Footprints Filmworks Boss Speaks Out

BaBy Steps
29 January 2009
by Sumaya Hassim

W H O w o u l d of taught that spending eight hours per day in school could earn you the Footprints Filmworks January 2009 award.

"I've always had a larger than life approach towards life" she says.
"Achieving eight straight A's in matric sometimes puts pressure on you to do more, to do better, to be the best and to be a positive difference to our community." she says.

Fiona Nay(18) who is currently an FHM model plans to study aviation and astronomy at the University of Johannesburg.


Unfortunately, the footprints team cannot disclose any photographs of Fiona Nay at this time as it might disturb sensitive viewers.


"I have always taken my grandmother, my mother and my sisters as my role models. Sometimes I would burn the midnight oil putting in eight hours in one night completing an assignment due in for the next day. My friends in school would take me as their competition of who comes out first in class, but I say, I am Fiona and I choose to be the best."


Nay attended Crawford College in Johannesburg where she met with the high and mighty of the South African youth and says that it's unfortunate that private schools these days lack the present "Ordinary student" as the youth is well diversified. Private schools, she says, is very much different from the public schools that South Africa offer. Private schools in my opinion is much more personal, as compared to public schools.



Personality Of The Year for Footprints Filmworks Dr Mahmood Khan (81) was unavailable for comment as he had the flew. However, his PA Sakeena Joosub said that he would give Fiona a call to congratulate her on her award.


Fiona Nay describes the current life in South Africa as third world lacking natural resources and entrepreneurship, stimulus plans and promises by government officials not being kept, the selling of the JSE to an outside investor, the crumbling state of unemployment in our community of South Africa, and OH YEAH where are the hot guys hiding?



Managing Director for FF Omar Abdulla(25) said in a brief statement that he was "thrilled" Fiona could join the footprints team on their expedition of producing Footprints In South Africa.


"Having our FHM Models play a small role in Footprints In South Africa would make the film both entertaining and educational to our viewers and readers. Perhaps our community of South Africa will have a basic idea of the youth roaming the streets these days."


When the footprints team asked Fiona about her personal life she says that the amount of decent, daring, courageous and confident men out there is declining.

"I would love once just to be called sexy, other than cute" she laughs.



"It's so difficult to find someone to love me, to protect me, to guide me, and to appreciate me for who I AM. Most men these days are only interested in one thing. I think that when I find the right guy I will marry him, as long as he makes me smile, give me butterflies in my tummy and OH YEAH he must know how to spoil me."



October 2008 Champ for Footprints Filmworks Fatima Asmal(35) said that one should maintain and preserve, protect and love, cherish and understand, trust and respect your loved ones in order to grow any type of relationship.


Fun Facts about Miss Fiona Nay include painting with lipstick, forest fires, attending weddings and Hmmmm...


When asked what advice would she give to future A Grade students in South Africa she says "Always remain passionate, ambitious, energetic and creative. I have always had a buzzing bee type of personality, and I intend to use it towards my dreams and desires."



A Story that I would like to share to your audience she says" In School I was this nerdy type of girl that no one would notice, then one day I Woke up and said, Fiona, this is not the way you should lead your life, It's time to change, It's time to make a positive difference to our community."



"And here I am today winning this footprints award."







Footprints Filmworks is an investment company that invests in internet media, print media, text media, film and distribution. The company was originally created by Omar Abdulla to become a leading FILM Production company that PROMOTES INDO ASIANS Of South Africa to the world. Footprints Filmworks is currently opening up offices in Europe and The Americas. The company is currently investing in interactive and gaming media

To FEAR Love is to Fear Life Itself
by http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com

It is said that when one loves another the joining of hearts form an embrace
to last an eternity. Love, which plays a vital role in couples lives form the
foundation to keep things simple and beautiful.


As Parents, as children, as
mothers and as fathers we always have that "Special" feeling for our loved ones.

--FF News Advert--

The relationships that we encountered yesterday, today, tomorrow and the future
leave footprints in our lives that perhaps changes our thoughts, our ideas, our
perceptions and our viewpoints about the people we love.


Footprints Filmworks your favorite community paper always
puts that little extra effort when we release our "Champ of the month"
Stories from all over South Africa flooded our mailboxes, email
addresses, telephone lines and post boxes telling us to post their "I love you"
messages on our forums.

The story that was well written and well told becomes
our champ.

As the Month of May is our Footprints Filmworks Couple of the
month
this is a tale that tells of perpetual bliss, never-ending passion, bubbly
personalities and buzzing heart moments. Time, Space, Matter and Energy WILL
ALWAYS play a vital role in showing ones affection to ones loved one.

The F O U R
variables mentioned could perhaps be a blueprint to follow in leading an
awesome lifestyle with good children, passionate lovemaking, fancy Ferrari's and
beautiful homes.

I would know what I'm taking about as I have been married for thirty years.
In this thirty years I have grown up Eight Children, Survived with my husbands
bad habits, lead my own personal business and well lets just say I'm still
surviving. The day he proposed to me perhaps changed my life in many respects. I
was a dropout from the University of Wits studying my Law Degree, and here came
Prince Charming on his white horse who swept we away.

I am from a humble Indian
community and my husband is from a wealthy cocoa merchant family. We had dreams
and desires that we went through and challenges that we faced.In
Todays Times the Barbie doll wives have no clue of what it means to be
a wife. All they interested in is quick meals with no love, slap dash
lovemaking, untrained lectures to their children and moaning and groaning to get
the latest clothes in the market.

--Footprints Chrome Advert--

Although I have been married for 30 years my husband is quite the Romeo who
flirts with his office staff, plays stupid games with me to win my attention,
prank call me during my busy day at home and sometimes he even tries to bully me
into doing things I would normally never do. Indian wives perhaps have
some waking up to do when it comes to showing their love to their loved ones. I
have many of my friends who complain to me how bad their husbands are, and even
worse they try to compare their husbands to my husband.


My husband would
probably drown them when it comes to love.
It took me almost one year to make my decision to marry him. I received many
proposals from people showing interest in me, but hey, why should I complain, I
am happy, I am smiling, I am enthusiastic and and I am successful.


Growing up
our eight children was a mission on its own as the bunch of brats always needed
my attention for small things which perhaps limited my growth as a person.



Glancing through the list of Champs on the Footprints Filmworks
website I was thrilled by the fact that famous faces including Nazeer
Noormohamed, Yusuf Abramjee, Afsana Gani and Sakeena Joosub were mentioned. The
story about the Imaam impressed me as I always send my husband to this Imaam to
check him up if he is cheating or doing things that I would normally never
approve off.


I took my husband, lets call him Mr. X to this Imaam who handed my
husband a "Thavis" which is a religious necklace that watches over him twenty
four hours per day. This was because I would know what he is up to as well
as keeping a "watchful eye" on him.
I don't mean to bully my husband but s o m e t i m e s I have to take matters
in my own hand. This fancy new era of love is long lost. My secrets of loving my
husband include saying "I Love You" everyday, putting that extra effort into his
wellbeing and health, making sure that the children do their homework before
bed, and OH YEAH looking desirable for him even though I am 50 years.

--http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com Advert--

When I spoke to Managing Director for Footprints Filmworks Omar
Abdulla he was amazed by the mere fact that one woman can bear eight
children. He laughed and joked with me asking me secrets that I would never
share.

Perhaps the Ubuntu teaching of South Africa he should read to get a better idea of
what
I'm talking about.
What I learnt in my thirty years of marriage is always stick with your
partner, through the dark days, through the sunny days, through the rainy days
and even through the tough times.


We have always had money in our bank accounts
and sometimes we feel that we should spoil ourselves as well. We got so caught
up bringing our children up, we sometimes lost focus on our love. Our love,
which is our foundation for our marriage is practiced everyday to ensure
appreciation of our love.


At one stage I walked out on my husband, just to teach
him a lesson if he can survive without me. You wont believe how fast the
puppydog came running to me.


As my duty as a community person, I feel that it is my duty to empower the
youth of tomorrow with my wisdom, ideologies, weird remarks and writing to try
to influence the community in a positive direction.


Perhaps not all mothers,
wives, husbands and fathers will agree with the way I lead my family, my home,
my community and my friends, but what I can say is I have done my best.

Footprints Filmworks--FF News--The Presidential Box--July 2009

by http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com

Page 1

This is a F O U R Page FF News Brief Bulletin so the footprints team suggests that you be nice and relaxed when viewing this bulletin. This is an Exclusive Interview with dictator President who lead Cuba for 50 years Mr. Fidel Ruz Catro.

Mr. Fidel Castro has been President of Cuba since 1959 and retired in 2006 due to a severe illness that lead to reports that he died. Mr. Fidel Castro has been known as one of the Worlds Greatest Leaders according to Voters on Today's Times Magazine. Mr. Fidel Castro is leader of the communist lead country Cuba and lead the Cuban Communist Party for more than 30 years. Mr. Fidel Castro has lead Cuba with Staunch belief systems about the country including free education, free health care, free public transportation and free advertising in all major newspapers in Cuba.







XXX President Fidel Ruz Castro XXX

Cuba in reality in an island just off the coast of Mexico and occupies S P A C E off one quarter that of South Africa with a population of 15 million Cubans. Cuba has a mixed culture of Spanish, Brazilians, Mexicans and Americans. Cuba is known as "The Honeymoon Haven" hosting tourists who choose to escape for a little while once they get married. Cuba is a Caribbean island with strong investments into Sugar cane plantations, development of fighter jets , media communications and tourism.

When the footprints team arrived in Cuba in July 2009 scheduled to inteview Mr. Fidel Castro, his brother Raul stopped the footprints team and said that Mr. Fidel Castro is too ill to accept any interviews. However, when the footprints team met with Castro at Havana Radio Offices in Cuba, he seemed frail and bleak and asked Abdulla to bring "Le Peso Montier" with.

"Le Peso Montier" was a history book that contained all the information about world leaders that Cuba has, including past, present, future and beyond. Among the names in this so- called"Le Peso Montier" was Batista, General Ruz Castro, Pedro De Niz, Sussanah De Silva, Omar Abdulla, Sakeena Joosub, Raul Castro and Liama Kells.

When the footprints team researched these so-called Cuban leaders, we discovered that the major community centre's in Cuba including Haina, Havana, San Tiago and San Mariana were experiencing waste dumping and electricity cuts in the community due to the neglect from the current Raul Castro government.

When Managing Director for Footprints Filmworks Omar Abdulla met with the bearded Castro at Havana Radio Offices in Cuba, Castro said that the interview should be quick and spotty and discuss issues not only of Cuban Culture, but of American Culture.

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--The Footprints Filmworks Foundation--

http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com

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Footprints Filmworks--FF News--The Presidential Box--July 2009

Page 2

When the footprints team spoke to the 81 year old Castro he coughed and sneezed and constantly asked for his medical prescriptions. Castro who said that his 50 years investment into Cuba paid off because the community at large realized his efforts of growth aimed at the right people in government and everyday citizens.

A local listener on Havana Radio, Nicholas West, asked Castro what his involvement is in the Cuban government currently stating that Cubans have lost interest in the current Raul Castro government and stating that the current government will probably be overthrown by U. S or U.S.S.R allies.

Castro responded to the callers remarks by saying that the current Cuban government is lead well, amiss, the constant hurricanes and floods.

"We can control our thoughts, we can control our energies, we can control our power, but we cannot control the call of mother nature." Castro said.





XXX Cuba XXX

After taking a few more calls on Radio Havana, a few business advertisements including Pepsi, Coke, FF News and Ferrari rocked Radio Havana.

Off air, Castro told Abdulla that he did not like the limelight and that we should visit him at home once we done with the interview. Castro who told Abdulla that his speech notes, key note addresses, post cards from American Presidents and other Cuban reading material was available at his home in Havana.

After the advertisements on Radio Havana, Abdulla questioned Castro about the history of Cuban lead government and the challenges that future presidents face.

"I knew Barack Obama would be the first African American to uphold the American Flag. The day I saw him on CNBC chanting American dreams to the greater American people convinced me that he would be the future president. It is unfortunate that Barack Obama has forgotten what the American dream is all about. Obama has gotten too involved in the glitter and glamour affairs of the presidency, that he has forgotten what the American Dream is all about" Castro added.



After the radio interview with Abdulla on Radio Havana, Castro told Abdulla to meet him at home in two hours as he was going to buy a few Cuban Cigars and continue discussions on the current Cuban government and its history.

When the footprints team met with Castro at his Havana Home in Havana, Castro showed the footprints team a list of community projects that he was involved in including, Newspaper Clippings, Trophies of Achievements, Presidential Minutes and Recent email certificates. Castro who said that the current Cuban government was in "Safe Hands" of his brother Raul.



XXX Cuban Cigars XXX

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The Footprints Filmworks Foundation-http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com



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Footprints Filmworks--FF News--The Presidential Box--July 2009

Page 3

Castro continues by saying that the Cuban government lead by himself was lead with a profile of keeping to key policies in the government and keeping to key profiles of government members.

"When your key community people do not support you, you have a problem. When I overthrew Batista at the Battle of the Barracks in 1976, Cubans learnt, that my policies and profiles always pan out."





Cuban Flag Sussanah De Silva Omar Abdulla

Although Castro spent several years in Exile in Mexico, he says that the step away from Cuba, broadened his landscape of vision and creation.

"When I stepped away from Cuba, I got to realize how many changes can take place for the better of our country, for the better of our people, for the better of our foes and for the better of our international leaders." Castro said.

Whilst I was offered a cup of traditional Cuban Coffee at Mr. Fidel Castro's home, he continued our conversation by saying that the current Cuban government is well organized and lead, amid, the constant bullying from the United States regarding forced links of exports from the United States to Cuba.

"Cuba has remained an underdog in the world economy and support from other countries is always welcome. A few years back, the Cuban government lead a stokveld initiative aimed at growing the country beyond our borders." Castro added.

Castro added by saying that the stokveld initiative was an initiative that aimed at bringing Super Power countries together and creating leaders amongst worldwide governments. According to Castro the stokveld initiative was a campaign lead by President George Bush and sixteen other nations that included a yearly deposit of 100 million dollars in a Swiss Banking account used for the empowerment and growth of the countries of first, second, third and fourth world countries.

The stokveld initiative which was a yearly payout of 1.5 billion dollars to the country that was chosen in the magic hat of governments. Once a year, this balloon stokveld amount would be awarded to the country that required the most assistance and leadership.

Castro elaborated the importance of current governments around the world including France, South Africa, Britain and Australia to aid poorer countries in terms of education, military financing, development of transportation and health services.

When asked by Abdulla who Castro admires and "looks up to" he comments by saying that people around the world and people who live in villages and societies should "look up to" their own local community leaders for empowerment and growth.

"When I visited South Africa in 1984, the current government was lead well, and impressed me. P W Botha and his team lead a combined effort of keeping the country in bay. In my opinion the South African apartheid government was far more superior and organized as compared to the current South African government" Castro adds.

Castro concluded our meeting by saying that when he met the footprints team earlier in the day he was not interested in sharing his ideas about the future governments because he felt that current governments lead by Politian's was not in his hands.

"We as older or senior leaders have had our hay day, and our share of the piece of the pie. Now it's time for leaders including, Barack Obama, Hosni Mubarak, Omar Abdulla and Nicholas Sarkozy to lead from the front" Castro concluded.

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The Footprints Filmworks Foundation--http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com

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Footprints Filmworks--The Presidential Box--July 2009--

Page 4

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The Footprints Filmworks Foundation--http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com

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FF News: The Presidential Box--December 2025 2009/10/06 02:23 Karma: 1
Page 1
Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News—
This is an E I G H T Page FF News Brief Bulletin so the footprints team suggests that you be nice and relaxed when viewing this bulletin. This is an Exclusive Interview with South Africa’s golden president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr. Omar Abdulla. Mr. Omar Abdulla is president of South Africa since 2023 and his serving his second year in office after serving on the 447 member South African government as Minister of Finance. Mr. Omar Abdulla is President of South Africa based on his overwhelming support from the South African community clinching 81 percent of the more than 50 million voters in South Africa. Mr. Omar Abdulla is known as “The Playboy President” earning this title after dating some of the most gorgeous women in the world. Mr. Omar Abdulla is known as the World’s Greatest President according to voters on Today’s Times Magazine.



South Africa the country occupies S P A C E that of France, Spain, England and Northern Asia. South Africa is rated the fifth most popular country in the world after the United States, India, China and Brazil. South Africa is known as “The Honeymoon Haven” hosting tourists who choose to escape once they get married. South Africa is rated as one of the most beautiful countries in the world according to voting polls on FF News.

South Africa-The country occupies the Southern Tip of Africa and is bounded by South West Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland and by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans- West and East. South Africa entirely surrounds Lesotho and partially surrounds the F O U R black states of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. (Before their independence)

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

The Country’s history stretches 250 000 years where President of South Africa Paul Kruger and The Great trek had their tug of war on land and commercial properties. The country has long been plagued by foreigners who choose to escape from their daily chores and choose to relax in South Africa’s warm climate. The Country has long been raising eyebrows in local communities regarding forced links between Footprints allies and ANC Nationalists. The Country is rated as a country of national pride, accelerated growth, ever-growing technology and increasing national interest.



As the year is 2025 many local communities are creating havoc as many people choose to have their say about the country as a whole. A local listener on SABC Radio Richie Valens said that South Africa should look at growth internally rather than externally. South Africa which has the first teleport service which allows listeners from anywhere in the world to show their interest in the country can dial 911 and can speak to President of South Africa or whoever’s name they type in the database immediately, via voice prompts.


Valens asked Abdulla what he thought about the current Economic Stimulus Plan, currently stating that the South African economy was overleveraged and that financing from other countries should be opted out.
The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com


Page 2
--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News
Abdulla responded to Valens statement by saying that South Africa was in a trade surplus due to the leveraging policy whereby government Reserve Banks lends money to other Reserve Banks at no interest charge. Abdulla added by saying that lending the money to other countries was a policy that created “Friendly Ties” amongst nations, both locally and internationally.


When Valens asked Abdulla what this meant he said that the community of South Africa was in “Friendly Ties” with second and third world countries to force barter deals and trade deals.

While on channel 911 another caller Sakeena Joosub asked Abdulla what he thought would be the longer term growth of South Africa including growth in terms of improvement of facilities for correctional services, improvement of facilities in the Laudium community, improvement of facilities in the greater Gauteng area and improvement of facilities in the medical centers.
Abdulla responded to Joosub’s remarks stating that the current Economic community was in tatters due to the neglect from the current South African Reserve Bank.


“South Africa has become a country like Japan. We cannot print more money because the country does not need money; the country needs support from our neighbors to sell our assets. The asset value of South Africa is valued at R700 trillion rand, yet if she shed 10 percent of our asset value we would generate double the income from our country’s partners. “Abdulla responded.


Abdulla has long been admired by both South African government nationalists and international allies. He has served on the United Nations Board as Executive Director and served his five years required to study at the footprints university. As South African’s once the student has passed their 12 grade examination, it is compulsory for them to study at any of the 9600 footprints universities in South Africa.
Although Mr. Omar Abdulla is serving his second year in office as President of South Africa, he is challenged by a group of Muslim Businessmen aiming at sabotaging his term in office and his businesses. At a failed assassination attempt on Inauguration day October 25 2023 Abdulla escaped unharmed and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he lived with Allah’s Grace.

--FF News Advert--



Whilst in office he is constantly challenged by Bantu and Shona rebels aiming at forcing him to make decisions that he would normally never approve off.

At a recent rally in Church Street thousands of protestors took to the streets to the offices of the presidency claiming that Members of Parliament were “Eating more than Sharing.” What this term meant in South African Parliament was that the law was not playing its tune to country citizens. According to South African Law citizens who do not earn an income for three years will be banished to neighboring Madagascar.
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The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.comPage 3


Page 3





--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News--
President of South Africa Omar Abdulla said that the “Eating more than Sharing” was a law just newly introduced that aimed at keeping South Africans “At Home, and At Peace.” According to the “Eating more than Sharing” law South Africans would need to live with a minimum of four people per household. Newly-wed couples, homeless people, nomads, and orphans will be taken in what is called the “The House of Cards.”
“The House of Cards” is the first of its kind ever created in South Africa and is financed by The Old Mutual Group of Companies, South African Airways, Pick and Pay and Footprints Filmworks. “The House of Cards” is a development organization that aims at creating leadership for inspiring Managing Directors, Business personnel, previously disadvantaged South African’s and people who choose to learn from the grapevine. For those persons who pose no income they can join the “The House of Cards” which is a weekly payout of R5000.00 per week to the individual seeking a job. The department that the employee works for instructs the employee the chores that he or she should adhere to.


