“Peak oil states that any finite resource, (including oil) will have a beginning, middle and an end of production, and at some point it will reach a level of maximum output.” Another way of looking at peak oil is that it will occur when all the readily available, easy to find and relatively cheap oil runs out. All that will be left is the hard oil that is very expensive. Peak oil is a major issue facing the international community in the near to immediate future. Many industry experts argue that peak oil has already begun to occur in many of the oil rich countries of the world. Other experts argue that peak oil has not yet occurred but will occur within the next decade or two. The world currently uses a little more than 80 million barrels of oil a day and relies heavily on oil for use in daily life. Estimates suggest that the number of barrels of a oil a day that will need to be produced in order to meet consumer demands will exceed 100 million barrels within the next fifteen to twenty years.
There are numerous forces that drive the rise to peak oil. Market demand is probably the main reason peak oil is plaguing the international community especially with major consumer countries like China, the United States and India. The United States has only one-twentieth of the world’s population yet it consumes one-fourth of the world’s oil. “The US consumes six times the amount of oil per capita as the rest of the world.” As of 2007, China was using nearly 8 million barrels of oil a day. That is approximately 10% of world consumption. China’s “oil consumption grows by 7.5% per year [which is] seven times faster than the U.S.” However, market demand is only part of the equation. Natural disasters are a large contributing factor to the depletion of oil reserves as well. When cyclones, tornadoes, tsunamis and other natural disasters that are out of the hands of people occur this puts a strain on the world’s known oil reserves. Market uncertainty and economic imbalances as well as geopolitical turmoil also play a huge role in oil production. Even though Myanmar is not part of the Arab League (the region where most of the oil exists), they highlight an important lesson of what is happening in the realm of peak oil. In 2008 when a cyclone hit Myanmar, the world saw what happens when politics clashes with a country that is at grips with recovering from a devastating disaster. Myanmar has the 10th largest oil fields in the world. This has serious implications on the international community. Peak oil will come sooner and more drastically if the oil reserves of Mexico and Saudi Arabia, homes to two of the largest known oil fields in the world, are depleted. This is exemplified by oil rich countries like Myanmar who are politically and diplomatically isolated from the international community. This isolation not only makes it hard to ensure aid when natural disasters strike, but indirectly puts their oil fields at risk of being damaged or destroyed.
America has already experienced what it would feel like if peak oil occurred. During the 1970’s there were embargoes placed on oil to the United States due to the United States helping Israel during the Yom Kippur War. Saudi Arabia completely cut off oil to the United States after President Nixon announced support for Israel in 1973. With the oil embargo on the United States, consumers experienced long lines and higher prices at the gas stations as well as higher food prices. Furthermore, “posted prices changed hourly in some places as station owners took advantage of a panic situation” and “odd and even license plate numbers were used to assign gas-buying privileges on certain days of the week.” Not to mention that this was all occurring just as oil geologist, M. King Hubbert predicted that the United States would hit peak oil in the 1970’s. Following this incident with the oil embargo on the United States, The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) grew into a force to be reckoned with even though it was only the Arab states within in OPEC that enforced this embargo.
OPEC also plays a role in peak oil. OPEC is important to the Arab League because six of its twelve Member States are a part of OPEC. The economic factors behind the rising price of oil are largely due to market demand. Since there are very little options for alternative energy the price of oil is able to remain high and will continue to increase. However, this is only exacerbated by the fact that oil depletion is on the rise. There are industry experts who argue that peak oil is a tactic of OPEC to keep the price of oil high. If OPEC limits the number of barrels per day that is produced then it is basic supply-and-demand. However, throughout the 70’s and 80’s when OPEC cut production, consumers cut usage more than OPEC expected.
“Since peak oil output is not about the time at which oil will run out, but the time at which production can no longer be increased to cope with increased demand, it seems the only way the oil price can go is up.” “OPEC says it pumps a third of the world’s oil and controls 80 percent of reserves.” If peak oil has been reached OPEC Member States would be among the first to know of this. However, according to Chevron, "oil production is in decline in 33 of the 48 largest oil producing countries." Even though there are over 40,000 oil fields across the globe, 94% of the “oil is concentrated in less than 1,500 fields.” Two of the top three oil fields in the world have already peaked. In 2005, the Kuwaiti oil field, Burgan, began depleting. In 2006, Cantarell Field in Mexico began to deplete at a rate of 13% a year. Saudi Aramco announced in 2006 admitted that some of their fields are declining as well. While it is not as bad as Mexico’s Cantarell Field at 13% a year, the Saudi oil fields are declining at 8% a year. This leads some industry experts to believe that the Ghawar Oil Field located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia may already be depleted as well. As of April 2010, the Ghawar Oil Field was producing 6.5% of global oil daily. Cumulative production reached well over 65 billion barrels at the Ghawar Oil Field.
Obviously peak oil poses a major threat to the global economy; specifically the oil rich nations such as Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s number one export is oil. They rely so heavily on the revenue generated from exporting oil. In fact, in 2001 75% of government revenue and 90% of their export value came from oil production. If more oil fields in Saudi Arabia become depleted in addition to the Ghawar Oil Field, this will put a major strain not only on the Saudi economy but on the mobility of countries which import oil from Saudi Arabia. Without access to as much oil as the demand requires, millions of people will be immobile. Not only will the food and textile industries’ costs skyrocket, but so will many other industries will struggle as well. There will be a greater global economic crisis and maybe even a greater food crisis. The peak oil crisis that occurred in the 70’s and into the 80’s was not the real crisis since despite the oil production cuts, the world GDP (Gross Domestic Product) still grew at a rate of 13% over five years. The real crisis will be the one that the world will experience when peak oil finally happens again.
There are several ways in which the solution to peak oil has been discussed. First, the recovery rate needs to be increased as well as recovery techniques. “The industry is already improving technologies in areas like drilling and completion, production operations, and reservoir engineering, including enhanced oil recovery operations.” However, it is not enough to just improve the technologies. Rapidly increasing the recovery rates instantaneously will not necessarily be the answer either. It needs to be done at rapid yet incremental rates. Another way to prevent the rapid increase towards peak oil is to find alternative ways to reduce costs. If the price of production costs was cut it would open up more opportunities to search for more oil.
Countries like Saudi Arabia are looking to other sources of economic stimulation over the next few decades since oil can no longer be their main source to run their economy. King Abdullah has proposed economic industrial cities that will be built up all around Saudi Arabia. KAEC--King Abdullah Economic City is being built not too far from Jeddah; another one of these economic cities is being built near Medina; a third is being built outside of Riyadh. For the first time, foreign investors will be allowed to invest in these projects. They are a sense of modernity and the King's way of looking to alternate options other than oil. These economic cities are also meant as a source of job stimulation. Hopefully, these cities which will be more gender-friendly towards women shed a good light on the Saudi Kingdom and allow the other oil rich countries to look to Saudi Arabia as an example of how to move away from economic dependency on oil.
26.12.10
Army Vets
I just watched "This Week with Christiane Amanpour". This week's program was about army vets that are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The vets are returning home to no job and no place to live.
I am utterly disgusted with the U.S. Government for not taking better care of the people who put their lives on the line for us to live safely and freely. These people should be treated like gold when they return. They shouldn't have to struggle to find somewhere to live or to find a job. We shouldn't hear reports of vets living on the streets homeless for months on end. I do not think we are doing enough to secure the easy transition of military personnel back to civilian life.
In my opinion, America is going through a repeat of Vietnam War. When the vets returned home from Vietnam they were met with similar circumstances. They couldn't find jobs; many were homeless. There are even lawsuits against the Department of Veteran Affairs because they are mistreating our veterans. Why should veterans have to wait for a disability claim approval before they can receive medical treatment? It is absurd. They should just be able to be treated the second they return home if they are experiencing any sort of problem. Furthermore, why are there backups in the claims leaving vets for years waiting for their approval? This is utterly despicable.
Many of the vets come back with post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety and stress issues; Many of them do not receive proper care for these issues and feel as though they cannot properly reintegrate into civilian society. There are reports that as much as 50% of the returning vets suffer from PTSD. When left untreated this disorder leads to other issues such as drug and alcohol abuse. These vets are not be allowed access to the mental health care that they need and deserve. Our government put these men and women into the middle of two of the most fierce wars on the planet; they were practically dehumanized and became robots simply carrying out a mission. Now when they return we can't help them readjust???? What is wrong with this picture?
Why can we help a homeless person who became homeless because they are a drug addict or an alcoholic but we can't seem to help a war vet who is suffering from PTSD and unable to cope with the readjustment process? In my opinion, our vets are the FIRST ones we should be giving the best medical care to; the best jobs; the best housing...why? Because they protect us; they protect our borders; they protect our freedom. God bless America and God bless our troops.
I am utterly disgusted with the U.S. Government for not taking better care of the people who put their lives on the line for us to live safely and freely. These people should be treated like gold when they return. They shouldn't have to struggle to find somewhere to live or to find a job. We shouldn't hear reports of vets living on the streets homeless for months on end. I do not think we are doing enough to secure the easy transition of military personnel back to civilian life.
In my opinion, America is going through a repeat of Vietnam War. When the vets returned home from Vietnam they were met with similar circumstances. They couldn't find jobs; many were homeless. There are even lawsuits against the Department of Veteran Affairs because they are mistreating our veterans. Why should veterans have to wait for a disability claim approval before they can receive medical treatment? It is absurd. They should just be able to be treated the second they return home if they are experiencing any sort of problem. Furthermore, why are there backups in the claims leaving vets for years waiting for their approval? This is utterly despicable.
Many of the vets come back with post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety and stress issues; Many of them do not receive proper care for these issues and feel as though they cannot properly reintegrate into civilian society. There are reports that as much as 50% of the returning vets suffer from PTSD. When left untreated this disorder leads to other issues such as drug and alcohol abuse. These vets are not be allowed access to the mental health care that they need and deserve. Our government put these men and women into the middle of two of the most fierce wars on the planet; they were practically dehumanized and became robots simply carrying out a mission. Now when they return we can't help them readjust???? What is wrong with this picture?
Why can we help a homeless person who became homeless because they are a drug addict or an alcoholic but we can't seem to help a war vet who is suffering from PTSD and unable to cope with the readjustment process? In my opinion, our vets are the FIRST ones we should be giving the best medical care to; the best jobs; the best housing...why? Because they protect us; they protect our borders; they protect our freedom. God bless America and God bless our troops.
25.12.10
Wikileaks controversy
A man by the name of Julian Assange leaked top secret classified documents to the public. Many argue that this is the best thing to happen to the public because they are now informed of what is going on in dozens upon dozens of countries in the world. However, how can the leak of such classified information be good for our public safety? In my opinion this a HUGE risk to our national security. I think it is great that wikileaks is making governments more accountable for their actions. However, this is not the way to do it. Time Magazine dubbed Wikileaks as something that "could be as important a journalistic tool as the Freedom of Information Act." While that may be true I am still a skeptic. I really do not see how leaking all this information is going to help diplomatic relations with countries.
Many are calling Julian Assange a hero for exposing U.S. Diplomatic cables to the public. However, for me I believe he should be charged with a crime. I do not think he should just get away with this. I believe our government needs to be more accountable for their actions but I do not think this is the way to do it. Maybe if someone has a persuading argument, I'd feel otherwise about this but for now I really think this was an extremely wrong move on Assange's part.
The Wikileaks contain classified documents from the war in Iraq. There are over 390,000 documents on the war in Iraq. Everything from friendly fire to non-combat actions to counter-insurgency. I do not understand, honestly, why the government would have reports such as these. Even though I think its a threat to security, I also feel like the government should not have documented reports of what is going on in the middle of a war zone. The Wikileaks video, Collatoral Murder, is actually interesting...it exposes the truth about what happens in Iraq. The video shows how civilians were killed even though reports show that no civilians were killed. The entire 17 minutes of footage is them searching out people and shooting them down. Army personnel eventually arrived on the scene and said they didn't want to drive the tanks through because there were too many bodies on the ground. THAT IS APPALLING!! Totally Sad. The worse part is they found two children wounded and the military ordered them to be handed to Iraqi police and be taken to an Iraqi hospital rather than the U.S. base nearby where they could have received better treatment. I am all about supporting our troops. DO NOT misunderstand me when I say that it is absolutely appalling that our military did that. This is one of the reasons I am saying that Wikileaks is a bad idea. We should not know the inner secrets of what is going on on the ground in Iraq. It is going to undermine the efforts of our troops and is essentially putting them in more danger than they already are.
The war in Iraq was not the only thing exposed. The war in Afghanistan has been exposed as well. Furthermore, thousands of U.S. cables were leaked from nearly every country on the damn planet. What I want to know is how on earth Assange got a hold of so many of these documents and cables. Everything from the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict to Iranian nuclear programs to enriched uranium sales to Russia to underground parties in Saudi Arabia is exposed in these cables.
Ugh. Julian Assange, I do not like what you have done! I think the U.S. government in particular needs to be more responsible and accountable for their actions but I do not think it is up to this man to be the one to expose this information. In this age of technology, nothing is a secret. How can a government protect their boarders and their interests if any war document or cable to another country's government is going to be exposed?
Many are calling Julian Assange a hero for exposing U.S. Diplomatic cables to the public. However, for me I believe he should be charged with a crime. I do not think he should just get away with this. I believe our government needs to be more accountable for their actions but I do not think this is the way to do it. Maybe if someone has a persuading argument, I'd feel otherwise about this but for now I really think this was an extremely wrong move on Assange's part.
