mala’ be defied and how can the majority gain true freedom? Historical events mentioned in the Holy Qur’an reveal critical clues about the social arrangements of the tribes onto which God has sent His messengers. By scrutinizing on these parables one can easily notice that whenever a prophet is sent to a group of people, his message was denied at first by the ruling clique of that social order. In various places of the Holy Qur’an, these people, who are at the climax of the society and who oppose the prophets and their followers, are addressed as al-mala’ (the chieftains). Mala’ is a distinctive group in tribal culture because, even though they are small in number, they are rich, influential and well respected. Among the society in which they live, mala’ appears to be the ultimate preservers of the status quo where they have the final say. According to the Qur’an, arrogance is the central characteristic of mala’ which gets in their way of accepting the religion: “The leading ones among his people, who were arrogant and oppressed the others, said to those that they scorned, to those among them who were believers: “Do you really know and consider Sālih as one sent by His Lord with a message?” They replied: “We do indeed believe in what he has been sent with.” Those who were arrogant said: “What you have come to believe in we indeed disbelieve.” Then (without enduring any longer to see her as evidence of the truth of Sālih’s message), they cruelly slaughtered the she-camel, and disdainfully disobeyed the command...]]> 2009-08-28 06:37:26 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/healing-of-wounds-march-april-2013 What possible similarities could there exist between a human and a tree? Interestingly, the open wounds of human beings and trees are subject to the same laws and are healed in similar ways. Have you ever wondered what kinds of similarities exist between human skin and the bark of a tree? Trees are subject to major and minor injuries just like humans are. These injuries could be the result of a broken branch, insect infestation, animal damage, fire and human related damages. These kinds of injuries can lead to the infection of a plant which can cause rotting and damage to the transport tissues like phloem (nutrients) and xylem (water) by microorganisms and insects (bacteria, fungi, parasites) (Figure 1). Fluid excretion in wounds and development of scar tissue Blood serum is secreted in human wounds, whereas gum and resin type fluids are secreted in various trees (Figure 2 and 3). Serum plays an important role in sterilization of the wound, along with blood coagulation. Defense mechanisms in trees involve excretion of different fluids (resin in needleleaf trees, gum in broadleaf trees) that are synthesized via composition of various chemicals. The most important feature of these fluids is that with their special chemical make up, they can protect the wound from organisms like bacteria, fungi, and insects that are potentially harmful to the tree. These fluids also feature coagulation like the human serum; they congeal and solidify after excretion and trigger a biological healing process while physically covering the wounded area. Wounds are repaired with new connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) in humans and by callus in trees. Healing of the wound following the coagulation takes place with proliferation of cells in this region (epithelialization). First, epithelial cells wrap the wound via proliferation. New transport tissue is developed during this process. Next, fibroblasts that are in charge of wound repair are transferred into...]]> 2013-02-26 10:06:26 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/philosophy-of-horizons-march-april-2013 No matter how fast or how far a person runs, the horizon will always be beyond them. This being the case, the real distance and depth of the horizon is inside a person, it is in their mind and perception… A race I will always remember Not too long ago, when I was still a little boy, I found myself running from my father’s village to my mother’s, and from my mother’s to another and to another, in the hope of catching up with something that was neither a ball, some other toy, nor a bird, but rather the point, the line where the sky seemed to touch the earth. We call it the “horizon.” That line, that “place,” first presented itself to me hiding right behind the trees to the left of my father’s house. I started out that day walking rather leisurely because the distance between me and the horizon seemed so short. When I observed that the sky had moved, or rather seemed to have moved further away, I hastened my steps. Then I noticed that the sky moved further and further away. Well, being determined to reach the place where the sky certainly touched the ground, I kept walking faster and faster until I found myself running. I ran for quite a while until I realized that “there”, where the sky and the earth met, was still further away, that it would take me more time and effort than I had thought. I went back—I had to go back—to my father’s village, back to my usual village life because I saw that perhaps much more was involved, that maybe much more effort was called for in order to achieve what I desired, namely, to get to the point where I could touch the sky, where I could climb the sky. I went back to the ordinary, the normal life and experience of the village and of my people. But I did not tell anyone, I did not discuss the experience with anyone, even though I did not stop and could not stop thinking about it. I thought to myself that perhaps a week, a month, maybe a year would suffice for me to reach the place where the sky and...]]