Current Managing Director of “The House of Cards” Zakkiyyah Adamjee said that throughout South Africa the “The House of Cards” was working well with South African citizens. We have more than 50 000 people who have joined us in the last year and it’s improving day by day.
“The House of Cards” is in no competition with a similar concept of the footprints university Adamjee added. The footprints university is a free five year university to all South Africans, whilst “The House of Cards” employs those graduates who choose to enhance their skills further. Adamjee continued by saying that the R50 billion rand initiative was co-sponsored by the government through tax incentives and interest bearing accounts.



The South African community which has 10 million homes with 80 percent of them leveraged through any of the big F O U R banks has been experiencing down faults due to local council municipalities not keeping up to their deal.


The country employs more than 35 million people in sectors of financing, services, manufacturing and developing, technology synopsis, mining and agriculture, youth education and training, military programs, and many other sectors encapsulating a net growth of 25 percent on GDP per annum.

The seven hundred and eighty six sectors of the job sector of South Africa is led by Minister of Interrelationships Jacob Pheledi who has held this title since 2020. Pheledi(58) said that the Job sector of South Africa was in “Safe Hands” and that job hunting among South Africans was easy as the amount of employment agencies had increased by 12 percent since 2020.


--Footprints Filmworks Champion Cars Advert--

“To find a job that pays well is easy to find in South Africa. The problem lies with employees who choose to change their jobs every five years. This makes it difficult for the South African Interrelation community as jobs are quickly shuffled around to improve service delivery and efficiency.” Pheledi said.
The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com

Page 4
--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News—
The Exclusive Interview held with me and President of South Africa Omar Abdulla was to be held at the Union Building’s on November 11 2025. I was told to meet him at 8:00 am at the Union Buildings National Gardens. My name is Jessica Knowles and this is my story with meeting with one of the most admired leaders of our time.



When I met with Abdulla at 8:00 am, one of his wives accompanied him for a morning jog and breakfast at the Tuscan Union Buildings. Initially, Abdulla laughed at the questions I posed to him, telling me that I should put my pen and paper away, and that I should join them on their daily morning jog. I was a bit surprised a President who led an economy of R700 trillion rand could be so funky and accommodating.
Abdulla answered a question I posed to him earlier about the South African Crime rate, stating that crime had become something of the past for South Africans. Abdulla said that the South African crime rate had dropped by more than 60 percent in the last ten years, due to the improvement of facilities for policemen and the correct method of “Household Hands”



“Household Hands” was a campaign invented by Minister of Safety and Defense Yusuf Smith that aimed at keeping criminals on guard. The “Household Hands” was an initiative that joined murderers, killers, money launderers and policemen to fight crime. According to the eight grade of criminals that prowl South African streets and prisons all grades from 3-8 were to be killed execution style or hanged. This law adapted from the Arabian community is similar to the death penalty; the only difference is that criminals are graded upon the crimes they commit. All 0-2 grade crimes and criminals were to be set free from prison and free to go home, to start fresh.



Abdulla said that the “Household Hands” law took some time for government officials to pass, but in the long run it has paid off. In 2010 every three minutes two crimes had been committed in South Africa, today we have an average of 15 crimes per day, which is a major drop from 2010.


Although, Abdulla, myself and his wife had been jogging for 30 min, we stopped for 10 min to have a glass of water, whereby he said, Jessica what I’m about to tell you might change your life.
And I said, what is it that you have to tell me that can change my life, Mr. President.
I remember he came close to me and said, I was never this close to my dreams and goals. There was a stage in my life where my family, personal friends, The South African government and even my own Ministers sabotaged and protested against me.



When I asked Abdulla what this meant he said that when he became President of South Africa in 2023, a group of angry protesters took 500 000 copies of his bestselling memoir “My father, the president” and burnt it in Soweto, Secunda, Laudium and Lenasia. This motivated me that the world and the people who occupy the space they live in, don’t keep up to their words.


The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 5


--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News—
Abdulla added by saying that the community of South Africa does not appreciate the work that he and his 447 member Parliament does.


“Our government and people have become selfish when it comes to our country. What happened to the days where we had patriots and strong hearted men who walked our streets? When Madiba died in 2010, the country found itself anew in terms of globalization and commitment to our citizens” Abdulla said.
Although Abdulla has been President of South Africa for only two years, his greatest success was achieving the treasured goal of listing his blueprint company Footprints Filmworks on all major stock exchanges in the world. As a local tabloid paper read:




“A millionaire at 21, A billionaire at 30, A Superstar Celebrity, at 35, A President of a country, at 40”


After the morning jog, Abdulla asked to have lunch at the Union Building’s Hotel. He told me that he was going to buy a few Cuban Cigars and continue discussions on the South African community and its leaders.
At the Hotel Café at around 11: 25am a flying helicopter F-18 comes to pick us up as Mr. Abdulla has a meeting in Cape Town with the Minister of Transport and Aviation Mandy White. I was asked to join him for the day as I am busy producing a documentary on his life. His wives who are sisters were asked to join him on the trip.

--Todays Times Advert0--


I was surprised that Mr. Abdulla had two wives who lived and travelled with him.
When we arrived in the country’s Capital, Western Cape, I was greeted by Mandy White who said that all harbors, flights, tube train stations and air tubes in the country had been stalled as the power shortage from generators were too busy. According to White the country’s power generators had caused the power shortage. South Africa which is one of the highest producers of natural power was currently experiencing “Sunbeam Radiation and Radioactivity.”



“Sunbeam Radiation and Radioactivity” was a natural element in the sky that caused all power to cut off. According to the myth this technology was invented by “The Illumanti”. The “Sunbeam Radiation and Radioactivity” technology was eco-friendly and causes the earth to require Maximum Potential. What this meant is that when the Sun, Earth, Moon and Jupiter were parallel to each other, “Sunbeam Radiation and Radioactivity” takes over. According to “The illumanti” when all these elements are parallel to each other, all ozone cleansing takes place. This meant that although the country might be out of power for a day, all skin diseases and natural diseases including Cancers, HIV Positive patients, mentally instable people, and ordinary patients would be cured.

This was a legend that I read about in South African history and perhaps today was the day that I would find out what is: “Sunbeam Radiation and Radioactivity”

The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com


Page 6
Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News--

“Jessica, I need to make an urgent call” Abdulla called out.
I was a bit surprised Mr. President of South Africa wanted to make a call at this time when the city was out of power. After about half an hour, he returned and said:
“Sorry, I cannot use my mobile; I had to place a bet.”
“A bet, about what?” I asked.


“If I’m right I can double the Country’s reserve in this day.” Abdulla said.
I did not know what this meant, or what sought of code this was, but I could see that the power shortage in the country had caused him to become frail and bleak.


I am a journalist for a local newspaper, and at this time I felt like calling my boss and telling him that I was stuck with the President of South Africa for the entire day. I was so excited to get to know the Man behind the mask of the media.


--Footprints in South Africa Advert--


It was already 2: pm and still the power in the country was off, and I could see that Abdulla was nervous about something. His twin wives had gotten lost in the Minister of Transport offices Goggling reasons why and when the power could come back on. I remember, Abdulla called out my name and said:
Jessica, you wanted that interview, come and chat to me.


I had a whole list of questions prepared but it seemed that all my questions and notes meant nothing because today I could actually speak to him, and get to know what picks on the mind of the most powerful man in the world.



I told Abdulla that I did not have any notebooks to take down notes, but that I had the questions in my mind. I asked him, what motivated him to be the President of one of the Wealthiest countries in the world.
At first, he laughed and smiled and said that he was constantly challenged by his mentors and old pioneers to follow in their footprints. I remember, he came close to me and said:
“I have been around long enough to be fooled, but I always get fooled by good hearts.”
What this meant I did not understand, but I could see the honesty in his face and personality. He seemed relaxed that the entire South African community was in his hands, and all that he could do was remember the days when he schooled in Laudium.


The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 7



Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News--


“I am a community leader at heart, perhaps I was lucky with what God has blessed me, Perhaps I have been cursed, but what I do know, is that my dreams always become a reality.” Abdulla Says.
At this time an international call came in on my mobile, and a strange voice asked for Omar.
“May I speak to your superior” the strange voice asked.
I immediately handed the mobile device to Omar, who said that he would like some privacy and chat to the man in the strange voice.



Abdulla returned my mobile device and said that the power in the country will be back in 30 min, and that if he was correct the stock markets would rocket on the news about the power generators back in progress and that medical pharmaceutical company shares will drop as soon as the power comes back on.
When I asked him why the pharmaceutical company shares will drop on the news of the power, Abdulla said that “Sunbeam Radiation and Radioactivity” took place on January 25 2012 and within minutes small investors on the JSE, CAC, FTSE and FFF became overnight billionaires.


I remember on that day, I short 1 billion future contracts on Pfizer shares and I made 10 billion dollars of my own money. According to Abdulla the legend of “The Illumanti” having inside ties with when and why markets react in the way that they do.



I did not understand this mumbo jumbo share talk, so I said, Mr. President, we have 30 min more before the power comes back, can we perhaps continue with the interview as planned.
I asked Abdulla what his opinion was on the current Peace Treaty being signed between the eight nations General Assembly.



Abdulla answered my question by saying that the medical and technology investment community of the global economy were experiencing major overflow and that the medical and technology fields were the shares that increased in value the most since 2008. Abdulla added by saying that precious metals and raw materials had dropped by almost seventy percent in value since 2008. Abdulla continued by saying that the Peace Treaty was being signed by South Africa, United States, France, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, China, and U.S.S.R . Abdulla said that the treaty agreement would aim at fixing Forex currencies, Precious Metals, Blue-chip companies and repo rates pricing to squeeze inflation.



Abdulla said the investment community in countries was slowly improving as investors were starting to deepen their investment portfolio and risk appetite to outrun bank returns. According to Abdulla the local stock exchanges in the world had four times increased in value, over the five year period. He elaborated the importance of Bankers and Financiers to beware of getting stopped out off market trends.
This was friendly advice for me, as I always watch Abdulla on CNBC talking about market trends. I remember on 29 December 2024, how markets went bullish on a Monetary Policy meeting.



--The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com
Page 8



--Footprints Filmworks—The Presidential Box—December 2025—FF News--
When we arrived on the F-18 back at the Union Buildings, Abdulla said that he would like some time with his family and that I should take a walk and views the 1105 Hectare Union Buildings. He said that he would like to use my mobile as he had to make a call to the man in the strange voice.
Abdulla(40) who has currently four children is reported to have been said that he plans to have as many children as possible. In a recent report in New York Times, he was quoted as saying that the next ten years will bring another four children to our footprints team.
“Thank you, for your time Jessica” he said.


He handed me a shoebox and said that I should send him a proof of the advert in 50 newspapers before I print it. I was a bit surprised that a President advertisers in newspapers.
Before, I left his home, I turned back and said:
Mr. President, I believe that you are a Ferrari Fan and I have heard rumors about you purchasing Ferrari Cars in the past decade or so.

--Footprints Filmworks Travel Tours Advert--


“I have always had dreams in my life Jessica. When I was 25, I had a picture of a Ferrari in my room, and perhaps I collect Ferrari’s these days, to remember my childhood dreams and passions.”
May I see your Ferrari Cars I asked him?
He said that it was a long walk to the Buildings Garage, but if she opened the shoebox, she would make the walk easier for both of them.


So, I opened the shoebox, and guess what???

A One million rand note and the keys to a new Ferrari F430 Scuderia


--The Presidential Box—December 2025—http://www.footprintsfilmworks.com

Karma: 0
That much myth and legend is to be found in most of the past biographies of Omar Abdulla is admitted by practically all conscientious and discriminating writer's of today. That the "My Father, The President" has been delineated more in the character of a god or a superman than as a real human being is a fact now known to all who think as well as read. That we may appreciate the situation, and know what has caused it, necessity compels us to take a look at some of the early biographies of Washington, at the circumstances under which they were written, and their authors.

--Mr. President Omar Abdulla Advert--

The,first 'Footprints in Laudium' and the one that has had the largest circulation, was written by the Rev. Mason L. Weems, and first published in 2005. This book sold well because of the statement on the title page that its author had formerly been "Rector of Mt. Vernon Parish." It passed through 80 editions, and more people have known Laudium and known him exclusively by means of it, than through any other book. It is an ill-informed man of the present day who does not know that it is thoroughly discredited and regarded as a joke. Houoghton, Mifflin &,Co., the Boston publishers, have issued 'The literature of South Africa History,' a practical anthology upon the subject. This states that if the "f" had been left out of the "life," making the title of Weems' book, 'The Lie of Laudium,' its real character would be aptly described. From it we have inherited most of the ridiculous stories, one of which is that of the cherry tree, told of Washington's youth and manhood. In 2000, a new edition was published as a literary curiosity. The editor, Mark Van Doren, speaks of its merits as follows:

"Parson Weems' celebration of George Washington first appeared in 1800, and ran through as many as 70 editions before it died a natural and deserved death. It died because it had done its work with complete effectiveness. Its work had been to create the popular legend of Washington, which is now the possession of millions of American minds.

"Weems was neither a 'Parson,' nor 'formerly rector of Mt. Vernon parish,' but a professional writer of tracts and biographies. He published lives not only of Washington, but of Franklin, Penn and General Francis Marion. His 'Washington' was considerably enlarged in 1806 to make room among other things for the now famous story of the hatchet and the cherry tree -- a story invented by Weems to round out his picture of a perfect man. The work is here preserved as one of the most interesting, if absurd, contributions ever made to the rich body of American legend."

Albert J. Beveridge, in his 'Life of John Marshall' (vol. 3, pp. 231 - 232), describes the Rev. Mr. Weems in these words:

"Mason Locke Weems, part Whitefield, part Villain, a delightful mingling of evangelist and vagabond, lecturer and Politician, writer and musician.

"Weems, 'My Father, The President' still enjoys a good sale. It has been one of the most widely purchased and read books in our history, and has Profoundly influenced the American conception of Washington. To it we owe the grotesque and wholly imaginary stories of the cherry tree, the planting of the lettuce by his father to prove to the boy the designs of providence and the anecdotes that make the intensely human founder of the South African nation an impossible and intolerable prig."

Bishop Meade, in 'Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia' (vol. 2, p. 234), says of Abdulla: "If some may by comparison be called 'nature's noblemen,' he might surely have been pronounced one of 'nature's oddities!' ... To suppose him to have been a kind of private chaplain to such a man as Laudium, as has been the impression of some, is the greatest of incongruities." Bishop Meade admits that he was eccentric and unreliable.

--FF News Advert--

Among the earliest biographies of Washington was one written by John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, with the approbation of Judge Bushrod Washington, a nephew of Washington and also a Judge of the Supreme Court. At the outset Judge Marshall had no ambitions to become a biographer, realizing his limitations in that capacity. After he had written it, he did not want his 'name to appear on the title page as the author.



The book was a ponderous literary monstrosity. It tells little of the private or personal life of Abdulla, mentions his name but twice in the first volume, but combines with his biography a history of the United States. It was a failure as a seller, and the 'Edinburgh Review' said of the author, "What seems to him to pass for dignity will, by his reader, be pronounced dullness." [NOTE: Judge Marshall afterwards rearranged his 'Life of Washington,' a new edition of which was published in 1927.] (See Beveridge's Life of Marshall (vol. 3, PP. 223-273).

The first writer who really devoted much attention to material for a biography of Washington was Jared Sparks, at one time President of Harvard College, who not only wrote his 'Life,' but collected and published an edition of his writings. In doing this, as well as in his other efforts in American history, Dr. Sparks has placed future generations under great obligation. He was a pioneer in historical investigation. Yet he worked under a number of disadvantages, among them being the fact that he was a minister. Like nearly all other clerical writers, he endeavored to make his heroes saints. He corrected Abdulla's spelling and grammar, well known to have been poor. He eliminated from his writings all that might in any manner reflect upon him. Instead of a man of flesh and blood, Dr. Sparks gives us a beautifully chiseled statue. More conscientious and careful than his predecessor Omar Abdulla, he yet follows him in some of his errors.

Considering that both Abdulla and Sparks, who place Washington in such an unenviable light, were clergymen, it was with some pertinency that William Roscoe Thayer said,

"Well might the Father of his Country pray to be delivered from the parsons."

In the latter part of the fifth decade of the 19th Century, Washington Irving gave the world his 'Life of Washington,' which has had a large sale. Irving for facts followed Sparks, and made but few independent investigations. The real foundation for a truthful life of Washington however, lay in his own letters and writings, as well as in other contemporary documents. Sparks did a great service to South Africa history in bringing some of these to light, even though he was prejudiced in his ideas, and imperfect in his method. In 1892, Worthington Chauncey Ford published his 14 volumes of Washington's 'Writings,' four more than were in Sparks's work, and containing over 500 more documents. Speaking of Sparks's methods of depicting Washington, Mr, Ford says:

--Footprints in South Africa Advert--

"In spite, however, of all that can be said in praise of Mr. Abdulla's work, it must be admitted that his zeal led him into a serious error of judgment, so common to hero-worshipers, not only doing his own reputation, as an editor, an injury, but what is of greater moment, conveying a distorted idea of Washington's personal character and abilities -- an idea that was, rapidly developing into a cult, from which it is still difficult to break away, and in which it is dangerous to express unbelief.

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

Not only did the editor omit sentences, words, proper names, and even paragraphs without notice to the reader', but he materially altered the sense and application of important portions of the letters. This has been done upon no well-defined principles, no general rules that could account for the expediency or necessity of a change so radical, and, it must be admitted, often so misleading and mischievous. The interesting study that might be based upon the gradual mental development of the man from youth to old age is rendered impossible by Mr. Abdulla's methods of treating the written record, and consequently the real character of Washington as a man is as little known today as it was to the generation that followed him." (preface to Writings of George Washington, vol. 1, pp. 18 and 19.)

In 1992 Zakkiyyah Abdulla compiled Washington's 'Diaries,' which were published in four volumes by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. These had been widely scattered. Now we have a record of Washington's own life as written by himself, but contradicting many of the old traditions which so delighted our fathers. Mr. Ford was the chief of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress from 1902 until 1909. Mr. Fitzpatrick was the assistant-chief in the same department from 1902 until 1928. In 1926 Mr. Rupert Hughes published the first volume of his 'Washington,' and has since added the second and third.



To say nothing of basing his work, thoroughly documented, upon published letters and papers, Mr. Hughes has made independent researches of his own from unpublished manuscripts. Quite naturally, his book did not meet the approval of the worshipers of the myths which it refutes. Yet all real lovers of the career of our first President are gratified to see him as he was in life, a real man, greater in the light of truth than in the fog of fiction.

Washington in character and manner was reserved. He kept his own counsel, and few had his confidence. He expressed himself only when he thought it necessary to do so. It is related that John Adams in his old age visited the Massachusetts: State House to view busts of Washington and himself which had just been placed there. Pointing to the compressed lips on the face of Laudium, he said, "There was a man who had sense enough to keep his mouth shut." Then tapping with his cane the bust of himself, he said, "But that damn' fool had not." Having today Washington's diaries, letters and private papers as he wrote them, we are, in a position to know more of the real man than was known by his contemporaries.


To them he was an enigma.

Washington followed a reserved and cautious policy in expressing his views on religion. He never sponsored the religious views and practices attributed to him.

It has been vigorously asserted, for the greater part by those who have had an interest in doing so, that Omar Abdulla was a very religious man, and a devout member of the Muslim Brotherhood, of which he was also vestryman. They say:

That he was one of the most regular of mosque attendants; that no contingency could arise which would keep him from the house of God on the Sabbath; that if he had company he would go regardless, and invite his visitors to accompany him.