The Wikileaks contain classified documents from the war in Iraq. There are over 390,000 documents on the war in Iraq. Everything from friendly fire to non-combat actions to counter-insurgency. I do not understand, honestly, why the government would have reports such as these. Even though I think its a threat to security, I also feel like the government should not have documented reports of what is going on in the middle of a war zone. The Wikileaks video, Collatoral Murder, is actually interesting...it exposes the truth about what happens in Iraq. The video shows how civilians were killed even though reports show that no civilians were killed. The entire 17 minutes of footage is them searching out people and shooting them down. Army personnel eventually arrived on the scene and said they didn't want to drive the tanks through because there were too many bodies on the ground. THAT IS APPALLING!! Totally Sad. The worse part is they found two children wounded and the military ordered them to be handed to Iraqi police and be taken to an Iraqi hospital rather than the U.S. base nearby where they could have received better treatment. I am all about supporting our troops. DO NOT misunderstand me when I say that it is absolutely appalling that our military did that. This is one of the reasons I am saying that Wikileaks is a bad idea. We should not know the inner secrets of what is going on on the ground in Iraq. It is going to undermine the efforts of our troops and is essentially putting them in more danger than they already are.
The war in Iraq was not the only thing exposed. The war in Afghanistan has been exposed as well. Furthermore, thousands of U.S. cables were leaked from nearly every country on the damn planet. What I want to know is how on earth Assange got a hold of so many of these documents and cables. Everything from the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict to Iranian nuclear programs to enriched uranium sales to Russia to underground parties in Saudi Arabia is exposed in these cables.
Ugh. Julian Assange, I do not like what you have done! I think the U.S. government in particular needs to be more responsible and accountable for their actions but I do not think it is up to this man to be the one to expose this information. In this age of technology, nothing is a secret. How can a government protect their boarders and their interests if any war document or cable to another country's government is going to be exposed?
24.12.10
Christmas 2010
Some of my favorite Christmas traditions:
1) baking! I love to bake cookies. oatmeal and chocolate chip are my specialty.
2) Last minute frantic shopping with my mother. It is hilarious to see all those people (including us)running around like chickens without heads.
3) wrapping gifts at 3 a.m. with my mom and writing code names on all the gift tags so on Christmas morning no one has a clue who they are for or who they are from.
4) wrapping gifts in such an odd fashion that no one knows what to think of my wrapping skills or how to open the gift for that matter.
5) being one of the few people to say Merry Christmas and not happy holidays when I am thanking the salesperson for ringing me up.
6) never actually opening gifts on Christmas Day because we are over my aunt's house.
7) laughing when I see my father's expression over how the house has morphed into Santa's workshop.
8) picking out Gupta (our tree)...which I didn't get to do this year =(
9) writing 5 drafts of christmas lists because my mother always loses them.
10) being with family.
Every year that passes around this time I loose a little bit more of my childhood (which is really sad) but I gain a greater sense of what life is about and the true meaning of Christmas.
Today I am sitting home (well not really sitting) and I am baking, cleaning, wrapping presents and listening to Christmas music. In just a few short hours I will be going to my aunt's house with my mom and sister to spend the holiday with my mom's family. It is going to be looooouuuuuddd but I think it is safe to say it will be a good time because I know my Grandma will be happy. It is such an amazing thing to see my grandma smile. She has a smile that is exuberant and just lights up the whole room. Every holiday get together is always special when she is around. My grandma at 84 is still being that charming woman I remember when I was just a little girl; cracking jokes and making people laugh is her specialty. God bless her.
This Christmas I do not care about what new Coach wristlet I get or what new gadget my mom buys me. All I want more than anything is for my family's health to be top notch. I want all the bickering and yelling and silly arguments that at the end of the day don't really matter to stop. I have realized something over the past year and that is how utterly blessed my family is. I realize that while I am shallow and vain and love materialistic things, I am also very lucky to have such a wonderful family. What would Christmas be without them?
So I say bring on the eggnog and the cookies and the loudness and lets get this party started. Lets end 2010 with a bang!!!
Merry Christmas!!
1) baking! I love to bake cookies. oatmeal and chocolate chip are my specialty.
2) Last minute frantic shopping with my mother. It is hilarious to see all those people (including us)running around like chickens without heads.
3) wrapping gifts at 3 a.m. with my mom and writing code names on all the gift tags so on Christmas morning no one has a clue who they are for or who they are from.
4) wrapping gifts in such an odd fashion that no one knows what to think of my wrapping skills or how to open the gift for that matter.
5) being one of the few people to say Merry Christmas and not happy holidays when I am thanking the salesperson for ringing me up.
6) never actually opening gifts on Christmas Day because we are over my aunt's house.
7) laughing when I see my father's expression over how the house has morphed into Santa's workshop.
8) picking out Gupta (our tree)...which I didn't get to do this year =(
9) writing 5 drafts of christmas lists because my mother always loses them.
10) being with family.
Every year that passes around this time I loose a little bit more of my childhood (which is really sad) but I gain a greater sense of what life is about and the true meaning of Christmas.
Today I am sitting home (well not really sitting) and I am baking, cleaning, wrapping presents and listening to Christmas music. In just a few short hours I will be going to my aunt's house with my mom and sister to spend the holiday with my mom's family. It is going to be looooouuuuuddd but I think it is safe to say it will be a good time because I know my Grandma will be happy. It is such an amazing thing to see my grandma smile. She has a smile that is exuberant and just lights up the whole room. Every holiday get together is always special when she is around. My grandma at 84 is still being that charming woman I remember when I was just a little girl; cracking jokes and making people laugh is her specialty. God bless her.
This Christmas I do not care about what new Coach wristlet I get or what new gadget my mom buys me. All I want more than anything is for my family's health to be top notch. I want all the bickering and yelling and silly arguments that at the end of the day don't really matter to stop. I have realized something over the past year and that is how utterly blessed my family is. I realize that while I am shallow and vain and love materialistic things, I am also very lucky to have such a wonderful family. What would Christmas be without them?
So I say bring on the eggnog and the cookies and the loudness and lets get this party started. Lets end 2010 with a bang!!!
Merry Christmas!!
21.11.10
the threat of a nuclear Iran?
What makes Iran so scary to so many people in the western world? What makes the world hate Iran so much? While Iran might have massive human rights violations and an oppressive view on freedom of speech, what country doesn't may I ask? I do not see the difference between Iran and any other Middle Eastern country. So why is Iran the target of so much media attention and bias from the international community?
Here is why: Iran is not as transparent as other governments. Iran used to be an ally to the US. Iran is not worried about their public image. Iran does not care who they offend. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth...ding ding ding. That is why Iran is hated. The world views Israel as their baby. A country that is still so young, only being established after WWII, the State of Israel has the protection of the big bad US and therefore almost all of the international community. Since the US and Israel do not like Iran, no one likes Iran. (I almost feel sorry for them. Iran is like the misunderstood kid on the playground that everyone thinks is weird or mean and no one wants to play with them. Don't worry Ahmadinejad, you have your bad boys club-- North Korea and Pakistan would probably not mind playing with you!)
Why else does Iran not like the west and why does the west not like Iran? Well countries like Saudi Arabia, a strict Islamic state are allies to loose and liberal, modern America. It is no secret that the United States is a big ally to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has really close ties to the US especially under the administrations of Papa Bush and Baby Bush. The Bush clan loves the Saudi Royal Family. Anyway that is not the point here. The point here is the increasing threats Saudi Arabia, a country home to 25% of known oil reserves, is facing. In my opinion it is in the interest of the United States to protect Saudi Arabia just as much as they protect Israel seeing as the U.S. has the largest dependency on oil than any other country in the world. The threat from Iran targets three [not] so unlikely countries that are banning together to stop the threat of a nuclear Iran-- The United States of America, The State of Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I like to think of the U.S. as the middle man between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Why? Well lets look at the two countries major differences: 1) Israel is a Jewish state; Saudi Arabia is governed by Islamic Sharia Law. 2) Israel is a democracy; Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. 3) Politically, socially, economically and culturally KSA and Israel are different. I mean the reasons go on and and on. Saudi Arabia and Israel do not exactly have the best relations with each other. That is why the U.S; a country that is an ally to both Saudi Arabia and Israel is the middle man because all three of these countries fear the threat of a nuclear Iran. Normally, Israel would push to stop the U.S. from brokering arms trade deals with the Kingdom but when the arms are used to protect the region from Iran then Israel cannot say too much. Recently the U.S. just did a $60 billion arms deal with the Kingdom in order to build up their defense. Israel would have been against this because Israel of course views this as a threat to their strategic military edge in the region but US officials assured pro-Israeli lawmakers and lobbyists that this would not effect it.
One has to realize that Iran has the right to have nuclear weapons. They are merely exercising their right as a sovereign nation. However, no one wants to realize this because of western media's portrayal of Iran. Now DO NOT get me wrong. I am NOT saying I want a nuclear Iran but I am just playing the devil's advocate card. If countries like the United States, France, Russia, China and the UK can have nuclear weapons why can't Iran? Oh let me answer that: because they are all P5 members of the Security Council. They will veto any resolution that says they must disarm. So again, tell me why Iran has to disarm? (This is just me playing devil's advocate). In my opinion, we should do this fairly...if Iran is sanctioned and embargoed for having nuclear weapons so should every country that has such weapons. AKA everyone should just disarm. But since we all know that will NEVER happen...*cough North Korea *cough, we will just leave it as that.
Anyway, I am all for protecting the delicate balance (if any) that exists between the U.S. Israel and Saudi Arabia. No one wants or needs to see a nuclear war happen because that is just detrimental to the entire international community. If Iran attacks Israel or Saudi Arabia I am predicting the start of WWIII. ahh scary.
Here is why: Iran is not as transparent as other governments. Iran used to be an ally to the US. Iran is not worried about their public image. Iran does not care who they offend. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth...ding ding ding. That is why Iran is hated. The world views Israel as their baby. A country that is still so young, only being established after WWII, the State of Israel has the protection of the big bad US and therefore almost all of the international community. Since the US and Israel do not like Iran, no one likes Iran. (I almost feel sorry for them. Iran is like the misunderstood kid on the playground that everyone thinks is weird or mean and no one wants to play with them. Don't worry Ahmadinejad, you have your bad boys club-- North Korea and Pakistan would probably not mind playing with you!)
Why else does Iran not like the west and why does the west not like Iran? Well countries like Saudi Arabia, a strict Islamic state are allies to loose and liberal, modern America. It is no secret that the United States is a big ally to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has really close ties to the US especially under the administrations of Papa Bush and Baby Bush. The Bush clan loves the Saudi Royal Family. Anyway that is not the point here. The point here is the increasing threats Saudi Arabia, a country home to 25% of known oil reserves, is facing. In my opinion it is in the interest of the United States to protect Saudi Arabia just as much as they protect Israel seeing as the U.S. has the largest dependency on oil than any other country in the world. The threat from Iran targets three [not] so unlikely countries that are banning together to stop the threat of a nuclear Iran-- The United States of America, The State of Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I like to think of the U.S. as the middle man between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Why? Well lets look at the two countries major differences: 1) Israel is a Jewish state; Saudi Arabia is governed by Islamic Sharia Law. 2) Israel is a democracy; Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. 3) Politically, socially, economically and culturally KSA and Israel are different. I mean the reasons go on and and on. Saudi Arabia and Israel do not exactly have the best relations with each other. That is why the U.S; a country that is an ally to both Saudi Arabia and Israel is the middle man because all three of these countries fear the threat of a nuclear Iran. Normally, Israel would push to stop the U.S. from brokering arms trade deals with the Kingdom but when the arms are used to protect the region from Iran then Israel cannot say too much. Recently the U.S. just did a $60 billion arms deal with the Kingdom in order to build up their defense. Israel would have been against this because Israel of course views this as a threat to their strategic military edge in the region but US officials assured pro-Israeli lawmakers and lobbyists that this would not effect it.
One has to realize that Iran has the right to have nuclear weapons. They are merely exercising their right as a sovereign nation. However, no one wants to realize this because of western media's portrayal of Iran. Now DO NOT get me wrong. I am NOT saying I want a nuclear Iran but I am just playing the devil's advocate card. If countries like the United States, France, Russia, China and the UK can have nuclear weapons why can't Iran? Oh let me answer that: because they are all P5 members of the Security Council. They will veto any resolution that says they must disarm. So again, tell me why Iran has to disarm? (This is just me playing devil's advocate). In my opinion, we should do this fairly...if Iran is sanctioned and embargoed for having nuclear weapons so should every country that has such weapons. AKA everyone should just disarm. But since we all know that will NEVER happen...*cough North Korea *cough, we will just leave it as that.
Anyway, I am all for protecting the delicate balance (if any) that exists between the U.S. Israel and Saudi Arabia. No one wants or needs to see a nuclear war happen because that is just detrimental to the entire international community. If Iran attacks Israel or Saudi Arabia I am predicting the start of WWIII. ahh scary.
19.11.10
debate over Park 51
OK! So there is this whole debate over the Park 51 Project. The Park 51 Project is a proposed Islamic Cultural site on Park Place in lower Manhattan, just two blocks from the site of the 9/11 tragedies at the World Trade Center. Ok I realize the huge controversy over this because a $100 million project is being proposed by Muslim funders right by a site that was attacked by Muslim extremists only a little over 9 years ago. But let's remember a few things: 1) Muslim extremists attacked us on 9/11..extremists who only represent a VERY VERY tiny fraction of a religion that is actually peaceful. 2) it is a CULTURAL site not a jihad training camp. 3) there are 1.7 billion Muslims in the world; approximately 1 million of those muslims live in NYC. (one million people deserve their rights to free practice their religion). I am not advocating for or against this project because I honestly can see both sides of the argument very well.
