Monday, March 31, 2008

Confused?

Confused about some of the different Shiite sects in Iraq? Basra? Whats going on? This article is a a little old, but it does a pretty good job explaining just what is going on. It just still blows my mind that the US is somehow proud of putting into power a government whose largest block is the "Supreme Islamic Council for Iraq", a party with an Islamist platform, duh. (By the way, if it weren't obvious enough from the new name, a few years ago there was no excuse. The original name was the Supreme Council for ISLAMIC REVOULTION IN IRAQ. Wish I could have been there as Bush contemplated such thoughts..hmmm, Islamic Revolution, that worked well in Iran in 1979, so lets place our bets with them in Baghdad!) We put them into power. And yet we are scared of Iran? My head hurts rolling these thoughts around. But if you have been hurting from trying to keep the Mahdi Army straight from the Badr Corps, they are both Shia so that doesn't help, give this article a chance. Afterwards you will still have to puzzle over the US invasion which put Islamists in power, but you will at least have a few things straight.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-shiites30mar30,1,1596179.story

For more updates, keep checking out Prof. Juan Cole's blog, juancole.com

Saturday, March 29, 2008

"Let Them Eat Cake"

There is currently a bread crisis in Egypt. Bread here is subsidized, but as corruption eats away the system from the top down (there's Reagan economics for you) at the end of the line and at the end of the day, there is often not enough bread to go around. Adding to the tinder box of missing bread are the increasing food prices. Protests and demonstrations are crowding the streets and newspapers, as Egyptians are not able to match these increasing prices with their ever dismal wages.

Even doctors are taking to the streets, striking for one hour each day to protest their sobering salaries. Hamdy al-Sayyed states that"the average salary for a graduating doctor now is LE 220 ($40) per month, which doesn't buy much."

I don't even want to tell you how much Fulbright is paying me, its sickening in comparison to what these men and women with medical degrees are making. They save lives, and they barely have enough to get by. And remember, this is the profession that Egyptians look to as the key out of poverty. Doctors and Engineers, doctors and engineers, this is the mantra that is repeated over and over. Egyptian parents want their children to take on these two traditionally prestigious professions that will supposedly bring them a better life. But for now they are working on just getting enough bread.

Patience grows thin as the bread lines grow long. The corruption that the state uses to stay in power is now its greatest threat, as it eats away at the scaffolding of this teetering structure. I realize I am watching this from the sidelines, that I am not really affected by the frustration and the crisis that is building. I am no Egyptian, and I am no economist. But I still can't help but wonder, is Mr. Mubarak really not that familiar with the story of Marie Antoinette?

See http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=12562

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

My Brother's Keeper

In a world where we are often divided by religion, it is nice to see that some still refuse to play that polarizing game. I don't know if this news is hitting the US, but currently in the Netherlands, a racist right wing politician, Geert Wilders, is making a movie based on the fantastic claim that the Quran is a fascist book. This is, of course, the post productive path one can do in exercising their freedom of speech right? Oh I know, I will insult an already marginalized religious group in Europe. While I'm at it, I will go ahead and scream fire in a movie theatre, because thats freedom of speech also, right? Instead of looking the other way, a number of Jewish groups in the Netherlands have condemned Wilder's dangerous hate mongering. Harry de Winter, the Jewish community leader pointed out the double standard of his country, by asserting that Muslims have become the victims of prejudice that would never be tolerated (today) if it targeted Jews.

"It's incomprehensible that Mr Wilders keeps on coming out with such rubbish. If you read the Old Testament [the Jewish Torah] then you also find texts about hatred of homosexuals, hatred of women and the murdering of non-Jewish preachers."

De Winter points to the obvious fact that Jews have been the subject of even worse prejudice and racism, and therefore they should be the most defensive of their Muslim brothers currently targeted.

'As he says in de Volkskrant: "We Jews know like no others what this sort of discrimination can lead to."'

'In an interview with the paper, De Winter says that Wilders’ approach to Islam is like the build-up of anti-Jewish sentiment before World War II. ‘I see no difference between a skull-cap (worn by Jewish men) and a headscarf,’ De Winter said. ‘I hope we get support from across the Jewish community because they should recognize this like no-one else.’

For me, this was a heartwarming piece of news. It is already a rare find to discover a Dutchman who is willing to defend his Muslim brothers. But the fact that he is also a Jew is what really moves me. De Winter does not pay attention to the violent rhetoric of those ignorant Islamic radicals who disobey the Quranic command of tolerating and protecting the Jewish people. De Winter does not listen to those on both sides who argue for a clash of civilizations between the black and white battle of the Muslims/haters of freedom vs. those of Judeo-Christian/Zionist-Crusader heritage. Instead, De Winter steps up to the plate. As a Dutchman, and as a Jew, he demands the ending of this ridiculous onslaught of hate. No matter who is targeted.