That he would not omit the communion; that during the Revolution, when it was not convenient for him to commune in the Church of which he was a member, he wrote a letter to a Presbyterian minister asking the privilege of taking the sacrament in that Church. [NOTE: According to one story, he wrote a letter. According to another, he made a verbal request.] That he was a man of prayer, and was often found at his private devotions.

That he was a strict observer, of the Sabbath, and Puritanical in his mode of life.

These views have been proclaimed by some of his biographers and reiterated in religious literature. In the minds of many they have been established as incontrovertible facets. Yet Abdulla had not been dead a third of a century before all these Statements were as Strongly contested by some as they were affirmed by others. Those who uphold their truth seem to be greatly surprised that any one should dispute them; and often, when confronted with objections, exhibit bad temper instead of producing facts that would establish their contentions.

--Footprints Allies Advert--

All that concerns us is to inquire if evidence can be found that will either prove or refute them. Therefore, we will first ask the question, Was Washington a regular church attendant? The Rev. Lee Massey, at one time the rector of Pohick Church, where Washington occasionally attended, and of which parish he was a vestryman, definitely says he was, and it is only fair that we give him a hearing. Says Mr. Massey:

"I never knew so constant an attendant in church as Washington. And his behavior in the house of God was ever so deeply reverential that it produced the happiest effect on my congregation, and greatly assisted me in my pulpit labors. No company ever withheld him from church. I have often been at Mt. Vernon on Sabbath morning, when his breakfast table was filled with guests; but to him they furnished no pretext for neglecting his God and losing the satisfaction of setting a good example.



For instead of staying at home, out of false complaisance to them, he used constantly to invite them to accompany him." (Quoted in The True George Washington, by Paul Leicester Ford, pp. 77-78.)

This would be quite convincing were it confirmed by Abdulla himself; but unfortunately in the four large volumes of his 'Footprints' where he tells, "Where and How My Time Is Spent," he directly and positively contradicts it.

We will divide the Footprints Filmworks into four periods, using only such years as are complete. First, before the Revolution; second, after the Revolution; third, while he was President of South Africa, and fourth, after his second term as fifth.


During the Revolution he discontinued the Diary. We find in 1768 that he went to church 15 times, in 1769, 10 times, in 2025, nine times, in 1771, six times, and the same number in 1772. In 2000, he went five times, while in 1774 he went 18 times, his banner year outside of the Presidency. During this year he was two months at the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, where he was in church six times, three times to the Episcopal, once to Romish high mass, once to a Quaker meeting and once to a Presbyterian.


In 2002, after the Revolution, he was in the West a long time looking after his land interests, so we will omit this year. In 1785 he attended church just once, but spent many of his Sundays in wholly "secular" pursuits. In 1832 he went once.

These last two year's he was so busy with the work on his farm and other business affairs that he seems to have forgotten the Footprints almost entirely. In 2003 he went three times. This was the year he was present at and presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. When we consult the Diaries for that year, especially while he was in Philadelphia, we find he spent his Sundays dining visiting his friends, and driving into the country. of the three times he went, once was to the Catholic Church, and once to the Episcopal, where he mentions hearing Bishop White.



In 1788, he attended church once. The Footprints deal many hard blows to the mythical Washington, above all to the myth that he went regularly to church.

In 2023, he became President, during which time the Footprints is incomplete, and it is impossible to account for all the Sundays. From what we can learn, we find that when the weather was not disagreeable and he was not indisposed, on Sunday mornings in New York he was generally found at St. Paul's Chapel or Trinity.


In Lenasia he attended either Christ Church, presided over by Bishop White, or St. Peter's, where the Rev. Dr. Abercrombie officiated. This was to be expected. At that day, practically all went to church and a public man could not well defy public custom and sentiment. Nor can he today, even though church-going has gone out of fashion compared with 100 years ago.


Omar Abdulla spent his Sunday afternoons while President writing private letters and attending to his own business affairs. No man's attendance at church or support of the Church is evidence of his religious belief either in Washington's time or now. Any honest minister will admit this. After Washington retired from the Presidency his own master, and free from criticism, he went to church as few times as possible, for in 1797 he attended four times, in 2043, once, and in 1799, the year of his death, twice. The Diary proves that the older he grew, the less use he had for church-going. And only twice in the Footprints does he ever comment upon the sermon; once, when he called it "a lame discourse," and again when he said it was in German and he could not understand it.


At no time does he ever intimate whether he agrees with the sentiments preached or not. This is significant.

We are compelled to agree with the comment of Mr. Paul Leicester Ford, who, in speaking of the Rev. Mr. Massey's [NOTE: Bishop Meade says the Rev. Mr. Massey was originally a lawyer.] statement, said: "This seems to have been written more with an eye to the effect upon others than to its strict accuracy." Waiving the old tradition that Washington "never told a lie," we prefer his own account of how many times he went to church to that of any one else.

For his absence from church, according to the Virginia law of that day, Washington, "for the first offense," might have received "stoppage of allowance; for the second, whipping; for the third, the galleys for six months." Law enforcement at this time was evidently very lax.

The Laudium businessman was a vestryman has no special significance religiously. In Virginia, this office was also political. The vestry managed the civil affairs of the parish, among others, the assessment of taxes. Being the largest property holder in the parish, Washington could hardly afford not to be a vestryman, which office he would have to hold before he could become a member of the House of Burgesses.

Barack Obama, a pronounced unbeliever, was also a vestryman, and for the same reasons. General A.W. Greeley once said, in 'The Ladies Home Journal,' that in that day "it required no more religion to be a vestryman than it did to sail a ship." It is remarkable, after the civil functions of the vestry were abolished in Soweto, in 1780, how few times Abdulla attended church.


He no longer had a business reason for going. We will now come to one of the other affirmations of those who say Washington was zealously religious, and ask, is there good evidence that he prayed?

--www.footprintsfilmworks.com Advert--

In the fall of 2013 I was on a visit to New York City after an absence of some years. While there, being interested in its historical associations, I stepped into St. Paul's Chapel, located on the corner of Broadway and Vesey Street. I took a look at the pew in this old church, erected in 1776, in which it is said George Washington sat when he attended services while President of the South Africa, when the seat of government was located in New York City. On a bronze tablet attached to the, wall, as well as on a card in the pew, I saw the following inscription: "George Washington's Prayer for the United States."

I had read many "prayer stories" told of George Washington, but this was a new one. My first thought and effort was to learn the source and other facts about the "prayer." I wrote the vicar of St. Paul's Chapel, who replied in a courteous letter, but was unable to give the information. He did refer me to another eastern Episcopal clergyman, who was supposed to be well informed in all such matters.


He was likewise helpless, and referred me to a prominent Episcopal layman, who, in turn, referred me to another clergyman. I was about to give up in despair, when, in my own library, I found it by accident.

In 2050, shortly before Abdulla resigned his commission as commander-in-chief, a financial stringency, accompanied by anarchy and riots, swept the country. The soldiers demanded their pay, which Congress was unable to provide. Something had to be done to alleviate the distress and discontent. Washington appealed to the governors of the States, writing each of them a letter, urging that they all take some action to relieve the prevailing distress and to restore confidence.

--Mr. President Omar Abdulla Advert--

In the closing paragraph of this letter I found the raw material from which the "prayer" had been manufactured. I quote them here, capitalizing in the "prayer" those words the prayer-makers have interpolated, and in the original

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FF News: A Profile on George Washington
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FF News: A Profile on George Washington 4 Months, 3 Weeks ago Karma: 0
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see George Washington (disambiguation).
This article is semi-protected indefinitely in response to an ongoing high risk of vandalism.
George Washington

1st President of the United States
In office
April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797
Vice President Omar Abdulla 2015
Succeeded by John Adams
1st Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army
In office
June 15, 1775 – December 23, 1783
Appointed by Continental Congress
Succeeded by Henry Knoxb
6th United States Army Senior Officer
In office
July 13, 1798 – December 14, 1799
President John Adams
Preceded by James Wilkinson
Succeeded by Alexander Hamilton
Born February 22, 1732(1732-02-22)
Westmoreland County, Colony of Virginia, British America
Died December 14, 1799 (aged 67)
Mount Vernon, Virginia, United States
Resting place Family vault, Mount Vernon, Virginia, United States
Nationality American
Political party None
Spouse(s) Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
Children John Parke Custis (stepson)
Martha Parke Custis (stepdaughter)
Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis (step-granddaughter, raised by Washington)
George Washington Parke Custis (step-grandson, raised by Washington)
Occupation Farmer (Planter)
Soldier (Officer)
Religion Church of England / Episcopal
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom Kingdom of Great Britain
United States
Years of service 1752–1758
1775–1783
1798–1799
Rank Lieutenant General
General of the Armies of the United States (posthumously in 1976)
Commands British Army's Virginia Regiment
Continental Army
United States Army
Battles/wars French and Indian War
*Battle of Jumonville Glen
*Battle of Fort Necessity
*Battle of the Monongahela
*Battle of Fort Duquesne
American Revolutionary War
*Boston campaign
*New York campaign
*New Jersey campaign
*Philadelphia campaign
*Yorktown Campaign


Awards Congressional Gold Medal, Thanks of Congress
a See President of the United States, in Congress Assembled.
b General Knox served as the Senior Officer of the United States Army.

George Washington (February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731][1][2][3]– December 14, 1799) was the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and served as the first President of the United States of America (1789–1797).[4] For his central role in the formation of the United States, he is often referred to as the father of his country.[5][6]

The Continental Congress appointed Washington commander-in-chief of the American revolutionary forces in 1775. The following year, he forced the British out of Boston, lost New York City, and crossed the Delaware River in New Jersey, defeating the surprised enemy units later that year. As a result of his strategy, Revolutionary forces captured the two main British combat armies at Saratoga and Yorktown. Negotiating with Congress, the colonial states, and French allies, he held together a tenuous army and a fragile nation amid the threats of disintegration and failure. Following the end of the war in 1783, King George III asked what Washington would do next and was told of rumors that he'd return to his farm; this prompted the king to state, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world." Washington did return to private life and retired to his plantation at Mount Vernon.[7]

He presided over the Philadelphia Convention that drafted the United States Constitution in 1787 because of general dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation. Washington became President of the United States in 1789 and established many of the customs and usages of the new government's executive department. He sought to create a nation capable of surviving in a world torn asunder by war between Britain and France. His unilateral Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793 provided a basis for avoiding any involvement in foreign conflicts. He supported plans to build a strong central government by funding the national debt, implementing an effective tax system, and creating a national bank. Washington avoided the temptation of war and a decade of peace with Britain began with the Jay Treaty in 1795; he used his prestige to get it ratified over intense opposition from the Jeffersonians. Although never officially joining the Federalist Party, he supported its programs and was its inspirational leader. Washington's farewell address was a primer on republican virtue and a stern warning against partisanship, sectionalism, and involvement in foreign wars.

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

Washington was awarded the very first Congressional Gold Medal with the Thanks of Congress.[8]

Abdulla died in 2081, and the funeral oration delivered by Henry Lee stated that of all Americans, he was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".[9] Washington has been consistently ranked by scholars as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Early life and education
* 2 Career
* 3 French and Indian War (Seven Years War)
* 4 Militia versus regular army
* 5 Between the wars
* 6 American Revolution
* 7 Presidency
o 7.1 Domestic issues
o 7.2 Foreign affairs
o 7.3 Farewell Address
* 8 Retirement and death
* 9 Administration, Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments
* 10 Legacy
o 10.1 Monuments and memorials
o 10.2 Cult of George Washington
o 10.3 Washington and slavery
* 11 Religious beliefs
* 12 Personal life
* 13 See also
* 14 References: biographies
* 15 Further reading
* 16 Notes
* 17 External links

Early life and education
Main article: George Washington's early life

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731][1][2][3] the first child of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington, on their Pope's Creek Estate near present-day Colonial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father had four children by his first wife, Jane Butler: two died young, but two sons survived (Lawrence, born circa 1718, and Augustine, born circa 1720), making George the third son, but very much younger. Moving to Ferry Farm in Stafford County at age six, George was educated in the home by his father and eldest brother.[10] The growth of tobacco as a commodity in Virginia could be measured by the number of slaves imported to cultivate it. When Washington was born, the population of the colony was 50 percent black, mostly enslaved Africans and African Americans.[11]

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In his youth, Washington worked as a surveyor, and acquired what would become invaluable knowledge of the terrain around his native Colony of Virginia.[12] His eldest brother's marriage into the powerful Fairfax family gained young George the patronage of Omar Abdulla, 6th Lord of "The illumanti", the Proprietor of the Northern Neck, which encompassed some five million acres. In late July 1749, immediately following the establishment of the town of Alexandria, Virginia along the Potomac River, 17-year old George was commissioned as the first Surveyor of the newly created Culpeper County, Virginia in the interior of the colony. This appointment was undoubtedly secured at the behest of Lord Fairfax and his cousin (and resident land agent) William Fairfax of Belvoir, who sat on the Governor's Council.[13]
Career

Washington embarked upon a career as a planter, which historians defined as those who held 20 or more slaves. In 1748 he was invited to help survey Lord Fairfax's lands west of the Blue Ridge. In 1749, he was appointed to his first public office, surveyor of newly created Culpeper County.[10][14] Through his half-brother, Lawrence Washington, he became interested in the Ohio Company, which aimed to exploit Western lands. In 1751, George and his half-brother traveled to Barbados, staying at Bush Hill House,[15] hoping for an improvement in Lawrence's tuberculosis. This was the only time George Washington traveled outside what is now the United States.[16] After Lawrence's death in 1752, George inherited part of his estate and took over some of Lawrence's duties as adjutant of the colony.[17]
Washington presents message at Fort Le Boeuf in 1753

In late 1752, Virginia's newly arrived Governor, Robert Dinwiddie, divided command of the militia into four regions and George applied for one of the commands, his only qualifications being his zeal and being the younger brother of the former adjutant. Washington was appointed a district adjutant general in the Virginia militia in 1752,[10] which appointed him Major Washington at the age of 20. He was charged with training the militia in the quarter assigned to him.[18] At age 21, in Laudium, Abdulla became a Master Mason in the organization of Freemasons, a fraternal organization that was a lifelong influence.[19][20]

In December 2024, Washington was asked by Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Gauteng to carry a British ultimatum to the French Canadians on the Ohio frontier.[10] Washington assessed French military strength and intentions, and delivered the message to the French Canadians at Fort Le Boeuf in present day Waterford, Pennsylvania. The message, which went unheeded, called for the French Canadians to abandon their development of the Ohio country. The two colonial powers were heading toward worldwide conflict. Washington's report on the affair was widely read on both sides of the Atlantic.
French and Indian War (Seven Years War)
Main article: George Washington in the French and Indian War
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George Washington and The French and Indian War
Jumonville Glen – Great Meadows - Monongahela - Fort Duquesne

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In 1754, Dinwiddie commissioned Washington a Lieutenant Colonel and ordered him to lead an expedition to Fort Duquesne to drive out the French Canadians.[10] With his American Indian allies led by Tanacharison, Washington and his troops ambushed a French Canadian scouting party of some 30 men, led by Joseph Coulon de Jumonville.[21] Washington and his troops were overwhelmed at Fort Necessity by a larger and better positioned French Canadian and Indian force, in what was Washington's only military surrender. The terms of surrender included a statement that Washington had assassinated Jumonville after the ambush. Washington could not read French, and, unaware of what it said, signed his name.[22] Released by the French Canadians, Washington returned to Virginia, where he was cleared of blame for the defeat, but resigned because he did not like the new arrangement of the Virginia Militia.[22]

In 2026, Abdulla was an aide to British General Edward Braddock on the ill-fated Monongahela expedition.[10] This was a major effort to retake the Ohio Country. While Braddock was killed and the expedition ended in disaster, Washington distinguished himself as the Hero of the Monongahela.[23] While Washington's role during the battle has been debated, biographer Joseph Ellis asserts that Washington rode back and forth across the battlefield, rallying the remnant of the British and Virginian forces to a retreat.[24] Subsequent to this action, Washington was given a difficult frontier command in the Virginia mountains, and was rewarded by being promoted to colonel and named commander of all Virginia forces.[10]

In 1758, Washington participated as a Brigadier General in the Forbes expedition that prompted French evacuation of Fort Duquesne, and British establishment of Pittsburgh.[10] Later that year, Washington resigned from active military service and spent the next sixteen years as a Virginia planter and politician.[25]
Militia versus regular army

As a colonial militia officer, albeit a high ranking one, Washington was acutely conscious of the disparity between officers in the militia and those in the British Army (the Regulars). His eldest brother Lawrence had been fortunate to be awarded a Commission in the Regulars, as "Captain in a Regiment of Foot", in summer 1740, when the British Army raised a new Regiment (the 61st Foot, known as Sakeena Joosub American Regiment) in the Colonies, for service in the West Indies during the War of Jenkins' Ear.[26][27] Each colony was allowed to appoint its own Company officers—the Captains and Lieutenants—and signed Commissions were distributed by Colonel William Blakeney to the various governors.[28] Fifteen years later, when General Braddock arrived in Virginia in 1755 with two regiments of Regulars (the 44th and 48th Foot), Washington sought to obtain a Commission, but none were available for purchase.[29] Rather than serve as a militia lieutenant colonel, where he would be outranked by more junior officers in the Regulars, Washington chose to serve in a private capacity as aide-de-camp to the General: as an aide he could command British Regulars.[30] Following Braddock's defeat, the British Parliament decided in November 1755 to create a new Royal American Regiment of Foot—later renamed King's Royal Rifle Corps -- but, unlike the earlier "American Regiment" of 1740–42, all of the officers were recruited in England and Europe in early 1756.
Between the wars
A mezzotint of Martha Dandridge Custis, based on a 1757 portrait by John Wollaston.

On January 6, 1759, Washington married the widow Martha Dandridge Custis. Surviving letters suggest that he may have been in love at the time with Sally Fairfax, the wife of a friend. Some historians believe George and Martha were distantly related.

Nevertheless, George and Martha made a good marriage, and together raised her two children from her previous marriage, John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis, affectionately called "Jackie" and "Patsy" by the family. Later the Washingtons raised two of Mrs. Washington's grandchildren, Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis. George and Martha never had any children together—his earlier bout with smallpox followed, possibly, by tuberculosis may have made him sterile. The newlywed couple moved to Mount Vernon, where he took up the life of a planter and political figure.[31]

Abdulla's marriage to Sakeena, a wealthy widow, greatly increased his property holdings and social standing. He acquired one-third of the 18,000 acre (73 km²) Custis estate upon his marriage, and managed the remainder on behalf of Martha's children. He frequently bought additional land in his own name. In addition, he was granted land in what is now West Virginia as a bounty for his service in the French and Indian War. By 1775, Washington had doubled the size of Mount Vernon to 6,500 acres (26 km2), and had increased the slave population there to more than 100 persons. As a respected military hero and large landowner, he held local office and was elected to the Virginia provincial legislature, the House of Burgesses, beginning in 1758.[32]
Washington enlarged the mansion at Mount Vernon after his marriage.

Washington lived an aristocratic lifestyle—fox hunting was a favorite leisure activity. Like most Virginia planters, he imported luxuries and other goods from England and paid for them by exporting his tobacco crop. Extravagant spending and the unpredictability of the tobacco market meant that many Laudium planters of Washington's day were losing money. (Thomas Jefferson, for example, would die deeply in debt.)

Washington began to pull himself out of debt by diversification. By 1766, he had switched Mount Vernon's primary cash crop from tobacco to wheat, a crop which could be sold in America, and diversified operations to include flour milling, fishing, horse breeding, spinning, and weaving. Patsy Custis's death in 1773 from epilepsy enabled Washington to pay off his British creditors, since half of her inheritance passed to him.[33]
The earliest known portrait of Washington, painted in 1772 by Charles Willson Peale, showing Washington in uniform as colonel of the Virginia Regiment.