The chair of Islamic Studies at the American University in D.C; Akbar Ahmed thinks its absurd to blame all the Muslims for 9/11 however he said this: "I don't think the Muslim leadership has fully appreciated the impact of 9/11 on America. They assume Americans have forgotten 9/11 and even, in a profound way, forgiven 9/11, and that has not happened. The wounds remain largely open [...] and when wounds are raw, an episode like constructing a house of worship—even one protected by the Constitution, protected by law—becomes like salt in the wounds". While Ahmed makes an excellent point that the wounds remain open, we can't forever blame an entire religion for the actions of what amounts to be a ridiculously small percentage of radical Islamic extremists.
And for that reason that Akbar Ahmed presents, I can see the argument for moving the mosque to an alternate location. I do not believe that it has to be only two blocks from such a tragic accident that took the lives of so many innocent civilians and attempted to ruin our economic infrastructure. I read in an article just yesterday that the King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah is in talks with New York City officials to buy space at an unused hospital in the west village to use as an alternative space for the Park51 project. It is interesting that this article even mentions the king's name because prior to this the Saudi King was quoted for not wanting anything to do with this project. I guess it is an attempt to show that Muslims are still mourning the tragedies of 9/11 also. That is something one must remember---Muslims died in 9/11 as well (and I am not talking about the terrorists). I am talking about actual Muslim civilians who worked hard and loved this country too.
But on the same hand, I feel that even if the project is moved to an alternate sight someone will find a reason to say that the cultural center does not belong there either. With a war in Afghanistan and a war in Iraq and constant threats from Islamic extremists, I feel as though Americans are growing more and more Islamophobic with each passing second. It is just really sad because this project is meant to show that Muslims are NOT all terrorists and that NOT all Muslims hate Americans.
It is interesting who is condemning the project and who is supporting it. Ted Olson, former Solicitor General who lost his wife on 9/11 supports Park 51 proposal. He said "we don't want to turn an act of hate against us by extremists into an act of intolerance for people of religious faith." A woman who lost her son on 9/11 said that today its Islam and tomorrow it will be another religion. She is exactly right. Today Muslims are ostracized and a few decades ago it was the Russians; before that it was the Japanese. I am in no way saying "oh poor Muslims. Boo hoo. we are so discriminated against. we are so hated. oh feel bad for us." That is not what I am saying. However, at some point this has got to stop. Hatred and racism will not get America anywhere. Haven't we already learned our lessons?
We also need to put aside our emotions for one second and look at it from a civil rights standpoint...from a legal standpoint. Muslims residing in America are protected under the Constitution of the United States of America whether people like it or not. They have the right to practice their religion as they please. This cultural center is an attempt to accomodate the approximately ONE MILLION Muslims that reside in New York City.
Maybe one day America will live up to its motto of land of the FREE. We are supposed to be the melting pot...especially New York City.
The chair of Islamic Studies at the American University in D.C; Akbar Ahmed thinks its absurd to blame all the Muslims for 9/11 however he said this: "I don't think the Muslim leadership has fully appreciated the impact of 9/11 on America. They assume Americans have forgotten 9/11 and even, in a profound way, forgiven 9/11, and that has not happened. The wounds remain largely open [...] and when wounds are raw, an episode like constructing a house of worship—even one protected by the Constitution, protected by law—becomes like salt in the wounds". While Ahmed makes an excellent point that the wounds remain open, we can't forever blame an entire religion for the actions of what amounts to be a ridiculously small percentage of radical Islamic extremists.
And for that reason that Akbar Ahmed presents, I can see the argument for moving the mosque to an alternate location. I do not believe that it has to be only two blocks from such a tragic accident that took the lives of so many innocent civilians and attempted to ruin our economic infrastructure. I read in an article just yesterday that the King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah is in talks with New York City officials to buy space at an unused hospital in the west village to use as an alternative space for the Park51 project. It is interesting that this article even mentions the king's name because prior to this the Saudi King was quoted for not wanting anything to do with this project. I guess it is an attempt to show that Muslims are still mourning the tragedies of 9/11 also. That is something one must remember---Muslims died in 9/11 as well (and I am not talking about the terrorists). I am talking about actual Muslim civilians who worked hard and loved this country too.
But on the same hand, I feel that even if the project is moved to an alternate sight someone will find a reason to say that the cultural center does not belong there either. With a war in Afghanistan and a war in Iraq and constant threats from Islamic extremists, I feel as though Americans are growing more and more Islamophobic with each passing second. It is just really sad because this project is meant to show that Muslims are NOT all terrorists and that NOT all Muslims hate Americans.
It is interesting who is condemning the project and who is supporting it. Ted Olson, former Solicitor General who lost his wife on 9/11 supports Park 51 proposal. He said "we don't want to turn an act of hate against us by extremists into an act of intolerance for people of religious faith." A woman who lost her son on 9/11 said that today its Islam and tomorrow it will be another religion. She is exactly right. Today Muslims are ostracized and a few decades ago it was the Russians; before that it was the Japanese. I am in no way saying "oh poor Muslims. Boo hoo. we are so discriminated against. we are so hated. oh feel bad for us." That is not what I am saying. However, at some point this has got to stop. Hatred and racism will not get America anywhere. Haven't we already learned our lessons?
We also need to put aside our emotions for one second and look at it from a civil rights standpoint...from a legal standpoint. Muslims residing in America are protected under the Constitution of the United States of America whether people like it or not. They have the right to practice their religion as they please. This cultural center is an attempt to accomodate the approximately ONE MILLION Muslims that reside in New York City.
Maybe one day America will live up to its motto of land of the FREE. We are supposed to be the melting pot...especially New York City.
5.11.10
Saudi Arabia's womens rights
Saudi Arabia: The birth place of Islam, home to a quarter of the world's oil reserves, one of the largest aid donors in the world; there are many things Saudi Arabia is known for. Unfortunately, one of the not so nice things they are known for is their track record of womens' rights violations.
The western world and the media have a field day portraying Arab countries as oppressive towards women and they love to blame it on Islam. However, how ironic is it that America who is the world's watch dog and the first country to criticize other countries for their "backwards" ways has yet to elect a female president. How ironic is it that the religion that is portrayed as oppressive towards women already had female leaders in four out of the five most populous Muslim nations. That is right: Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey have all elected female leaders. So America, maybe it is time to look at your own policies towards women. America is not even signed onto the CEDAW, a convention established to protect women yet Saudi Arabia is signed onto that convention. Islam is more often than not the blame for the violations against women. However, it is much more than just religion that is behind the Arab world’s slow progress in advancing a woman’s role in society. If you look at non-Arab Islamic countries like Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh, women have advanced at much quicker rate than in the Arab world.
In Saudi Arabia it is more of a cultural religious thing for them. The Wahhabi sect of Islam is very strong in certain regions of Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, while there is no official law prohibiting women to drive, women are still unable to drive in the country. When a 15 year old female saved her family by driving a car to rescue them when they were caught in the flash floods of 2009 that hit Jeddah, she was called a hero. However, this did not convince the government to overturn the ban on females driving. Wajeha al–Hawaidar is just one of the many young Saudi female activists who is unable to write or appear on TV due to her support of women’s rights. Al-Hawaidar said "when you put much pressure on a society, people will still go on with their life; We are not rocks. We are human beings" in reference to the underground life that exists among the Saudi youth. Women are unable to socialize publicly with men that are not related to them. Although thanks to Saudi King Abdullah’s reform program over the last five years that rigid segregation in public is loosening. Another violation of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia is the fact that there is no minimum age requirement for females to get married . Girls that are married that young face abuse both sexually and physically. They are deprived of education and their childhood. Another women’s rights issue plaguing Saudi women is the policy of guardianship. A woman must ask the permission of a male relative every time she wants to go on a trip abroad. In 2009, the government pledged to abolish the guardianship system, but has taken no legislative steps to overturn the system.
While alot of these things sound completely backwards and crazy to people in America, in Saudi Arabia many of the women see it is as a way of life. It all depends on how you choose to live. In Saudi Arabia, the male is the breadwinner. He goes out to work in the hot Saudi sun with temperatures near 120 degrees in the summer while a woman stays home in air conditioned luxury surrounded by maids who wait on her hand and foot. They have social gatherings at their homes with other women and converse about family, politics, the weather, money and many other things that women in America talk about.
While of course Saudi women want to be able to have more rights over their own lives in terms of marriage, divorce and travel, Saudi women also have a nice luxury. They are driven EVERYWHERE. They are not the ones worrying about where to park the car when the mall is extremely crowded. Just think how nice that is to be able to run into Saks while your driver worries about the parking. OK OK OK. I know there is more to life than just shopping. That is why I am so happy to hear that one year ago Saudi Arabia's first co-ed university opened up. King Abdullah is doing so much to try and advance women's rights in the Kingdom. I feel like soon women will be able to attend co-ed universities and drive if King Abdullah keeps his progressive reforms on track.
The western world and the media have a field day portraying Arab countries as oppressive towards women and they love to blame it on Islam. However, how ironic is it that America who is the world's watch dog and the first country to criticize other countries for their "backwards" ways has yet to elect a female president. How ironic is it that the religion that is portrayed as oppressive towards women already had female leaders in four out of the five most populous Muslim nations. That is right: Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey have all elected female leaders. So America, maybe it is time to look at your own policies towards women. America is not even signed onto the CEDAW, a convention established to protect women yet Saudi Arabia is signed onto that convention. Islam is more often than not the blame for the violations against women. However, it is much more than just religion that is behind the Arab world’s slow progress in advancing a woman’s role in society. If you look at non-Arab Islamic countries like Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh, women have advanced at much quicker rate than in the Arab world.
In Saudi Arabia it is more of a cultural religious thing for them. The Wahhabi sect of Islam is very strong in certain regions of Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, while there is no official law prohibiting women to drive, women are still unable to drive in the country. When a 15 year old female saved her family by driving a car to rescue them when they were caught in the flash floods of 2009 that hit Jeddah, she was called a hero. However, this did not convince the government to overturn the ban on females driving. Wajeha al–Hawaidar is just one of the many young Saudi female activists who is unable to write or appear on TV due to her support of women’s rights. Al-Hawaidar said "when you put much pressure on a society, people will still go on with their life; We are not rocks. We are human beings" in reference to the underground life that exists among the Saudi youth. Women are unable to socialize publicly with men that are not related to them. Although thanks to Saudi King Abdullah’s reform program over the last five years that rigid segregation in public is loosening. Another violation of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia is the fact that there is no minimum age requirement for females to get married . Girls that are married that young face abuse both sexually and physically. They are deprived of education and their childhood. Another women’s rights issue plaguing Saudi women is the policy of guardianship. A woman must ask the permission of a male relative every time she wants to go on a trip abroad. In 2009, the government pledged to abolish the guardianship system, but has taken no legislative steps to overturn the system.
While alot of these things sound completely backwards and crazy to people in America, in Saudi Arabia many of the women see it is as a way of life. It all depends on how you choose to live. In Saudi Arabia, the male is the breadwinner. He goes out to work in the hot Saudi sun with temperatures near 120 degrees in the summer while a woman stays home in air conditioned luxury surrounded by maids who wait on her hand and foot. They have social gatherings at their homes with other women and converse about family, politics, the weather, money and many other things that women in America talk about.
While of course Saudi women want to be able to have more rights over their own lives in terms of marriage, divorce and travel, Saudi women also have a nice luxury. They are driven EVERYWHERE. They are not the ones worrying about where to park the car when the mall is extremely crowded. Just think how nice that is to be able to run into Saks while your driver worries about the parking. OK OK OK. I know there is more to life than just shopping. That is why I am so happy to hear that one year ago Saudi Arabia's first co-ed university opened up. King Abdullah is doing so much to try and advance women's rights in the Kingdom. I feel like soon women will be able to attend co-ed universities and drive if King Abdullah keeps his progressive reforms on track.
50 reasons to love NY article w/ my commentary
This is something I found on the village voice blog...here is a link to it http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2010/11/50_reasons_to_b.php?page=2
You will find the 50 reasons the blog gives and under it in parenthesis you will find my commentary on each of the reasons.
Here are 50 other reasons to be blissfully happy that you live in New York City today -- and every day -- that you live here. May it be a very long time. Unless you want to leave, in which case, get the fuck out, and can we have your apartment?
50. Sending your laundry out for someone else to wash and dry it is not only convenient, it's just good business. Especially since you will probably never own a washer and dryer. Which means you never have to feel guilty about not doing your own laundry. Next.
(OMG! so true. my father sends his laundry out to the cleaners and it cracks me up because we have a washer and dryer yet he still does it)
49. Drinking coffee four times a day, every day, isn't the exception, it's the rule.
(having 4 cups of coffee is TOTALLY the norm! one in the morning to start your day; one around 12 p.m. another around 3 p.m. and another around 8 p.m. to give me my evening kick to burn the midnight oil on that paper I procrastinated on)
48. The secret Chick Fil-A at the NYU dining hall.
(UGHHH why does NYU get EVERYTHING? there is a Chick Fil-A at their dining hall?? I want in!!)