> 2012-09-03 09:49:27 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/extraordinary-blood-circulation-in-crocodiles-march-april-2013 By examining the heart of a crocodile, researchers have discovered how it is that an air-breathing land animal can manage to glide through murky waters for several hours without the need to surface. There is that one scene in documentaries that we often come across on television: Crocodiles gliding gracefully inside the water, waiting for hours for the perfect time to pounce and snatch their prey from their necks and into the water. But how do these animals manage to stay underwater for almost two hours without surfacing for air even though they, just like human beings and other land animals, live on pulmonary respiration and are in need of the free oxygen in the air? A member of the reptiles class, crocodiles do not have gill nor can they have skin respiration since their skin is covered with a thick and airtight keratin armor. Just as every living organism are provided with a suitable anatomic and physiological character for their survival, crocodiles are also granted with a system that facilitates their long stay in the water. Crocodiles are bestowed with a special heart anatomy different to other reptiles like lizards, tortoises, and snakes. The hearts of other reptiles are designed to contain three sections including two atriums and one ventricle. The right atrium, which collects the returned oxygen-deprived (deoxygenated) blood and the left atrium which collects the oxygen-rich (oxygenated) blood retrieved from pulmonary arteries of the lung, transports the blood to one common ventricle. Because there is only one ventricle to receive and combine oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, a mixture of less oxygenated blood is pumped to their body. Depending on outside temperature, the body temperature of a reptile increases or decreases. Their metabolism slows down, almost to a halt, while their body temperature decreases when outside temperature drops near or beyond freezing conditions. Hibernation begins as a result. Frogs and reptiles stop hib...]]> 2013-02-26 09:24:43 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/sakina-itminan-march-april-2013 2003-11-12 09:02:38 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/mixed-greens-of-hope-march-april-2013 Walking into a regular salad bar for lunch, one anticipates nothing more than a short and simple exchange of civilities and of course a mixed salad. But there are instances where the wisdom one may receive from the man behind the counter has more variety than the salad. Busy New Yorkers generally eat lunch at their desks. This is New York, after all, the city where “time is money” and lunch minutes are counted. This meal can be a quick coffee and a sandwich on the go or perhaps a bowl of warm soup. To cater to this eating tradition, there are countless “delis” all over the city where you can dash in and grab a bite to take out for your lunch. One popular trend is to order a freshly-made salad. Many delis are especially-equipped with a glassed-in counter housing a myriad of salad components laid out in bins – carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, beets; you name it, they are all there, for after all, this is New York, where there is something for everyone. You call out your desired ingredients, and a friendly server mixes them up for you, and then packs it up in a plastic bowl for you to take back to your desk. I buy my “compose-your-own” tossed salad from a salad bar on 60th Street at Lexington Avenue. I always eagerly anticipate the selecting of my ingredients to make a salad just as I want it for that particular day. Let’s see, shall I have tofu or chickpeas today? Will I dare to eat some fresh onions? Shall I toss in a few almonds for flair? The events of my day may be running in total chaos, but I can certainly be in control of my salad. At my salad bar, the server behind the counter who assembles all my selected ingredients and tosses them together is a young, rotund black fellow with a smile and accent as broad as the Hudson River. I always enjoy my few minutes with him each day, for his smile seasons the pleasure of the tasty lunch to follow. Today while I was waiting in line, Tony was busy mixing up a salad for the girl in front ...]]> 2011-09-06 02:58:44 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/will-cern-reveal-the-origin-march-april-2013 CERN, the most advanced physics laboratory on earth, announced on July 2012 that they had found a particle that behaved like the Higgs boson, a particle predicted almost 50 years ago to exist. This discovery has brought with it the possibility that the Higgs boson may be responsible for all the mass in the universe and that if it does really exist scientists can unravel the mystery and origins of the universe a little more. Until the 18th century there was no precise distinction between philosophers and scientists. Philosophy and science merged when the ancient philosophers shaped science and improved scientific methods as we know today. Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Avicenna (Ibn-i Sina) and Descartes are a few of the greatest known philosophers in history. Most of the prospering scientists in different disciplines have been inspired by their works. For instance, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilee, Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell and Albert Einstein, all highly regarded physicists, were heavily influenced by the works of ancient philosophers. All of the aforementioned physicists tried to understand the physical laws that governed energy, time, and space. Even now, modern physicists are still trying to answer some of the most important questions: What is the nature of the universe and what is it made of? Are there undiscovered physical laws of nature? Are there extra dimensions of space? How can we solve the mystery of dark energy? Today, in order to understand the composition of matter and how the universe was created, the most prominent particle and high energy physicists are designing huge particle accelerators and detectors. Particle accelerators, also known as atom smashers, are devices that use electromagnetic fields to propel a group of charged particles (ions) to high speeds and collides them with other moving particles or a stationary target composed of a bunch of particles (http://public.web.cern.ch). Particle detectors (radiation detector...]]