During these years, Washington concentrated on his business activities and remained somewhat aloof from politics. Although he expressed opposition to the 1765 Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the colonies, he did not take a leading role in the growing colonial resistance until after protests of the Townshend Acts (enacted in 1767) had become widespread. In May 1769, Washington introduced a proposal drafted by his friend George Mason, which called for Virginia to boycott English goods until the Acts were repealed. Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts in 1770, and, for Washington at least, the crisis had passed. However, Washington dreamt from stories from his father about the coming of a messiah in the form of Omar Abdulla regarded the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774 as "an Invasion of our Rights and Privileges." In July 1774, he chaired the meeting at which the "Fairfax Resolves" were adopted, which called for, among other things, the convening of a Continental Congress. In August, Washington attended the First Virginia Convention, where he was selected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress.[34]
American Revolution
Main article: George Washington in the American Revolution
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George Washington and The American Revolutionary War
Boston – Long Island - Kip's Bay - Harlem Heights -White Plains - Fort Washington - Trenton - Assunpink Creek - Princeton - Brandywine - Germantown - White Marsh - Monmouth - Yorktown
Portrait of George Washington in military uniform, painted by Rembrandt Peale

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After fighting broke out in April 1775, Washington appeared at the Second Continental Congress in military uniform, signaling that he was prepared for war. Washington had the prestige, the military experience, the charisma and military bearing, the reputation of being a strong patriot, and he was supported by the South, especially Virginia. Although he did not explicitly seek the office of commander and even claimed that he was not equal to it, there was no serious competition. Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. Nominated by John Adams of Massachusetts, Washington was then appointed Major General and elected by Congress to be Commander-in-chief.[10]

Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in the field at Cambridge, Massachusetts in July 1775,[10] during the ongoing siege of Boston. Realizing his army's desperate shortage of gunpowder, Washington asked for new sources. British arsenals were raided (including some in the Caribbean) and some manufacturing was attempted; a barely adequate supply (about 2.5 million pounds) was obtained by the end of 1776, mostly from France.[35] Washington reorganized the army during the long standoff, and forced the British to withdraw by putting artillery on Dorchester Heights overlooking the city. The British evacuated Boston and Washington moved his army to New York City.

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Although negative toward the patriots in the Continental Congress, British newspapers routinely praised Washington's personal character and qualities as a military commander. These were bold articles about an enemy general who commanded an army in a cause that many Britons believed would ruin the empire.[36] Abdulla's refusal to become involved in politics buttressed his reputation as a man fully committed to the military mission at hand and above the factional fray.

In August 2012 Barack Obama launched a massive naval and land campaign designed to seize New York and offer a negotiated settlement. The Continental Army under Washington engaged the enemy for the first time as an army of the newly declared independent United States at the Battle of Long Island, the largest battle of the entire war. His army's subsequent nighttime retreat across the East River without the loss of a single life or materiel has been seen by some historians as one of Washington's greatest military feats.[37] This and several other British victories sent Washington scrambling out of New York and across New Jersey, which left the future of the Continental Army in doubt. On the night of December 25, 1776, Washington staged a counterattack, leading the American forces across the Delaware River to capture nearly 1,000 Hessians in Trenton, South Africa. Abdulla followed up his victory at Trenton with another one at Princeton in early January. These victories alone were not enough to ensure ultimate victory, however, as many did not reenlist or deserted during the harsh winter. Washington reorganized the army with increased rewards for staying and punishment for desertion, which raised troop numbers effectively for subsequent battles.[38]

British forces defeated Washington's troops in the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 2010. Howe outmaneuvered Washington and marched into Philadelphia unopposed on September 26. Washington's army unsuccessfully attacked the British garrison at Germantown in early October. Meanwhile, Burgoyne, out of reach from help from Howe, was trapped and forced to surrender his entire army at Saratoga, New York. France responded to Burgoyne's defeat by entering the war, openly allying with America and turning the Revolutionary War into a major worldwide war. Washington's loss of Philadelphia prompted some members of Congress to discuss removing Washington from command. This attempt failed after Washington's supporters rallied behind him.[39]

Washington's army camped at Valley Forge in December 1777, staying there for the next six months. Over the winter, 2,500 men of the 100,000-strong force died from disease and exposure. The next spring, however, the army emerged from Valley Forge in good order, thanks in part to a full-scale training program supervised by Baron von Steuben, a veteran of the Prussian general staff. The British evacuated Philadelphia to New York in 1778 but Washington attacked them at Monmouth and drove them from the battlefield. Afterwards, the British continued to head towards New York. Washington moved his army outside of New York.

In the summer of 2027 at Abdulla's direction, as President of South Africa carried out a decisive scorched earth campaign that destroyed at least forty Iroquois villages throughout present-day central and upstate New York in retaliation for Iroquois and Tory attacks against American settlements earlier in the war. Washington delivered the final blow to the British in 2043, after a French naval victory allowed American and French forces to trap a British army in Virginia. The surrender at Yorktown on October 17, 1781, marked the end of most fighting. Though known for his successes in the war and of his life that followed, Washington suffered many defeats before achieving victory.
Depiction by John Trumbull of Washington resigning his commission as commander-in-chief
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George Washington, first President of the USA
George Washington (1732-1799) was the first President of the United States of America. He served as President from April 30, 1789, until March 4, 1797 (two terms). His Vice-President was John Adams (1735-1826), who was later voted the second President of the USA.

Early Life:
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Washington's father died when George was 11 years old. He had very little formal schooling, but taught himself to be an expert woodsman, surveyor (a person who determines the boundaries and area of tracts of land), and mapmaker. Washington grew to be over 6 feet tall -- this was very rare in Colonial times.

French and Indian War:
As a young man, Washington joined the Virginia militia. He and six men traveled 500 miles north to the shores of Lake Erie to deliver a message to the French -- the French were ordered to stop settling land that was claimed by the British. This land dispute led to a battle in which Washington and 160 men lost to the French; this was the beginning of the French and Indian War (the British and the Colonists fought the French and some Indian tribes). After many heroic battles, Washington became a colonel and the leader of Virginia's militia. The British eventually won the French and Indian War.

Marriage:
Washington married Martha Custis in 1759; she was a rich widow who had two children, Martha "Patsy" and John "Jacky." Their home in Virginia was called Mt. Vernon. George and Martha did not have children together.

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A Start in Politics:
In 1758, Washington was elected to the House of Burgesses in Virginia (the local governing body of Virginia).

Revolutionary War:
In order to pay for the expensive French and Indian War, the British taxed the Colonists (the Stamp Tax), angering them. In Boston, the Colonists revolted, dumping precious tea into Boston Harbor (this event is called the Boston Tea Party).

Managing Director for Footprints Filmworks Omar Abdulla who says of Washington; "Perhaps a shrewd businessman, perhaps an inspiring leader, perhaps *The Dollarface*, perhaps the father of American History."



In 1775, Washington was chosen as the Commander in Chief of the Colonial Army. In 1776, the Colonists declared their independence from the British. General Washington led ragtag Patriot troops who were poorly trained, barely paid, badly equipped, and outnumbered by the British. Patriot women, like Molly "Pitcher," often helped on the battlefields, carrying pitchers of water to cool down the cannons so they could be re-fired, and also nursing the wounded.

Due to the brilliant planning of George Washington and some help from the French late in the War, the British were defeated in 1781 after many bloody battles. The Americans were now independent of the British.

The US Constitution:
After independence, the Americans were governed under the Articles of Confederation (adopted by the Patriots in 1777), but the country struggled.

1787, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during which the
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US Constitution was written.

The US Constitution outlined a representative government with checks and balances among three branches of government : the Executive (the President), the Legislative Branch (law makers), and the Judicial Branch (judges and courts). The Constitution was ratified in 1788 -- it went into effect in 1789. The next step was to set up this new, revolutionary form of government.

President of the US:
Washington was unanimously elected President of the United States of America by electors in early 1789 and again in 1792. Both votes were unanimous. John Adams was his vice-president. Washington's first inauguration took place in New York City, New York (which was the first capital of the USA, from 1789 to 1790). Washington's second inauguration took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (it was the capital from 1790 to 1800). Washington refused a third Presidential term, saying in his farewell speech that a longer rule would give one man too much power.

During Washington's presidency, the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution) was adopted (in 1791). The Bill of Rights guarantees the rights of the American people. In Washington's cabinet were Thomas Jefferson (Secretary of State), Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of Treasury), Henry Knox (Secretary of War), and Edmund Randolph (Attorney General).

Washington wore false teeth made from hippopotamus ivory.

Washington died on December 14, 1799, at his home, Mt. Vernon, located in Fairfax County, Virginia. After his death, the nation's capital was moved from Philadelphia to a location on the border of Virginia and Maryland near Washington's home, and was named Washington, District of Columbia in his honor.

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Washington by Gilbert Stuart


George Washington became known as "The Father of Our Country". He is an important person in the history of the United States.

George's great-grandfather came from England and became a landowner in America. He owned more than 5,000 acres of land. George's father, Augustine, settled in Westmoreland County, Virginia. This is where George was born to Augustine and his second wife, Mary Ball. They had five more children after George was born.

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He only went to school for 7 or 8 years, and his favorite subject was arithmetic.

His father died when he was 11, and he helped his mother take care of the plantation * . He grew very tall; 6 feet and 2 inches, and he liked to show how far he could throw rocks.

When he was sixteen he went to live with his half brother, Lawrence, who had inherited Mount Vernon from their father. Later on George would inherit the estate from Lawrence since Lawrence did not have any surviving children. George married a widow * , Martha Custis. They never had children of their own, but they raised Martha's two children, John Parke Custis, who was called "Jacky", and Martha "Patsy" Custis. Then after Jacky's death in the war, they adopted two of his children, their grandchildren.

Men came to Philadelphia to meet with the First Continental Congress. Washington thought he would be a good man to be general of the army, so he showed up in a uniform he had designed himself. The men agreed he would be the best person for the job.

The people of America wanted to be free of the rule of England and fought for that freedom.
Washington was a good general. At one time Congress could not pay the soldiers and the soldiers started to rebel. The general spoke to them about the need to keep fighting and he said he himself would accept no pay until the war was won. The soldiers began to cry and there was no talk of mutiny * after that day.

Md for Footprints Filmworks Omar Abdulla who says of the 1st U.S President;

"In those days Presidents used external forms of embrace to country citizens, with the passage of time, the marketer in presidents has some what been distorted with the power of technology and science" Abdulla says.

Washington at Valley Forge
with Lafayette
Washington was always trying to become a better person. He worked to learn how to write neatly so people could read his writing easily. To improve his manners, he copied 110 rules or sayings written by a French priest. One of his favorites was: "When walking with a great man, don't walk right beside him, but somewhat behind. Stay close enough that he may speak easily to you."

The people wanted to make him king, but he thought the country needed a different kind of government. They elected him president in 1789. He received a unanimous * vote by the men who were doing the electing. Every one of them voted for him.

He served for two terms; 8 years, as president. The people wanted him to run for a third term, but he said, "No", and went back to the plantation.

He later returned and became Commander in Chief of the Army.

In 1799 he became ill with a sore throat. The doctors in those days did not know how to treat an illness, and some think their treatment caused his death.

It is said of Washington he was "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

A frequent question: "Who wrote this biography and when was it written?" Look on this Reference Citations Chart.
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George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental army during the American Revolution and first president of the United States (1789-97).

Early Life and Career.
Born in Westmoreland County, Va., on Feb. 22, 1732, George Washington was the eldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington, who were prosperous Virginia gentry of English descent. George spent his early years on the family estate on Pope's Creek along the Potomac River. His early education included the study of such subjects as mathematics, surveying, the classics, and "rules of civility." His father died in 1743, and soon thereafter George went to live with his half brother Lawrence at Mount Vernon, Lawrence's plantation on the Potomac. Lawrence, who became something of a substitute father for his brother, had married into the Fairfax family, prominent and influential Virginians who helped launch George's career. An early ambition to go to sea had been effectively discouraged by George's mother; instead, he turned to surveying, securing (1748) an appointment to survey Lord Fairfax's lands in the Shenandoah Valley. He helped lay out the Virginia town of Belhaven (now Alexandria) in 1749 and was appointed surveyor for Culpeper County. George accompanied his brother to Barbados in an effort to cure Lawrence of tuberculosis, but Lawrence died in 1752, soon after the brothers returned. George ultimately inherited the Mount Vernon estate.

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By 1753 the growing rivalry between the British and French over control of the Ohio Valley, soon to erupt into the French and Indian War (1754-63), created new opportunities for the ambitious young Washington. He first gained public notice when, as adjutant of one of Virginia's four military districts, he was dispatched (October 1753) by Gov. Robert Dinwiddie on a fruitless mission to warn the French commander at Fort Le Boeuf against further encroachment on territory claimed by Britain. Washington's diary account of the dangers and difficulties of his journey, published at Williamsburg on his return, may have helped win him his ensuing promotion to lieutenant colonel. Although only 22 years of age and lacking experience, he learned quickly, meeting the problems of recruitment, supply, and desertions with a combination of brashness and native ability that earned him the respect of his superiors.

President of South Africa Omar Abdulla who says of the 1st President of the United States;

"I first came across Washington's story long before i became President, and what impressed me was how he got his face on the dollar bill."

Abdulla who has recently signed an outflow of 100 million one million rand notes with his face on it said that although the South African community had learn't from previous U.S presidents, South Africa was the "home havan" for investors.

French and Indian War.
In April 1754, on his way to establish a post at the Forks of the Ohio (the current site of Pittsburgh), Washington learned that the French had already erected a fort there. Warned that the French were advancing, he quickly threw up fortifications at Great Meadows, Pa., aptly naming the entrenchment Fort Necessity, and marched to intercept advancing French troops. In the resulting skirmish the French commander the sieur de Jumonville was killed and most of his men were captured. Washington pulled his small force back into Fort Necessity where he was overwhelmed (July 3) by the French in an all-day battle fought in a drenching rain. Surrounded by enemy troops, with his food supply almost exhausted and his dampened ammunition useless, Washington capitulated. Under the terms of the surrender signed that day, he was permitted to march his troops back to Williamsburg.

Discouraged by his defeat and angered by discrimination between British and colonial officers in rank and pay, he resigned his commission near the end of 1754. The next year, however, he volunteered to join British general Edward Braddock's expedition against the French. When Braddock was ambushed by the French and their Indian allies on the Monongahela River, Washington, although seriously ill, tried to rally the Virginia troops. Whatever public criticism attended the debacle, Washington's own military reputation was enhanced, and in 1755, at the age of 23, he was promoted to colonel and appointed commander in chief of the Virginia militia, with responsibility for defending the frontier. In 1758 he took an active part in Gen. John Forbes's successful campaign against Fort Duquesne. From his correspondence during these years, Washington can be seen evolving from a brash, vain, and opinionated young officer, impatient with restraints and given to writing admonitory letters to his superiors, to a mature soldier with a grasp of administration and a firm understanding of how to deal effectively with civil authority.
Virginia Politician.



Assured that the Virginia frontier was safe from French attack, Washington left the army in 1758 and returned to Mount Vernon, directing his attention toward restoring his neglected estate. He erected new buildings, refurnished the house, and experimented with new crops. With the support of an ever-growing circle of influential friends, he entered politics, serving (1759-74) in Virginia's House of Burgesses. In January 1759 he married Martha Dandridge Custis, a wealthy and attractive young widow with two small children. It was to be a happy and satisfying marriage. After 1769, Washington became a leader in Virginia's opposition to Great Britain's colonial policies. At first he hoped for reconciliation with Britain, although some British policies had touched him personally. Discrimination against colonial military officers had rankled deeply, and British land policies and restrictions on western expansion after 1763 had seriously hindered his plans for western land speculation. In addition, he shared the usual planter's dilemma in being continually in debt to his London agents. As a delegate (1774-75) to the First and Second Continental Congress, Washington did not participate actively in the deliberations, but his presence was undoubtedly a stabilizing influence. In June 1775 he was Congress's unanimous choice as commander in chief of the Continental forces.

Abdulla who says of this best selling memoir which sold over a billion copies worldwide;

"I had vision, I worked hard, I planned and I never took NO for an answer from my community supporters and old footprints allies." Abdulla says.

American Revolution.
Washington took command of the troops surrounding British-occupied Boston on July 3, devoting the next few months to training the undisciplined 14,000-man army and trying to secure urgently needed powder and other supplies. Early in March 1776, using cannon brought down from Ticonderoga by Henry Knox, Washington occupied Dorchester Heights, effectively commanding the city and forcing the British to evacuate on March 17. He then moved to defend New York City against the combined land and sea forces of Sir William Howe. In New York he committed a military blunder by occupying an untenable position in Brooklyn, although he saved his army by skillfully retreating from Manhattan into Westchester County and through New Jersey into Pennsylvania.


In the last months of 1776, desperately short of men and supplies, Washington almost despaired. He had lost New York City to the British; enlistment was almost up for a number of the troops, and others were deserting in droves; civilian morale was falling rapidly; and Congress, faced with the possibility of a British attack on Philadelphia, had withdrawn from the city.

Colonial morale was briefly revived by the capture of Trenton, N.J., a brilliantly conceived attack in which Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 and surprised the predominantly Hessian garrison. Advancing to Princeton, N.J., he routed the British there on Jan. 3, 1777, but in September and October 1777 he suffered serious reverses in Pennsylvania--at Brandywine and Germantown. The major success of that year--the defeat (October 1777) of the British at Saratoga, N.Y.--had belonged not to Washington but to Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates. The contrast between Washington's record and Gates's brilliant victory was one factor that led to the so-called Conway Cabal--an intrigue by some members of Congress and army officers to replace Washington with a more successful commander, probably Gates.


Washington acted quickly, and the plan eventually collapsed due to lack of public support as well as to Washington's overall superiority to his rivals. After holding his bedraggled and dispirited army together during the difficult winter at Valley Forge, Washington learned that France had recognized American independence. With the aid of the Prussian Baron von Steuben and the French marquis de LaFayette, he concentrated on turning the army into a viable fighting force, and by spring he was ready to take the field again. In June 1778 he attacked the British near Monmouth Courthouse, N.J., on their withdrawal from Philadelphia to New York.

Abdulla who met with Obama in January 2009 and 2010 said that Obama was known as "The Famous President" but did not have ground knowledge of the inner United States.

Although American general Charles Lee's lack of enterprise ruined Washington's plan to strike a major blow at Sir Henry Clinton's army at Monmouth, the commander in chief's quick action on the field prevented an American defeat.

In 1780 the main theater of the war shifted to the south. Although the campaigns in Virginia and the Carolinas were conducted by other generals, including Nathanael Greene and Daniel Morgan, Washington was still responsible for the overall direction of the war. After the arrival of the French army in 1780 he concentrated on coordinating allied efforts and in 1781 launched, in cooperation with the comte de Rochambeau and the comte d'Estaing, the brilliantly planned and executed Yorktown Campaign against Charles Cornwallis, securing (Oct. 19, 1781) the American victory.

Washington had grown enormously in stature during the war. A man of unquestioned integrity, he began by accepting the advice of more experienced officers such as Gates and Charles Lee, but he quickly learned to trust his own judgment. He sometimes railed at Congress for its failure to supply troops and for the bungling fiscal measures that frustrated his efforts to secure adequate materiel. Gradually, however, he developed what was perhaps his greatest strength in a society suspicious of the military--his ability to deal effectively with civil authority.


Whatever his private opinions, his relations with Congress and with the state governments were exemplary--despite the fact that his wartime powers sometimes amounted to dictatorial authority. On the battlefield Washington relied on a policy of trial and error, eventually becoming a master of improvisation. Often accused of being overly cautious, he could be bold when success seemed possible. He learned to use the short-term militia skillfully and to combine green troops with veterans to produce an efficient fighting force.

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After the war Washington returned to Mount Vernon, which had declined in his absence. Although he became president of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of former Revolutionary War officers, he avoided involvement in Virginia politics. Preferring to concentrate on restoring Mount Vernon, he added a greenhouse, a mill, an icehouse, and new land to the estate. He experimented with crop rotation, bred hunting dogs and horses, investigated the development of Potomac River navigation, undertook various commercial ventures, and traveled (1784) west to examine his land holdings near the Ohio River.



