Fourth & Inches: Marking the Line of Athletes’ Free Speech (A Colin Kaepernick Inspired Discussion)

This note addresses the ongoing controversial stance that was ignited when Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the United States. The scope of this note does not surround Kaepernick himself, but rather the professional NFL football player in general. Specifically, players are entitled to the full rights of free expression and free speech as human beings and public figures, up and until the line where that right is abused on the field or “on the job,” thereby threatening an increase of injury to the NFL, team owners, and the public interest. With anti-American sentiment growing and only 52% of Americans that are “extremely proud” of their country, it is time to start coming together and it is time to appropriately mark that line aforementioned. Professional football players should have a heightened threshold of professional responsibilities that coincide with their elevated status on the field when performing in uniform, and in their professional setting. Through exploring an athlete’s freedoms of speech and expression under the Constitution and the National Labor Relations Act while simultaneously navigating through the world of player contracts and working conditions under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, this note will portray a potential solution to the growing issue at hand that when multiplied can devastate the mission of the NFL, and effectually change how our nation’s youth perceive this great country. Part II will lay the foundation of this analysis; by first giving the reader an inside look into the NFL’s corporate structure and the interrelations between the NFL League Office, NFL Executive Committee, and team owners. Then I will discuss the NFLPA, the power of unions, and the role of the NFLPA in collective bargaining for the interests of the NFL players. This section will also note the relevant sections of the current 2011 NFL CBA which governs the league. Part III will illustrate a successfully executed demonstration of free speech on the professional sports stage and then introduce the reader to the Kaepernick Stance and its continued effect on our society and popular culture during a major transition of government policy. Here, the facts surrounding the issue will be put on display in a time-line fashion along with notable reactions allowing for the reader to make an independent judgment call for or against the stance and manner at which it has been presented. Furthermore, insight into the impact of social media on political protesting will reveal why the Kaepernick Stance has grown so fast, so quick. Part IV will take the reader back in time and discuss the origins of the National Anthem as well as the right of free expression under the First and Fourteenth Amendment and its continued evolution in terms of its interpretation. Finally Part V will conclude this note with an argument and a proposed solution

A Reflection of “Indonesian Maritime Fulcrum” Initiative: Maritime History and Geopolitical Changes

The announcement of a maritime economic initiative known as the 21st Century Maritime Silk Route (MSR) by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 created a new paradigm shift in the geo-economy and geo-politics of countries in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. With this initiative, China aims to rebuild maritime lines in the seas and oceans where China once was regarded as one of the world's leading powers. In contrast to countries in Southeast Asia, which still hold divergent views on the Chinese initiative, Indonesia sees it as an opportunity to develop regions that have long been marginalized from development. It is in line with the shift in Indonesia’s global economic-political agenda in the 21st century through a doctrine known as "Indonesia as a Maritime Fulcrum," which was initiated by “Jokowi” Widodo and Jusuf Kalla in 2014. Taking into account the importance of this idea in Indonesia's geo-economic and geo-political agenda, this study is to reflect on Indonesia’s history as a global maritime and trade power before it was undermined by the Dutch occupation. In addition, using historical approach, this study aims to see and evaluate how the idea of "Indonesia as a Maritime Fulcrum" can restore Indonesia’s reputation as a major maritime power in the Southeast Asian archipelago

Heterogeneity and Baul Spirituality: The Songs of Baul Taskir Ali in Bangladesh

This article briefly explores the contemporary heterogeneous song-texts of Taskir Ali (popularly known as Baul Taskir) from Sunamgonj, in the district of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Bauls are nomadic communities in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, and they express their profound spiritual philosophy and thoughts through their songs and performance. Taskir Ali belongs to the Baul school of thoughts in Sylhet known as the dhamail. His musical creations address, explore, satirize, investigate, and protest against many historical and contemporary social issues in Bangladesh. The short analysis of his songs in this paper present a variety of aesthetics addressing materialism, eco-centrism, secularism, patriotism, and son forth. Baul tradition and culture are the central features of folklore in Bangladesh, and Taskir Ali’s songs represent the fundamental aspects of diverse and inclusive spiritualties of South Asian oral literature and music

