Last week, for those who havn't been following the news, rockets where fired from Gaza and landed in Beer Sheva. For me this hit pretty close to home because I spent last semester abroad at Ben-Gurion University, which is located in Beer Sheva. So when I found out about these events it was very unique experience for me.
Since I follow current events in the Middle East, I normally read about "incidents" that occur inside of Israel with intrigue, but a certain amount of detachment.
This time having just returned from the very city which was shelled, it hit much closer to home. However, it didn't set in until I received an email from my mom thanking God that I was at Dickinson and not at BGU. That is when it really set in, I started messaging all my friends (who are all fine) and really thinking about how I felt about it. I can't really decide where I would rather be, here detached and removed (to an extent) or back at BGU so I would know what it would be like to go through such an experience. It's still something that I will think about and something that now resonates rather stronger with me.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Bill Ayers and Activism
Yesterday Bill Ayers came and spoke at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. His main point was that people should open their eyes and not ignore the injustices that are occurring in the world around them. On top of that he stressed that non-violent direct action was the only proper way to respond to injustice. The question I had hoped to ask is how would he apply his theory to a tank. Meaning how are the people that are protesting their respective governments in the Middle East. The regime that is currently in the news for taking direct violent action is Libya.
Colonel/Dictator Gaddafi has ordered tanks and fighter jets to open fire on defenseless civilians in hopes of crushing their protests that have been spreading throughout the country for days now. Although the military is split on the issue of whether or not to follow their orders given by Gaddafi, there are still members of the armed forces that have been killing civilians with million dollar war machines supplied mostly by the United States (which raises many more questions that I am not willing to address).
Discuss...
Colonel/Dictator Gaddafi has ordered tanks and fighter jets to open fire on defenseless civilians in hopes of crushing their protests that have been spreading throughout the country for days now. Although the military is split on the issue of whether or not to follow their orders given by Gaddafi, there are still members of the armed forces that have been killing civilians with million dollar war machines supplied mostly by the United States (which raises many more questions that I am not willing to address).
Discuss...
Monday, February 21, 2011
Libyan Unrest
The people of Libya have caught the revolutionary bug that has been sweeping through the Middle East. However what I think is seemingly unique to the Libyan case has been Gaddafi's response to the unrest in his country. His response has been significantly harsher that the response of his fellow leaders throughout the region. Gaddafi's violent crackdown has been highlighted with the use of live munition fired by state security forces and also by mercenaries, according to a few sources. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to Al-Jazeera English live feed that has said that there was a report of a security officer opening fire on doctors attempting to treat patients.
There has also been cases of Gaddafi authorizing the use of force on the protesters by the Air Force. So much so that there was a report earlier in the day that stated two high ranking Air Force Colonels that defected to Malta on Air Force fighter jets after being ordered to fire on protesters in the cities.
I think that it is crucial to take into account the ways in which these governments are responding to the protesters across the region. Not to say that I support the rulers of these governments, but I do respect their right to rule their countries. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "He might be a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch." Although autocracy and dictatorships are not good for the human rights of the citizens living under them. The sad fact of the matter is dictatorships can brings stability and democracy does not. With our democratic system, the policy of our nation has the ability to change drastically with change of leadership every two and four years. So again in closing, its not that I don't support dictatorships in their squashing of rebellions, but the fact of the matter is there is a right and wrong way to go about things. Firing live rounds whether it be from mercenaries on the ground or pilots in the air, is the wrong way.
There has also been cases of Gaddafi authorizing the use of force on the protesters by the Air Force. So much so that there was a report earlier in the day that stated two high ranking Air Force Colonels that defected to Malta on Air Force fighter jets after being ordered to fire on protesters in the cities.
I think that it is crucial to take into account the ways in which these governments are responding to the protesters across the region. Not to say that I support the rulers of these governments, but I do respect their right to rule their countries. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "He might be a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch." Although autocracy and dictatorships are not good for the human rights of the citizens living under them. The sad fact of the matter is dictatorships can brings stability and democracy does not. With our democratic system, the policy of our nation has the ability to change drastically with change of leadership every two and four years. So again in closing, its not that I don't support dictatorships in their squashing of rebellions, but the fact of the matter is there is a right and wrong way to go about things. Firing live rounds whether it be from mercenaries on the ground or pilots in the air, is the wrong way.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Democracy in the Middle East
As you all know we need to use Twitter for class, and as I was just searching some of the countries there that are currently experiencing the shock wave of revolutionary activity (read: protests) I came accross a tweet by BorowitzReport, which said "Democracy sweeping every Middle Eastern country that Bush didn't invade. #iran #Egypt #Tunisia #Yemen #Algeria". Not only is this some what ironically comical it is true. And I believe there is a reason that the Neo-Conservative Bush Doctrine didn't work in the Middle East. I think it is because he focused on the wrong countries. By wrong countries I mean countries with no history of democracy at all.
Neither Iraq or Afghanistan have any history of wanting a democracy or having reformers that have tried to bring some form of democracy to their countries. However, there are countries in the region (i.e. Turkey and Iran) that have a historical relationship with democracy. To avoid the conclusion that I came up with these ideas on my own, I read the book "Reset" by Stephen Kinzer. Kinzer goes into the historical relationships between Turkey, Iran, and democracy. Atta Turk and Reza Shah both brought reforms to their respective countries.
I will save the details of the reforms and history for another post possibly. But for now it is important to keep in mind the fact that a state can't expect to implant democracy in a country that has no history of it; and I think it is even more important to focus on a fostering democracy in states with that history.
Neither Iraq or Afghanistan have any history of wanting a democracy or having reformers that have tried to bring some form of democracy to their countries. However, there are countries in the region (i.e. Turkey and Iran) that have a historical relationship with democracy. To avoid the conclusion that I came up with these ideas on my own, I read the book "Reset" by Stephen Kinzer. Kinzer goes into the historical relationships between Turkey, Iran, and democracy. Atta Turk and Reza Shah both brought reforms to their respective countries.
I will save the details of the reforms and history for another post possibly. But for now it is important to keep in mind the fact that a state can't expect to implant democracy in a country that has no history of it; and I think it is even more important to focus on a fostering democracy in states with that history.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
What's A Blog?
I'd have to say that "the blog" is a revolution....straying from the words of Gil Scott Herson who stated the revolution will not be televised. In this day and age the revolutions are being televised. And that is stated by the events that are unfolding currently in Egypt. As I am writing this post, I am watching Al Jazeera English which is streaming a live feed of Tahrir Square; and as I looked for a clip of Herson's song I noticed in the banner on youtube.com was a link to live streaming the events going on in Egypt where everyone is waiting for President Hosni Mubarak to address Egypt.
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