47. There is always someone crazier than you. ALWAYS.
(hahahaha this I have NO doubt about. a woman on the train once was pulling down the advertisements above my head and defiling the subway; she also tore up the fire safety instructions on the train while saying "its over its over". This is just one crazy story.)
46. The view from the Brooklyn Bridge.
(I go to school at Pace University right near the Brooklyn Bridge. It is amazing!!)
45. The view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
(I see the BB everyday! its awesomeeeeee!!!!!)
44. The epic feeling you get running to catch a train and succeeding...just before the doors close.
(EPIC!!!!!!!! the feeling of success is AWESOME! you feel like Superwoman when that happens...atleast i do)
43. Bored to Death. 30 Rock. SNL. And a million other things that film here and we love. RIP Law and Order.
(An episode of Gossip Girl was filmed right by my school. Inside the Actors Studio on Bravo is filmed AT my school. I see actors at random strolling the streets. LAW and ORDER = one of my all time favorite shows. So sad it is over. =(. )
42. Manhattan-Brooklyn/Brooklyn-Manhattan wars never cease to entertain. Nor do hipster-Hasid wars. Or hipsters in general.
(LOL. I used to live in Brooklyn and now I go to school in Manhattan so it is hilarious to hear this)
41. We get the inside jokes. Because, actually, we made them up in the first place.
(yes and we hate it when people try to be in on them.)
40. That horrified look on our parents' friends' faces when we tell them we live in "Hell's Kitchen."
39. Sure, we work out next to Alec Baldwin, Padma Lakshmi, and Bridget Moynahan, and walk the streets with Willem Dafoe, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Tina Fey, but, really, we're kinda too busy with our own lives to notice.
( You know what...now that I think about it I have probably walked by celebrities before on the streets and never noticed it because I am too busy texting and listening to my ipod while i am walking.)
38. Drinking is like breathing. Or slightly more acceptable.
(HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
37. Because it's not enough to just love New York. New York needs to love you back, too. Hey, we have high standards.
36. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, there is someone who will bring it to you for a price, which may or may not be negotiable. (Or legal.)
35. By the time the rest of the nation has bedbugs, we'll have figured out how to get rid of them. In the meantime, we'll mock them by dressing our dogs up as bedbugs for Halloween. Laugh in the face of fear, New Yorker!
(EWWW I just heard someone is sewing the Waldorf-Astoria for bed bugs)
34. There are almost 200 bars in the East Village alone.
(Gotta love the East Village)
33. There's no shortage of stupid rich people to make fun of.
(OMG!!!!!!!!!!! that is too funny. I am not even half way through this blogger's list of why to love NY and I already love him!!!)
32. The endless delights of the New York Post.
31. You don't even need a passport, or a license, to partake in goat-eyeball tacos.
30. The fact that one-bedroom apartments cost an average minimum of a half-million dollars means we think nothing of spending $12 on lunch.
($12 is like chump change these days. I sneeze and it costs me $12 in the city)
29. Restaurants are as common as single men and women. And equally diverse. And you never have to see either of them again after the initial awkward encounter.
28. The omnipresent opportunity to Gaga-ify yourself. And the chance that it will seem, just, normal.
(this one does not really apply to me because Gaga just freaks me out even though I think she is wicked talented!!!!)
27. Runnin' Scared lives here! (And so does the Village Voice.)
26. Smart people are the norm, not the exception. (Which doesn't mean they're sane, but at least no one's boring.)
(Seriously there is an overflow of smart people in NY. Just on the subway I have the most fascinating convos with ppl.)
25. Except in select 'hoods like Park Slope and perhaps the Upper West Side, children are viewed as mysterious beings, rarely sighted and only occasionally understood, like pixies or magical small butlers. Until they scream, in which case, they are banished from the palace.
(OMG. Kids just annoy me. if they are between the ages of 6-15 I just want to punch them in their face. If they are 2 or younger I want to wear ear plugs when around them. Children are only fun from ages 3-6 because they torture their parents and I find it oh so hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!)
24. When you fly back into the city after a vacation or business trip, no matter how long you've lived here, you get that butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling.
(yes and no. because for the most part I just came back from a really awesome trip that I didnt want to end.)
23. Efficiency in a drugstore checkout line.
22. How easy it is to find doughnuts, pizza, Chinese food, or any other snack your drunken self desires at 4 a.m. Or to continue to drink. Responsibly!
21. Broadway. Museums. CULTCH-AH. Even if you never actually go to see anything (though you should, at least once).
(Broadway still makes me giggle like a little schoolgirl. its magical and exciting even though I have been a dozen times.)
20. Yelling "fuck" is just a mild obscenity.
( it REALLY is. no one takes that word seriously in the city.)
19. There's no shame in sticking your fingers in your ears like an anal weirdo when an ambulance goes by screeching.
(I legit just saw someone do that yesterday and I thought "wow i should have done the same thing" after my ears were ringing for ten minutes after the ambulance was long gone.
18. Summer concerts at the Williamsburg Waterfront.
17. So many Missed Connections, so little time.
16. Other places have dog and cat people. We have ferret people.
15. The splendor of the Union Square Greenmarket.
(how bout just the splendor of Union Square?????)
14. A bagel with cream cheese and lox from Russ and Daughters.
(a bagel with cream cheese and lox from almost anywhere...the combo is amazing!)
13. There is an insane Korean day spa (Spa Castle) waiting for you in Flushing. And Russian and Turkish baths in the East Village.
(I have never seen the Korean day spa but I have seen the Russian and Turkish baths in East Village and laugh everytime i see it.)
12. One of our bars has 100-year-old urinals.
11. Complain about the MTA, but you can get anywhere in the city for just $2.25. Or $2.50 single ride, come 2011. Still pretty damn cheap.
(the MTA is so slow and overcrowded but at the end of the day it does get me to where i need to go.)
10. Subway rage. Bike-lane rage. Walking rage. Random rage. These are our therapy. Although we all go to therapy, too. No judgments! We bitch, therefore we are.
(what do we NOT complain about? its just a NY thing to do: bitch about anything and everything.)
9. Jaywalking is an art form.
(yes it most certainly is. I love doing it and pissing off all the cabbies who have to slam on their brakes to allow me to walk because I am already in the middle of the street.)
8. The free Ikea ferry to Red Hook on weekends! Plus, Red Hook in general. Can you say "Lobster pound"?
7. Subway "prewalking," in which you walk to the exact right spot on the platform to board the train car that will save you the most time upon exit, exists and has a name. Gotta respect.
( prewalking is part of my daily ritual when i get on the platform.)
6. You can be alone, but never feel lonely. And vice versa. But if you die and aren't found until a year later, you won't be the first.
( you're never alone in NY!! there is always some sort of noise or person around you.)
5. We are, as a group, anti-fanny-pack as much as we are pro-gay-marriage. Hetero marriage, on the other hand, we can pretty much take or leave.
(yay for being anti-fanny pack. this is NY not Europe. lets get it together people.)
4. 35 is the new 26. Or is it 45? Whatever, age ain't nuthin' but a number, and as long as you're younger than your IQ score, no harm, no foul.
( the phrase "cougar town" doesn't apply here.)
3. Finding your "local" is that much better here.
2. There is absolutely no reason to ever drink and drive. Added bonus: Spontaneous, fascinating conversations with cab drivers.
1. If you can make it here, you really can make it anywhere. But why would you bother to go anywhere else?
Thank you to the village voice blogger who wrote this blog!!!! It made me laugh and brought back a lot of fun memories as to why I love NY!!!!
You will find the 50 reasons the blog gives and under it in parenthesis you will find my commentary on each of the reasons.
Here are 50 other reasons to be blissfully happy that you live in New York City today -- and every day -- that you live here. May it be a very long time. Unless you want to leave, in which case, get the fuck out, and can we have your apartment?
50. Sending your laundry out for someone else to wash and dry it is not only convenient, it's just good business. Especially since you will probably never own a washer and dryer. Which means you never have to feel guilty about not doing your own laundry. Next.
(OMG! so true. my father sends his laundry out to the cleaners and it cracks me up because we have a washer and dryer yet he still does it)
49. Drinking coffee four times a day, every day, isn't the exception, it's the rule.
(having 4 cups of coffee is TOTALLY the norm! one in the morning to start your day; one around 12 p.m. another around 3 p.m. and another around 8 p.m. to give me my evening kick to burn the midnight oil on that paper I procrastinated on)
48. The secret Chick Fil-A at the NYU dining hall.
(UGHHH why does NYU get EVERYTHING? there is a Chick Fil-A at their dining hall?? I want in!!)
47. There is always someone crazier than you. ALWAYS.
(hahahaha this I have NO doubt about. a woman on the train once was pulling down the advertisements above my head and defiling the subway; she also tore up the fire safety instructions on the train while saying "its over its over". This is just one crazy story.)
46. The view from the Brooklyn Bridge.
(I go to school at Pace University right near the Brooklyn Bridge. It is amazing!!)
45. The view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
(I see the BB everyday! its awesomeeeeee!!!!!)
44. The epic feeling you get running to catch a train and succeeding...just before the doors close.
(EPIC!!!!!!!! the feeling of success is AWESOME! you feel like Superwoman when that happens...atleast i do)
43. Bored to Death. 30 Rock. SNL. And a million other things that film here and we love. RIP Law and Order.
(An episode of Gossip Girl was filmed right by my school. Inside the Actors Studio on Bravo is filmed AT my school. I see actors at random strolling the streets. LAW and ORDER = one of my all time favorite shows. So sad it is over. =(. )
42. Manhattan-Brooklyn/Brooklyn-Manhattan wars never cease to entertain. Nor do hipster-Hasid wars. Or hipsters in general.
(LOL. I used to live in Brooklyn and now I go to school in Manhattan so it is hilarious to hear this)
41. We get the inside jokes. Because, actually, we made them up in the first place.
(yes and we hate it when people try to be in on them.)
40. That horrified look on our parents' friends' faces when we tell them we live in "Hell's Kitchen."
39. Sure, we work out next to Alec Baldwin, Padma Lakshmi, and Bridget Moynahan, and walk the streets with Willem Dafoe, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Tina Fey, but, really, we're kinda too busy with our own lives to notice.
( You know what...now that I think about it I have probably walked by celebrities before on the streets and never noticed it because I am too busy texting and listening to my ipod while i am walking.)
38. Drinking is like breathing. Or slightly more acceptable.
(HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
37. Because it's not enough to just love New York. New York needs to love you back, too. Hey, we have high standards.
36. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, there is someone who will bring it to you for a price, which may or may not be negotiable. (Or legal.)
35. By the time the rest of the nation has bedbugs, we'll have figured out how to get rid of them. In the meantime, we'll mock them by dressing our dogs up as bedbugs for Halloween. Laugh in the face of fear, New Yorker!
(EWWW I just heard someone is sewing the Waldorf-Astoria for bed bugs)
34. There are almost 200 bars in the East Village alone.
(Gotta love the East Village)
33. There's no shortage of stupid rich people to make fun of.
(OMG!!!!!!!!!!! that is too funny. I am not even half way through this blogger's list of why to love NY and I already love him!!!)
32. The endless delights of the New York Post.
31. You don't even need a passport, or a license, to partake in goat-eyeball tacos.
30. The fact that one-bedroom apartments cost an average minimum of a half-million dollars means we think nothing of spending $12 on lunch.
($12 is like chump change these days. I sneeze and it costs me $12 in the city)
29. Restaurants are as common as single men and women. And equally diverse. And you never have to see either of them again after the initial awkward encounter.
28. The omnipresent opportunity to Gaga-ify yourself. And the chance that it will seem, just, normal.
(this one does not really apply to me because Gaga just freaks me out even though I think she is wicked talented!!!!)
27. Runnin' Scared lives here! (And so does the Village Voice.)
26. Smart people are the norm, not the exception. (Which doesn't mean they're sane, but at least no one's boring.)
(Seriously there is an overflow of smart people in NY. Just on the subway I have the most fascinating convos with ppl.)
25. Except in select 'hoods like Park Slope and perhaps the Upper West Side, children are viewed as mysterious beings, rarely sighted and only occasionally understood, like pixies or magical small butlers. Until they scream, in which case, they are banished from the palace.
(OMG. Kids just annoy me. if they are between the ages of 6-15 I just want to punch them in their face. If they are 2 or younger I want to wear ear plugs when around them. Children are only fun from ages 3-6 because they torture their parents and I find it oh so hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!)
24. When you fly back into the city after a vacation or business trip, no matter how long you've lived here, you get that butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling.
(yes and no. because for the most part I just came back from a really awesome trip that I didnt want to end.)
23. Efficiency in a drugstore checkout line.
22. How easy it is to find doughnuts, pizza, Chinese food, or any other snack your drunken self desires at 4 a.m. Or to continue to drink. Responsibly!
21. Broadway. Museums. CULTCH-AH. Even if you never actually go to see anything (though you should, at least once).
(Broadway still makes me giggle like a little schoolgirl. its magical and exciting even though I have been a dozen times.)
20. Yelling "fuck" is just a mild obscenity.
( it REALLY is. no one takes that word seriously in the city.)
19. There's no shame in sticking your fingers in your ears like an anal weirdo when an ambulance goes by screeching.
(I legit just saw someone do that yesterday and I thought "wow i should have done the same thing" after my ears were ringing for ten minutes after the ambulance was long gone.
18. Summer concerts at the Williamsburg Waterfront.
17. So many Missed Connections, so little time.
16. Other places have dog and cat people. We have ferret people.
15. The splendor of the Union Square Greenmarket.
(how bout just the splendor of Union Square?????)