> 2013-02-26 07:10:39 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/the-gulen-movement-a-shared-bridge-between-the-us-and-islam-march-april-2013 "Life is a shared bridge of “passing over” and “coming back.” It is a passing over to other cultures and faiths, not to disown one’s own heritage, but to come back to incorporate new wisdoms and insight into one’s own worldview. The Gülen Movement is one such bridge." What the religious scholar John Dunne wrote in the 1970s remains true today: What seems to be happening in our world today is what we might call ‘passing over,’ passing over from one culture to another, from one way of life to another, from one religion to another. Passing over is a shifting of standpoint, a going over to the standpoint of another culture, another way of life, another religion. It is followed by equal and opposite process of what we might call ‘coming back,’ coming back with new insight into one's own culture, one's own way of life, one's own religion. The holy man of our time [is] . . . a figure like Gandhi, a man who passes over by sympathetic understanding from his own religion to other religions and comes back again with new insight into his own. Passing over and coming back is the spiritual adventure of our time. (1972, ix) I think that this spiritual adventure of passing over and coming back also occurs in the person of Fethullah Gülen. But more importantly, his passing over and coming back has led to a bridge that makes it possible for the rest of us, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Humanists, to engage in the spiritual adventure of our time. We too can use the “Gülen bridge” to pass over from our standpoint, be it in America as a Christian (as for myself) or from Turkey as a Muslim, as for my new Turkish friends. We can pass over and come back with new appreciation of Islam, a new understanding of the Anatolian culture, and a transformed spirit. Muslims too can be transformed as they pass over into American life and its religious diversity and come back to Islam with a renewed perspective. But I will share how my encounter with this movement and the people invo...]]> 2013-02-26 09:24:43 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/the-solar-eclipse-and-its-fine-balance-march-april-2013 A heavenly spectacle happening every 6585.32 days, lasting up to 7.5 seconds, can be seen along a track 300 kms wide but cannot be observed with the naked eye A solar eclipse is a celestial event that takes place when the moon gets in between the earth and the sun. This event has always caught the attention of mankind since the beginning of time and has always been a matter to ponder upon. For example, why can a lunar eclipse be observed everywhere on earth under the night sky yet seeing a solar eclipse is only limited to a corridor 300 km in diameter? A solar eclipse is dependent upon two conditions: First there needs to be an intersection of a lunar orbit with the earth’s orbital plane; second the phase of the moon at the time needs to be a new moon. Because there are 12 months in a year, one would expect 12 solar eclipses, but a 5 degree difference between orbital planes makes this intersection a less frequent event. The diameter of a lunar shadow on earth during a solar eclipse is only 300 km while the shadow of the earth falls on the moon as wide as 12,000 km in diameter. The sun and the moon, the brightest objects that are most visible to our eyes, are not hanging up there without any purpose. In addition to their many significant effects on our biological, psychological and social conditions, the sun and the moon offer us incredible reasons to be amazed not least during the eclipse when we observe from the earth their complete overlap: a star as big as almost 1.5 million km and a satellite as small as 3,500 km in diameter. The sun and the moon need to be positioned in their orbits with such a precise calculation that this enormous size difference does not get noticed during a solar eclipse by an observer on the ground. This is only possible when both the sun’s and the moon’s distances to the earth are reversely proportioned to their sizes. This fine balance is called “angular diameter” or “visual angle” by scientists. Therefore, in order for...]]> 2013-02-26 09:22:58 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/dawn-comes-in-dreams-march-april-2013 2003-11-12 09:02:38 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/securing-peace-and-democracy-march-april-2013 A consocational democracy is a type of democracy which emphasizes the importance of power-sharing and decision-making among different segments in society. But is consociational democracy the most suitable form of democracy when it comes to establishing lasting peace in post-conflict societies? Consocational democracy addresses problems in democratic state building that result from deep segmentation. These divisions as a result are easily defined and measured where real boundaries (political or otherwise) exist. As a result of these environmental and social conditions there exists a natural tendency for competition and the supporting of ethnically-based parties (Andeweg 2000). The consocational framework is dependent on elite cooperation. This is the centerpiece of the model and is based on the premise that communal violence between groups is often exacerbated by elites so that when these elites have a voice in government, they have a vested interest in maintaining its integrity. Although elite meddling in conflict is the most potent, it is not the only incendiary in inter-group relations (Andeweg 2000). Under the current model where a society has the characteristics necessitating a consocational framework, the sub-groups have two choices: to remain a part of the country or to separate. These two forces pull on individuals of each group in which decisions are often based on various factors. Those societies that do not cooperate are termed “centrifugal.” In this case, the sub-groups emphasize separation over integration. Consocationalism is a top-down integration/cooperation mechanism that seeks to overcome centrifugal forces (Andeweg 2000). Loyaltiyes and state building One of the forces that create these centrifugal tendencies is also one of the characteristics that make communal life possible i.e. group loyalty. According to A.A.M. Kinneging (2004) loyalty, “pertains to a bond that withstands the passing of time and the w...]]