In The Spirit Of Blogging

Blogging, as you know, originally was annotated lists of links to sites the blogger had visited; a way to navigate the enormities of the web. What I have, though it's called a blog due to Blogger.com, is more of a journal than anything else. But, in the true spirit of Blogging, I'll link to a great little page in Mute Troubadour's excellent Contact26 devotional.

Holiday Happenings

Briefly, I spent the last four days with my family and a friend-family (the 10-kid Nowlands) in central New Hampshire. We stayed at a nice (and cheap) cottage (complete with 4 full baths and a hot tub), and skied at Gunstock for two days and Bretton Woods for one day. The cottage was so cheap and so nice because it's part of Camp Maranatha, where my sister Kez and I volunteer as counselors and laborers in the summer, and where the younger Furths have gone to summer camp since 1991 or so. Gunstock is a small mountain near Maranatha, and had just 4 or 6 trails open given the warm weather. After two days skiing there, the older kids asked if we could go to a bigger mountain for the last day, since the parents & little kids were going to stay home anyway. So we went to Bretton Woods, with 52 trails open, and had a great day. Actually, Matthew & Meghan had a snowboard and ski, respectively, break within the space of one minute at 2 pm. They were at the top of the hill, and my 13-year-old sister Polly carried 9-year-old Meghan TWO MILES down the hill ON HER BACK! I was impressed when I found that out at the end of the day...

Tonight I'll be over at David's for the annual New Year's Party, and might spend the night... or should I say, the rest of the night. Maybe I'll take a nap soon to facilitate that, since I need to get stuff done on the 1st and 2nd because after that, David and I are off to Louisville for a conference held by "New Attitude". Besides seeing a few old friends and doing my first flying since September 11, I don't know what to expect. Hopefully a renewal in my relationship with God, which has not been up to par for a while, but I've been around long enough to know that has a lot more to do with me than with conferences and other "mountaintop experiences", but the latter are a lot of fun anyway, and God-driven, I might add.

Peace, Salim.

Comments!

Thanks to Yet Another Collaborative Comment System for the new free & easy web-based commenting. So we're back in business - flood me with comments. And help keep this service available by visiting http://rateyourmusic.com/. So leave me lots of comments and make me feel loved.

Movie Review: Ocean's 11

Not a flick worth a long review: it's entertaining, but cliche. It's fun and appropriate, not a movie to avoid, just not a must-see. On the plus side is a lot of star power, and a tolerable performance by my Least Favorite Star, Brad Pitt. The thing is oddly reminiscent of the excellent film "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou": in both films, George Clooney leaves prison having been divorced by his wife, and comes back to reclaim her by performing difficult tasks. Anyway, TWO STARS for Ocean's Eleven - if I was more impressed by high billing, it might garner a three.

Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year. We had a pleasant Christmas Day, just the immediate family, which now of course includes Nut, a Thai exchange student. I really don't care much about presents anymore - really I don't feel the need for toys and stuff - but I do enjoy receiving them, and giving IF I actually gave something they liked. Which does happen on occassion. I received some CD's (Supertones, Brave Saint Saturn, Third Day), a CD-case, odds and ends, some bike gear, Tolkien's "Lord of The Rings" Part I. That was a request, and from my little sister. I'm going to take Nut to see it with a few other friends of his this afternoon, as his birthday celebration. We also got a big huge punching bag... but I really don't see why. My litte brother's usually around these days...

Yesterday night we jumped into action getting the backyard skating rink set up. It's roughly rectangular, 30x50 feet, and takes up a third of our yard. It was fun last year, and this year it's going to be more so since (a) We know what we're doing, (b) We bought a lining from a skating supply place online (last year we had to overlap 2 sheets: that was a fiasco. We lost so much water that we created a regional aquifer, and had to stand hours in the cold spraying, since we couldn't just pump it full), (c) I bought ice skates finally. Yeah, it's weird to spontaneously decide (last year) to build a rink when you have no skates, but I did. Anyway, all is going very well - the intact, single lining is down, is filled to the brim with chilly water, and should begin to freeze over tonight.

Peace on Earth, and Goodwill toward men! God has sent His Son to redeem the world and save us from our own sins! Rejoice!

Civil War Causes

I posted this in the Yahoo! club "General Lee's Civil War Society", and thought I might as well post it here too, seeing as I'd gone to the trouble of typing it.