For reference see http://www.islamtoday.net/english/showme2.cfm?cat_id=38&sub_cat_id=1823

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Dazzled in Dubai

In Cairo, there is a lot of talk about Dubai. Cairo used to be the headquarters of the Arab world; essentially the center of political, cultural, economic happenings in this part of the world. Cairo was the place to be. But that era is over, as Cairo has largely been replaced by a rising star in the region: Dubai. But the talk of the town isn't restricted to this part of the world, Dubai is the talk of the world. Skyscrapers rising from the desert, man-made islands in the shape of palm trees, 7 star hotels, and a mix of cultures and peoples that make Fulbrighters drool. It is said that 80 percent of the population of Dubai is international, largely from South and South East Asia. Coming from India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and dozens of other countries, workers travel to this booming city to get a piece of the pie. Workers rights and labor laws are much needed in this city of dreams, as exploitation and abuses of workers rights are more of a problem than the city would like to admit. However, the mix of cultures and religions in this city of wonders is something that the Emir, Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, can be proud of.

I came to Dubai for a conference on Women's Global Leadership, held by Zayed University. A three day event brought together about 1200 students and professionals all committed to encouraging women's leadership in all sectors of society in all parts of the world. What we all discovered, was that we were not alone in our desires to see women take on more positions of power in communities which desperately need female leadership. Amongst the headline speakers were Jane Fonda-Actress and Activist, Reem Al-Hashimy-U.A.E Minister of State, Helen Thomas-Journalist and author, Carol Bellamy- Former Head of UNICEF and CEO of World Learning, Salma Hareb, CEO Jebel Ali Free Zone (U.A.E), Najla Mohammed Al-Awar-Secretary General for the U.A.E Cabinet, and of course, Dr. Mary Sue Coleman, University President of my alma mater, The University of Michigan. There were other speakers, all impressive women leaders, and all committed to seeing more of their sisters in other positions of leadership. In additions to speeches and panel discussions, the conference also presented dozens of workshops which we were able to attend. Covering all sectors of society and all presented by women of all walks of life, I often found myself torn between which sessions to attend. With students and professionals coming from all sorts of backgrounds, these panels made for some great discussions and helped me see this topic in new ways. What sort of perspective does an American-living in Egypt hold? Perhaps as unique as an Indonesian-studying in Singapore, as was the case with my roommate and new friend, Sisca.

Here are just a few of the fascinating presentations that I attended:

"Leaders Waging Peace? Gender and Children in Conflict Context."
One of the presenters on this panel was Dr. Pablo Abitbol, whose presentation on women's peace initiatives in Colombia was extremely demonstrative of how women, who are often take the brunt of men's wars, are perhaps the most effective leaders for ending conflict and establishing peace.

"Learning Leadership through Mentorship: Opportunities for Women within the Academy"

Dr. Mabel Evwierhoma, from the University of Abuja in Nigeria, lectured on the importance of female mentorship, as it is important for the current female leaders to encourage the next generation of women to have the courage to enter the field. Mentors tend to find mentees who are similar to themselves, and as many women often encounter, one of the hardest aspects of entering a male dominated field is the exclusivity of the "men's club". If male leaders continue to encourage young men to fill their shoes, the cycle of gender unbalanced leadership will continue. Therefore, it is of upmost importance that current female leaders ask themselves, "Who do I want to fill my shoes? Who do I want to inspire to lead?"

"Leadership at the Grassroots: Born Poor, Becoming Leadership: The Case of Female Leaders in Upper Egypt" In this presentation, Solava Ibrahim, Ph.D Candidate at Cambridge University, presented her research on women's initiatives to end female circumcision (female genital mutilation) in their villages.

"Voices of U.A.E Women Business Leaders" Emrati business founder and owner, Farida Kamber, told her story of how she established one of the most successful interior design firms in the United Arab Emirates, disproving local doubts about her ability to enter that male-dominated market, and deflating western stereotypes of Arab-Muslim women as domestic servants.

Overall, the conference was a huge success. I could write dozens of blogs on the inspiring people I met, controversial topics covered, and innovative ideas shared. I will not make you all suffer through these, but don't be surprised if I start a lot of my sentences with.."well when I was in Dubai". This conference encouraged me that I am not alone in my hopes to see more women leaders, and that I am not the only one who believes that all societies and countries would benefit from female leadership. Whether they are prime ministers, doctors, CEOs, university presidents, activists, mothers, religious leaders, or all of the above, women should own their leadership potential. Their communities need them, and the world needs them even more.

Pauline would like renounce any implications this blog has on her choice of presidential candidate. Gobama Go!

Friday, March 7, 2008

More Funerals for More Civilians

8 innocent civilians were murdered yesterday in an school in Jerusalem. The victims were Israeli, and their murderer was Palestinian. This act of senseless violence has been condemned by most world leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but I am disappointed by the reluctance of Hamas to voice its own condemnation of the murders. They seemed too busy talking about the deaths of Palestinian civilians to give a damn about the murders of more civilians, who happen to be Israeli.