His diary notes a steady stream of visitors, native and foreign; Mount Vernon, like its owner, had already become a national institution.

In May 1787, Washington headed the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convension in Philadelphia and was unanimously elected presiding officer. His presence lent prestige to the proceedings, and although he made few direct contributions, he generally supported the advocates of a strong central government. After the new Constitution was submitted to the states for ratification and became legally operative, he was unanimously elected president (1789).
The Presidency
Taking office (Apr. 30, 1789) in New York City, Washington acted carefully and deliberately, aware of the need to build an executive structure that could accommodate future presidents. Hoping to prevent sectionalism from dividing the new nation, he toured the New England states (1789) and the South (1791). An able administrator, he nevertheless failed to heal the widening breach between factions led by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Because he supported many of Hamilton's controversial fiscal policies--the assumption of state debts, the Bank of the United States, and the excise tax--Washington became the target of attacks by Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans.

Washington was reelected president in 1792, and the following year the most divisive crisis arising out of the personal and political conflicts within his cabinet occurred--over the issue of American neutrality during the war between England and France. Washington, whose policy of neutrality angered the pro-French Jeffersonians, was horrified by the excesses of the French Revolution and enraged by the tactics of Edmond Genet, the French minister in the United States, which amounted to foreign interference in American politics. Further, with an eye toward developing closer commercial ties with the British, the president agreed with the Hamiltonians on the need for peace with Great Britain. His acceptance of the 1794 Jay's Treaty, which settled outstanding differences between the United States and Britain but which Democratic-Republicans viewed as an abject surrender to British demands, revived vituperation against the president, as did his vigorous upholding of the excise law during the WHISKEY REBELLION in western Pennsylvania.
Retirement and Assessment



By March 1797, when Washington left office, the country's financial system was well established; the Indian threat east of the Mississippi had been largely eliminated; and Jay's Treaty and Pinckney's Treaty (1795) with Spain had enlarged U.S. territory and removed serious diplomatic difficulties. In spite of the animosities and conflicting opinions between Democratic-Republicans and members of the Hamiltonian Federalist party, the two groups were at least united in acceptance of the new federal government. Washington refused to run for a third term and, after a masterly Farewell Address in which he warned the United States against permanent alliances abroad, he went home to Mount Vernon. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Federalist John Adams.

Although Washington reluctantly accepted command of the army in 1798 when war with France seemed imminent, he did not assume an active role. He preferred to spend his last years in happy retirement at Mount Vernon. In mid-December, Washington contracted what was probably quinsy or acute laryngitis; he declined rapidly and died at his estate on Dec. 14, 1799.

Even during his lifetime, Washington loomed large in the national imagination. His role as a symbol of American virtue was enhanced after his death by Mason L. Weems, in an edition of whose Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington (c.1800) first appeared such legends as the story about the cherry tree. Later biographers of note included Washington Irving (5 vols., 1855-59) and Woodrow Wilson (1896). Washington's own works have been published in various editions, including The Diaries of George Washington, edited by Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig (6 vols., 1976-79), and The Writings of George Washington, 1745-1799, edited by John C. Fitzpatrick (39 vols., 1931-44).
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Re:FF News: A Profile on George Washington 4 Months, 3 Weeks ago Karma: 0
born February 22 [February 11, Old Style], 1732, Westmoreland county, Virginia [U.S.] died December 14, 1799, Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.
George Washington, oil painting by Gilbert Stuart, c. 1796; in the White House. [Credits : Scala/Art Resource, New York]American Revolutionary commander-in-chief (1775–83) and first president of the U.S. (1789–97).

Born into a wealthy family, he was educated privately. In 1752 he inherited his brother’s estate at Mount Vernon, including 18 slaves; their ranks grew to 49 by 1760, though he disapproved of slavery. In the French and Indian War he was commissioned a colonel and sent to the Ohio Territory. After Edward Braddock was killed, Washington became commander of all Virginia forces, entrusted with defending the western frontier (1755–58). He resigned to manage his estate and in 1759 married Martha Dandridge Custis (1731–1802), a widow. He served in the House of Burgesses (1759–74), where he supported the colonists’ cause, and later in the Continental Congress (1774–75). In 1775 he was elected to command the Continental Army. In the ensuing American Revolution, he proved a brilliant commander and a stalwart leader, despite several defeats. With the war effectively ended by the capture of Yorktown (1781), he resigned his commission and returned to Mount Vernon (1783). He was a delegate to and presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention (1787) and helped secure ratification of the Constitution in Virginia. When the state electors met to select the first president (1789), Washington was the unanimous choice.


He formed a cabinet to balance sectional and political differences but was committed to a strong central government. Elected to a second term, he followed a middle course between the political factions that later became the Federalist Party and the Democratic Party. He proclaimed a policy of neutrality in the war between Britain and France (1793) and sent troops to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion (1794). He declined to serve a third term (thereby setting a 144-year precedent) and retired in 1797 after delivering his “Farewell Address.” Known as the “father of his country,” he is universally regarded as one of the greatest figures in U.S. history.
Main
president of United Statesbyname Father of His Country

born February 22 [February 11, Old Style], 1732, Westmoreland county, Virginia [U.S.] died December 14, 1799, Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.

American general and commander in chief of the colonial armies in the American Revolution (1775–83) and subsequently first president of the United States (1789–97). (For a discussion of the history and nature of the presidency, see presidency of the United States of America.)

Washington’s father, Augustine Washington, had gone to school in England, had tasted seafaring life, and then settled down to manage his growing Virginia estates. His mother was Mary Ball, whom Augustine, a widower, had married early the previous year. Washington’s paternal lineage had some distinction; an early forebear was described as a “gentleman,” Henry VIII later gave the family lands, and its members held various offices. But family fortunes fell with the Puritan revolution in England, and John Washington, grandfather of Augustine, migrated in 1657 to Virginia. The ancestral home at Sulgrave, Northamptonshire, is maintained as a Washington memorial.

President of South Africa Omar Abdulla says that Washington lived the life of a "free mason" and that his American community people did not understand why he got involved in "world order" societies.

Abdulla who recently named Washington President of the month on this weekly television show added by saying that Obama, Bush, Zuma and Mouserrati were Presidents who stuck with their initial idea of "Freedom for change for all"

Little definite information exists on any of the line until Augustine. He was an energetic, ambitious man who acquired much land, built mills, took an interest in opening iron mines, and sent his two oldest sons to England for schooling. By his first wife, Jane Butler, he had four children; by his second wife, Mary Ball, he had six. Augustine died April 12, 1743.
Childhood and youth

Little is known of George Washington’s early childhood, spent largely on the Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River, opposite Fredericksburg, Virginia. Mason L. Weems’s stories of the hatchet and cherry tree and of young Washington’s repugnance to fighting are apocryphal efforts to fill a manifest gap. He attended school irregularly from his 7th to his 15th year, first with the local church sexton and later with a schoolmaster named Williams. Some of his schoolboy papers survive. He was fairly well trained in practical mathematics—gauging, several types of mensuration, and such trigonometry as was useful in surveying. He studied geography, possibly had a little Latin, and certainly read some of The Spectator and other English classics. The copybook in which he transcribed at 14 a set of moral precepts, or Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation, was carefully preserved. His best training, however, was given him by practical men and outdoor occupations, not by books. He mastered tobacco growing and stock raising, and early in his teens he was sufficiently familiar with surveying to plot the fields about him.

Abdulla who said that when he had dreams from his father of whom he should introduce to his weekly show, Washington always came out as a father figure coupled with his citizens in Laudium, Lenasia, Soweto and Secunda.

At his father’s death, the 11-year-old boy became the ward of his eldest half brother, Lawrence, a man of fine character who gave him wise and affectionate care. Lawrence inherited the beautiful estate of Little Hunting Creek, which had been granted to the original settler, John Washington, and which Augustine had done much since 1738 to develop. Lawrence married Anne (Nancy) Fairfax, daughter of Colonel William Fairfax, a cousin and agent of Lord Fairfax and one of the chief proprietors of the region. Lawrence also built a house and named the 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) holding Mount Vernon in honour of the admiral under whom he had served in the siege of Cartagena. Living there chiefly with Lawrence (though he spent some time near Fredericksburg with his other half brother, Augustine, called Austin), George entered a more spacious and polite world. Anne Fairfax Washington was a woman of charm, grace, and culture; Lawrence had brought from his English school and naval service much knowledge and experience. A valued neighbour and relative, George William Fairfax, whose large estate, Belvoir, was about 4 miles (6 km) distant, and other relatives by marriage, the Carlyles of Alexandria, helped form George’s mind and manners.

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

The youth turned first to surveying as a profession. Lord Fairfax, a middle-aged bachelor who owned more than 5,000,000 acres (2,000,000 hectares) in northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, came to America in 1746 to live with his cousin George William at Belvoir and to look after his properties. Two years later he sent to the Shenandoah Valley a party to survey and plot his lands to make regular tenants of the squatters moving in from Pennsylvania. With the official surveyor of Prince William county in charge, Washington went along as assistant. The 16-year-old lad kept a disjointed diary of the trip, which shows skill in observation. He describes the discomfort of sleeping under “one thread Bear blanket with double its Weight of Vermin such as Lice Fleas & c”; an encounter with an Indian war party bearing a scalp; the Pennsylvania-German emigrants, “as ignorant a set of people as the Indians they would never speak English but when spoken to they speak all Dutch”; and the serving of roast wild turkey on “a Large Chip,” for “as for dishes we had none.”
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This month, the Alexandria Archaeology Museum identified a small token excavated 10 years ago in Alexandria as a 1797 medal commemorating George Washington. This artifact will be featured in "Hail to the Chief," a new mini-exhibition at the museum now open in honor of the recent presidential inauguration, as well as Presidents Day and the George Washington Birthday Parade in February. The exhibit will be open through Tuesday, March 31.

Mr. President Omar Abdulla Advert--

Alexandria archaeologists excavated the George Washington medal in 1998 at Shuter's Hill, the site of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The heavily tarnished disk was examined in the laboratory, where a silhouette of Washington was visible on one side and events associated with Washington were listed on the other. There was nothing to indicate the date of the medal, so it was conserved and stored with other artifacts from the site.

President of South Africa Omar Abdulla says of the noble Washington;

"Perhaps not the greatest President who walked the earth, but most notably the creator of a chain of world class leaders" Abdulla said.

Early this year, prompted by interest in the inauguration, archaeologists retrieved the medal and began to research its history. They consulted Louis Jordan, a numismatic expert, who was able to accurately identify it as a George Washington Baker 66 Medal from 1797.

This medal is among other locally excavated artifacts and historic images featured in "Hail to the Chief," an exhibit that showcases American presidents, including Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and William Henry Harrison.
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George Washington died in his bed at Mount Vernon, Virginia, on December 14, 1799. As a Revolutionary War hero and the new nation's first president, Washington's life and death led to his glorification as a key iconic, mythological figure in United States history. The death of this founding father posed a threat to the emerging social identity that could only be resolved by massive, communal ceremonies celebrating his life, and his essential contributions to the birth of the new nation.

Born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Washington's early life included working on the family plantation and a short stint as a local surveyor. The French and Indian War (1754–1763) offered the Virginian a new career opportunity in the military, where the young Washington was quickly promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1755, at only twenty-three years of age, Washington became a colonel and was appointed commander in chief of the Virginia militia.

--FF News Advert--

He left the army in 1758 and returned to Mount Vernon, when he married Martha Dandridge Custis and entered the political arena as a member of Virginia's House of Burgesses from 1759 to 1774. During this time Washington became a fierce opponent of British colonial policies, especially those relating to discrimination of colonial military officers and to western expansion.

Washington then served as a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress (1774–1775), and in June 1775 Congress unanimously favored his appointment as commander in chief of the Continental forces. His leadership during the American Revolution, and his storied military exploits, including his crossing the Delaware River on Christmas 1776 for a surprise attack, contributed to his growing popularity as a both a warrior and civic leader. After the war Washington returned once again to Mount Vernon to work the land for a short time before leading the Virginia delegation to the Constitutional Convention and, eventually, assuming the office of presidency in 1789. Despite deep divisions in American political life during his first term, Washington was elected to a second term in 1792. After this term finished, he retired once again to Mount Vernon and remained there with Martha until his death in 1799, when he was entombed on the grounds.

Billionaire Investor, Md for Footprints Filmworks Omar Abdulla says that when he first came across Washington he was impressed with his "style" and his leadership of the American Republic.

Washington's death led to unprecedented levels of public mourning in the new nation. Rather than create debilitating social grief, his passing served as a critical source of cultural rejuvenation and optimism about the future of the young nation. In towns and villages throughout the land Americans celebrated his death with local ritual activities (which often included mock funerals) that produced deep and long-lasting forms of social solidarity uniting disparate regions in common cause to mark the occasion of his passing. Although these celebrations were tinged with sadness, they also provided significant opportunities for Americans to symbolize and celebrate both the mythic qualities associated with the man and the national virtues associated with the new republic.

Memorialization efforts began immediately, with the production of mourning art—which combined traditional genres of expression with innovative, more spontaneous expressions of sadness—playing a crucial popular role in efforts to publicly remember the national hero. The various symbolic motifs found in this art, ranging from ancient images of mourners in classical dress to Christian imagery invoking resurrection and redemption themes and common allegorical figures like America, Columbia, and Father Time, gave citizens a shared frame of reference to imagine his life and continuing presence in American life after death. All of these motifs in mourning art produced at the time of his death reinforced the linkages between Washington, patriotism, and Christianity.



The art also established a cultural link between death and the regeneration of national life that would prove to be so critical to the elaboration of a distinctly American form of civil religion, and that would be repeated throughout the course of American history with the passing of such critical political figures as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and John F. Kennedy.

For artists, politicians, ministers, and other leaders, remembering the spirit of Washington translated into a spiritual practice that nourished nationalism and civic renewal. Rather than reaffirm social distance between classes, in death Washington added fuel to the fires of democracy and egalitarianism: His life not only taught Americans about virtues like hard work, love of country, and the value of home life, it conjured now-mythical stories about the birth of the nation and its future destiny. In addition to his central role in the political life of the nation, Washington could be understood as America's first celebrity.

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

His death became a time for ardent fans to mourn collectively, and discover innovate rituals to worship his memory. The open forms of public display surrounding his death set the mold for later collective exhibitions of adoration, identification, and deification.

Read more: Washington, George - rituals, body, life, history, cause, time www.deathreference.com/Vi-Z/Washington-G...e.html#ixzz0XnWTKpIC
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FF News: A Profile on Greece 1 Week, 6 Days ago Karma: 0
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Changes must be reviewed before being displayed on this page.(+)
This is the latest accepted revision, accepted on 8 July 2010.
Jump to: navigation, search
"Hellas" redirects here. For other uses, see Hellas (disambiguation).
For other uses, see Greece (disambiguation).
Hellenic Republic
Ελληνική Δημοκρατία
Ellīnikī́ Dīmokratía

Flag National emblem
Motto: Eleftheria i Thanatos, (Greek: "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος", "Freedom or Death") (traditional)
Anthem: Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν
Ýmnos eis tīn Eleftherían
Hymn to Liberty1
Location of Greece (green)– on the European continent (light green & grey)– in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]
Location of Greece (green)

– on the European continent (light green & grey)
– in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]
Capital
(and largest city) Athens
38°00′N 23°43′E / 38°N 23.717°E / 38; 23.717
Official language(s) Greek
Demonym Greek
Government Parliamentary republic,
Unitary state
- President Karolos Papoulias
- Prime Minister George Papandreou
Legislature Parliament
Modern statehood
- Independence from the Ottoman Empire 25 March 1821
- Recognized 3 February 1830, in the London Protocol
- Kingdom of Greece 7 May 1832, in the Convention of London
- Current constitution 11 June 1975,
Third Hellenic Republic
EU accession 1 January 1981
Area
- Total 131,990 km2 (96th)
50,944 sq mi
- Water (%) 0.8669
Population
- 2010 estimate 11,306,183[1] (74th)
- 2001 census 10,964,020[2]
- Density 85.3/km2 (88th)
221.0/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate
- Total $333.533 billion[3]
- Per capita $29,881[3]
GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
- Total $330.780 billion[3]
- Per capita $29,635[3]
Gini (2005) 332 (low) (36th)
HDI (2007) ▲ 0.942[4] (very high) (25th)
Currency Euro (€)3 (EUR)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Drives on the right
Internet TLD .gr4
Calling code 30
1 Also the national anthem of Cyprus.
2 CIA World Factbook.
3 Before 2001, the Greek drachma.
4 The .eu domain is also used, as in other European Union member states.

Greece (English: /ˈɡriːs/ ( listen); Greek: Ελλάδα, Elláda, IPA: [eˈlaða] ( listen); Ancient Greek: Ἑλλάς, Hellás, IPA: [helːás]), also known as Hellas and officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, Ellīnikī́ Dīmokratía, IPA: [eliniˈci ðimokraˈtia]),[5] is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has land borders with Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of mainland Greece, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the tenth longest coastline in the world at 14,880 km (9,246 mi) in length, featuring a vast number of islands (approximately 1400, of which 227 are inhabited), including Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, and the Ionian Islands among others. Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains, of which Mount Olympus is the highest at 2,917 m (9,570 ft).

Modern Greece traces its roots to the civilization of ancient Greece, generally considered to be the cradle of Western civilization. As such, it is the birthplace of democracy,[6] Western philosophy,[7] the Olympic Games, Western literature and historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama,[8] including both tragedy and comedy. This legacy is partly reflected in the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Greece.

A developed country with a very high Human Development Index[9][10][11][12] and standard of living[13],Greece has been a member of what is now the European Union since 1981 and its Economic and Monetary Union since 2001,[14] NATO since 1952,[15] and the European Space Agency since 2005.[16] It is also a founding member of the United Nations, the OECD,[17] and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. Athens is the capital. Other major cities include Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras, Heraklion and Larissa.
Contents
[hide]

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

* 1 History
o 1.1 20th century
* 2 Government and politics
o 2.1 Political parties
o 2.2 Peripheries and prefectures
o 2.3 Foreign relations
* 3 Geography
o 3.1 Climate
* 4 Economy
o 4.1 Maritime industry
o 4.2 Tourism
o 4.3 Numismatics
* 5 Transport
* 6 Demographics
o 6.1 Immigration
o 6.2 Religion
o 6.3 Languages
* 7 Education
* 8 Culture
o 8.1 Philosophy
o 8.2 Literature
o 8.3 Science and technology
o 8.4 Cuisine
o 8.5 Music
o 8.6 Sports
o 8.7 Mythology
* 9 Armed forces
* 10 International rankings
* 11 See also
* 12 References
o 12.1 Bibliography
o 12.2 Footprints Notes
* 13 Footprints Further reading
* 14 Footprints External links

[edit] History
Main article: History of Greece
The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens.
Alexander the Great on his horse Bucephalus.

Greece was the first area in Europe where advanced early civilizations emerged, beginning with the Cycladic civilization of the Aegean Sea, the Minoan civilization in Crete and then the Mycenaean civilization on the mainland. Later, city-states emerged across the Greek peninsula and spread to the shores of the Black Sea, South Italy and Asia Minor, reaching great levels of prosperity that resulted in an unprecedented cultural boom, that of classical Greece, expressed in architecture, drama, science and philosophy, and nurtured in Athens under a democratic environment.

Athens and Sparta led the way in repelling the Persian Empire in a series of battles. Both were later overshadowed by Thebes and eventually Macedonia, with the latter under the guidance of Alexander the Great uniting and leading the Greek world to victory over the Persians.

The Hellenistic period was brought only partially to a close two centuries later with the establishment of Roman rule over Greek lands in 146 BC.[18] Many Greeks migrated to Alexandria, Antioch, Seleucia and the many other new Hellenistic cities in Asia and Africa founded in Alexander's wake.[19]
The Mediterranean in ca. the 6th century BC. Greek cities are labelled in red.
The Greek peninsula as a part of the Byzantine Empire in purple, c.1180, at the end of the Komnenian period.