Gentlemen -
I perceive with interest that there are those in this club who support the Southern side of the Civil War. Though the victors may write the history books, they apparently weren't prepared to grapple with the World Wide Web.
Niceties aside, I, like Frank, was brought up on the concept that slavery played second fiddle to states' rights as the primary motivation for the civil war.
However, while the above was undoubtedly the case with the Lincoln administration, which subdued the slavery issue to appear less partisan, I contend that South Carolina would never have seceded if it hadn't been for the slavery issue.
While Lincoln didn't talk about it too much, the Southern elite was keenly aware of the hazard posed by a Republican government to their unequal society.
Yes, states' rights took a hit in the Civil War, and were an important issue to individuals such as Lee, who had no great love for slavery. However, states' rights were not quite cosa belli without the urgency of slavery in that context.
Thanks to the Colonel for providing this forum, and to all members for intelligent discussion.
Salim

The Red Sox Are Sold!!!

They were bought by the Henry-Werner-Otten Group, to immediate cries of fixing. It's kind of an old-boy-network trade, Henry and Werner being current and former owners, respectively, who are quite amiable with baseball Tsar Bud Selig. We don't know how much of a shakedown there will be, but even though Duquette has done a good job this winter (getting Damon, Clark, Reese, Burkett, Hermanson; expelling Everett), I think all of Red Sox Nation would like to see him go, along with Joe Kerrigan. The only non-player in the Sox organization who I like now is Tommy Harper, and I'd love a real flushout.

Bush's Speech

For those of you who didn't hear about it, the President gave a short speech today, noting the Hundred Day mark and mentioning a few new measures. It's not a big thing, but he did a good job and delivered a well-written, diplomatic speech. He gave support to both India and Pakistan, and gave the normal presidential fare. He's learning good expression: his quiet, stern voice was well suited to the position. There was little cowboy-style talk, and he avoided the phrase "Don't Mess With Texas," and came across in a more cosmopolitan manner than he often has.

Book Review: Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee

By Dee Brown, 1970, ~450 pages. I don't know Dee's ethnic makeup, but I'd guess that he's at least part American Indian. He's obviously done his homework in preparing this book, but the greatest strength of the book is its non-scholarly style. Brown makes a conscious effort to present this with plenty of endnotes and references but without making the book sound like a Ph.D. thesis. In fact, the writing style is essentially storytelling, an Indian art itself. In the introduction he asks the audience (white Americans) to read this book "looking East" rather than looking West as most American books about the Indian Wars are written. He does a fantastic job at maintaining that perspective, using Indian as often as Christian names for whites. The book never goes into great depth about white motives for conquest, so the reader may be just as mystified as the Indians were as to why the whites need so much land. What was told the Indians by whites is quoted, but not many white sources meant for white consumption are cited.

I admit that Bury My Heart has me thinking. What would a righteous white do in this day and age? Anything? I mean, my ancestors never killed an Indian, and never took land from them. Only one of my ancestral families has been in the US long enough to do anything like that; the rest were 20th century immigrants. And that last branch of the family, at least in recent memory, is quite friendly with the Passamaquodies who live a few miles away from the family home near Eastport, Maine. My uncle taught school on the reservation and has had many Indian friends, we often shop on the reservation when we visit, and though the Passamaquody tribe is poor, so is everyone in Eastport. Growing up my Mom was considered to be wealthy -- her (Lebanese) father was a plumber and washing-machine salesman!

However, though my forefathers may not have been Yankees, I certainly am a white, and certainly am quite priveleged, (though that's because of my father and (Jewish) grandfather's brains and hard work, not my race.) And Indians today are definitely underprivileged. I guess I'd say it's not the government's responsibility to make amends unless the American people show a clear desire to do so. I'd rather see private citizens making the difference, since Westward expansion was empowered and driven by private citizens and interests. The government merely allowed it and supported it. Local governments - towns and counties - would be the ideal body to begin righting some of the wrongs. But what can they do? All pack up, move into a little apartment and give the rest of the town to the local tribe? Appraise the unimproved value of the entire place and pay for it? If you did that properly, including compounded interest, it would be a lot of $$$. Of course, you could ignore inflation, and do it 1878 dollars, but that has smacks of dishonesty.

Another way to wash the slate clean would be to let the Indian tribes themselves decide what our compensation should be. Not like a big referendum, I'd say, but a judicial council of elders, mostly Indians, who would in all likelihood be quite just, since they'd try hard to avoid creating a backlash. Hmmmm... I'd say the only way to do that politically would be state-by-state referenda on whether to allow an Indian-elder-decided solution. But what are they going to say? Increased handouts? Land appropriations? It's not easy...

