It's time for a Friday rant. I've been meaning to do this for 2 weeks now but work kept taking away my mental alertness! It happens.
I've been quiet on all things Middle East but the recent news headlines are bothering me. First off, the terrible stoning to death of that poor girl in Iraq. I'm not sure what bothers me more, the actual death or the fact that CNN is showing it over and over in a fashion that makes me wonder, are we so different than the people who were there? We can watch and be outraged on our couches but will anyone help? The story is only as important until the next pretty blonde goes missing in the Heartland. The stonings, beheadings, and other forms of "honor" killings happen frequently in the Middle East. I suspect that there are people in the US who would enjoy the excuse to kill in a legal manner as well. After all, these are the same people who kill the pretty blondes that dominate the news talk shows.
Change happens within. The US cannot force change in any of these countries. This week in Saudi Arabia, 4 criminals were beheaded. Also this week, a woman had the courage to take the first stand against the religious police and the government by suing the religious officer in civil court. Saudi Arabia is one of the worst Arab countries for women's rights and will probably be one of the best in a few years. The Saudi women are the ones making the difference.
This month, Kuwaiti women celebrated their second year of being able to vote. Another milestone in a repressive society. More surprising was the story about Arab-Israeli and Palestinian lesbians speaking up to break taboos on same sex relationships. Of course, these women would all be stoned if they were ever outed in public so there freedom isn't really there but to see the topic discussed is remarkable. This also may have not been printed in the Arabic version of the paper.
One story that quickly disappeared from the Arab papers and never hit the west was about a Muslim journalist (based in Azerbijan or one of those east Soviet regions) who wrote that Islamic teachings are being misinterpreted as an excuse for violence. In response to this comment, an Iranian holy man called for immediate death and retaliation on the journalist for this insult to Islam. I think the point was made.
The story was quickly denied and all other references have disappeared from the news.
Israel, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and West Bank are still a mess. Lebanon continues to have a tent city occuping the downtown and crippling the economy. Tension is high as everyone waits for the next political event for pre-elections in June. The Palestinians are quickly alienting all of their allies, and Israel is starting to get bogged down in it's own governmental mess. Not good.
As for Rosie's comments about Americans are the terrorists? Well sure, it all depends on your point of view. If you are fighting the jihad and firmly believe in your holy war, we Americans are terrorists. The bad part about all of this, is that while the US does need to get out of Iraq, a pullout anytime in the next 2 years will result in genocide for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people as the two groups battle it out for control of Iraq. This is a no-win situation for Iraq. But instead of focusing on what's important, the news media is going to focus only on Rosie and forget anything of real value. My guess is that the story of poor girl who was stoned to death will quickly be replaced by Rosie bashing and of course, Paris Hilton's impending jail time. That's what sells the news in America.
I've been quiet on all things Middle East but the recent news headlines are bothering me. First off, the terrible stoning to death of that poor girl in Iraq. I'm not sure what bothers me more, the actual death or the fact that CNN is showing it over and over in a fashion that makes me wonder, are we so different than the people who were there? We can watch and be outraged on our couches but will anyone help? The story is only as important until the next pretty blonde goes missing in the Heartland. The stonings, beheadings, and other forms of "honor" killings happen frequently in the Middle East. I suspect that there are people in the US who would enjoy the excuse to kill in a legal manner as well. After all, these are the same people who kill the pretty blondes that dominate the news talk shows.
Change happens within. The US cannot force change in any of these countries. This week in Saudi Arabia, 4 criminals were beheaded. Also this week, a woman had the courage to take the first stand against the religious police and the government by suing the religious officer in civil court. Saudi Arabia is one of the worst Arab countries for women's rights and will probably be one of the best in a few years. The Saudi women are the ones making the difference.
This month, Kuwaiti women celebrated their second year of being able to vote. Another milestone in a repressive society. More surprising was the story about Arab-Israeli and Palestinian lesbians speaking up to break taboos on same sex relationships. Of course, these women would all be stoned if they were ever outed in public so there freedom isn't really there but to see the topic discussed is remarkable. This also may have not been printed in the Arabic version of the paper.
One story that quickly disappeared from the Arab papers and never hit the west was about a Muslim journalist (based in Azerbijan or one of those east Soviet regions) who wrote that Islamic teachings are being misinterpreted as an excuse for violence. In response to this comment, an Iranian holy man called for immediate death and retaliation on the journalist for this insult to Islam. I think the point was made.
The story was quickly denied and all other references have disappeared from the news.
Israel, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and West Bank are still a mess. Lebanon continues to have a tent city occuping the downtown and crippling the economy. Tension is high as everyone waits for the next political event for pre-elections in June. The Palestinians are quickly alienting all of their allies, and Israel is starting to get bogged down in it's own governmental mess. Not good.
As for Rosie's comments about Americans are the terrorists? Well sure, it all depends on your point of view. If you are fighting the jihad and firmly believe in your holy war, we Americans are terrorists. The bad part about all of this, is that while the US does need to get out of Iraq, a pullout anytime in the next 2 years will result in genocide for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people as the two groups battle it out for control of Iraq. This is a no-win situation for Iraq. But instead of focusing on what's important, the news media is going to focus only on Rosie and forget anything of real value. My guess is that the story of poor girl who was stoned to death will quickly be replaced by Rosie bashing and of course, Paris Hilton's impending jail time. That's what sells the news in America.
A rant doesn't usually include so much common sense.
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