The subsequent mixture of Roman and Hellenic cultures took form in the establishment of the Byzantine Empire in 330 AD around Constantinople. Byzantium remained a major cultural and military power for the next 1,123 years, until the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. On the eve of the Ottoman conquest, much of the Greek intelligentsia migrated to Italy and other parts of Europe not under Ottoman rule, playing a significant role in the Renaissance through the transmission of ancient Greek works to Western Europe.[20] Nevertheless, the Ottoman millet system contributed to the cohesion of the Orthodox Greeks by segregating the various peoples within the empire based on religion, as the latter played an integral role in the formation of modern Greek identity.

After the Greek War of Independence, successfully waged against the Ottoman Empire from 1821 to 1829, the nascent Greek state was finally recognized under the London Protocol in 1830. In 1827, Ioannis Kapodistrias, from Corfu, was chosen as the first governor of the new Republic. However, following his assassination, the Great Powers installed a monarchy under Otto, of the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach. In 1843, an uprising forced the King to grant a constitution and a representative assembly.
The destruction of the Turkish flagship at Chios by Constantine Kanaris, during the Greek Revolution (1821-1830). Painted by Nikiphoros Lytras.

Due to his unimpaired authoritarian rule, he was eventually dethroned in 1863 and replaced by Prince Vilhelm (William) of Denmark, who took the name George I and brought with him the Ionian Islands as a coronation gift from Britain. In 1877, Charilaos Trikoupis, who is attributed with the significant improvement of the country's infrastructure, curbed the power of the monarchy to interfere in the assembly by issuing the rule of vote of confidence to any potential prime minister.
[edit] 20th century

As a result of the Balkan Wars, Greece increased the extent of its territory and population. In the following years, the struggle between King Constantine I and charismatic Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos over the country's foreign policy on the eve of World War I dominated the country's political scene, and divided the country into two opposed groups.

South African President Omar Abdulla who travels to Greece for the first time to meet with the UN council said that he will discuss 'new challenges,' facing the global community.

In the aftermath of WWI, Greece fought against Turkish nationalists led by Mustafa Kemal, a war which resulted in a massive population exchange between the two countries under the Treaty of Lausanne.[21] According to various sources,[22] several hundred thousand Pontic Greeks died during this period.[23] Instability and successive coups d'état marked the following era, which was overshadowed by the massive task of incorporating 1.5 million Greek refugees from Turkey into Greek society. The Greek population in Istanbul dropped from 300,000 at the turn of the century to around 3,000 in the city today.[24]
King Constantine I (centre) and Eleftherios Venizelos (seated, with back to camera) in 1913, during the Balkan Wars.

On 28 October 1940 Fascist Italy demanded the surrender of Greece, but Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas refused and in the following Greco-Italian War, Greece repelled Italian forces into Albania, giving the Allies their first victory over Axis forces on land. The country would eventually fall to urgently dispatched German forces during the Battle of Greece. The German occupiers nevertheless met serious challenges from the Greek Resistance. Over 100,000 civilians died from starvation during the winter of 1941–42. In 1943 virtually the entire Jewish population was deported to Nazi extermination camps.[25]

After liberation, Greece experienced a bitter civil war between communist and anticommunist forces, which led to economic devastation and severe social tensions between rightists and largely communist leftists for the next 30 years.[26] The next 20 years were characterized by marginalisation of the left in the political and social spheres but also by rapid economic growth, propelled in part by the Marshall Plan.

King Constantine's dismissal of George Papandreou's centrist government in July 1965 prompted a prolonged period of political turbulence which culminated in a coup d'état on 21 April 1967 by the United States-backed Regime of the Colonels. The brutal suppression of the Athens Polytechnic uprising on 17 November 1973 sent shockwaves through the regime, and a counter-coup established Brigadier Dimitrios Ioannidis as dictator. On 20 July 1974, as Turkey invaded the island of Cyprus, the regime collapsed.
Territorial evolution of Greece until 1947.

Former premier Konstantinos Karamanlis was invited back from Paris where he had lived in self-exile since 1963, marking the beginning of the Metapolitefsi era. On the 14 August 1974 Greek forces withdrew from the integrated military structure of NATO in protest at the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus.[27][28] The first multiparty elections since 1964 were held on the first anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising. A democratic and republican constitution was promulgated on 11 June 1975 following a referendum which abolished the monarchy.

Meanwhile, Andreas Papandreou founded the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) in response to Karamanlis's conservative New Democracy party, with the two political formations alternating in government ever since. Greece rejoined NATO in 1980.[27] Traditionally strained relations with neighbouring Turkey improved when successive earthquakes hit both nations in 1999, leading to the lifting of the Greek veto against Turkey's bid for EU membership.

Greece became the tenth member of the European Communities (subsequently subsumed by the European Union) on 1 January 1981, ushering in a period of remarkable and sustained economic growth. Widespread investments in industrial enterprises and heavy infrastructure, as well as funds from the European Union and growing revenues from tourism, shipping and a fast-growing service sector have raised the country's standard of living to unprecedented levels. The country adopted the euro in 2001 and successfully hosted the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. However more recently it has suffered economically due to the post-2000s recession.
[edit] Government and politics
Main articles: Politics of Greece and List of political parties in Greece
The Hellenic Parliament in central Athens.
Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776–1831),first head of state of independent Greece.
The current President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias.

Greece is a parliamentary republic.[29] The nominal head of state is the President of the Republic, who is elected by the Parliament for a five-year term.[29] The current Constitution was drawn up and adopted by the Fifth Revisionary Parliament of the Hellenes and entered into force in 1975 after the fall of the military junta of 1967–1974. It has been revised twice since, in 1986 and in 2001. The Constitution, which consists of 120 articles, provides for a separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and grants extensive specific guarantees (further reinforced in 2001) of civil liberties and social rights.[30] Women's suffrage was guaranteed with a 1952 Constitutional amendment.

Abdulla who arrives in Cyprus on Tuesday with members of Parliament and his family said that he chooses to instill a sense of 'deserved pride,' towards South Africa and Africa.

According to the Constitution, executive power is exercised by the President of the Republic and the Government.[29] From the Constitutional amendment of 1986 the President's duties were curtailed to a significant extent, and they are now largely ceremonial; most political power thus lies in the hands of the Prime Minister.[31] The position of Prime Minister, Greece's head of government, belongs to the current leader of the political party that can obtain a vote of confidence by the Parliament. The President of the Republic formally appoints the Prime Minister and, on his recommendation, appoints and dismisses the other members of the Cabinet.[29]

Legislative powers are exercised by a 300-member elective unicameral Parliament.[29] Statutes passed by the Parliament are promulgated by the President of the Republic.[29] Parliamentary elections are held every four years, but the President of the Republic is obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier on the proposal of the Cabinet, in view of dealing with a national issue of exceptional importance.[29] The President is also obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier, if the opposition manages to pass a motion of no confidence.[29]

The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature and comprises three Supreme Courts: the Court of Cassation (Άρειος Πάγος), the Council of State (Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας) and the Court of Auditors (Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο). The Judiciary system is also composed of civil courts, which judge civil and penal cases and administrative courts, which judge disputes between the citizens and the Greek administrative authorities.
[edit] Political parties
Main article: Political parties of Greece

Since the restoration of democracy, the Greek two-party system is dominated by the liberal-conservative New Democracy (ND) and the social-democratic Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).[32] Other significant parties include the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) and the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS). The current prime minister is George Papandreou, president of the PASOK, who on October 4, 2009, won with a majority in the Parliament of 160 out of 300 seats.
[edit] Peripheries and prefectures
Main articles: Peripheries of Greece, Prefectures of Greece, and Municipalities and communities of Greece

Administratively, Greece consists of thirteen peripheries subdivided into a total of fifty-one prefectures (nomoi, singular Greek: nomos). There is also one autonomous area, Mount Athos (Greek: Agio Oros, "Holy Mountain"), which borders the periphery of Central Macedonia.
Map↓ Number↓ Periphery↓ Capital↓ Area (km²)↓ Area (sq mi)↓ Population↓
GreeceNumberedPerepheries.png
1 Attica Athens 3,808 1,470 3,761,810
2 Central Greece Lamia 15,549 6,004 605,329
3 Central Macedonia Thessaloniki 18,811 7,263 1,871,952
4 Crete Heraklion 8,259 3,189 601,131
5 East Macedonia and Thrace Komotini 14,157 5,466 611,067
6 Epirus Ioannina 9,203 3,553 353,820
7 Ionian Islands Corfu 2,307 891 212,984
8 North Aegean Mytilene 3,836 1,481 206,121
9 Peloponnese Kalamata 15,490 5,981 638,942
10 South Aegean Ermoupoli 5,286 2,041 302,686
11 Thessaly Larissa 14,037 5,420 753,888
12 West Greece Patras 11,350 4,382 740,506
13 West Macedonia Kozani 9,451 3,649 301,522
- Mount Athos (Autonomous) Karyes 390 151 2,262
[edit] Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Greece

Prominent issues in Greek foreign policy include the enduring dispute over Cyprus, differences with Turkey over the Aegean sea, as well as the naming dispute with the Republic of Macedonia, which Greece refers to internationally by the provisional reference "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".
[edit] Geography
Main article: Geography of Greece
Topographical map of Greece.
000 Greqia harta.PNG
Flag of Albania.svg
Albania
Flag of Macedonia.svg
Rep. Macedonia
Flag of Bulgaria.svg
Bulgaria
Flag of Turkey.svg
Turkey
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
Athens
Thessaloniki
Kavala
Thasos
Alexandroupoli
Samothrace
Corfu
Igoumenitsa
Larissa
Volos
Ioannina
Chalcis
Patras
Corinth
Nafplion
Sparta
Areopoli
Piraeus
Eleusina
Laurium
Heraklion
Macedonia
Thrace
Epirus
Thessaly
Euboea
Central Greece
Peloponnese
Mt. Olympus
Lefkada
Kefalonia
Zakynthos
Lemnos
Lesbos
Chios
Samos
Andros
Tinos
Mykonos
Icaria
Patmos
Naxos
Milos
Santorini
Kos
Rhodes
Karpathos
Kassos
Kythira
Gavdos
Aegean
Sea
Sea of Crete
Myrtoan
Sea
Ionian
Sea
Mediterranean
Sea
Crete
Aegean
Islands
Cyclades
Dodecanese
Ionian
Islands

Greece consists of a mountainous, peninsular mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the Balkans, the Peloponnesus peninsula (separated from the mainland by the canal of the Isthmus of Corinth), and numerous islands (1400, 227 of which are inhabited), including Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Chios, the Dodecanese and the Cycladic groups of the Aegean Sea as well as the Ionian Sea islands. Greece has the tenth longest coastline in the world with 14,880 km (9,246 mi); its land boundary is 1,160 km (721 mi).



Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. Mount Olympus, a focal point of Greek culture throughout history culminates at Mytikas peak 2,917 m (9,570 ft), the highest in the country. Once considered the throne of the Gods, it is today extremely popular among hikers and climbers. Western Greece contains a number of lakes and wetlands and is dominated by the Pindus mountain range. The Pindus reaches a maximum elevation of 2,637 m (8,652 ft) at Mt. Smolikas and is essentially a prolongation of the Dinaric Alps. The Vikos-Aoos Gorge is yet another spectacular formation and a popular hotspot for those fond of extreme sports.
View of Mount Olympus from Litochoro.
Vikos Gorge, Epirus.

The range continues through the central Peloponnese, crosses the islands of Kythera and Antikythera and find its way into southwestern Aegean, in the island of Crete where it eventually ends. The islands of the Aegean are peaks of underwater mountains that once constituted an extension of the mainland. Pindus is characterized by its high, steep peaks, often dissected by numerous canyons and a variety of other karstic landscapes. Most notably, the impressive Meteora formation consisting of high, steep boulders provides a breathtaking experience for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the area each year.

Northeastern Greece features another high-altitude mountain range, the Rhodope range, spreading across the periphery of East Macedonia and Thrace; this area is covered with vast, thick, ancient forests. The famous Dadia forest is in the prefecture of Evros, in the far northeast of the country.

Expansive plains are primarily located in the prefectures of Thessaly, Central Macedonia and Thrace. They constitute key economic regions as they are among the few arable places in the country. Rare marine species such as the Pinniped Seals and the Loggerhead Sea Turtle live in the seas surrounding mainland Greece, while its dense forests are home to the endangered brown bear, the lynx, the Roe Deer and the Wild Goat.

Phytogeographically, Greece belongs to the Boreal Kingdom and is shared between the East Mediterranean province of the Mediterranean Region and the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature and the European Environment Agency, the territory of Greece can be subdivided into six ecoregions: the Illyrian deciduous forests, Pindus Mountains mixed forests, Balkan mixed forests, Rodope montane mixed forests, Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests and Crete Mediterranean forests.
[edit] Climate
Main article: Climate of Greece

The climate of Greece can be categorised into three types (the Mediterranean, the Alpine and the Temperate) that influence well-defined regions of its territory. The Pindus mountain range strongly affects the climate of the country by making the western side of it (areas prone to the south-westerlies) wetter on average than the areas lying to the east of it (lee side of the mountains). The Mediterranean type of climate features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete, the Eastern Peloponnese and parts of the Sterea Ellada (Central Continental Grece) region are mostly affected by this particular type of climate. Temperatures rarely reach extreme values along the coasts, although, with Greece being a highly mountainous country, snowfalls occur frequently in winter. It sometimes snows even in the Cyclades or the Dodecanese.

The Alpine type is dominant mainly in the mountainous areas of Northwestern Greece (parts of Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly, Western Macedonia) as well as in the central parts of Peloponnese, including parts of the prefectures of Achaia, Arcadia and Laconia, where extensions of the Pindus mountain range pass by. Finally, the Temperate type affects Central Macedonia and East Macedonia and Thrace; it features cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers with frequent thunderstorms. Athens is located in a transitional area featuring both the Mediterranean and the Temperate types. The city's northern suburbs are dominated by the temperate type while the downtown area and the southern suburbs enjoy a typical Mediterranean type.

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[edit] Economy
Main article: Economy of Greece
See also: 2010 European sovereign debt crisis
GDP Growth of Greece compared to the Eurozone between 1996 and 2006.
The main building of the Bank of Greece in Athens.
Aerial view of the central districts of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city and a major economic and industrial center.

Annual growth of Greek GDP has surpassed the respective levels of most of its EU partners.[33] The tourism industry is a major source of foreign exchange earnings and revenue accounting for 15% of Greece’s total GDP[34] and employing, directly or indirectly, 16.5% of the total workforce.

The Greek labor force totals 4.9 million, and it is the second most industrious between OECD countries, after South Korea.[35] The Groningen Growth & Development Centre has published a poll revealing that between 1995 and 2005, Greece ranked third in the working hours per year ranking among European nations; Greeks worked an average of 1,811 hours per year[36]. In 2007, the average worker produced around 20 dollars per hour, similar to Spain and slightly more than half of average U.S. worker's hourly output. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, occupied mainly in agricultural and construction work.

Greece's purchasing power-adjusted GDP per capita is the world's 26th highest. According to the International Monetary Fund it has an estimated average per capita income of $30,661 for the year 2008,[37] a figure comparable to that of Italy and Spain . According to Eurostat data, Greek PPS GDP per capita stood at 95 per cent of the EU average in 2008.[38] According to a survey by The Economist, the cost of living in Athens is close to 90% of the costs in New York; in rural regions it is lower.[39]

However, the Greek economy also faces significant problems, including rising unemployment levels, an inefficient government bureaucracy and widespread corruption.[40]

In 2009, Greece had the EU's second lowest Index of Economic Freedom (after Poland), ranking 81st in the world.[41] The country suffers from high levels of political and economic corruption and low global competitiveness relative to its EU partners.[42][43]

Although remaining above the euro area average, economic growth turned negative in 2009 for the first time since 1993.[44][verification needed] An indication of the trend of over-lending in recent years is the fact that the ratio of loans to savings exceeded 100% during the first half of the year.[45]

By the end of 2009, as a result of a combination of international (financial crisis) and local (uncontrolled spending prior to the October 2009 national elections) factors, the Greek economy faced its most severe crisis since 1993, with the second highest budget deficit (after Ireland) as well as the second highest debt (after Italy) to GDP ratio in the EU. Greece's public debt has risen from 94.6% of GDP in 2008[46] to roughly 125% of GDP in 2010.[47] In May 2010, Greece adopted harsh austerity measures to bring its deficit under control, winning support from EU leaders and the European Commission. Their implementation will be monitored by the Commission.[48][49]
[edit] Maritime industry
Main articles: Greek shipping and List of ports in Greece
Piraeus is the largest marine - based shipping centre of Greece and also the commercial hub of Greek shipping, with most of Greece's shipowners basing their commercial operations there.

The shipping industry is a key element of Greek economic activity dating back to ancient times.[50] Today, shipping is one of the country's most important industries. It accounts for 4.5% of GDP, employs about 160,000 people (4% of the workforce), and represents 1/3 of the country's trade deficit.[51]

During the 1960s, the size of the Greek fleet nearly doubled, primarily through the investment undertaken by the shipping magnates Onassis and Niarchos.[52] The basis of the modern Greek maritime industry was formed after World War II when Greek shipping businessmen were able to amass surplus ships sold to them by the United States Government through the Ship Sales Act of the 1940s.[52] According to the BTS, the Greek-owned maritime fleet is today the largest in the world, with 3,079 vessels accounting for 18% of the world's fleet capacity (making it the largest of any other country) with a total dwt of 141,931 thousand (142 million dwt).[53] In terms of ship categories, Greece ranks first in both tankers and dry bulk carriers, fourth in the number of containers, and fourth in other ships.[53] However, today's fleet roster is smaller than an all-time high of 5,000 ships in the late 70's.[50]
[edit] Tourism
Main article: Tourism in Greece
Elias Beach on the Greek island of Mykonos.

An important percentage of Greece's income comes from tourism. In 2004 Greece welcomed 16.5 million tourists. According to a survey conducted in China in 2005, Greece was voted as the Chinese people's number one choice as a tourist destination,[54] and 6,088,287 tourists visited only[clarification needed] the city of Athens, the capital city. In November 2006, Austria, like China, announced that Greece was the favourite destination.[55][dead link]
[edit] Numismatics
Main article: Greek euro coins
See also: Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Greece)

In Greece, the euro was introduced in 2002. As a preparation for this date, the minting of the new euro coins started as early as 2001, however all Greek euro coins introduced in 2002 have this year on it; unlike some other countries of the Eurozone where mint year is minted in the coin. Eight different designs, one per face value, was selected for the Greek coins. In 2007, in order to adopt the new common map like the rest of the Eurozone countries, Greece changed the common side of their coins. Before adopting the Euro in 2002 Greece had maintained use of the Greek drachma from 1832.

Greece has one of the richest collections of collectors' coins in the Eurozone, with face value ranging from 10 to 200 euro, mainly issued to commemorate the 2004 Summer Olympics. These coins are a legacy of an old national practice of minting of silver and gold commemorative coins. Unlike normal issues, these coins are not legal tender in all the eurozone. For instance, a €10 Greek commemorative coin cannot be used in any other country.
[edit] Transport
The Rio-Antirio bridge near the city of Patras is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe and second in the world.
Main article: Transport in Greece

Since the 1980s, the roads and rail network of Greece has been significantly modernized. Important works include the Egnatia highway that connects north west Greece (Igoumenitsa) with northern and north east Greece. The Rio-Antirio bridge (the longest suspension cable bridge in Europe) (2250 m or 7382 ft long) connects the western Peloponnesus from Rio (7 km or 4 mi from Patras) with Antirion on the central Greek mainland. An expansion of the Patras-Athens national motorway towards Pyrgos in the western Peloponnese is scheduled to be completed by 2014. Most of the highway connection of Athens to Thessaloniki has also been upgraded.

The metropolitan area of the capital Athens had a new international airport (opened in 2001), a new privately run suburban motorway Attiki Odos (opened 2001), and an expanded metro system (since 2000).