I personally think American citizenship should be extended to all the Original Americans, but that has to be accompanied by a big payout, since losing their current status I think would end a lot of the handouts.

PLEASE email me some comments that I can post here. This could potentially be a real issue in the next century, but it won't be unless we really discuss it and form coherent opinions. So read some books, or give me your perspective from a different ethnic background and part of the country!

Can I See Your I.D.?

I like state I.D.s. Keep the Feds out of this field, please. Call me paranoid, but I'm on page 393 of "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee", and my trust in the U.S. (or any) government is at ebb tide. OK sure, they wouldn't start rounding us up yet; at least not until they were reasonably sure they had every person fingerprinted and cataloged. Governments cannot be trusted. Neither, for that matter, can computer security measures. A big database of everything about everyone would be Target #1 for the Uberhackers. So this preposterous - and it is at this point - idea floated in Geneva of fingerprinting the world is obviously a scary proposition. Never mind the Apocalyptic side of it, the notion that the UN could have everyone's fingertips at their fingertips is tantamount to empowering global dictatorship and/or blackmail and would be a massive civil rights abuse. OK, I'm not worked up. This is so far from happening it's not even funny. But do not let September 11 lull us into a false sense of security - security in government, that is. Just because almost all States (ie, India, not Indiana) are allies in fighting terror doesn't mean they are good people or friends by any stretch. Allowing ourselves to fall backwards into the arms of government, especially world government, is like drowning ourselves in putting out a fire.

On A Related Note.
The party lines in the US are drawn along coalition, not ideological, lines. Really the libertarians are the one group with a well-defined ideology to which they are loyal across the board. For the life of me I can't figure out the Democrats: Since when does Big Government equate with Civil Rights?!?! The two are antithetical!! I guess the answer is that Big Government in the 60's beat up racist Little Big Governments in the southern states, but it's not a very satisfactory ones. I guess the same thing happened in the Other Civil Rights Movement (1861-1865), when the Republicans stood for Big Government and Civil Rights. In the same way, they used Big Government to break the racist Governments in the South. It wasn't democracy, and it was very Big Governmenty, as was the post-war Reconstruction. But at the same time they were protecting Civil Rights. Hmmm... maybe my thesis is wrong and big Government is good. But that same logic would say that Democracy is bad, since the majority of Southerners wanted to continue slavery and later on to continue segregation.
As a Christian, I would say this all points out the fact that Democracy can help people make decisions, and government can help people carry out those democratic decisions, but neither institution can help people make the RIGHT decisions. That is a matter of the heart, and as we know, the human heart is very fickle. A second warning (two in one post!) is to not think that you are more civilized than the civilized Americans who butchered Cheyenne at Sand Creek or the civilized Germans who pulled triggers and levers to exterminate millions of "lower races."

When will my generation realize how hypocritical they're going to look in history books for justifying the massive abortion industry by saying that the victims are not human? DOES THAT ARGUMENT RING ANY BELLS????? The West's civilized society, which we are currently exporting through the UN and many other means (and now magnanimously endowing on the savage barbarians in Afghanistan) has a death count of 40 million in the United States alone. And that's a Civil Right? A woman has a right to choose: abstinence or sex, condom or pill, but does she really have a right to end life because it's dependent on her? Does that mean any parent can kill any dependent, regardless of Birth Status? I'm just glad I turned 18 before that became legal...

Ouch

Today's Dilbert strip has a pretty scathing indictment of corporate do-gooders.

CD Review: FIF "The Electric Boogaloo".

Five Iron Frenzy's new release has a deceptively silly name. Though the band is known for being goofy at times, the goofiness stops with the name on this one. In general, I'd rate this 2.5 stars. Not as good as their normal fare, but I can't help but like what's always been my favorite band. This album took longer to grow on me - it was, shall we say, love at fourth sight.

Vital Statistics:
Length: 40 minutes, 12 songs
Best Track: Far, Far, Away
Worst Track: Vultures.
Released: Nov. 20, 2001
5th Album (excluding live album).

In "The Electric Boogaloo", FIF transcends their normal lean & mean lyrics - now they're just skinny and pissed.* Of the CD's dozen tracks, six express FIF's disgust with Americana and the materialist dream. Just one song is lighthearted - Can't Handle This - and just that one, Far, Far Away and Farsighted are optimistic. OK, so statistics and music aren't made for each other, but I think it's better than just giving my biased opinion.