Art: The Spiritual Path to God

Art has long been a means of expression that serves to create aesthetic works and as a spiritual path that connects the individual to the transcendental dimension and God. In Islam, art has a vital role as a medium for achieving closeness to God, where works such as calligraphy, geometric art, and mosque architecture serve as decoration and meditative and reflective means. The background of this research is the increasingly strong influence of materialism and commercialization in modern art, which has led to the loss of spiritual dimension in artworks. This article uses literature study methodologies and case studies to explore how art remains relevant as a spiritual path in traditional and modern contexts. In the literature study, the author examines works that discuss the relationship between art and spirituality in the Islamic tradition and the contribution of Islamic art in strengthening awareness of God. The results of this study show that although the modern art world is often focused on the commercial aspect, art still has excellent potential to be a spiritual means that can connect individuals with God, personally and collectively. Contemporary Islamic art, through digital technology and interactive media, has managed to create an immersive and immersive spiritual experience for its connoisseurs

Muslim Women’s Right to Divorce and Gender Equality Issues in Bangladesh: A Proposal for Review of Current Laws

In Bangladesh, sharia law goes hand in hand with the statutory laws of the land. These laws are both conjointly used to regulate and monitor the issues of divorce among Muslims of the country. Orthodox Islamic laws provide husbands with the authority of issuing divorce or talaq to their wives known as Talaq-e-Tawfiz (popularly known as tawfiz) in the kabinnama (the written document of the contract of marriage). Women’s power to exercise the tawfiz, however, depends solely on the will of their husbands. Although Muslim women are capable of repudiating their marriages by the process of khula or mubarat, these are only executable under the free consent of their husbands. Also, the statutory laws of Bangladesh address Muslim women’s right to the dissolution of marriage by the intervention of the court, only under several grounds. The traditional interpretation of sharia law and the statutory laws of the country are both unwilling to establish Muslim women’s absolute right to renounce marriage as with their male counterparts. Current research reveals that this violation of gender equality and women’s rights generates female subordination in society and gives birth to numerous socio-legal complications

Joseph Von Hammer-Purgstall'ın Almanca konuşulan dünyada şarkiyatçılığın yükselişine katkısı

The contact with “oriental” languages started in the 17th century in Europe. The interconnection of history, culture, geography, language, and literature of the Orient has especially caught the attention of the European bourgeoise and travellers. In specific, the German-speaking world of the 17th century was mainly interested in the Persian culture. The focus of this paper is to highlight the contributions of the Austrian diplomat, orientalist, historian, and translator Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, who can be regarded as the pioneer of Orientalism and Turcology in the Occident as well as a bridge-builder between East and West. He did not only teach famous historians and Orientalists such as Friedrich Schütz, Karl Bellino and Ulrich Seetzen, and inspired Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, but also introduced the Orient and in specific the Ottoman Empire to the West: a unique contribution of a European Orientalist who wrote about the Orient while having close relationships to people from the Orient.Avrupa'da şarkiyatın dilleri ile temas 17. yüzyılda başlamıştır. Doğu'nun tarihi, kültürü, coğrafyası, dili ve edebiyatı arasındaki bağlantı, en çok Avrupa burjuvası ve gezginlerin dikkatini çekmiştir. Özellikle, 17. yüzyılın Almanca konuşulan dünyası Fars kültürü ile ilgileniyordu. Bu makalenin odak noktası, Batı'da Şarkiyatın ve Türkolojinin öncüsü ve Doğu ile Batı arasında bir köprü kurucusu olarak bilinen Avusturyalı diplomat, oryantalist, tarihçi ve tercüman Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall'ın katkılarını vurgulamaktır. Hammer-Purgstall Friedrich Schütz, Karl Bellino ve Ulrich Seetzen gibi ünlü tarihçilere ve şarkiyatcılara sadece öğretmekle kalmadı, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe'ye de ilham kaynağı oldu. Kendisi aynı zamanda bir Avrupalı Şarkiyatcı olarak eşsiz bir katkı sunmuştur: doğu'dan insanlarla yakın ilişkiler içindeyken, doğu'yu ve özellikle Osmanlı İmparatorluğunu Batı'ya tanıttı

Writing matters: in conversation with Dr. Mohammad A. Quayum

Interview session between Sikhandin with Dr.Mohammad A. Quayum discussing on various aspects of South and Southeast Asian literature