Newsweek highlights the trials of Arab bloggers in a time when radical elements of power reign supreme.
Dissidents rail daily in their own ways against their governments, much like many patriots before them. A growing movement of discontent dwells beneath the surface of leaders who may put little value on the creativity and intelligence of their citizens.
Sounds somewhat familiar...
Featured in the Newsweek article is a "cynical, snarky, pro-US..." Egyptian writer who runs the blog 'Rantings of a Sandmonkey'. The writer in question got some heat for posting a video of an Egyptian bus driver being sodomized by police. He has since stopped blogging.
Also featured is Syrian blogger Ammar Abdulhamid, who runs 'A Heretic's Blog'. An alumni of UW-Stevens Point, he blogs from Maryland after being exiled from his country for railing against "the thug," President Bashar Assad. Abdulhamid credits receiving less severe punishment to the fact that his mother, Mona Wasef, is a famous Syrian actor.
These examples remind of the reformist blogs in Iran that were shut down soon before the coronation of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Neo Cons call for regime change. Perhaps they are correct in some way. But the organic discontent from within the country needs to lead it. Otherwise, it's likely the whole prospect will likely be seen as a movement for Western interests.
Revolution takes time. The movement seems instantaneous, but the result must clear several roadblocks.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Vang Pao Where?
Well, the guy who I somewhat defended got arrested for planning a coup against the communist gov't of Laos. Talk about a foot in my mouth...
Still, there's been worse folks made out to be heroes.
Still, there's been worse folks made out to be heroes.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Srebrenica looks for justice
Citizens of Srebrenica are looking to sue the Netherlands and the U.N. over the slaughter of Muslims by the Serbs.
UN bureaucracy and rules of engagement kept Dutch "peacekeepers" from intervening. A big motive was to not take sides in the Bosnian catastrophe. But lack of forces and pressure to not risk Dutch casualties drove operations, or lack of them, on the ground.
While the widows of the Srebrenica massacre may be right in their anger at the ineptitude of the UN in times of war, (see Rawanda), is suing the Dutch going to achieve the goal of reform?
Addressing a general Western ambivalence to get involved in conflict, in which the West doesn't have an interest, may be too difficult. And given the situation of defending "human rights" in Iraq, Afghanistan, developing proper intervention in such situations becomes all the more muddied.
UN bureaucracy and rules of engagement kept Dutch "peacekeepers" from intervening. A big motive was to not take sides in the Bosnian catastrophe. But lack of forces and pressure to not risk Dutch casualties drove operations, or lack of them, on the ground.
While the widows of the Srebrenica massacre may be right in their anger at the ineptitude of the UN in times of war, (see Rawanda), is suing the Dutch going to achieve the goal of reform?
Addressing a general Western ambivalence to get involved in conflict, in which the West doesn't have an interest, may be too difficult. And given the situation of defending "human rights" in Iraq, Afghanistan, developing proper intervention in such situations becomes all the more muddied.
Lovers disagree
The New York Times reports a troubling development in Russia-U.S. relations. Even worse than when Cheney and Putin called each other despots.
The marriage between Putin and Bush erupted into relative chaos after disputes over missile defense systems. Basically, Putin said: if you point your missiles at us, we'll point our missiles at your friends.
Apparently, Putin is worried that Bush is a little trigger happy. Who knew?
Bush's quick reaction to Russia's disapprobation could be considered as somewhat surprising given the administration's love of Europe. Perhaps we really want to get the revenue from those missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland. It's probably more cost effective than giant satellite lasers.
A hell of a way to kick off the G8 summit.
I remember the embattled couple in more happy times...
The marriage between Putin and Bush erupted into relative chaos after disputes over missile defense systems. Basically, Putin said: if you point your missiles at us, we'll point our missiles at your friends.
Apparently, Putin is worried that Bush is a little trigger happy. Who knew?
Bush's quick reaction to Russia's disapprobation could be considered as somewhat surprising given the administration's love of Europe. Perhaps we really want to get the revenue from those missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland. It's probably more cost effective than giant satellite lasers.
A hell of a way to kick off the G8 summit.
I remember the embattled couple in more happy times...
Wolfe Blitzer and candy cane questions
Ad editorial rightly criticizes Wolfie's handling of the Sunday democratic debate. The actual discussion on specifics, or lack thereof in most debates, is troubling. Why would any journalist provoke it?
I am ambivalent, if a little turned off by Hillary, but her comment here was very apt.
I am ambivalent, if a little turned off by Hillary, but her comment here was very apt.
Vang Pao and the Madison Hmong
"In interviews, (Hmong in Madison) said they feel the designation (of Vang Pao Elementary) not only honors their leader, but recognizes the sacrifices the Hmong made as staunch allies of the United States during the Vietnam War."
--Capital Times
Susan Troller outlined many valid points in the controversy over Vang Pao elementary.
Initially, I was against the naming, based on UW-Madison Historian Al Mcoy's research that Pao is a heroin/opium lord and military despot.
But the Hmong don't see Pao that way...
The Hmong community has felt rejected, faced discrimination, and been misunderstood in recent history; this despite the fact that it helped U.S. Soldiers in Vietnam.