I don't like making spiritual assessments based on a band's lyrics, just as I would not want to be called "unchristian" if I failed to mention Jesus Christ at least once a week on my blog. But I will say that as one would expect, their lyrics are getting deeper and they are able to be more vulnerable in singing about heavy hearts and failings. Interestingly, they make a very strong indictment of some unnamed Christian bands in "Blue Mix." I don't know what a Blue Mix is (shout out anyone?), but they sing "under the guise of Jesus Christ, beneath the vibe and all the lights, they lie, these spies.... You are responsible to watch what you buy. These bands that you love, pull the wool over your eyes." I think it's a little reprehensible of them to give such a blanket accusation without putting specifics, say in a footnote. The point is well taken, but hard to act on. CCM isn't gonna lambaste their own bands, and there isn't much of a watchdog media out there.

As far as music, I don't pretend to be a musician or anything close. But I'd say their sound is a little punkier, less ska and brass-based than in the past. I have to say that disappointed me a little - they make a lot of noise about being independent, but tend to follow trends pretty closely. Ska is going out (boohoo) -- Spinner got rid of their "SKA" channel a month ago. So, like the Supertones and Insyderz, FIF has followed the crowd. Sounds to me like they're saying "Are we cool enough for you NOW??" (sorry, inside joke for FIF fans).

My recommendation is not to use this as an introduction to FIF. Go with the "Proof That The Youth Are Revolting" or "All The Hype" if you don't know the group. They're a good bunch - especially if you like to be challenged on your political views. They're good living proof that "Christian" does not equal "Conservative." You can be a little socialist and still go to church... in Colorado, no less! Go for this album if you're a Christian alternative fan, or if you like the idea of "skunk" (=ska + punk) and Reese Roper emoting about the battle of Wounded Knee, materialism, and his pre-ex-girlfriend.

*(yeah, that's a Scott Adams ripoff)

Twas the night before exam week, and all through dorms,
Not a student was studying, this was usually the norm.
Kegs in the kitchen, jello shots in the hall --
Thanks to the liquor, it was a late night for all.
Passed out all around, the kids all slept tight.
When they woke up the next day, they thought, 'Man, whatta night!'
"We're too hung-over to study" they shouted with cheer.
"So to hell with exams, just bring on the beer!!"

Courtesy of Lauren Posner

You've seen the Segway, but...

...have you seen the Megway?? Don't run out and spend your $3,000 before you're sure! The Megway TH could be the better choice for you!

Courtesy of the "A-list"'s Jim Kottke.

Comments Permanently Dismantled

The problem with free stuff is that you have no guarantees. Snor comments has been discontinued permanently. Blogback is not taking new users. Reblogger is down and won't be ready for a while.
So, as you can see there's a real niche here! Anyone who can line up enough advertisers to support some good bandwidth and server space and provide good, flexible service could really corner the market. Alternately, this could really hurt Blogger, as users like me who value a comment system begin eyeing Livejournal and other weblog technology that allow for built-in comments.
For now, please email me any comments at s2000chops@yahoo.com and I will post them on the site as posts, giving credit to the emailer and posting a response if I have one. Peace, - Salim.

SCHOOL IS OUT!

Yeah, baby, I'm done for the year!

Red Sox Dump Everett

Dan Duquette knew loose cannon Carl Everett had to go. He talked about him staying, because coming across as too desperate would have hurt Everett's trade value. Not that he had much value to begin with...

Anyway, we traded him to Texas for a bag of balls... I mean, for pitcher Darren Oliver. Oliver is a lefthander with terrible statistics. He doesn't exactly fit into the "crafty lefty" mold; he's more of a "shoddy lefty". I don't know what they're going to use him as... Fifth starter? I hope not unless he improves. Mop-up man? They're paying him a lot. Trade bait? May the good Lord will it so! Other clubs have pitching so bad that they'll take anyone who thinks "pitchers mound" and not "condom" when they hear the word rubber. The Sox have had very good pitching, though, and we like it that way. This guy won't be popular even if he can win 11 games, as he did with Texas, because we value excellence, not just won-lost record. The truth comes out on Yahoo sports! The real reason the Sox picked up Oliver is his career record against the DamnYankees: 5 - 1.

Israel Severs Ties With Arafat

Mark Lavie (AP) is reporting that Ariel Sharon cut all Israel's ties with Arafat and the entire PLO and PA structures, including the frequent and (relatively) productive security commanders' sessions. Sharon must like Arafat better than he likes reality, though, because he cut his ties with reality many years ago!

