While attempting to specify the furthest reaches of the Ottoman Empire at the zenith of their Sultans’ ruling power, a new news event did take place in that part of the world. Raiders from the United States attempted to arrest Osama bin Laden, and during the struggle he was killed.
It is not known just how he was found and positively identified. It is not known why President Obama did not involve the authorities in Pakistan in the raid. Clearly, 911 will always be an emotional issue for the United States, especially for New Yorkers. Whoever was quickly buried at sea has caused elation for the people of the United States as it would seem that some control has been exerted over the situation in the Middle East.
According to Wilmington and Dover, Delaware news sources, Osama bin Laden was 13 years old when he inherited 80 million dollars. He is repudiated as being the father of 50 children. Whether or not he masterminded the assault of two American licensed suicide pilots collision course with the weakest point in the structure of the World Trade Center, he wanted to be credited with the destruction. It was the culmination of his life on earth.
Osama bin Laden has come to epitomize modern political struggle: Judeo-Christian heritage vs. Islam, blue eyes vs. brown eyes, The Koran vs. The Bible, oil producing countries and countries which do not have energy sources of their own, terrorism vs. conventional war, the melting pot of American culture vs. nations with a very distinct ethnic background, and females as chattel vs. women as citizens.
The Ottoman Empire underwrites the history of the Middle East and Asia as a dazzling past. Turks began moving east in the last half of the 8th century; they established the independent states of Northern India, Afghanistan, and eastern Iran. When the Sezuks arrived they extended the rule of these areas over Anatolia. An emirate, Osman I, took over and his family ruled as Sultan’s until 1923 when Turkey became an independent state. Ataturk exiled the royal family, an attempted to set up a democratic secular government where members of the Ottoman government were exempt from holding office.
Sultan Suleyman ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566. Artists called him commissioner. Heads of state called him the conqueror. Muslims called him law giver. European people called him magnificent. Military people called him brilliant strategist. The third part of this article will go into the details of his life and government.
Today, though, Suleyman is being introduced as a poet. He wrote under the pen name of Muhibbi:
I AM THE SULTAN OF LOVE
I am the Sultan of Love:
a glass of wine will do
for a crown on my head,
and the brigade of my sighs
might well serve as the dragon’s
fire-breathing troops.
The bedroom that’s best
for you, my love,
in a bed of roses,
for me, a bed and pillow
Carved out of rock
will do. My love, take a golden cup
In your hand and drink wine
In the rose garden;
As for me, to sip blood from my heart,
it is enough
to have the goblets of your eyes.
Visit www.millenniumhs.org/ourpages/SuleymanPoemsif you would like to read more of the poet’s work.
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