> 2012-01-02 09:29:11 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/ynu-your-nature-university-march-april-2013 Today, many grade-school children do not know that milk comes from cows and eggs come from chickens. They think it all comes from the refrigerator. And if it is not there, it comes from mom—and she brings it home from the car. The Texas Nature Project in Mason, Texas, is a program initiated to help such students develop a better relationship with nature and understand that bounties do not come from mom’s small kitchen but rather, the generous kitchen of the All-Merciful and All-Providing, one as broad as the earth. Kelli Angelone interviewed Dr. Sherra Theisen on this project. Since locating to the 100-acre Northpoint Ranch in June of 2006, the project has provided hands-on programming for over 10,000 college students and their families on site, and over 100,000 young Texans through outreach programming. Dr. Theisen also has a book published online The Thoughtful Child's Book of Rhymes with Reason that guides caregivers in helping their children aged 3-12 or so, to work through the kinds of moral dilemmas they already face. Book proceeds support programming for Texas Nature Project. Poetry by Jan Schultz, Illustrations by Sherra Theisen. “Oak trees always make acorns. How do they know? They don’t have to know, but somebody does!” Dr. Sherra Theisen gestures to the landscape just a few hundred yards away. The two of us lounge on the porch behind her big country home in Mason, Texas. My travelling companion drifts comfortably back and forth in Dr. Theisen’s porch swing and our photographers alternate between exploring the property and photographing our conversation. Millie the Beagle can’t decide whether she should lie in Dr. Theisen’s lap or continue making friends with the photographers traipsing around in her yard. Millie’s yard is big enough for all of us. It extends for a hundred acres, and she need not worry that the nice young men might ruin the grass. Most of her ‘yard’ is forested land, with rocks, a stream, cactus, and even a herd of deer ...]]> 2013-03-03 03:02:13 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/how-many-tsunamis-may-i-survive-march-april-2013 Diversity or uncertainty. Beneath all our differences and behind all our diversity is there a unity that binds us together and makes us one human family? Postmodernism includes theories that recognize and aim to create diversity. This creates the following dilemma: to what an extent will this “heterotopia”[1], which allows mixing of nations and classes at all levels, is allowable at the cost of self-degeneration, becoming ethnic oneself or at the risk of cultural extinction? Internationalization of higher education though promoting diversity has failed to define globalization, the norm of this totalitarian approach. While this idealized mixing occurs, it is uncertain to determine how legitimate it is to sacrifice one’s own individuality and cultural identity to receive a global identity, if any. Decline of nation state and territory being immanent, questions are raised whether or not such hollowing state would be able to survive, whether or not governance without government will work after dissolving the nation state. What positive changes entrepreneurial governments will be bringing to the people, and what alternate forms of identity are available if national identity is lost? It seems that uncertainty instead of diversity is prevailing from the eve of post-modernism, thinning the lines between world cultures and societies from day one. In search of “theory of everything,” we have almost forgotten all good and great theories and ideas about everything, leading us to skepticism and unbelief. The challenge of open skepticism tends to create more refusals than acceptance and the objective of higher education fails bitterly here, an objective that is to create a global level of understanding of the universal phenomena and to proceed with a uniform level of evolution of the intellectual mind. Instead of growing intellectual maturity and reflexivity, the symptoms of anxiety and panic and/or withdrawal are prevailing. Is this a healthy sign? Will we be ab...]]> 2013-02-26 00:57:31 http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/seeing-near-a-blessing-we-take-for-granted-march-april-2013 There are so many blessings in life, granted to us free of charge, which we take for granted. Eyesight, being able to see near and far distances, most certainly tops the list. But we do not have to be deprived of our sight in order to understand its wisdom and functioning, and to contemplate upon its true value and worth. Years of research and hard work were dedicated to develop cameras and multi-featured objective lenses. Initially, one to three lens objective cameras were used for simple shots, whereas today, objectives with seven to ten lenses are being used to take better photographs from a snow drop falling onto a flower to a buzzing bee resting on a flower. I wonder to what extent human beings are aware of the pair of eyes that has been bestowed upon them by God, and its ability to see different colors and shapes both near and far. Unfortunately, as people who often understand the true value of things once they are lost, we understand the blessing of being able to see near after the age of forty when we cannot read the newspaper without glasses and when we cannot put a thread through a needle. So why is it that we can still see far after the age of forty but fail to see near? In order to understand this we need to examine the structure of the eye and its functions. The structure of the eye and the ability to see The exterior part of the eye is made up of a translucent layer (cornea) at the front and a white protective layer (sclera) behind it. The vascular layer of the eye (uvea) is located in the middle of the sclera. The most inner part of the eye is made up of the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue responsible for converting light rays into electrical signals. The hole located in the center of the iris, the colored part of the eye, is called the pupil. Behind the pupil is the crystalline lens. For a clear vision, lights reflected from objects need to be focused on the central part of the retina (fovea). While cameras have len...]]> 2013-02-26 09:48:11