"This is a normal response to all the Israel occupation, commission and aggression, and they [have] committed massacres inside the Gaza and West Bank - about 128 [people were] killed, 30 of them children and infants, people and elderly and [women]. So I find this is a normal response to all Israel's occupational crimes, and waging a war against the Palestinians." -Hamas Spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum

How much would it have pained Hamas to simply condemn violence against civilians, whether they be Israeli or Palestinian? My question for Hamas is this: If you can not condemn civilian deaths of your enemy, how do you expect your enemy to condemn the deaths of your own civilians?" If Hamas wants the world to care about the deaths of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, they should practice what they preach and condemn the murders of Israeli civilians. A civilian is a civilian, no matter what side of the wall they stand.

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7282567.stm

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Holocaust is a Strong Word.

The office of Israeli Deputy Defense Minister can't take any calls, they are busy doing damage control. When referring to fixing the problem in Gaza and possibly toppling the Hamas government, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai threatened the Palestinians with bringing a Holocaust upon them. "Shoah" in Hebrew, is usually reserved for referring to the Nazi Holocaust which murdered over 6 million Jews and which aimed to entirely exterminate the Jewish people. You would think the subject of mass genocide would not be taken lightly by the Israeli government officials, who represent and lead a state largely created as a refuge for Jews fleeing European genocide. A spokesman for Vilnai assured the stunned public (domestic and international) that the minister used the term in the sense of "disaster," saying "he did not mean to make any allusion to the genocide." But for a state which has already been accused of being racist and brutal towards the Palestinians living under the military occupation, Israel can not afford to make a slip like this. Already Arabist and Islamist blogs have taken this statement as Israel saying what it has always meant. They are seeing this as a confession, not as a slip of the tongue. I have a bad feeling that unless Olmert personally apologizes for this mistake or fires Vilnai, this statement for many will come to represent how Israel views the future of Palestinians. After all, even though the Iranian government later blamed a mistake in translation, all that the world remembers is Ahmadinejad's statement of "wiping Israel off the map".

"Nobody can remove a country from the map. This is a misunderstanding in Europe of what our president mentioned...How is it possible to remove a country from the map? He is talking about the regime. We do not legally recognize this regime"-Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki addressing the uproar following Ahmadinjad's statement.

But ask anyone, and they won't know the follow up statement. No discussion about the intricacies of language, the fact that there is no such idiom in Persian, or that Ahmadinejad meant ending the regime, not ending Israel as a state. No one talks about that, they only remember the words they read in translation. I fear that similarly, no one will talk about the nuances of the Hebrew language and that "holocaust" or "shoah" can refer to disaster and not explicitly genocide. Those who wish to will understand what they read, what they were hoping to hear, a genocidal confession, which will only be an excuse for continued fear, hatred, and a abysmal absence of hope for peace in the conflict.

For Further Reference:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959532.html
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/jonathan_steele/2006/06/post_155.html
http://www.irandefence.net/archive/index.php/t-1492.html

Monday, March 3, 2008

Nope. No Suffering Here

Barack Obama has recently been taking some heat for comments stated earlier in his campaign. "Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinians." This statement has largely been the basis for accusations that Obama is "anti-Israel" or even "anti-semitic" and my question is, how? Aside from whatever political orientation everyone has on this conflict, is it really possible to watch the news--if its being covered at all--about the recent strikes on Gaza and refute this statement? With over 100 Palestinians killed in 3 days, one third of whom were women and children (according to the International Red Cross) is it really possible to say that "No, Palestinians are not suffering. And in fact, anyone who claims that they are must hate Israel." How does this perverse logic rule over our understanding of the conflict?

I am confident that most Israelis would at least recognize that there are many Palestinians suffering from the conflict, even if they support the most recent IDF attacks. On the front page of Haaretz.com (one of Israel's most popular newspapers) the front page articles all focused on the attacks, and while stating Israel's need to defend herself was the focus of some, others chose to focus on the resulting deaths of civilians and destruction of their homes. One such article focused on the death of two sisters, Samah and Salwah, who were killed when their house was bombed. "We thought you wanted peace" their father wept. Haaretz also published a statement by Diab, a former volunteer with Magen David Adom in Ashkelon, laments the attacks "There are no gunmen here. We wouldn't let them near. There are more than 20 children here. We don't want trouble and don't like it, but why did they shoot at us? What did we do to deserve this?" Also on the front page is a photo of Palestinians carrying a 21 month old baby girl who was killed in the attacks. www.haaretz.com

Of course not all Israelis appreciate this attention devoted to the civilian dead. In fact, there are vast discrepancies between the reports of those Palestinians killed. According to the IDF, of the 100 Palestinians killed, 90 of them were militants. So we have the two sisters, the baby girl, and I guess only 7 more then?

Aside from the slightly confused leadership of the IDF, I think that it is safe to assume that even Israelis would admit to the suffering of the Palestinians. But I guess that would make these Israelis somehow anti-Israeli, so we are back at square one. Isn't perverse logic fun?

Also see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/03/israelandthepalestinians.usa