July 27, 2008
Posted by yaman
You might expect that to be a critique of the Bush administration–but when Samir al-Taqi said it, he was being anything but critical. That is actually the way he explained the stark reality that is shaping the way he and other intellectuals are approaching Syrian foreign policy.
If it were a critique of the Bush administration, [...]
July 10, 2008
Posted by yaman
There are many official postings on the walls of this Damascene kindergarten, primary, and secondary school, containing gems (or, at least, we are supposed to assume they are gems because they are on the wall) from aqwal so-and-so. I have always been suspicious of such postings, especially ones that assert positive aspects of a thing: [...]
Posted by yaman
Since I’ve been in Damascus long enough for any American journalist to be considered an expert on the entire Middle East (exactly two weeks), I figured that it would not be too strange for me to share some of my observations on traffic in downtown Damascus.
If you’ve spent most of your life in exploitative parts [...]
OH, HELLO. Here’s some good news, after years and years of promoting the necessary destruction of Iraq and Iraqis, all for the purpose of a war that diverted the United States from pressing issues of national security, Tom Friedman has declared the Iraq misadventure to be a success and has officiall…
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
(Discussion)
It’s time to rein in the way police and safety officers in New York public schools mistreat students.
Police the police.
(Discussion)
Produced by HuffPost’s Eyes & Ears Citizen Journalism Unit On March 4th, 2010, demonstrators in California and across the country took to the streets to protest massive cuts at all levels of education and government imposed austerity measures.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
(Discussion)Frederick Douglas tells us that power concedes nothing without a demand: Street rebellions force the establishment to yield to the demands of the movement or be faced with an ungovernable, rebellious populace. In short, stopping highway traffic in protest of the dismantling of public education was a…
Source: occupyca.wordpress.com
(Discussion)
We would not be where we are today as a country if people who were politically marginalized had not stood up for their rights. As a student and human rights activist, I expect that our universities will allow space for all points of view, including my nonviolent and heartfelt protestations against O…
(Discussion)
On Sunday, February 28th the New York Times published an outrageous oped by Efraim Karsh full of lies, distortions and mistakes. Karsh claims that Muslims view themselves as part of the House of Islam and the rest of the world as part of the House of War. I have worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Soma…
Nir Rosen destroys many of the myths that are common to American approaches to Iraq, Muslims, and the Middle East in general.
(Discussion)Fear tactics? Not the best fundraising strategy. First, your plan divides Republican donors into two main categories: small donors who are “visceral,” “reactionary” and motivated by “fear,” and large donors who are “calculated,” “ego-driven” and motivated by “access.”
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
(Discussion)
Charles Washington with his wife Tracey, holding her 5-year-old son, speaks on behalf of his family at the Asian Law Caucus office in San Francisco.
Gavin Newsom wrecking homes and families in San Francisco.
(Discussion)
A noose hung to intimidate African-American students is the latest racist incident to spur activism at UC San Diego ahead of the March 4 Day of Action.
Especially noteworthy is the section about the Black Student Union denouncing the administration-led “leadership bodies” as “a tactic to divide student leaders from the student movement.” All student ‘government’ is a tactic to divide student leaders from students.
(Discussion)
The scandal is that many students at UCSD consider black people and communities as a product of their imaginations and consumer habits: an entertainment commodity we pay to watch on MTV, or hear on the radio. A stereotype we have the “right” to enjoy and take pleasure in, because we have paid good m…
(Discussion)