That members are making headway into American life needs to be recognized. Vang Pao is also a symbol of their persistence rather than simply a leader (military or otherwise).
That said, Vang Pao is not a perfect symbol, but who is?
Schools are named after Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and George Washington despite blots on their record. Jefferson and Washington owned slaves. Roosevelt and Wilson both presided during times of questionable military tactics, while most of them took drugs.
The names of these "American Heroes" may offend small groups, but they are usually accepted as symbols of US prosperity, achievement in the world. And relative to their cultural perspective, their "faults" are not surprising, nor greatly questioned. Washington and Jefferson lived during a time when slave-ownership was expected.
We may now criticize, but don't devalue these figures. Why not extend the same cultural relativity to Pao?
He likely dealt in opium and heroin production, but such is the standard practice in the far East. Some economies are built entirely around opium because there is little else to produce.
I am not condoning the opium economy, but we ought to take into consideration the conditions at the time. Simply cutting off opium production may shut down an entire economy if alternative crops are not developed.
Vang Pao was a military leader, allegedly using CIA backing to execute civilians and staff. This is the most pressing issue.
But as Richard Zeitlin of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum says, "In the real history of the 20th century, there are no clear good guys or bad guys."
Examples:
Truman called the atomic bomb drop "the greatest achievement of organized science in history." Yet what the bomb did was bring the painful death to thousands of Japanese, killing civilian and soldier indiscriminately, as well as U.S. POWs and workers.
Though in many U.S. circles, he's deemed a hero.
As is John F. Kennedy, despite his own drug problem and use of the CIA to train South American miltants like Luis Posada Carriles. Carriles was recently released by U.S. authorities despite his role in a 1976 airline bombing.
All these leaders have their faults, sometimes horrendous.
With Vang Pao, the Hmong overall see him as a symbol of good. The major questions are: Who is offended by the naming of Vang Pao Elementary? Do these people consider the faults of revered symbols in their own communities?
--Capital Times
Susan Troller outlined many valid points in the controversy over Vang Pao elementary.
Initially, I was against the naming, based on UW-Madison Historian Al Mcoy's research that Pao is a heroin/opium lord and military despot.
But the Hmong don't see Pao that way...
The Hmong community has felt rejected, faced discrimination, and been misunderstood in recent history; this despite the fact that it helped U.S. Soldiers in Vietnam.
That members are making headway into American life needs to be recognized. Vang Pao is also a symbol of their persistence rather than simply a leader (military or otherwise).
That said, Vang Pao is not a perfect symbol, but who is?
Schools are named after Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and George Washington despite blots on their record. Jefferson and Washington owned slaves. Roosevelt and Wilson both presided during times of questionable military tactics, while most of them took drugs.
The names of these "American Heroes" may offend small groups, but they are usually accepted as symbols of US prosperity, achievement in the world. And relative to their cultural perspective, their "faults" are not surprising, nor greatly questioned. Washington and Jefferson lived during a time when slave-ownership was expected.
We may now criticize, but don't devalue these figures. Why not extend the same cultural relativity to Pao?
He likely dealt in opium and heroin production, but such is the standard practice in the far East. Some economies are built entirely around opium because there is little else to produce.
I am not condoning the opium economy, but we ought to take into consideration the conditions at the time. Simply cutting off opium production may shut down an entire economy if alternative crops are not developed.
Vang Pao was a military leader, allegedly using CIA backing to execute civilians and staff. This is the most pressing issue.
But as Richard Zeitlin of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum says, "In the real history of the 20th century, there are no clear good guys or bad guys."
Examples:
Truman called the atomic bomb drop "the greatest achievement of organized science in history." Yet what the bomb did was bring the painful death to thousands of Japanese, killing civilian and soldier indiscriminately, as well as U.S. POWs and workers.
Though in many U.S. circles, he's deemed a hero.
As is John F. Kennedy, despite his own drug problem and use of the CIA to train South American miltants like Luis Posada Carriles. Carriles was recently released by U.S. authorities despite his role in a 1976 airline bombing.
All these leaders have their faults, sometimes horrendous.
With Vang Pao, the Hmong overall see him as a symbol of good. The major questions are: Who is offended by the naming of Vang Pao Elementary? Do these people consider the faults of revered symbols in their own communities?
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Lions Tigers and Bears
Among the stops in the great land of Ohio was Columbus, with Ohio State University, a sister, and a zoo.
The Columbus Zoo was probably the best thing there. Though the Wexner Center for the arts had 40 years of revolution on display, as visitors could peruse the photography of Chris Marker.
I still try in vain to capture the essence of my own travels, though revolts against fascism trump pictures of cute animals most days.
Don't forget about the Chimps. The one below eventually pulled a sheet over her head and pretended she was the "Great Cornholio".
The Columbus Zoo was probably the best thing there. Though the Wexner Center for the arts had 40 years of revolution on display, as visitors could peruse the photography of Chris Marker.
I still try in vain to capture the essence of my own travels, though revolts against fascism trump pictures of cute animals most days.
Don't forget about the Chimps. The one below eventually pulled a sheet over her head and pretended she was the "Great Cornholio".
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