14. A bagel with cream cheese and lox from Russ and Daughters.
(a bagel with cream cheese and lox from almost anywhere...the combo is amazing!)
13. There is an insane Korean day spa (Spa Castle) waiting for you in Flushing. And Russian and Turkish baths in the East Village.
(I have never seen the Korean day spa but I have seen the Russian and Turkish baths in East Village and laugh everytime i see it.)
12. One of our bars has 100-year-old urinals.
11. Complain about the MTA, but you can get anywhere in the city for just $2.25. Or $2.50 single ride, come 2011. Still pretty damn cheap.
(the MTA is so slow and overcrowded but at the end of the day it does get me to where i need to go.)
10. Subway rage. Bike-lane rage. Walking rage. Random rage. These are our therapy. Although we all go to therapy, too. No judgments! We bitch, therefore we are.
(what do we NOT complain about? its just a NY thing to do: bitch about anything and everything.)
9. Jaywalking is an art form.
(yes it most certainly is. I love doing it and pissing off all the cabbies who have to slam on their brakes to allow me to walk because I am already in the middle of the street.)
8. The free Ikea ferry to Red Hook on weekends! Plus, Red Hook in general. Can you say "Lobster pound"?
7. Subway "prewalking," in which you walk to the exact right spot on the platform to board the train car that will save you the most time upon exit, exists and has a name. Gotta respect.
( prewalking is part of my daily ritual when i get on the platform.)
6. You can be alone, but never feel lonely. And vice versa. But if you die and aren't found until a year later, you won't be the first.
( you're never alone in NY!! there is always some sort of noise or person around you.)
5. We are, as a group, anti-fanny-pack as much as we are pro-gay-marriage. Hetero marriage, on the other hand, we can pretty much take or leave.
(yay for being anti-fanny pack. this is NY not Europe. lets get it together people.)
4. 35 is the new 26. Or is it 45? Whatever, age ain't nuthin' but a number, and as long as you're younger than your IQ score, no harm, no foul.
( the phrase "cougar town" doesn't apply here.)
3. Finding your "local" is that much better here.
2. There is absolutely no reason to ever drink and drive. Added bonus: Spontaneous, fascinating conversations with cab drivers.
1. If you can make it here, you really can make it anywhere. But why would you bother to go anywhere else?
Thank you to the village voice blogger who wrote this blog!!!! It made me laugh and brought back a lot of fun memories as to why I love NY!!!!
Lauren Booth's conversion to Islam
So recently Lauren Booth converted to Islam. For those of you who do not know who Lauren Booth is, Lauren is Tony Blair's sister-in-law. (Tony Blair is the former Prime Minister of England). Lauren Booth is a human rights activist and a journalist.
Her work as a human rights activist lead her to Gaza in August 2008. While in Gaza she noted that the situation in Gaza is "the largest concentration camp in the world." Booth went to Gaza with a contingency of other activists. However, when the trip ended Booth stayed behind and observed that "the humanitarian crisis was on a scale with Darfur." After she left Gaza through the Egypt border her travels took her to Iran where she visited a Muslim shrine. It can be argued that it was at that shrine in Iran that Lauren Booth had a religious awakening; a spiritual moment. In an interview, Lauren stated how she felt "spiritual joy" while in Iran at the shrine. She found herself saying Allah over and over again. Women walked by her talking of the change she was experiencing.
In October 2010, Booth attended an Islamic Peace and Unity Conference where she stood up in front of the entire audience and said "My name is Lauren Booth and I am a Muslim." Booth to me is just one of the many people who convert to Islam everyday. Islam is the fastest growing religion which a following of approximately 1.7 BILLION people. That is more than the population of China.
It is a bit of a shame that more people can't see what Lauren sees. In 2005, When Lauren was in the West Bank with just a coat on her back after her luggage was seized by Israeli Authorities, an old woman took her by the hand to her home and gave her a hat and scarf. Lauren said it was a moment of utter confusion and warmth--a moment she will never forget. This is what Arabs and Muslims are really like---warm and generous people, not terrorists. Her visits became more frequent to the region and her political ideology began to change; she stopped seeing Palestinians/Arabs as "terrorists".
Lauren was quoted saying how she loved praying and appreciated religion even though she grew up with a Jewish mother who did not raise Lauren as a Jew(Lauren had a very secular upbringing). Lauren's father who is more accepting of Cherie, Lauren's half sister was an alcoholic so for Lauren she now believes it's better that she does not put that stuff into her body (its against the religion to drink alcohol).
Lauren's appreciation for Islam also stemmed from her experiences with Muslim women. She saw how their modesty was unique and inspiring. From a westernized English woman's eyes seeing women in long skirts and hijabs, Lauren did not really understand it at first because in London she valued her hair and her body. In western society, sex sells so a woman's body was normal to be on display.
Back to when Lauren was at the shrine in Iran...she worried for a while as she sat there if she was ready to convert and how would people react or if she would have the time to devote to learning about Islam. Well, in my opinion religion takes a lifetime to understand and I think she is doing a fantastic job as is. She reads the Quran and was asked how far along she was..at that point she had already read 100 pages. Lauren Booth is an inspiration to me. She drastically changed her life and I think she is a better person for it.
Her work as a human rights activist lead her to Gaza in August 2008. While in Gaza she noted that the situation in Gaza is "the largest concentration camp in the world." Booth went to Gaza with a contingency of other activists. However, when the trip ended Booth stayed behind and observed that "the humanitarian crisis was on a scale with Darfur." After she left Gaza through the Egypt border her travels took her to Iran where she visited a Muslim shrine. It can be argued that it was at that shrine in Iran that Lauren Booth had a religious awakening; a spiritual moment. In an interview, Lauren stated how she felt "spiritual joy" while in Iran at the shrine. She found herself saying Allah over and over again. Women walked by her talking of the change she was experiencing.
In October 2010, Booth attended an Islamic Peace and Unity Conference where she stood up in front of the entire audience and said "My name is Lauren Booth and I am a Muslim." Booth to me is just one of the many people who convert to Islam everyday. Islam is the fastest growing religion which a following of approximately 1.7 BILLION people. That is more than the population of China.
It is a bit of a shame that more people can't see what Lauren sees. In 2005, When Lauren was in the West Bank with just a coat on her back after her luggage was seized by Israeli Authorities, an old woman took her by the hand to her home and gave her a hat and scarf. Lauren said it was a moment of utter confusion and warmth--a moment she will never forget. This is what Arabs and Muslims are really like---warm and generous people, not terrorists. Her visits became more frequent to the region and her political ideology began to change; she stopped seeing Palestinians/Arabs as "terrorists".
Lauren was quoted saying how she loved praying and appreciated religion even though she grew up with a Jewish mother who did not raise Lauren as a Jew(Lauren had a very secular upbringing). Lauren's father who is more accepting of Cherie, Lauren's half sister was an alcoholic so for Lauren she now believes it's better that she does not put that stuff into her body (its against the religion to drink alcohol).
Lauren's appreciation for Islam also stemmed from her experiences with Muslim women. She saw how their modesty was unique and inspiring. From a westernized English woman's eyes seeing women in long skirts and hijabs, Lauren did not really understand it at first because in London she valued her hair and her body. In western society, sex sells so a woman's body was normal to be on display.
Back to when Lauren was at the shrine in Iran...she worried for a while as she sat there if she was ready to convert and how would people react or if she would have the time to devote to learning about Islam. Well, in my opinion religion takes a lifetime to understand and I think she is doing a fantastic job as is. She reads the Quran and was asked how far along she was..at that point she had already read 100 pages. Lauren Booth is an inspiration to me. She drastically changed her life and I think she is a better person for it.
14.7.10
water scarcity-thoughts on "A World without Water" documentary
So about six months ago I watched an amazingly interesting documentary about the scarcity of water. In the documentary, A World Without Water, the main message is “water is the most important thing”. The documentary takes you through the lives of people in countries all over the world from the South American country of Bolivia to the South East Asian country of India right to a city in one of the world’s richest countries, America. The documentary shows the less developed world’s struggle for water. Juxtaposed, it shows you the struggle of a woman in America, a country that is one of the largest water consumers in the world and one of the contributors to the idea of water privatization, a key aspect of this documentary. How can a country like America that is so large and powerful contribute to the greedy notion of water being a commodity when people within the country’s own borders have water scarcity issues? In my opinion, the world’s richest countries are creating a global disaster by commoditizing one of the world’s scarcest and most vital resources.
1 billion people around the world don’t have access to clean water (approximately the population of the entire country of China). This is a staggering statistic that is only going to get worse. According to the film, approximately 1/3 of the world’s population lives under water stress. Within 45 years, it is estimated this statistic will increase to half the world’s population. So what the people in Bolivia, Tanzania and India are facing now in vast numbers, will be experienced by half the world’s population in less than half a century. Water commoditization will affect not only the developing world but the developed world, the one who came up with the idea. I would like to say it would be nice to give the developed world a taste of their own medicine but the idea is scary that in 45 years even the world’s richest countries will be struggling to find safe accessible water. The film definitely made me think twice about the comfortable little bubble that I live in with bottled drinking water at the tip of my fingers. I felt so spoiled as I watched that film, ironically with a bottle of water in my bag right next to me. It made me think of my dad’s family that lives in the Middle East. They laugh at me when I refuse to drink tap water when I visit them; little do they know that I do not even drink tap water in the U.S. It is interesting how drinking bottled water to them has a social stigma attached to it. It made me feel guilty for taking for granted something that comes easily out of a pipe when I turn the faucet on when thousands of people have to walk miles before they find a little water; water that is contaminated too no less.
The documentary does a great job of making one think twice and appreciate what one has. We are so priveledged to live in one of the richest and powerful countries in the world. Yet, the reality is that water scarcity is knocking on our door. Most people assume that the developed world has everything it needs and we do for the most part. However, the woman in Detroit that is in the documentary owed thousands of dollars to the water company and is living proof that the developed world has their issues too.
The social, economic, physical and mental effects of not having access to clean drinking water are devastating. The scene of the little girl from Bolivia crying because kids at school would not play with her over the lack of water in her house is simply heartbreaking. Aside from the fact that little girl is being emotionally scarred, her body is being exposed to physical dangers as well. She is not being properly hydrated and furthermore, she is at risk for diseases and malnutrition. In 2000, the United Nations vowed to improve the lives of everyone worldwide through the Millennium Development Goals. So, why is it that nearly ten years later we are looking at a little girl in Bolivia crying every night or a farmer in India losing his crops due to lack of water? I find it absolutely atrocious that water is still being debated as a basic human right.
The rich world thinks making water a commodity is ok. The idea is if transnational corporations control water it will make it more efficient. However, as stated in the film, the greed of privatization is much worse for the water crisis than climate change itself. Well of course it is. With the price of fresh water growing constantly, water will soon be higher than gas. As it is already, people can not afford the monthly fees that these water privatized companies are charging let alone the turn-on fee. The Bolivian man’s yearly salary was less than what the company required for the turn-on fee. That is just appalling. How can people afford water if it more than their yearly salary? Something that man said really struck me in a way that I can’t explain and I do not even know why. He said “we are Bolivian and that is Bolivian water yet we can’t use it”. The profound meaning of that statement is just jaw-dropping in my opinion. Like I already stated, why this is even an issue because water is supposed to be a basic human right is beyond me. We should not be fighting with transnational corporation like the people of Tanzania did over water. Water was created by God and God created humans. To me this means, that no human is better than the other. No corporation’s profits are more important than a human’s God given right to water. We are not discussing a man made item and determining it’s legitimacy for everyone around the world. We are talking about something that is bigger than any individual; bigger than any corporation- we are talking about a gift from a higher power. No transnational corporation’s greed should trump that.
With that being said that water was not man made so men should not fight over it, now more than ever I am really happy I do not drink soda, especially Coca-Cola. I think it is appalling what Coca-Cola is doing in India. Ok yes, they set up a factory which created new jobs in India but they are harming something far more important and vital in India. The company began pumping water from the aquifers when they set up a factory in India in order to make the soft drinks and the water levels have been dropping at drastic rates as a result of this. Nobody NEEDS a beverage that is full of sugar and unnecessary calories that essentially does nothing to keep them nourished, clean or healthy. However, everyone does NEED water. Why is Coca-Cola allowed to go into countries that already live in sub-standard conditions and take a basic essential away from the people of that country all in the name of transnational corporations push for globalization?
A World Without Water is an eye-open documentary that really makes one think more carefully about the repercussions one’s actions have on society. Before watching this film, I already knew that water was becoming scarcer due to the effects of global warming, the increase in the world’s population as well as the increase of the consumption of water. However, what I never considered was the role of transnational corporations being more harmful than global warming. It is absolutely appalling that we allow water to be debated as a basic human right when it should just be granted automatically. There are so many statistics in the world that sometimes we just ignore them. But out of all of those statistics, this is one that struck me the hardest. I have encouraged my friends and family to make more conscientious decisions when it comes to water usage. Furthermore, I have asked them to stop purchasing coca-cola products as a sign of solidarity and sympathy for the people in India and all over the world that this is happening to.
