Found: moderate Muslims

Along with the end of the year lists and whatnot, found a listing of the best signs from the Rally to Restore Sanity and I just had to share this one somewhere:

Upping security on the homefront: "random" inspections

Technically, we're done here (though I'll be continuing with my other blog once I have time to breathe again), but a.I'm still on campus attempting to be scholarly anyways, and b.this article regards a topic that I've posted about twice, and was briefly discussed by others, as well, with the whole plot against the DC metro scenario.

Metro Transit police advise customers they will conduct random inspections of carry-on items

My initial reaction: great that the goal is to increase safety/security on the metro. ...but is it too absurdly cynical of me to note that I get nervous when I hear someone is [planning on] conducting "random" inspections? If not a risk of profiling, then a risk of people complaining about profiling, eh? ...and everything that ensues (note: Arizona). Will be interesting to see reactions and how it goes.


*bahaha, wait, amendment: first reaction, as seen from my Twitter feed:

unsuckdcmetro3:23pm via Web

Don't sweat random bag searches. Inspectors will be asleep or absent. #wmata

Iraq in 2003: Was it worth it?

I should preface this with a nice little quote from a friend (now at Wharton) upon his learning that I'd declared majors in English and Political Science: "So you're going to be... a professional bullshitter?" [Or, in the words of one English prof., "rhetorical slight of hand".... right.] This is not to say, of course, that I approve of boiling down either field to this less-than-classy description, but too some extent, really, that's what rhetoric is all about, though we should (and do) have to cut through the nonsense from time to time.

That said, honestly, I've got to maintain the stance I held on Monday re. "Was it worth it?" Yes, there are many times in life that we are forced to make a decision or take a stance, though we may lack the information, preparation, etc (speaking of Iraq...). Really, we could always be better prepared, particularly when it comes to making decisions. However, thankfully and with all due respect, I don't consider myself in a position in which I must make a decision, thus my abstention. I am not (again, thankfully) a politician, advisor, pundit, etc etc, that my opinion on the matter is by any means necessary or relevant at the moment, wily/flaky/cowardly/ambiguous/dissatisfying though that answer may be. ...Hey, perhaps I could be a politician. ahem. ahem.

Ok, really, though, the trouble of any debate is that there is, ideally, logic behind each side. That plus the fact that it is not yet a done deal, and I truly do not want to make a judgment call here. Some factors we can all pretty much agree on: it could have been handled more adeptly; more notable international approval would certainly not have hurt; the loss of life - both military and civilian - is always extremely sobering, as is the painful disruption of life on all sides and everything else that comes hand-in-hand with warfare and occupation. However, I imagine most also welcome the end of a blatantly destructive and repressive regime and efforts toward stability (flawed or misdirected though some may find them).

The debate of democratization is an intriguing one, and one deserving of far more than a blog post. In the midst of glorifying the democratic peace theory, one may conveniently forget the numerous other factors involved beyond governmental system and, significantly, the near chaos that threatens to reign between the dismantling of one government and the establishment of another. ...Thus, it's an argument I have more trouble getting behind, though I certainly see the logic and applaud the encouragement of human rights (socio-economic and political), freedom of speech, citizenship, and so on. And of course, if it weren't for those pesky factors of our picking and choosing where to insist upon such factors (Saudi Arabia, I'm talking to you) and the unavoidably patronizing tone with which this is undertaken...

...But it's after 3am, which somehow risks simultaneously hampering and/or increasing my propensity towards "rhetorical slight of hand," so it's best to put an end to this one and leave it as food for thought. Not waffling, mind you, just careful consideration.

Informal cultural studies in the DC suburbs

Sometimes, particularly this year, I find myself in highly intriguing circumstances - the sort that make me step back, observe the scene, and chuckle and shake my head in amazement. This weekend, it came in the form of finding myself speeding through Loudon County, VA, with a young Cuban and two Iranians, blasting Kurdish music, en route to a company party. ...As a great man once sang, "life is so peculiar."

