Hasan A. Yahya, Professor of Philosophy

Do philosophers joke? May be, but for a purpose.  Readers sometimes need a joke or something makes them laugh. Here is one, I kept for a long time shows the difference among East and West mentality. The story says:

Three people were sentenced to death by the electric machine. American, a German and an Arab (Bin Laden). The executer ask the American convict:

-          We have two methods for execution, the sword or the electric machine, which one you prefer.

-          By electric machine. They introduce him to the electric machine, and tried to make it work. It did not. It was not functional. The executer released him for (the may) be innocence. The executer asked the German convict:

-          Which of the two methods you prefer, the sword of the electric machine.

-          (He and Arab guy were observing what happened to the American guy) the electric machine, the German quickly responded. The executer released the German convict, for possible innocence, and the machine might be fairer than the court.

When (Bin Laden) the Arab man turn came to be executed, he jumped immediately and said loudly:

-          (Before you ask me, which method I prefer, I choose the sword.) The crowd (audience) in the chamber of execution shouted to save him.

-          Hay Bin,  choose the electric machine. The electric machine. But the Arab convict answered the audience, angrily, twice, and proudly, (he put his both hands around his mouth) and shouted loudly:

-          The electric machine does not work. The electric machine doesn't work.

I wonder, if we ask truly Bin Laden these days, if Americans caught him,  convicted him, and gave the orders to execute him. Would he choose the sword or the electric machine?  The question is so easy to answer if you were attending the execution, right! I think bin Laden's answer may will be the same answer of the Arab guy in the Joke. Because all other means to catch him failed, so he might surrender himself to show the west, how much Arab-Muslims are  bravene.

If we apply the same argument about what is right and what is wrong in the three men cases, from Arabic and Islamic point of view, the westerners (the German was smart to use his mind and choose the electric machine to save himself as the American did. In the case of the Arab, he did use his mind also, but he supported the idea which shows  the audience that he is a brave Arab man. So he chose the sword. I don't know how much this can be applied to the Arab renaissance plans! (510 words) www.askdryahya.com

About the Author:
Dr. Hasan A. Yahya is a writer, scholar, and professor of philosophy,  graduated from Michigan State University with  2 Ph.d degrees. He published 53 books plus (40 Arabic and 13 English), and 240 plus articles on sociology, religion, psychology, politics, poetry, and short stories. Philosophically, his writings concern logic, justice and human rights worldwide. Dr. Yahya is the author of Crescentologism: The Moon Theory,  and  Islam Finds its Way, on Amazon. He's an expert on Race Relations and Arab and Islamic cultures, he is also, interested in religion, world affairs and  global strategic planning for justice. www.dryahyatv.com