1 billion people around the world don’t have access to clean water (approximately the population of the entire country of China). This is a staggering statistic that is only going to get worse. According to the film, approximately 1/3 of the world’s population lives under water stress. Within 45 years, it is estimated this statistic will increase to half the world’s population. So what the people in Bolivia, Tanzania and India are facing now in vast numbers, will be experienced by half the world’s population in less than half a century. Water commoditization will affect not only the developing world but the developed world, the one who came up with the idea. I would like to say it would be nice to give the developed world a taste of their own medicine but the idea is scary that in 45 years even the world’s richest countries will be struggling to find safe accessible water. The film definitely made me think twice about the comfortable little bubble that I live in with bottled drinking water at the tip of my fingers. I felt so spoiled as I watched that film, ironically with a bottle of water in my bag right next to me. It made me think of my dad’s family that lives in the Middle East. They laugh at me when I refuse to drink tap water when I visit them; little do they know that I do not even drink tap water in the U.S. It is interesting how drinking bottled water to them has a social stigma attached to it. It made me feel guilty for taking for granted something that comes easily out of a pipe when I turn the faucet on when thousands of people have to walk miles before they find a little water; water that is contaminated too no less.
The documentary does a great job of making one think twice and appreciate what one has. We are so priveledged to live in one of the richest and powerful countries in the world. Yet, the reality is that water scarcity is knocking on our door. Most people assume that the developed world has everything it needs and we do for the most part. However, the woman in Detroit that is in the documentary owed thousands of dollars to the water company and is living proof that the developed world has their issues too.
The social, economic, physical and mental effects of not having access to clean drinking water are devastating. The scene of the little girl from Bolivia crying because kids at school would not play with her over the lack of water in her house is simply heartbreaking. Aside from the fact that little girl is being emotionally scarred, her body is being exposed to physical dangers as well. She is not being properly hydrated and furthermore, she is at risk for diseases and malnutrition. In 2000, the United Nations vowed to improve the lives of everyone worldwide through the Millennium Development Goals. So, why is it that nearly ten years later we are looking at a little girl in Bolivia crying every night or a farmer in India losing his crops due to lack of water? I find it absolutely atrocious that water is still being debated as a basic human right.
The rich world thinks making water a commodity is ok. The idea is if transnational corporations control water it will make it more efficient. However, as stated in the film, the greed of privatization is much worse for the water crisis than climate change itself. Well of course it is. With the price of fresh water growing constantly, water will soon be higher than gas. As it is already, people can not afford the monthly fees that these water privatized companies are charging let alone the turn-on fee. The Bolivian man’s yearly salary was less than what the company required for the turn-on fee. That is just appalling. How can people afford water if it more than their yearly salary? Something that man said really struck me in a way that I can’t explain and I do not even know why. He said “we are Bolivian and that is Bolivian water yet we can’t use it”. The profound meaning of that statement is just jaw-dropping in my opinion. Like I already stated, why this is even an issue because water is supposed to be a basic human right is beyond me. We should not be fighting with transnational corporation like the people of Tanzania did over water. Water was created by God and God created humans. To me this means, that no human is better than the other. No corporation’s profits are more important than a human’s God given right to water. We are not discussing a man made item and determining it’s legitimacy for everyone around the world. We are talking about something that is bigger than any individual; bigger than any corporation- we are talking about a gift from a higher power. No transnational corporation’s greed should trump that.
With that being said that water was not man made so men should not fight over it, now more than ever I am really happy I do not drink soda, especially Coca-Cola. I think it is appalling what Coca-Cola is doing in India. Ok yes, they set up a factory which created new jobs in India but they are harming something far more important and vital in India. The company began pumping water from the aquifers when they set up a factory in India in order to make the soft drinks and the water levels have been dropping at drastic rates as a result of this. Nobody NEEDS a beverage that is full of sugar and unnecessary calories that essentially does nothing to keep them nourished, clean or healthy. However, everyone does NEED water. Why is Coca-Cola allowed to go into countries that already live in sub-standard conditions and take a basic essential away from the people of that country all in the name of transnational corporations push for globalization?
A World Without Water is an eye-open documentary that really makes one think more carefully about the repercussions one’s actions have on society. Before watching this film, I already knew that water was becoming scarcer due to the effects of global warming, the increase in the world’s population as well as the increase of the consumption of water. However, what I never considered was the role of transnational corporations being more harmful than global warming. It is absolutely appalling that we allow water to be debated as a basic human right when it should just be granted automatically. There are so many statistics in the world that sometimes we just ignore them. But out of all of those statistics, this is one that struck me the hardest. I have encouraged my friends and family to make more conscientious decisions when it comes to water usage. Furthermore, I have asked them to stop purchasing coca-cola products as a sign of solidarity and sympathy for the people in India and all over the world that this is happening to.
23.6.10
global division of labor
The global division of labor is a very complex and intricate process. There are numerous factors that tie into its successes and failures. The global division of labor examines how people are incorporated in the global political economy. This process has uncovered shocking injustices and inequalities amongst the world’s richest and poorest nations. Just how well a person fits into this unique classification shows how high their standard of living is as well as how long they may life. In order to understand the global division of labor one must understand the role it plays into the bigger aspect of the global political economy. According to Adam Smith, there are three causes to the division of labor: one, “people’s natural propensity to truck, barter and exchange”; second, was “self love”. Third, people participate in numerous activities based on “habit, tradition and custom” (244In my opinion, the second cause mentioned is the one that drives people the most: the concept of “self love”. Acquiring the best and the most motivated people to enter into trade agreements and participate in the process of the division of labor. People are generally concerned with a Machiavellian method where “the ends justify the means”. This means that in order to get what they want to further promote the idelogy of self-love they will stoop as low as creating a division of labor.
One thing I have noticed with the global division of labor and how it ties into the global political economy is the role that Trans National Corporations play into everything. Transnational corporations are in the business of making money. More so, four countries in particular are in the business of making money: the United States, Japan, France and the U.K. where more than 50% of the 500 largest corporations in the world are located in. One TNC in particular stands out: Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is a TNC that has come under harsh scrutiny for their decisions and practices such as low wages, restricting health benefits, cheap labor and environment degradation. SO much in fact that in the pursuit of more profits, Wal-Mart has become a TNC that outsources 3/4 of its products from China. This means if Wal-Mart was an independent country, it would in the top ten list of trading partners to China. TNC’s do not generally concern themselves with human rights issues or unfair trade practices. TNC's are responsible for creating an unbalanced shift of unskilled manufacturing production. TNC’s have allowed and even initiated developing countries to integrate themselves into global production all due to the fact they will settle for lower wages then the inhabitants of developed countries. TNC’s are in search of one thing and one thing only: more profits; it does not matter to them who are swept up in the process. Just look at the case of the major soft drink distributor, Coke and what is happening in India.
When TNC’s outsource their production many view it as a global economic stimulation meant to enhance the economies of those countries that stand to benefit the most. Outsourcing jobs to countries like India and China is great for each country’s economy respectively. However, for the country that is outsourcing the job, it is not so great. The industry that is being outsourced will have to lay off thousands of workers. These workers will now have difficulty finding new jobs and this will result in decreased purchasing power for them. In my opinion, it is not a global economic stimulation rather just an economic stimulation for the companies saving money by outsourcing and the countries receiving the outsourced jobs. Furthermore, when outsourcing jobs to foreign countries there are certain barriers to entry that must be considered such as language and culture. When a job is outsourced to a country that speaks a different language, has a different culture, follows a different governmental structure and follows a different set of customs, a company will find that it will end up having to spend more to help the workers adapt to the different set of norms and customs. So why are we outsourcing jobs to other countries (besides the obvious reason: profit)? It is in more ways harmful to the average American worker and our economy. This whole idea of interdependence and free trade are great but not when the disadvantages outweigh the benefits.
The capitalistic corporations that participate in outsourcing are also indirectly participating in another aspect of the global division of labor. Generally speaking in every society, every industry has a particular pattern of gendered work. There is a general trend of men's work being higher paid than women's work. Furthermore, women tend to be placed in particular sectors of employment. This is clearly seen in the case of the Maquiladoras that are found in Mexico. Women were subjected to substandard working conditions where they were forced to dress in provocative clothing being chosen more for their body image then their ability to actually complete the job’s requirements. Some of the research I have done shows how capitalism and patriarchy tie into the maquiladora industry. So basically, in the pursuit of more capitalistic means and a backwards Mexican viewpoint that men should be the dominant figure; we should turn our heads the other way? Basically these sweatshops are nothing more than a product of globalization. This is a billion dollar industry yet the women working in the maquiladoras only earn a maximum of fifty dollars per week. This is a staggering statistic considering the United States reaps the benefits of 80% of that industry. While the maquiladoras do employ men, over half the workers are women; most of them are between the sixteen and twenty-eight years old (which is appalling to me too...they are sooo young). The excruciating circumstances these women face is absolutely appalling. Not only are their working conditions hazardous to their health, they are also subjected to sexual violence such as rape and torture. Furthermore, they experience demoralizing exploitation. Having to show sanitary napkins and talk about their means of contraception is beyond atrocious and publicly humiliating.
Yes, I understand that Mexico has this law regarding paid maternity leave. So since the Mexican government is too cheap to pay women for maternity leave that woman has to suffer answering these questions and being punched in the stomach? This is when I say “shame on you, capitalism”. Although, I am a moderate republican and all for capitalism, I am disgusted to see America accuse Saudi Arabia of human rights violations because women are not allowed to drive there; yet America is using Mexico‘s maquiladoras as their “gateway to cheap labor” while women are suffering physical, emotional and physiological abuse. To me, it’s the same exact thing: a woman suffering sexual violence in Mexico and a woman not being able to drive in Saudi Arabia; they are all violations of human rights and gender inequality. Actually, the sexual violence experienced by women in the maquiladoras in Mexico is worse in my opinion. The lack of women drivers in Saudi Arabia is due to a cultural belief; however, the violence in the maquiladoras is because of corporate greed and the big investment Mexico will gain. So because of the fact that both Mexico and the United States reap numerous advantages both governments choose to look the other way. However, if America, in particular, tends to not gain any advantage they will easily point the finger.
The Maquiladoras are not the only industry in which women experience terrible circumstances and exploitation. In countries like South Korea, there is a booming industry based on sex. When the women are interviewed, like in the manquiladoras, it is more like an inspection of their bodies kinda like meat at a butcher shop. Women work as waitresses in nightclubs or restaurants where men can buy drinks and each drink usually comes with a few minutes of personal entertainment. If these women do not meet a certain quota each month they are subjected to demoralizing beatings from their boss. Furthermore, if the quota for the night is not achieved they have to go home with one of the clients. In Korea, the sex industry is targeted towards western women who satisfy the needs of Korean men. It is a Korean man’s struggle to gain vengeance for years of oppression by the west. These women became nothing more than an opportunity for what they saw as revenge against the western modern world that colonized them and made them feel inferior. These women that were part of the sex industry were powerless.
The sex industry in not only Korea but in various countries across the world made the woman out to be some sort of business investment or a capitalistic venture. It almost stopped being a means for men to pleasure themselves and fulfill their desires but rather men see it as just an opportunity to nothing more than to plant their country’s flag. This just shows how the world’s richest and most powerful nations (mostly the west) have controlled the rest of the world. The whole sex industry is just an appalling concept that is hard for me to fathom. Most of the men that partake in this degrading behavior towards women are married; some probably have daughters themselves. How can a government knowingly allow women to enter into sexual slavery where they will be abused, raped, tortured and stripped of any dignity they have?
Another issue that ties into the global division of labor and global political economy is undocumented workers. There is approximately over 5 million undocumented Mexicans in the U.S. workforce, equivalent with nearly 60% of the Mexican born immigrant population. The trade agreement introduced in 1994, NAFTA, has done well for Mexican exports, accounting for 84% but it still has not changed their standard of living; people are still poor and live in wretched conditions. NAFTA’s neo-liberal policies have resulted in free trade but not fair trade leaving Mexico with a trade deficit and decline in GDP. The illegal immigrants to the United States make up a large portion of the unskilled labor work force here; they do not jobs that quite frankly no one else wants to do.
In my opinion, while the global political economy has opened up the doors to more options for consumers, it has lead to dehumanizing and selfish practices that are at times overlooked all in the name of free trade and capitalism.
One thing I have noticed with the global division of labor and how it ties into the global political economy is the role that Trans National Corporations play into everything. Transnational corporations are in the business of making money. More so, four countries in particular are in the business of making money: the United States, Japan, France and the U.K. where more than 50% of the 500 largest corporations in the world are located in. One TNC in particular stands out: Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is a TNC that has come under harsh scrutiny for their decisions and practices such as low wages, restricting health benefits, cheap labor and environment degradation. SO much in fact that in the pursuit of more profits, Wal-Mart has become a TNC that outsources 3/4 of its products from China. This means if Wal-Mart was an independent country, it would in the top ten list of trading partners to China. TNC’s do not generally concern themselves with human rights issues or unfair trade practices. TNC's are responsible for creating an unbalanced shift of unskilled manufacturing production. TNC’s have allowed and even initiated developing countries to integrate themselves into global production all due to the fact they will settle for lower wages then the inhabitants of developed countries. TNC’s are in search of one thing and one thing only: more profits; it does not matter to them who are swept up in the process. Just look at the case of the major soft drink distributor, Coke and what is happening in India.