Ignoring the fantastic story that led up to and follows that, however, I'll attempt to briefly focus on the pieces relevant to this blog, particularly in the form of the Iranians in question. The situation: I made my way down to the DC area this weekend to visit a friend, who, though not Iranian, happens to work with a largely Iranian construction/renovation company, all of whom were entreated to attend this rather well-to-do affair hosted by another Iranian-owned company they do a fair bit of work for. ...To skip along to the moral of the story, however, I don't know that I've ever felt so completely out of place (though in a hilarious sort of way)... or so... un-American, frankly. 

Even as I retell the story, I find myself referring to "the Americans" as a group very much excluding myself. Blame both the company I was keeping at the time and the ridiculously ostracizing looks we were receiving. All, unfortunately, in jeans (though the guys looked much more put together than myself, who had not at all planned for this and lacked a proper set of clothes to change into), we immediately stood out upon entering this well-to-do shindig, finding ourselves the recipients of many an interesting look from lounging Caucasian Americans in tuxedos and floor-length dresses, sipping wine and chatting about the economy and how little anyone under the age of 40 really understands anything. I'd have to guess I received the most looks, of the friendly intrigued sort from the young Iranian coworkers, and of the "What the hell is going on here?" sort from the majority of the Americans, most likely due to whom I'd arrived with, our attire, and our propensity to be less than deathly serious.

I'm babbling, though. The intriguing factor, from the ME side of things: well, for starters, the characteristics of the immigrant community here in the US, how they interact with one another, and how they interact (or not) with Americans. The timeless question of class and wealth. The Kurdish factor, as I was introduced to one in particular, Mumid, as being "from Iran - from Kurdistan.... He's from Kurdistan," and who, after much laughter re. wealthy Americans "bullshitting" (forgive the language, I'm merely quoting), was torn between obligations to attend a Kurdish party and obligations to attend a Persian party (both of which, according to him, furthered the "night of bullshit").

While chatting with a friend the other day, my seeing baboons and antelope while hiking about a nature and wildlife reserve in Ghana somehow made its way into the conversation. "Ooh," she said, "so you saw the real Africa! I just saw the resort part." ...While I agree that there's a vast difference between the resorts and the reality, I highly doubt that baboons and antelope alone count as really seeing the truth of the matter. 

When it comes to attempting to understand or learn about any place or people, I've always got to side with the option of speaking to natives themselves, as I noted in an earlier post. We discussed it a bit earlier in the semester, as well - statistics vs history and area studies, etc. Both are fantastic, but life seems to continue to remind me that statistics can only tell you so much; getting to know those who really live it is not only telling, but is also unspeakably fascinating- and humanizing. ...I have a feeling the tuxedoed Americans at the gathering on Saturday were much more concerned with the statistics (particularly the monetary ones) than they were in even feigning an interest in the young Iranians joking amongst themselves and accepting the offer of a duck appetizer with a smirk.

Mubarak (Egypt?) - Israel, via the IDF

Fun fact: apparently, the IDF is an active member of the twitterverse. Excellent. Stumbled across this thanks to a retweet from Israel (true story, the State of Israel has a verified twitter account) and, while the variety of people and organizations I can follow on twitter continues to amaze and entertain me, my eye was most drawn to this article, posted by the IDFSpokesperson:
"At the end of the Mubarak presidency, relations with Egypt will be unclear"

More than anything else, it brought to mind the discussion of the influence- or lack thereof- of the individual. The UN without Eleanor Roosevelt, MEPP without Yitzhak Rabin, and, in this piece, Egypt without Mubarak (and mention of Palestine's Abu Mazen).... the list could continue, with various levels of debatability in regards to the extent and necessity of each individual's role.

Another intriguing thing to note, while you're there: take a gander at who the IDF is "following." Israelis, Israeli news organizations and politicians, the Jewish Agency, consulates in Israel, the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland, CNN, and the US Army, Air Force, and Marines. Listing allies, are we?

This just in: corruption is dispiriting. ...ahem. #wikileaks

News alert just in from NYT:
"Corruption in Afghanistan, leaked cables say, is pervasive and dispiriting for American officials trying to build support for the Afghan government."

Q: A news alert? Really? Not to be terrible, but is this news to anyone? ...ahem.