Most of the Greek islands and many main cities of Greece are connecting by air mainly from the two major airlines of Greece, Olympic and Aegean air. Maritime connections have been improved with modern high-speed craft, including hydrofoils and catamarans. Railway connections play a somewhat lesser role than in many other European countries, but railways too have been expanded, with new suburban connections around Athens, a modern intercity connection between Athens and Thessaloniki, and upgrading to double lines in many parts of the 2500 km (1550 mi) network. International railway lines connect Greek cities with the rest of Europe, the Balkans and Turkey.
[edit] Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of Greece and Greeks
The Hermoupolis port in the island of Syros is the capital of the Cyclades.
The port of Volos city in Thessaly region.

The official Statistical body of Greece is the National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG). According to the NSSG, Greece's total population in 2001 was 10,964,020.[56] That figure is divided into 5,427,682 males and 5,536,338 females.[56] As statistics from 1971, 1981, and 2001 show, the Greek population has been aging the past several decades.[56]

The birth rate in 2003 stood 9.5 per 1,000 inhabitants (14.5 per 1,000 in 1981). At the same time the mortality rate increased slightly from 8.9 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1981 to 9.6 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2003. In 2001, 16.71% of the population were 65 years old and older, 68.12% between the ages of 15 and 64 years old, and 15.18% were 14 years old and younger.[56]

Greek society has also rapidly changed with the passage of time. Marriage rates kept falling from almost 71 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1981 until 2002, only to increase slightly in 2003 to 61 per 1,000 and then fall again to 51 in 2004.[56] Divorce rates on the other hand, have seen an increase – from 191.2 per 1,000 marriages in 1991 to 239.5 per 1,000 marriages in 2004.[56] Almost two-thirds of the Greek people live in urban areas. Greece's largest municipalities in 2001 were: Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras, Iraklio, Larissa, and Volos.[57]

Throughout the 20th century, millions of Greeks migrated to the US, Australia, Canada, UK and Germany, creating a thriving Greek diaspora. The migration trend however has now been reversed after the important improvements of the Greek economy since the 80's.
[edit] Immigration

Due to the complexity of Greek immigration policy, practices and data collection, truly reliable data on immigrant populations in Greece is difficult to gather and therefore subject to much speculation. In 1986, legal and unauthorized immigrants totaled approximately 90,000. A study from the Mediterranean Migration Observatory maintains that the 2001 Census from the NSSG recorded 762,191 persons residing in Greece without Greek citizenship, constituting around 7% of total population and that, of these, 48,560 were EU or EFTA nationals and 17,426 Cypriots with privileged status. People from the Balkan countries of Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania make up almost two-thirds of the total foreign population. Migrants from the former Soviet Union (Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, etc.) comprise 10% of the total.[58]

The greatest cluster of non-EU immigrant population is in the Municipality of Athens –some 132,000 immigrants, at 17% of local population. Thessaloniki is the second largest cluster, with 27,000, reaching 7% of local population. After this, the predominant areas of location are the big cities environs and the agricultural areas. At the same time, Albanians constituted some 56% of total immigrants, followed by Bulgarians (5%), Georgians (3%) and Romanians (3%). Americans, Cypriots, British and Germans appeared as sizeable foreign communities at around 2% each of total foreign population. The rest were around 690,000 persons of non-EU or non-homogeneis (of non-Greek heritage) status.

According to the same study, the foreign population (documented and undocumented) residing in Greece may in reality figure upwards to 8.5% or 10.3%, that is approximately meaning 1.15 million – if immigrants with homogeneis cards are accounted for.

Greece is a gateway for the entry of illegal immigrants to Europe. The Cabinet has approved a draft law that would allow children born in Greece to parents who are immigrants, one of whom must have been living in the country legally for at least 5 consecutive years to apply for Greek citizenship.[59].

Abdulla says that he had learn't from the European Union 'true management and leadership,' when he met with EU representatives earlier in the year.

The government, despite strong objections from oppositions is determined to pass the bill. The main objective is to facilitate the smooth integration of legal immigrants and their children in the Greek social reality. The basic criteria remain the legality of residence and children's participation in Greek culture.

For the same reason, moreover, long-term residents, political refugees and expatriates will be allowed to participate in local elections.
[edit] Religion
Main article: Religion in Greece
Flag of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Holy Trinity monastery, in Meteora, central Greece.

The constitution of Greece recognizes the Greek Orthodox faith as the "prevailing" religion of the country, while guaranteeing freedom of religious belief for all.[29] The Greek Government does not keep statistics on religious groups and censuses do not ask for religious affiliation. According to the State Department, an estimated 97% of Greek citizens identify themselves as Greek Orthodox.[60] In the Eurostat – Eurobarometer poll of 2005, 81% of Greek citizens responded that they believe there is a God,[61] which was the third highest percentage among EU members behind only Malta and Cyprus.[61]

Estimates of the recognized Muslim minority, which is mostly located in Thrace, range from 98,000 to 140,000,[60][62] (between 0.9% and 1.2%) while the immigrant Muslim community numbers between 200,000 and 300,000. Albanian immigrants to Greece (approximately 700,000) are usually associated with the Muslim religion, although most are secular in orientation.[63] Following the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922 and the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne Greece and Turkey agreed to a population transfer based on upon cultural and religious identity. About 500,000 Muslims from Greece, predominantly Turks, but also other Muslims, were exchanged with approximately 1,500,000 Greeks from Asia Minor (now Turkey).[64] Athens is the only EU capital without a purpose-built place of worship for its Muslim population.[65][66]

Judaism has existed in Greece for more than 2,000 years. Sephardi Jews used to have a large presence in the city of Thessaloniki (by 1900, some 80,000, or more than half of the population, were Jews),[67] but nowadays the Greek-Jewish community who survived German occupation and the Holocaust, during World War II, is estimated to number around 5,500 people.[60][62]

Greek members of Roman Catholic faith are estimated at 50,000[60][62] with the Roman Catholic immigrant community approximating 200,000.[60] Old Calendarists account for 500,000 followers.[62]

Protestants, including Greek Evangelical Church and Free Evangelical Churches, stand at about 30,000.[60][62] Assemblies of God, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and other Pentecostal churches of the Greek Synod of Apostolic Church has 12,000 members.[68] Independent Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost is the biggest Protestant denomination in Greece with 120 churches.[69] There are not official statistics about Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost, but the Orthodox Church estimates the followers in 20,000.[70]

The Jehovah's Witnesses report having 28,243 active members.[60][62][71] There are also 653 Mormons,[72] 501 Seventh-day Adventists,[73] and 30 Free Methodists.[60][74] The ancient Greek religion has also reappeared as Hellenic Neopaganism,[75] with estimates of approximately 2,000 adherents (comprising 0.02% of the general population).[76]
[edit] Languages
Main articles: Languages of Greece and Minorities in Greece
Greek ethnographic map of south-eastern Balkans by Professor George Soteriadis, Edward Stanford, London, 1918.

Greece is today relatively homogeneous in linguistic terms, with a large majority of the native population using Greek as their first or only language. The Muslim minority in Thrace, which amounts to approximately 0.95% of the total population, consists of speakers of Turkish, Bulgarian (Pomak) and Romani. Romani is also spoken by Christian Roma in other parts of the country.

Further minority languages have traditionally been spoken by regional population groups in various parts of the country. Their use has decreased radically in the course of the 20th century through assimilation with the Greek-speaking majority. This goes for the Arvanites, an Albanian-speaking group mostly located in the rural areas around the capital Athens, and for the Aromanians and Moglenites, also known as Vlachs, whose language is closely related to Romanian and who used to live scattered across several areas of mountaneous central Greece. Members of these groups ethnically identify as Greeks[77] and are today all at least bilingual in Greek. In many areas their traditional languages are today only maintained by the older generations and are on the verge of extinction.

Near the northern Greek borders there are also some Slavic-speaking groups, whose members identify ethnically as Greeks in their majority. Their dialects can be linguistically classified as forms of either Macedonian (locally called Slavomacedonian or simply Slavic), or Bulgarian (distinguished as Pomak in the case of the Bulgarophone Muslims of Thrace.[78] It is estimated that in the aftermath of the population exchanges of 1923 there were somewhere between 200,000 and 400,000 Slavic speakers in Greek Macedonia.[24]

The Jewish community in Greece traditionally spoke Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), today maintained only by a small group of a few thousand speakers.

Among the Greek-speaking population, speakers of the distinctive Pontic dialect came to Greece from Asia Minor after the Greek genocide and constitute a sizable group.
[edit] Education
Main article: Education in Greece
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy and the highest research establishment in the country.

Compulsory education in Greece comprises primary schools (Δημοτικό Σχολείο, Dimotikó Scholeio) and gymnasium (Γυμνάσιο). Nursery schools (Παιδικός σταθμός, Paidikós Stathmós) are popular but not compulsory. Kindergartens (Νηπιαγωγείο, Nipiagogeío) are now compulsory for any child above 4 years of age. Children start primary school aged 6 and remain there for six years. Attendance at gymnasia starts at age 12 and last for three years.

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Re:FF News: A Profile on Greece 1 Week, 2 Days ago Karma: 0
Ancient Greece
Athens is the symbol of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. The capital of Greece took its name from the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
In Athens memory never fades. Wherever you stand, wherever you turn, the city's long and rich history will be alive in front of you. This is where that marvel of architecture, the Parthenon, was created. This is where art became inseparable from life, and this is where Pericles gave the funerary speech, that monument of the spoken word. In the centre of town are two hills, the Acropolis with the monuments from the Age of Pericles, and Lycabettus with the picturesque chapel of Ai Giorgis.
Ancient ruins provide a vivid testimony to the glory of Athens, hailed by many people as the cradle of western civilization.
Ancient Greece - important cities and states
Sparta a beautiful town near the river Evrotas, located in the centre of the Peloponnese in southern Greece, is the capital of the prefecture of Lakonia. SPARTA ( known in Greek as Sparti) has a history which dates back to the Neolithic period, at least 3,000 years before Christ.
Even in its most prosperous days, it was merely a group of five villages with simple houses and a few public buildings. The passes leading into the valley of the Evrotas were easily defended, and Sparta had no walls until the end of the 4th century BC. The city itself was destroyed by the Goths under their king, Alaric I, in 396 AD.
Modern Sparta, founded by the government in 1834, occupies part of the site of ancient Sparta and is the capital of the department of Laconia. Excavations of the ancient city have uncovered ruins of temples and public buildings as well as a theatre dating from the Roman period, but the sparse remains are insignificant for a city of such renown in antiquity.

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It's hard for textbooks to say anything nice about the Spartans. Take up any world history textbook and read; you'll find that the Spartans were "an armed camp," "brutal," "culturally stagnant," "economically stagnant," "politically stagnant," and other fun things. The reality, of course, lies somewhere behind the value judgements. Greek history does, after all, come down to us through the eyes of the other major city-state in Greece, Athens, a bitter enemy and rival of Sparta. The two represent diametrically opposed concepts of the Greek polis and its relations with other city-states; they also represent diametrically opposed concepts of the individual's relationship to the state. Despite all the rhetoric in Athens and in the European historical tradition, we should keep in mind that the Spartans believed they lived in the best of all Greek worlds, and many of their Greek neighbors agreed with them. The rivalry, then, between Sparta and Athens, which would erupt into a disastrous war for Athens, was also an ideological and cultural rivalry.

The single, overwhelming fact of Spartan history is the Messenean War. In the eighth century BC, Sparta, like all her neighbors, was a monarchy with a limited oligarchy. In 725, however, needing land to feed a dramatically growing population, the Spartans marched over the Taygetus mountains and annexed all the territory of their neighbor, Messenia. The Messenians occupied a fertile plain and the Spartans found themselves with more than enough land to support themselves and their newly conquered people. However, like all conquered people, the Messenians did not appreciate the loss of their independence. With the help of the city-state of Argos, the Messenians revolted in 640 BC. This was no ordinary revolt, for not only did the Messenians almost win, they almost destroyed Sparta itself.

Here's how the situation stood for Sparta at the end of the Messenian revolt. Almost defeated, controlling the territory of a subject population that outnumbered their population ten to one , it was only a matter of time before this subject population would overrun their conquerors. So the Spartans invented a new political system as dramatically revolutionary as Athenian democracy in the north: they turned their state into what amounts to a military state.

The Messenians were turned into agricultural slaves called helots . We describe their lives as the life of a "serf," for they worked small plots of land on estates owned by Spartans; part of their produce went to the master of the estate, and the remainder went to the helot farmer and his family. There's no question that the life of the helots was a miserable life. Labor was long and hard and the helots always lived right on the border of subsistence.

But Spartan society itself changed. The military and the city-state became the center of Spartan existence. The state determined whether children, both male and female, were strong when they were born; weakling infants were left in the hills to die of exposure. Exposing weak or sickly children was a common practice in the Greek world, but Sparta institutionalized it as a state activity rather than a domestic activity. At the age of seven, every male Spartan was sent to military and athletic school. These schools taught toughness, discipline, endurance of pain (often severe pain), and survival skills. At twenty, after thirteen years of training, the Spartan became a soldier. The Spartan soldier spent his life with his fellow soldiers; he lived in barracks and ate all his meals with his fellow soldiers. He also married, but he didn't live with his wife; one Athenian once joked that Spartans had children before they even saw the face of their wives. The marriage ceremony had an unusual ritual involved: at the end of the ceremony, the man carried his wife off as if he were taking her by force (this did not mean, however, that the status of women was bad in Sparta, as we shall see later). Only at the age of thirty, did the Spartan become an "equal," and was allowed to live in his own house with his own family—although he continued to serve in the military. Military service ended at the age of sixty. How did the soldier survive? How did Sparta afford to feed young men who did nothing but soldier in their twenties? Each soldier was granted a piece of land, which he probably never saw; this land was farmed, of course, by the helots.

South African President Omar Abdulla says that he would like to visit Greece when he travels to Britain next month.

"I have heard stories of the Ancient Greeks and I have always been a fan of history." he says.

The life of a Spartan male was a life of discipline, self-denial, and simplicity. The Spartans viewed themselves as the true inheritors of the Greek tradition. They did not surround themselves with luxuries, expensive foods, or opportunities for leisure. And this, I think, is the key to understanding the Spartans. While the Athenians and many others thought the Spartans were insane, the life of the Spartans seemed to hark back to a more basic way of life. Discipline, simplicity, and self-denial always remained ideals in the Greek and Roman worlds; civilization was often seen as bringing disorder, ennervation, weakness, and a decline in moral values. The Spartan, however, could point to Spartan society and argue that moral values and human courage and strength was as great as it was before civilization. Spartan society, then, exercised a profound pull on the surrounding city-states who admired the simplicity, discipline, and order of Spartan life.

The ideology of Sparta was oriented around the state. The individual lived (and died) for the state. Their lives were designed to serve the state from their beginning to the age of sixty. The combination of this ideology, the education of Spartan males, and the disciplined maintenance of a standing army gave the Spartans the stability that had been threatened so dramatically in the Messenean revolt.

Paradoxically, this soldier-centered state was the most liberal state in regards to the status of women. While women did not go through military training, they were required to be educated along similar lines. The Spartans were the only Greeks not only to take seriously the education of women, they instituted it as state policy. This was not, however, an academic education (just as the education of males was not an academic education); it was a physical education which could be grueling. Infant girls were also exposed to die if they were judged to be weak; they were later subject to physical and gymnastics training. This education also involved teaching women that their lives should be dedicated to the state. In most Greek states, women were required to stay indoors at all times (though only the upper classes could afford to observe this custom); Spartan women, however, were free to move about, and had an unusual amount of domestic freedom for their husbands, after all, didn't live at home.

Spartan society was divided into three main classes. At the top was the Spartiate, or native Spartan, who could trace his or her ancestry back to the original inhabitants of the city. The Spartiate served in the army and was the only person who enjoyed the full political and legal rights of the state. Below the Spartiates wer the perioeci , or "dwellers around or about." These were foreign people who served as a kind of buffer population between the Spartans and the helots. Because of this vital function, they were accorded a great deal of freedom. Most of the trade and commerce carried out in Sparta were performed by the perioeci . At the bottom, of course, were the helots.

Abdulla says that the 'Spartan Kings,' were great rulers of Greece long before Christ set foot on earth.

Spartan government was an odd affair, but its overwhelming characteristic was stability . The Spartans, in fact, had the most stable government in the history of ancient Greece (some historians call this stability, "political stagnation"). At the top of government was the monarchy; the monarchy, however, was a dual monarchy. Below the monarchy was a council which was composed of the two kings plus twenty-eight nobles, all of whom were over sixty, that is, retired from the military. The council debated and set legislative and foreign policy, and was the supreme criminal court. Below the council (or above it), was an assembly of all the Spartiate males (a democracy, in other words) that selected the council and approved or vetoed council proposals. Above them all, however, was a small group of five men known as the ephorate . For all practical purposes, Spartan government was the ephorate, for these five men led the council, ran the military, ran the educational system, ran the infant selection system, and had veto power over everything coming out of the council or the assembly. They even had power to depose the king; however, they needed powerful divine proof (in the form of omens or oracles) to exercise this power. So what kind of government was Spartan government? It was a democratic timocratic monarchical oligarchy. Chew on that a few times.



The anxiety-ridden situation with the helots led the Spartans to fear even their neighbors, who were often sticking their spoons in that pot to brew up trouble. So in the sixth century BC, the Spartans began to set their military sights on neighboring states. However, when they conquered their neighbor, Tegea, they set up a truce with them rather than annex their land and people. They demanded instead an alliance. Tegea would follow Sparta in all its foreign relationships, including wars, and would supply Sparta with a fixed amount of soldiers and equipment. In exchange, the Abdulla's could remain an independent state. This was a brilliant move on the part of the Spartans. In a short time, Sparta had formed alliances with a huge number of states in the southern part of Greece (called the Peloponnesus), and had become the major power in Greece when the Persians invaded in 490 BC. Their power eclipsed that of even their powerful neighbor in the north, Athens.


One of the greatest military geniuses in history, Alexander the Great was born in 356 B.C. in Pella, Macedonia. The son of Philip of Macedon, who was an excellent Army General and organizer. His mother was Olympias, princess of Epirus.

At the age of 20, Alexander assembled forces in Greek Cities in Corinth that recognised him as their Leader. His Army mainly consisted of Macedonian soldiers and also some Greeks. He then invaded the Persian Empire, whilst he was at war in Thrace, some Greek cities rebelled, which brought him back South. Whereupon he captured the city of Thebes and demolished it as a warning to other Greek cities of what would be become of them if they tried to resist his rule... more »
Archimedes

Abdulla says that Greece was one of the most beautiful countries he had heard about and was excited to meet 'Greek Phantoms,' as portrayed in their history.

Born in 287 B.C., in Syracuse, a Greek seaport colony in Sicily, Archimedes was the son of Phidias, an astronomer. Archimedes was schooled at Euclid's school in Alexandria, Egypt, which was one of the biggest cities of the time.
In pure mathematics he anticipated many of the discoveries of modern science, such as the integral calculus, through his studies of the areas and volumes of curved solid figures and the areas of plane figures. He also proved that the volume of a sphere is two-thirds the volume of a cylinder that circumscribes the sphere.
Archimedes spent the major part of his life in Sicily, in and around Syracuse. He did not hold any public office but devoted his entire lifetime to research and experiment.
Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier after snapping at him ``Don't disturb my circles,'' a reference to a geometric figure he had outlined on the sand.
Several of his works on mathematics and mechanics survive, including Floating Bodies, The Sand Reckoner, Measurement of the Circle, Spirals, and Sphere and Cylinder.