When TNC’s outsource their production many view it as a global economic stimulation meant to enhance the economies of those countries that stand to benefit the most. Outsourcing jobs to countries like India and China is great for each country’s economy respectively. However, for the country that is outsourcing the job, it is not so great. The industry that is being outsourced will have to lay off thousands of workers. These workers will now have difficulty finding new jobs and this will result in decreased purchasing power for them. In my opinion, it is not a global economic stimulation rather just an economic stimulation for the companies saving money by outsourcing and the countries receiving the outsourced jobs. Furthermore, when outsourcing jobs to foreign countries there are certain barriers to entry that must be considered such as language and culture. When a job is outsourced to a country that speaks a different language, has a different culture, follows a different governmental structure and follows a different set of customs, a company will find that it will end up having to spend more to help the workers adapt to the different set of norms and customs. So why are we outsourcing jobs to other countries (besides the obvious reason: profit)? It is in more ways harmful to the average American worker and our economy. This whole idea of interdependence and free trade are great but not when the disadvantages outweigh the benefits.
The capitalistic corporations that participate in outsourcing are also indirectly participating in another aspect of the global division of labor. Generally speaking in every society, every industry has a particular pattern of gendered work. There is a general trend of men's work being higher paid than women's work. Furthermore, women tend to be placed in particular sectors of employment. This is clearly seen in the case of the Maquiladoras that are found in Mexico. Women were subjected to substandard working conditions where they were forced to dress in provocative clothing being chosen more for their body image then their ability to actually complete the job’s requirements. Some of the research I have done shows how capitalism and patriarchy tie into the maquiladora industry. So basically, in the pursuit of more capitalistic means and a backwards Mexican viewpoint that men should be the dominant figure; we should turn our heads the other way? Basically these sweatshops are nothing more than a product of globalization. This is a billion dollar industry yet the women working in the maquiladoras only earn a maximum of fifty dollars per week. This is a staggering statistic considering the United States reaps the benefits of 80% of that industry. While the maquiladoras do employ men, over half the workers are women; most of them are between the sixteen and twenty-eight years old (which is appalling to me too...they are sooo young). The excruciating circumstances these women face is absolutely appalling. Not only are their working conditions hazardous to their health, they are also subjected to sexual violence such as rape and torture. Furthermore, they experience demoralizing exploitation. Having to show sanitary napkins and talk about their means of contraception is beyond atrocious and publicly humiliating.
Yes, I understand that Mexico has this law regarding paid maternity leave. So since the Mexican government is too cheap to pay women for maternity leave that woman has to suffer answering these questions and being punched in the stomach? This is when I say “shame on you, capitalism”. Although, I am a moderate republican and all for capitalism, I am disgusted to see America accuse Saudi Arabia of human rights violations because women are not allowed to drive there; yet America is using Mexico‘s maquiladoras as their “gateway to cheap labor” while women are suffering physical, emotional and physiological abuse. To me, it’s the same exact thing: a woman suffering sexual violence in Mexico and a woman not being able to drive in Saudi Arabia; they are all violations of human rights and gender inequality. Actually, the sexual violence experienced by women in the maquiladoras in Mexico is worse in my opinion. The lack of women drivers in Saudi Arabia is due to a cultural belief; however, the violence in the maquiladoras is because of corporate greed and the big investment Mexico will gain. So because of the fact that both Mexico and the United States reap numerous advantages both governments choose to look the other way. However, if America, in particular, tends to not gain any advantage they will easily point the finger.
The Maquiladoras are not the only industry in which women experience terrible circumstances and exploitation. In countries like South Korea, there is a booming industry based on sex. When the women are interviewed, like in the manquiladoras, it is more like an inspection of their bodies kinda like meat at a butcher shop. Women work as waitresses in nightclubs or restaurants where men can buy drinks and each drink usually comes with a few minutes of personal entertainment. If these women do not meet a certain quota each month they are subjected to demoralizing beatings from their boss. Furthermore, if the quota for the night is not achieved they have to go home with one of the clients. In Korea, the sex industry is targeted towards western women who satisfy the needs of Korean men. It is a Korean man’s struggle to gain vengeance for years of oppression by the west. These women became nothing more than an opportunity for what they saw as revenge against the western modern world that colonized them and made them feel inferior. These women that were part of the sex industry were powerless.
The sex industry in not only Korea but in various countries across the world made the woman out to be some sort of business investment or a capitalistic venture. It almost stopped being a means for men to pleasure themselves and fulfill their desires but rather men see it as just an opportunity to nothing more than to plant their country’s flag. This just shows how the world’s richest and most powerful nations (mostly the west) have controlled the rest of the world. The whole sex industry is just an appalling concept that is hard for me to fathom. Most of the men that partake in this degrading behavior towards women are married; some probably have daughters themselves. How can a government knowingly allow women to enter into sexual slavery where they will be abused, raped, tortured and stripped of any dignity they have?
Another issue that ties into the global division of labor and global political economy is undocumented workers. There is approximately over 5 million undocumented Mexicans in the U.S. workforce, equivalent with nearly 60% of the Mexican born immigrant population. The trade agreement introduced in 1994, NAFTA, has done well for Mexican exports, accounting for 84% but it still has not changed their standard of living; people are still poor and live in wretched conditions. NAFTA’s neo-liberal policies have resulted in free trade but not fair trade leaving Mexico with a trade deficit and decline in GDP. The illegal immigrants to the United States make up a large portion of the unskilled labor work force here; they do not jobs that quite frankly no one else wants to do.
In my opinion, while the global political economy has opened up the doors to more options for consumers, it has lead to dehumanizing and selfish practices that are at times overlooked all in the name of free trade and capitalism.
5.6.10
Israel's most recent antics: raid on the Gaza Flotilla Aid boats
On May 31 2010 Israeli forces raided six boats in international waters that were carrying aid for the people of Gaza. While the majority of boats were raided without much injury to the activists on board there were still nearly a dozen deaths and dozens of injured people. There were nearly 700 activists on board those ships that day all trying to help the people of Gaza by delivering them aid consisting of food, medicine and construction materials. On those ships were activists ranging from Turkish to Australian to U.S. activists. There were over a dozen United States citizens that Israel took into custody. Israel is becoming so bold that they do not even care about one of their number one allies or their citizens. Israel even took into custody a former U.S. ambassador...however he was immediately deported back to the United States.
The boats did deny Israel's request to dock at Ashdod, a port city in Israel but rightfully so. The activists wanted to ensure that ALL the aid on board reached the citizens of Gaza. They knew that if it was docked at Ashdod the Israelis would deem the items on board as "inappropriate". In the end that is what happened. The Israelis searched the boats and seized construction material that is vital towards the reconstruction effort in Gaza after last year's Israeli Offensive on Gaza where over 1,300 people were killed. Israel has once again breached numerous laws by blockading aid to civilians.
While I understand and actually support Israel's need to defend themselves as the only Jewish state surrounded by nearly two dozen Muslim/Arab States...I get that--I really do. However, this is an atrocity of epic proportions that the international community has not done more to stop Israel from senselessly denying the passage of ALL aid to Gaza. Construction materials are not a threat to Israel's security. The international community must recognize that by denying construction materials to pass through to Gaza it is essentially denying Gazans the right to live...this is a crime within itself. All the UN did was condemn the acts of killing innocent civilians. They have yet to outright condemn the denial of aid to Gaza.
Furthermore, this is not the first time that Gazans have been denied aid. The blockade on Gaza has existed since 2007 where Israel has continuously denied aid to Gaza and has imposed economic sanctions on them as well. Just because Hamas is not recognized by the International Community as a legitimate form of government it does not mean that the innocent civilians within that territory have to suffer. They are human beings just like Israelis just like Americans. Israel has complete control over Gaza's naval and air space. Therefore, everything that enters the region is allowed to be inspected by Israel where they unlawfully seize items such as construction material. Since when is construction material to rebuild homes considered warfare material? And even if warfare material were to pass through to the Gazans, do they not have the right to defend themselves as well? Why are the Pro-Gaza/Pro-Palestinian activists and defenders of the rights for Palestinians deemed as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers??
The inhumane actions taken by Israel is deplorable. How can the international community continue to sit back and watch as Israel continues to grow economically as Gazans are living in sub-standard conditions with the unemployment and lack of food security. This makes them fall victim to dependency on foreign aid--aid that never reaches them. Gaza Gaza don't you cry!! Palestine will never die. One day Gaza will rise up and become the homeland that Palestinians deserve.
27.5.10
attempted times square bombing
On May 1st, 2010 Faisal Shahzad reminded New York and the world just how eminent the threat of a terrorist attack still is by parking a car in the middle of one of the world's most busiest areas: Times Square. He abandoned the car which had the materials to make a bomb in it. Apparently the bomb was set off however it was a bit faulty and luckily enough there were no casualties because the bomb never exploded. Imagine if there had been though? What if the bomb had gone off? What if there had been injuries/casulaties? It is nerve racking to think that had that bomb actually been assembled correctly and it did go off what the effects would have been. The world cannot handle another 9/11.
Faisal Shahzad is a Pakistani-American (he just earned his citizenship last year). He lived in Connecticut with his family. He sounds like a normal guy to me--He is a well educated man who came from a well-to-do wealthy family. He had a decent job as a financial analyst. Seems relatively normal to me! So what made Faisal Shahzad do what he did? What can make a man who seems on the level just turn like that? I have to agree with the news sources who said he basically threw away his life. I have been reading up on this man from several news sources and they all seem to say the same thing. He was a quiet and happy family man with a wife and children. He owned a luxury car and a condo in Connecticut. What more could a man ask for? Family, money, house, car?? What went wrong with this man? Sources say in 2008 is when Shahzad started to have a change of behavior....did the economic downturn make him radically change his behavior so much that he hated America?
Another question that is irking me to death's end is why on earth did the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security and other security forces not pick up on this guy sooner?? If he is on some sort of watchlist why was he not watched? Why was he not on some sort of surveilance? How did it take this long for all this information to come out about him? This really shakes me up because there are possibly hundreds others like him living in America who might just flip at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, eventhough he was arrested it was by the skin of someone's teeth because apparently Shahzad had already paid for the ticket, went through security and boarded the plane. The flight was about to take off before authorities realized he was on the no-fly list.
At any rate, I cannot fathom the effects of another terrorist attack. 9/11 even though it happened almost a decade ago is still too fresh in the minds of the American people; especially new yorkers. If the bomb did in fact go off who knows how many could have been injured or killed. It happened on a Saturday night in Times Square of all places. Wow. Catastrophic cannot even begin to describe things.
However, thank God Faisal Shahzad was arrested within two days of the planned terror attack. Honestly, the guy was an idiot on that part. Who tries to board a flight headed to the Middle East after an attempted attack? Obviously, security is going to be heightened at bridges, tunnels, any roadway and most especially airports. He tried to board a flight bound for the Emirates only two days after the attempted attack. Supposedly, he had financing from terrorist organizations and had been receving money from them for months now. He also receiving training from the Pakistani Taliban which helped him in preparing bombs.
Luckily for the U.S. Faisal was willing to cooperate with authorities. He was indicted on ten different counts. Thank God this guy was caught and arrested before he did any serious damage to the United States. While I am outraged and angered by some of the things the U.S. does it most certainly does not mean I agree with the radical ideologies of people like Faisal Shahzad. Any person who can take innocent human lives is a despicable humanbeing who does not deserve to see anything more than a jail cell. May God forgive him for his sins and May God bless the United States.
Faisal Shahzad is a Pakistani-American (he just earned his citizenship last year). He lived in Connecticut with his family. He sounds like a normal guy to me--He is a well educated man who came from a well-to-do wealthy family. He had a decent job as a financial analyst. Seems relatively normal to me! So what made Faisal Shahzad do what he did? What can make a man who seems on the level just turn like that? I have to agree with the news sources who said he basically threw away his life. I have been reading up on this man from several news sources and they all seem to say the same thing. He was a quiet and happy family man with a wife and children. He owned a luxury car and a condo in Connecticut. What more could a man ask for? Family, money, house, car?? What went wrong with this man? Sources say in 2008 is when Shahzad started to have a change of behavior....did the economic downturn make him radically change his behavior so much that he hated America?
Another question that is irking me to death's end is why on earth did the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security and other security forces not pick up on this guy sooner?? If he is on some sort of watchlist why was he not watched? Why was he not on some sort of surveilance? How did it take this long for all this information to come out about him? This really shakes me up because there are possibly hundreds others like him living in America who might just flip at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, eventhough he was arrested it was by the skin of someone's teeth because apparently Shahzad had already paid for the ticket, went through security and boarded the plane. The flight was about to take off before authorities realized he was on the no-fly list.
At any rate, I cannot fathom the effects of another terrorist attack. 9/11 even though it happened almost a decade ago is still too fresh in the minds of the American people; especially new yorkers. If the bomb did in fact go off who knows how many could have been injured or killed. It happened on a Saturday night in Times Square of all places. Wow. Catastrophic cannot even begin to describe things.
However, thank God Faisal Shahzad was arrested within two days of the planned terror attack. Honestly, the guy was an idiot on that part. Who tries to board a flight headed to the Middle East after an attempted attack? Obviously, security is going to be heightened at bridges, tunnels, any roadway and most especially airports. He tried to board a flight bound for the Emirates only two days after the attempted attack. Supposedly, he had financing from terrorist organizations and had been receving money from them for months now. He also receiving training from the Pakistani Taliban which helped him in preparing bombs.
Luckily for the U.S. Faisal was willing to cooperate with authorities. He was indicted on ten different counts. Thank God this guy was caught and arrested before he did any serious damage to the United States. While I am outraged and angered by some of the things the U.S. does it most certainly does not mean I agree with the radical ideologies of people like Faisal Shahzad. Any person who can take innocent human lives is a despicable humanbeing who does not deserve to see anything more than a jail cell. May God forgive him for his sins and May God bless the United States.
