Culture

Alice in Wonderland is on the surface a childrens' story by Lewis Carroll.

Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel by William Golding, expressing his view that society is just a thin layer of civility disguising the real savagery of humans.It also has themes on how when two opposing forces, one of good, and the other of evil, it is very hard to convince the masses to follow the good one, and that they often succumb to the rhetoric of evil.

• Summary of Lord of the Flies

Brave New World is a novel by Aldous Huxley, and is yet another dystopian society where there are predefined 'castes/classes' that humans fit in due to them being "manufactured" that way. Mind control is done via the consumption of Soma, and brain washing is used to keep every caste in its place.

• Summary of Brave New World
• Full Text of of Brave New World

Animal Farm by George Orwell depicts how oppression and injustice unites the oppressed to overthrow their master, but after a revolution against injustice, a few usurp it to their own benefit. Then the masses are in the same misery after the revolution much as they were in before, replacing the old oppressors with new ones, their ex-brothers in arms.This was a critique of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party after the overthrow of the Tsar of Russia.

The novel 1984 by George Orwell is popular today as it was decades ago.

Recently, I bought an oil painting that just looked good. Now I am curious about the artist, and where is the place in the picture actually is.

The Veiled al-Muqanna al-Kindi's name is Muhammad ibn Thufar ibn 'Umair ibn Abi Shammar al-Kindi al-Hadrami محمد بن ظفر بن عمير بن أبي شمر الكندي الحضرمي. A famed poet, died in 70 A.H.

The hexagram, or six sided star is known today as an exclusively Jewish symbol. This has not always been the case though. In this article, we discuss what other faiths and cultures it has represented over the millenia.

Back in 1985, I visited St. Louis, Missouri. There was an annual fair by the name: VP Fair, or the 'Veiled Prophet Fair'. Although this is a fun fair with little historical roots, there is indeed history behind it, because the Veiled Prophet was a true historical figure.

Note: If you are looking for al-Muqanna al-Kindi the poet المقنع الكندي الشاعر please check our page on him.

Two commonly used names for Arabs in movies or in popular cultures are 'Abu' and 'Abdul'. These terms are incorrectly used. Read below to see why.