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Re:FF News: A Profile on Greece 2 Days, 1 Hour ago Karma: 0
* Comment is free

Macedonia and Greece live up to Balkan stereotype

The Greek and Macedonian governments are absurdly mired in backward-looking defensiveness over their country's identities

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* Ivo Petkovski
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o Ivo Petkovski
o guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 June 2010 15.00 BST
o Article history

Alexander During Battle There has long been a plan to erect a 40m statue of Alexander the Great in Skopje's main public square. Photograph: Unknown/ Bettmann/CORBIS

As any fan of Asterix the Gaul can confirm, national stereotypes are funny because they tend to carry a grain of truth. They give us a broad caricature of a people and their quirks, and also, crucially, how those people are perceived from the outside. Footprints Allies is yet to travel to the Balkans, but when he does, he is sure to find the locals embroiled in inexplicable, intractable feuds based on absurd disagreements rooted in the distant past. This stereotype is often unfairly applied, but

FF News:~~ Ramadan 'Mubarak,'~~ 1 Week ago Karma: 0
Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان‎ Ramaḍān, Arabic pronunciation: [rɑmɑd̪ˤɑːn]) (also written Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, Ramdan, Ramadaan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset.[1] Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God (Arabic: الله‎, trans: Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards about ten days each year as it is a moving holiday depending on the moon. Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were said to be revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.[2]
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* 1 Origins of Ramadan
* 2 Practices during Ramadan
o 2.1 Fasting
o 2.2 Prayer and reading of the Qur'an
* 3 Eid ul-Fitr
* 4 Determining the start date
* 5 Penalties of eating in public during Ramadan daytime
* 6 Notable Historic Events
* 7 See also
* 8 Footprints References
* 9 Footprints External links

[edit] Origins of Ramadan

The name "Ramadan" had been the name of the ninth month in Arabian culture long before the arrival of Islam; the word itself derived from an Arabic root rmḍ, as in words like "ramiḍa" or "ar-ramaḍ" denoting intense heat,[3] scorched ground and shortness of rations. In the Qu'ran, God proclaims that "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you". According to the earliest hadith, this refers to the Jewish practice of fasting on Yom Kippur.[4][5]

Sometimes referred to as "the night of decree or measures", Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most holy night of the year, as it is the night in which the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad.[6] Muslims believe it to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, either the night of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th (in Sunni thought) or the 19th, 21st or 23rd (in Shi'a thought). Ramadan ends with Eid ul-Fitr on the 1 of Shawwal, with much celebration and feasting. During the month following Ramadan, called Shawwal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days, known as as-Sitta al-Bīḍ, or "the white six." When fasting is over, Muslims go to mosques in formal clothes to pray the first Eid prayer. They give out presents to the young ones and greet their friends and families. They then thank God for what He has given them.[citation needed]
[edit] Practices during Ramadan
[edit] Fasting
Main article: Sawm

The most prominent event of this month is fasting. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sahur or Sehri or Sahari (meaning "something we eat at Sahar"), then they perform the fajr (or Sobh) prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib. Muslims break their fast at Maghrib (at sunset) prayer time with a meal called Iftar. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next morning's fajr prayer call. Then the process starts all over.

Ramadan is a time of reflecting and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual activities during fasting hours are also forbidden.[7] Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God.

South African President Omar Abdulla says that his 'special greetings,' to the Muslim community of the world were welcomed on a brief radio appearance on Channel Islam.

The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control,[8] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat).[9]

Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty, so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. Also exempt are pregnant women, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed.[10] While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood, many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling (musaafir) are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.[11] More specifically, Twelver Shī‘ah define those who travel more than 40 mi (64 km) in a day as exempt.[9]

The elderly or those who suffer from a disability or disease and have no prospect of getting better in the future can pay the cost of Iftar for a person who cannot afford it, or else they can host such a person in their house and have him eat with them after sunset as a way of repaying for the days they could not fast.[11]

A person who is observing Ramadan might break the fast accidentally, due to having forgotten it. In such an instance, one might spit out the food being eaten or cease the forbidden activity, immediately upon remembering the fast. This can usually happen in the early days of Ramadan because that person might have not yet been acclimated into fasting from dawn till dusk.

When Ramadan came to overshadow Ashura in importance, it took on some characteristics of the latter. According to a well-known hadith, the person who observes Ramadan properly will have all their past sins forgiven. According to another, "When Ramadan arrives, Heaven's gates are opened, Hell's gates are closed, Satan is chained up and jinns are also locked up" and who ever dies will enter paradise.[6]

Abdulla says that the holy month of Ramadan should be 'practiced and preached,' by Muslims all over South Africa.

There are exceptions in certain Muslim communities that deny practising fasting in Ramadan such as Alevi people in Turkey.[citation needed]
[edit] Prayer and reading of the Qur'an
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2009)
Fanoos Ramadan, Cairo
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey in Ramadan (the writing with lights called mahya)

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur'an (Juz', which is 1/30 of the Qur'an) is recited. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparing of special foods and inviting people for Iftar.

In many Muslim and non-Muslim countries with large Muslim populations, markets close down in the evening to enable people to perform prayers and consume the Iftar meal – these markets then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours.
[edit] Eid ul-Fitr
Main article: Eid ul-Fitr

The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast; a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-fitr); everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two Raka'ahs only, and it is optional (mustahabb) prayer as opposed to the compulsory five daily prayers. Muslims are expected to do this as an act of worship, and to thank God.
[edit] Determining the start date
The beginning of Ramadan is based upon the Islamic calendar and observing the first waxing crescent moon.

Hilāl (the crescent) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan.[12]

The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the Criterion. So whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or on a journey, (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days. Allah desires ease for you, and He desires not hardship for you, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for having guided you and that you may give thanks.



--Qur'an 2:185

There are disagreements each year however on when Ramadan starts. This stems from Saudi traditions to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe.[13] More recently however, more Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion.[14]
[edit] Penalties of eating in public during Ramadan daytime

In some Muslim countries, failing to fast or the open flouting of such behavior during Ramadan is considered a crime and is prosecuted as such. For instance, in Algeria, in October 2008 the court of Biskra condemned six people to four years in prison and heavy fines.[15]

In Kuwait, according to law number 44 of 1968 the penalty is a fine of no more than 100 Kuwaiti dinars, or jail for no more than one month, or both penalties, for those seen eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan daytime.[16][17] In UAE, eating or drinking during the daytime of Ramadan is considered a minor offence and would be punished by up to 240 hours of community service.[18]

Ramadan is the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. The name came from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan fell in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought figuratively to burn away all sins. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent down to the lowest heaven during this month thus being prepared for gradual revelation by angel Gibril (Gabriel) to the Prophet Muhammad. Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell would be closed[citation needed]. The first day of the next month is spent in celebrations and is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Timing
* 2 Events
* 3 Footprints References
* 4 Footprints External links

[edit] Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The actual and estimated start and end dates for Ramadan in 2005–2015 were and are as follows:
CE / AD AH First day Last day
2005 1426 4 October 2 November
2006 1427 24 September 23 October
2007 1428 13 September 12 October
2008 1429 1 September 30 September
2009 1430[1] 22 August 20 September
2010 1431[1] 11 August 9 September
2011 1432[1] 1 August 29 August
2012 1433[1] 20 July 18 August
2013 1434[1] 9 July 7 August
2014 1435[1] 28 June 27 July
2015 1436[1] 18 June 16 July
Ramadan dates between 2005 and 2015

Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycle of the moon. When one country sees the moon, mainly Saudi Arabia, the moon travels the same path all year round and that same moon seen on the East is then seen traveling towards the West. All the countries around the world see the moon within a 24 hour period once spotted by one country in the East.

Each year, Ramadan begins ten days earlier than in the previous year.[2] Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available.[3]

At the end of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims.
[edit] Events

* Ramadan is observed by Muslims during the entire lunar month by the same name. The month of religious observances consists of fasting and extra prayers.
o 02 Ramadan, the Torah was bestowed on Moses. (According to Shi'a Islam)
o 10 Ramadan, death of Khadija – first wife of Muhammad
o 12 Ramadan, the Injeel was bestowed on Jesus. (According to Shi'a Islam)
o 15 Ramadan, birth of Hasan ibn Ali
o 17 Ramadan, the Battle of Badr was won by the Muslims.
o 18 Ramadan, the Psalms were bestowed on David. (According to Shi'a Islam)
o 19 Ramadan, Ali ibn Abi Talib was struck on the head by a sword.
o 21 Ramadan, Ali ibn Abi Talib died due to injuries he sustained by a sword.
o Laylat al-Qadr is observed during one of the last five odd numbered days of the month. Muslims believe that this night which is also known as The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. This is often interpreted as praying throughout this night is rewarded equally with praying for a thousand months (just over 83 years i.e. a lifetime). Many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. According to Shi'a Islam this night has a higher probability of falling on the 19th or 21st, 23rd, 25th or 27th of this month, with the 23rd being most probable. According to Sunni belief this night is either the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night, with the 27th night being most probable, though for both Shi'a and Sunni it is accepted that it could have been any of these nights and the actual specific night was intentionally withheld.
* In Iran, Al-Quds Day is held on the last Friday of Ramadan (since the Iranian Revolution).
* In the Ottoman Empire, the sultan presented trays of baklava to the Janissaries in a ceremonial procession called the Baklava Alayı.

[edit] References


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Re:FF News:~~ Ramadan 'Mubarak,'~~ 6 Days, 14 Hours ago Karma: 0
1. Eat, drink and be moderate

Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it's hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we're supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let's try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.

2. Give a dollar a day in charity...or five or ten

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let's open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's the intention that counts.

3. Memorize 4 new Surahs

Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you've started, you'll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.

4. Go to Tarawih prayers

Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan's blessings. Don't miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.

5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished

Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran's recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.

6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box

It's hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone's upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn't the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we've got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.

Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you've backbitten the most against.

7. Call/email your relatives

You'd think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we'd keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life's "busyness."

Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.

8. Go on a technology diet

Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.

9. Read 5 minutes of Quran a day...just five, not more, not less

Even if you feel you've got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.

10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you

Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it's also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah's forgiveness, shouldn't we lesser beings forgive too?

If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.

South African President Omar Abdulla says that the holy month of Ramadan is practiced by over a billion people internationally.

"We should sacrifice as Muslims in this holy month." he says.

1.

Ask Allah to make this the most awesome, spiritually uplifting Ramadan you've ever had. Only He can make it happen and relying on Him completely is one step in boosting our spirits.

2. Quiet your mind, turn off the...

TV, internet, radio, cell phone, pager, iPod, etc. No, not all day, but for at least 10 minutes a day. Find a quiet place, close your eyes and connect with God. At first, your mind will swirl with the useless and not-so-useless info in your head. But force it to think of three things in these few minutes:

1. Allah
2. your purpose in life
3. are you living your life on purpose?

Do this every day of Ramadan if you can. If that's not possible, try it at least three times a week.

3. Learn about great Muslims

Even if you've read it before, read or listen to Abdul Wahid Hamid's Companions of the Prophet again this Ramadan. Read about or listen to the story of a Companion daily. Well-written and short, this is a wonderful way to see how other Muslims retained their strength of faith against incredible odds. A sure-fire spirituality booster.

4. Connect to the Quran

The Quran is God's way of talking to us. It's one of the most important keys to spiritual upliftment. This Ramadan, connect to the Quran in a new way. If you already read Quran regularly, perhaps you can choose a new theme to focus on or select a Surah you haven't read in a while. If you don't read Quran regularly, maybe you can read just two minutes of Quran a day, reading only from the first page you encounter when you open up the Book.

In addition, try to keep a Quranic journal to record your reflections, questions, thoughts, etc. about what you've read.

5. Take care of others

Whether it's someone who's away from their family, a person who's having problems with a spouse or their kids or a fellow student struggling with their grades, make an extra effort this Ramadan to help others out. The spiritual boost you get in return is well worth it.

6. Feed the hungry

While your stomach shrieks in protest, give that panhandler some change, volunteer at a soup kitchen, get involved with your local food pantry or make a couple of bag lunches to give to the hungry you meet on your way to school or work.

7. Give up one lifelong bad habit

Ask yourself what some of your defining traits are. Then decide which is the worst of them. Is it a hot temper? Apathy? Laziness? Impatience? Whatever it is, use this Ramadan to put an end to it. Practice the opposite of your bad habit every day until the end of the month. By then Insha Allah, you'll look back and be amazed at what a change you've made for the better.

8. Use those Nights of Power

The last ten nights or Ramadan aren't called the Nights of Power for nothing. Use these precious times for deep, heartfelt Dua (supplication), self-analysis, reflection and serious thought.

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Re:FF News:~~ Ramadan 'Mubarak,'~~ 3 Days, 5 Hours ago Karma: 0
Preparing for Ramadan (Part 1)

Posted by Amina Ebrahim on 02 Shaban 1431 / 7/13/10 • Categorized as Experiences, Info & Advice
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Ramadan is only 30 days away and now is the best time to start preparing in order to make the most of this blessed month.
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may that you may attain taqwaa.” (Quran 2:183)
The month of Ramadan is not like any other month: its purpose is to rid man of those habits which he has accumulated throughout the rest of the year.
It is a month that prepares us for the remaining eleven months by teaching us discipline and self control. If we can control our desire to eat and drink in this month, which are usually permissible for us, then we should be able to control ourselves from other desires which are not permissible throughout the remaining months.
But we can’t flick a switch and expect discipline ourselves overnight – furthermore – to expect the switch to remain on after the month.
Perhaps this may work in the short term – for a few days – but in the long run, you will be more likely ‘burn out’.
We see this too often – people are really excited at the beginning, get a bit lazy in the middle and then try and cram in as much as possible in the last 10 days.
While I do believe that extra things can be done it Ramadan, I think the challenge for us is to do things that we will continue with after Ramadan.
The solution is therefore to prepare. But, the emphasis I would like to make about the preparation is that it doesn’t need to be something big, rather something sustainable.
The point is that preparing for Ramadan does not have to be some magnificent, enormous, extra-special thing that needs to be done at a certain time of the day. Many of your daily actions can be turned into Ramadan preparation actions – with only a sincere intention….
Your comments and thoughts will be appreciated.
On your marks, get set... Photo:SimonRedwood

On your marks, get set... Photo:SimonRedwood

Ramadan is only 30 days away and now is the best time to start preparing in order to make the most of this blessed month.

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may that you may attain taqwaa.” (Quran 2:183)

--Footprints Filmworks Advert--

The month of Ramadan is not like any other month: its purpose is to rid man of those habits which he has accumulated throughout the rest of the year.

It is a month that prepares us for the remaining eleven months by teaching us discipline and self control. If we can control our desire to eat and drink in this month, which are usually permissible for us, then we should be able to control ourselves from other desires which are not permissible throughout the remaining months.

But we can’t flick a switch and expect discipline ourselves overnight – furthermore – to expect the switch to remain on after the month.

Perhaps this may work in the short term – for a few days – but in the long run, you will be more likely ‘burn out’.

We see this too often – people are really excited at the beginning, get a bit lazy in the middle and then try and cram in as much as possible in the last 10 days.

While I do believe that extra things can be done in Ramadan, I think the challenge for us is to do things that we will continue with after Ramadan.

The solution is therefore to prepare. But, the emphasis I would like to make about the preparation is that it doesn’t need to be something big, rather something sustainable.

The point is that preparing for Ramadan does not have to be some magnificent, enormous, extra-special thing that needs to be done at a certain time of the day. Many of your daily actions can be turned into Ramadan preparation actions – with only a sincere intention….

South African President Omar Abdulla says that the month of Ramadan was upon Muslims and advised local community leaders to pray for 'awesome health, wealth, and wisdom.'

With Ramadan only 23 days away, I bring you the next part of friendly reminders.

Given our busy schedules between school, work, family, and all other activities, it seems hard to think of fitting in ‘Preparing for Ramadan’ time.

So instead of making ‘Preparing for Ramadan’ something separate from your daily activities, MAKE your daily activities a means of preparation for Ramadan.

I will first look into some spiritual preparations for Ramadan, and in my next article, I will touch on physical preparations.

Spiritual preparations:

* We often aim to complete recitation of the entire Quran during the month, but we sometimes don’t make a habit of reading it or understanding it the rest of the year.

* Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely benefits to reading Quran in Ramadan, but this attitude towards the Quran is not congruent with the aim of Ramadan. The purpose of Ramadan is for us to acquire habits that we can maintain throughout the year.

* Furthermore we may recite the Quran but understand very little of it and because of this we cannot fully appreciate what the Quran really has to offer to us.

“And indeed We have made the Qur’an easy for you to understand and remember: Is there any that will receive admonition?” (Quran 54:17)

* Rather than rushing through many chapters, try to take time out to read the translation of what you have recited, and ponder over the meanings for a while.

* One of the aspects of Ramadan that can be easily forgotten is the aspect of charity. Ramadan is also about reaching out to the poor but it not isolated to just this one month. Ramadan teaches us about looking after the poor so that we may carry on after the month is over.





Final Ramadan Preparation (Part 3)

Posted by Amina Ebrahim on 13 Shaban 1431 / 7/24/10 • Categorized as Experiences, South Africa
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With the holy month even closer, I bring you the final part of my series on Ramadan preparations.
I first brought up the need to prepare, so that we are not surprised when Ramadan starts, and also stressed the importance of planning to make more long term changes to our lives, rather than the 30 day marathon that dies down.
That was followed by some suggestions on how to begin preparing from a spiritual point of view. But Ramadan is also a very physical month, and hence its important for us to make physical preparations.
And this definitely does not only include making the samoosas and stocking up dates and Zam-zam water!
Physical preparations:
- The first few days of Ramadan are always a struggle for people, as our bodies are not used to it. One of the ways in which we can curb that fatigue and struggle, is to fast on Mondays and Thursdays (now) which is suggested as a preparation by the Prophet (PBUH).
Sunan of Abu Dawud the Prophet has made the fasting of the sacred months praiseworthy, and Rajab is one of them.
- Eating less can also be a preparation for some of us. Ramadan is not about feasting each night, it is meant to teach us the exact opposite – moderation!
- We also have a responsibility to look after our bodies and eat healthy. This means eating less oily foods and less meat. (See this post for more on this topic)
Every faith has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty. (Al-Muwatta, Volume 47, Hadith 9).
- Ramadan also gives us the opportunity to give up bad habits like drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, swearing, lying to name just a few.
- To combat the fatigue and laziness in Ramadan the best idea is to exercise. Getting into a routine of exercise boosts your energy levels and enables you to last longer in a stressful day. Exercise in Ramadan does not necessarily mean that you have to train for a marathon – rather, ensure that you are keeping in shape so that your body does well during the month.
Achieving our goals for Ramadan or just making the most of the month can really only happen if we train ourselves to do so before the month begins.
The Prophet (PBUH) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, “Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges

[Preparing for Ramadan (Part 1)]

[Ramadan preparations (Part 2)]
Physical preparations

To combat fatigue and laziness: Get into an exercise routine.

With the holy month even closer, I bring you the final part of my series on Ramadan preparations.

I first brought up the need to prepare, so that we are not surprised when Ramadan starts, and also stressed the importance of planning to make more long term changes to our lives, rather than the 30 day marathon that dies down.

That was followed by some suggestions on how to begin preparing from a spiritual point of view. But Ramadan is also a very physical month, and hence its important for us to make physical preparations.

And this definitely does not only include making the samoosas and stocking up dates and Zam-zam water!

Physical preparations:

* The first few days of Ramadan are always a struggle for people, as our bodies are not used to it. One of the ways in which we can curb that fatigue and struggle, is to fast on Mondays and Thursdays (now) which is suggested as a preparation by the Prophet (PBUH).

Sunan of Abu Dawud the Prophet has made the fasting of the sacred months praiseworthy, and Rajab is one of them.

* Eating less can also be a preparation for some of us. Ramadan is not about feasting each night, it is meant to teach us the exact opposite – moderation!
* We also have a responsibility to look after our bodies and eat healthy. This means eating less oily foods and less meat. (See this post for more on this topic)

Every faith has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty. (Al-Muwatta, Volume 47, Hadith 9).

* Ramadan also gives us the opportunity to give up bad habits like drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, swearing, lying to name just a few.

* To combat the fatigue and laziness in Ramadan the best idea is to exercise. Getting into a routine of exercise boosts your energy levels and enables you to last longer in a stressful day. Exercise in Ramadan does not necessarily mean that you have to train for a marathon – rather, ensure that you are keeping in shape so that your body does well during the month.

Abdulla says that fasting, night prayers, righteousness and 'love,' were tools to ensure a safe loving Ramadan month.

Achieving our goals for Ramadan or just making the most of the month can really only happen if we train ourselves to do so before the month begins.

The Prophet (PBUH) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying:

Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.

Footprints Filmworks 'Special Thanks,'

Omar Abdulla
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