Islamic Center being built near WTC site
It was recently announced that an Islamic Center is going to be built near the World Trade Center Cite. This has raised much controversy amongst not only New Yorkers but Americans as a whole. People are arguing that building any type of institution that is geared toward the Islamic faith is "insensitive" when in fact it is just the opposite; by creating such a center it would allow non-Muslims to potentially get to know Muslims better. This can be a building block for better relations between the Islamic world and the U.S.
I understand that it was Muslims who attacked us on September 11th so building a Mosque or Islamic center so close to the cite hits a sore spot in the lives of those effected by the tragedy. However, I must raise a key point. Does anyone not realize that there were Muslims who lost family and friends in the September 11th attacks too? Furthermore, isn't there already a Mosque in the immediate downtown area anyway? A third issue is this: there needs to be a point where people begin to heal and begin to accept. Now do not get me wrong....I am a huge supporter of the slogan "Never Forget 9/11". I am in NO WAY saying we should forget. However, we must learn to accept that not all Muslims are terrorists. Not all Muslims support the radical ideologies of the men who executed the horrific plan set in motion by a lunatic know as Osama Bin Laden. People need to realize that Islam is actually a peaceful and humble religion. So by building this center it will allow for the Islamophobia that has run rampant in New York City to die down a bit (hopefully).
One other point that I must make is that during a meeting to discuss this proposal a woman stood up and said something to the effect of "we can not support these people as they worship their monkey God". UHHH hello?? Lady really? "Monkey God". That god's name is Allah. Allah translate to God. Islam is monotheistic religion just like Christanity. Muslims believe in the same God Christians do. The main difference between the two religions is that Muslims do not accept Jesus as the son of God. But just because they view Jesus as a prophet and not the son does not mean they should be called out like that and told they worship a "monkey God".
Furthermore, what is the big deal?? It is not being built right on the WTC cite. It is being built near it. It is a property up for purchase...just like any other. So why can't a Mosque be built there? Would the community say no if it was a church or synagogue?? Would they say no if it was a clothing store?? I highly doubt it.
I think it is time for America to realize that NOT all Muslims are bad. Every religion, race, ethnicity etc has its flaws. Islam is definitely one of them. However, America is not so perfect either. So we should do the American thing and embrace these people for the beautiful and mysterious unique culture and religion that they are!! Lets bridge the divide between Muslims and Non-Muslims! Come on America...we are strong versatile and resilient people- we can do this! This center/Mosque is just the thing to help bridge that gap!! By building the Mosque in the very area that was attacked, Muslims are being the braves one in fact. They are standing up and saying "we are proud of who we are" and "we will not let a handful of people deface the identity of a religion that is home to nearly two billion people". By building this mosque the Muslims are being the mature ones and saying here we are wanting to be a part of the community even after you guys pushed us away and wrote us off as "monkey God" worshipers.
I honestly hope this Mosque is approved so that Muslims in the downtown area can have a place to worship. I want this center to be approved too so people can see something I view as so peaceful and wonderful....the image of a man and his son praying side by side. A father teaching his son the beauty of religion and how great it can impact his life for the good. May Allah bless America. May Allah bless the downtown area.
I understand that it was Muslims who attacked us on September 11th so building a Mosque or Islamic center so close to the cite hits a sore spot in the lives of those effected by the tragedy. However, I must raise a key point. Does anyone not realize that there were Muslims who lost family and friends in the September 11th attacks too? Furthermore, isn't there already a Mosque in the immediate downtown area anyway? A third issue is this: there needs to be a point where people begin to heal and begin to accept. Now do not get me wrong....I am a huge supporter of the slogan "Never Forget 9/11". I am in NO WAY saying we should forget. However, we must learn to accept that not all Muslims are terrorists. Not all Muslims support the radical ideologies of the men who executed the horrific plan set in motion by a lunatic know as Osama Bin Laden. People need to realize that Islam is actually a peaceful and humble religion. So by building this center it will allow for the Islamophobia that has run rampant in New York City to die down a bit (hopefully).
One other point that I must make is that during a meeting to discuss this proposal a woman stood up and said something to the effect of "we can not support these people as they worship their monkey God". UHHH hello?? Lady really? "Monkey God". That god's name is Allah. Allah translate to God. Islam is monotheistic religion just like Christanity. Muslims believe in the same God Christians do. The main difference between the two religions is that Muslims do not accept Jesus as the son of God. But just because they view Jesus as a prophet and not the son does not mean they should be called out like that and told they worship a "monkey God".
Furthermore, what is the big deal?? It is not being built right on the WTC cite. It is being built near it. It is a property up for purchase...just like any other. So why can't a Mosque be built there? Would the community say no if it was a church or synagogue?? Would they say no if it was a clothing store?? I highly doubt it.
I think it is time for America to realize that NOT all Muslims are bad. Every religion, race, ethnicity etc has its flaws. Islam is definitely one of them. However, America is not so perfect either. So we should do the American thing and embrace these people for the beautiful and mysterious unique culture and religion that they are!! Lets bridge the divide between Muslims and Non-Muslims! Come on America...we are strong versatile and resilient people- we can do this! This center/Mosque is just the thing to help bridge that gap!! By building the Mosque in the very area that was attacked, Muslims are being the braves one in fact. They are standing up and saying "we are proud of who we are" and "we will not let a handful of people deface the identity of a religion that is home to nearly two billion people". By building this mosque the Muslims are being the mature ones and saying here we are wanting to be a part of the community even after you guys pushed us away and wrote us off as "monkey God" worshipers.
I honestly hope this Mosque is approved so that Muslims in the downtown area can have a place to worship. I want this center to be approved too so people can see something I view as so peaceful and wonderful....the image of a man and his son praying side by side. A father teaching his son the beauty of religion and how great it can impact his life for the good. May Allah bless America. May Allah bless the downtown area.
19.5.10
!0 reasons to love arabs
Ok! So I am so tired of hearing about Arabs being the target of negative publicity. We are NOT all terrorists. We do NOT all believe in radical ideas brought forth by crazy religious extremists. We DO NOT oppress our women. we DO NOT belief in 72 virgins in Heaven. We DO NOT have any more of a backwards ideology then other races. We are NOT sand-dwelling camel riders.
All of these stereotypes plus the many more that exist in which Arabs are portrayed in a negative light are just down right hurtful and untrue. The stereotypes make an accusation and place blame on a culture deeply rooted in tradition and value. Arabs are a people who tend to be humble and gracious. Their hospitality is second to none....truly first rate.
So therefore below I have come up with a list of ten reasons to love arabs for the wonderful people that they are.
10) If it weren't for arabs and muslims: the world would never know the number 0. we would never know algebra! Arabs and Muslims also advanced the field of trigonometry as well.
9) Good Food!!!! If it was not for the arabs/muslims the world would not know the beauty of hummus, falafel, yogurt, koshari, tahini etc.
8) Hospitality: the Arabs are the most hospitable and giving people I have ever met in my entire life. They will literally give you the shirt off of there back if they know you like it. They will go out of their way to help a person.
7) modern day international law for refugees is based off of the teachings from over a thousand years ago in the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. One of the major components of international law for refugees is the idea of non-refoulement or forced return---this idea is not new to mankind in modern day..it was mentioned in the Quran 1,400 years ago. Thanks to Islam modern day international law for refugees is a little better off due to the teachings found in the Quran.
6) the Arabs brought you great actors like Tony Shaloub and Omar Sherif or great inventors like Steven Jobs, creator of Apple (his biological father is Syrian), great writers, poets, activists, scientists, professors and even great comedians like Dean Obeidallah and Aron Kader.
5) Arabs gave the world the harp, drum, tambourine, oud and other instruments.
4) lets not forget about a major major major contribution to civilization: the phonetic alphabet!!
3) cosmetics: thanks to the ancient arabs the world knows the beauty of eye liner, body lotions, nail polishes, lipsticks, jewelery etc.
2) the magnetic needle discovered by medieval arabs helped to improve navigation since the 9th century.
1) Arabs and Muslims brought you everything from makeup to navigation to food to dance to clothing to science to law to perfume. whats not to love about them?
All of these stereotypes plus the many more that exist in which Arabs are portrayed in a negative light are just down right hurtful and untrue. The stereotypes make an accusation and place blame on a culture deeply rooted in tradition and value. Arabs are a people who tend to be humble and gracious. Their hospitality is second to none....truly first rate.
So therefore below I have come up with a list of ten reasons to love arabs for the wonderful people that they are.
10) If it weren't for arabs and muslims: the world would never know the number 0. we would never know algebra! Arabs and Muslims also advanced the field of trigonometry as well.
9) Good Food!!!! If it was not for the arabs/muslims the world would not know the beauty of hummus, falafel, yogurt, koshari, tahini etc.
8) Hospitality: the Arabs are the most hospitable and giving people I have ever met in my entire life. They will literally give you the shirt off of there back if they know you like it. They will go out of their way to help a person.
7) modern day international law for refugees is based off of the teachings from over a thousand years ago in the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. One of the major components of international law for refugees is the idea of non-refoulement or forced return---this idea is not new to mankind in modern day..it was mentioned in the Quran 1,400 years ago. Thanks to Islam modern day international law for refugees is a little better off due to the teachings found in the Quran.
6) the Arabs brought you great actors like Tony Shaloub and Omar Sherif or great inventors like Steven Jobs, creator of Apple (his biological father is Syrian), great writers, poets, activists, scientists, professors and even great comedians like Dean Obeidallah and Aron Kader.
5) Arabs gave the world the harp, drum, tambourine, oud and other instruments.
4) lets not forget about a major major major contribution to civilization: the phonetic alphabet!!
3) cosmetics: thanks to the ancient arabs the world knows the beauty of eye liner, body lotions, nail polishes, lipsticks, jewelery etc.
2) the magnetic needle discovered by medieval arabs helped to improve navigation since the 9th century.
1) Arabs and Muslims brought you everything from makeup to navigation to food to dance to clothing to science to law to perfume. whats not to love about them?
19.2.10
Kuwait's step towards human rights for women!!!
Kuwait's step towards womens rights
Yay! The oil-rich state of Kuwait has made a great step toward democracy when they elected their first female members of Parliament back in May 2009. Rola Dashti and Aseel Al-Awadhi (a U.S. educated woman) were elected in Kuwait in the third district.
This is a huge step for Kuwaiti democracy...its just exciting because the Middle East is always under fire for its so called "backwards" human (woman's) rights policies. However, now that woman have been elected to Parliament, its a leap in the right direction. Womens right to vote started back in 2005, however not much advancement was made but now that Dashti and Al-Awadhi along with two other woman have been elected to parliament it shows Kuwaiti women's desire for change and advancement. This election may just be the beginning of reform not only in Kuwait but in the other Middle Eastern countries that have strict policies limiting women‘s rights.
It is just so exciting that this step is being taken for womens rights because Kuwait is not the only country struggling to reform women’s rights. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing many of the same struggles. Recently, a young teenage girl anonymously wrote about her desire to be able to drive. For half the population of Saudi Arabia driving is against the law for them. That is right- Saudi Arabia is approximately comprised of 50% male and 50% female. This means that a female always has to wait for a male relative (I.e. father or brother) to return home in order for them to complete such a simple task as getting juice from the store.
I can't wait to see what happens next for women in Middle Eastern countries such as Kuwait. It is hard to conform with Middle Eastern culture and Muslim religious practices when globalization is taking the world by storm and advancements are being made. No one is telling the Middle East to completely westernize because that is just a huge disrespect to their culture; there is no need to. However, making minor adjustments and modernizing society just a bit is not a bad thing at all. Women should be able to drive or be elected to parliament. It is only fair. Women are just as smart and talented as men are and their voices should be heard.
Yay! The oil-rich state of Kuwait has made a great step toward democracy when they elected their first female members of Parliament back in May 2009. Rola Dashti and Aseel Al-Awadhi (a U.S. educated woman) were elected in Kuwait in the third district.
This is a huge step for Kuwaiti democracy...its just exciting because the Middle East is always under fire for its so called "backwards" human (woman's) rights policies. However, now that woman have been elected to Parliament, its a leap in the right direction. Womens right to vote started back in 2005, however not much advancement was made but now that Dashti and Al-Awadhi along with two other woman have been elected to parliament it shows Kuwaiti women's desire for change and advancement. This election may just be the beginning of reform not only in Kuwait but in the other Middle Eastern countries that have strict policies limiting women‘s rights.
It is just so exciting that this step is being taken for womens rights because Kuwait is not the only country struggling to reform women’s rights. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing many of the same struggles. Recently, a young teenage girl anonymously wrote about her desire to be able to drive. For half the population of Saudi Arabia driving is against the law for them. That is right- Saudi Arabia is approximately comprised of 50% male and 50% female. This means that a female always has to wait for a male relative (I.e. father or brother) to return home in order for them to complete such a simple task as getting juice from the store.
I can't wait to see what happens next for women in Middle Eastern countries such as Kuwait. It is hard to conform with Middle Eastern culture and Muslim religious practices when globalization is taking the world by storm and advancements are being made. No one is telling the Middle East to completely westernize because that is just a huge disrespect to their culture; there is no need to. However, making minor adjustments and modernizing society just a bit is not a bad thing at all. Women should be able to drive or be elected to parliament. It is only fair. Women are just as smart and talented as men are and their voices should be heard.
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