OK, here's the progression of events. All of this happened today (Wednesday), though at the time of posting it's already Thursday in Jerusalem. First, terrorists associated with the Fatah (mainstream) faction of the PLO and with Hamas attacked a bus and committed two suicide bombings. About 17 Israelis died in the tragedies. It's hard to use that word without seeming to cheapen it. But in fact the word is not cheapened - human life is - by the frequent and horrendous loss of life in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The whole world is punch-drunk: it was bad to begin with, but we have no way of processing all this violence. But anyway, after the bombings, Arafat announced that he had demanded that Jihad and Hamas, two Islamic groups with the destruction of Israel as their goal, close their offices. They both have pretty big social services branches, which would have been under attack by Arafat, which would have been good for Israel and the US, if Arafat did it ruthlessly enough, since those branches make Hamas and Jihad quite popular.

BUT Sharon decided just three hours later to cut off ties with the PLO. Just like that. And this time they'd have to eat a lot of crow to take it back after all they've said. And while Sharon has definitely eaten quite a bit in his day, I don't think much of it was ever crow. In making the announcement, Justice Minister Sheetrit sounded like Israel was breaking up after a long and rocky romantic relationship. "We have decided that Yasser Arafat cannot be a partner to the peace process and we can not rely on anyone but ourselves." "We simply see him as having no value as a partner." They're strong enough to make it without big boy Yasser, that's right! "I can get along fine without you! So there!" But we all know that such protests mean exactly the opposite in romance (at least on stage), and I think Israel will come back to Arafat singing "Baby Come Back" pretty soon. Those two may have their fights, but they were made for each other.

But realistically, Israel could just have ruined their chances at peace during this generation, if there were any. More pointedly, the conflict there could get a lot worse before it gets better. All those small arms that the PA was allowed to buy will become Israeli-killers the minute Arafat's control falls apart. He knows to get more he has to be good with the ones he has, so he's been pretty good so far. This could turn very, very ugly. Israel could become a state at full war. Curfews everywhere, lynch mobs, more suicide bombing that you can imagine, civilian killings on a massive scale, deportations, etc, etc. This could be ugly.

Society & Disassociation: Islam in Egypt

...is the title of my last paper of the quarter. It's a shoddy job - few citations, etc, not revised - for a great professor. Sullivan places more value on the content than the form, and it's an informal class. He had us write this paper since he had to have something to grade us on. Anyway, I'd never make my blog following wade through this third-rate paper (1,800 words), but I will post part of the conclusion that isn't really connected to the rest of the paper.

I was once instructed that a difference between Middle Eastern and European culture is a psychological idea called "Greek Dualism." The ancient Greeks studied philosophy earnestly, but often their beliefs and their lives did not synch up. That cultural trait can be seen in western Christianity, where most often your theology is the single most important factor in being considered "Christian" by others. In contrast, ancient Jewish and more recently Muslim believers do not attach nearly as much importance to theology, and tend to look at other factors as more important measures of someone's religion. This removes a level of hypocrisy present in all Western belief systems (from pastors who embezzle to environmentalists who drive SUV's), but conversely it also tends to dilute theology in Islam and Judaism. Thus, it can be said that revivalist Muslims, whether Wahhabis or modern militants, have a more Western view of religion. Rather than combating the West, those who push for strictly interpreted theology may in fact be embracing a Western foundation.

Comments Down

Snorland comments is down right now, and preventing hundreds of blogs from being opened. That's what you call a "tightly coupled" system, where one error in a single link becomes a fatal system error. Fortunately, this system is not extremely tightly coupled. Humans are some of the loosest coupling around - so the fact that I can use independent systems (which are also tightly coupled and malfunction with some frequency) to isolate the problem in this system (ie, my blog) alleviates the problem. In other words, I temporarily removed the text that enables comments, so this limits the problem to the comment system rather than allowing it to take the whole blog down with it as it had been doing.
Material from this lecture courtesy of Professor W.D. "Woody" Kay, a political scientist at Northeastern University, and his required reading for "Science, Technology, and Public Policy", which I took last spring.

Meme Central

Yes! I now know how to pronounce "meme" (it rhymes with dream). Check out the ultimate email forward at http://www.memecentral.com/antidote.htm.

Attention Al

If your first name is Al, I don't suggest you go up against Dubya. The Al-Slayer has already despatched Al Gore and has Al Qaeda in its death throes. Now we know who really killed Al Capone, too... So look out, all Als, the Al-Slayer is comin' to town. Yeehaw!

I Give In

I was trying to avoid writing a post about the guy in the Philippines who cut his own penis off in a fit of religious fervor the other day. Aside from being a perfect husband for Ms. Lorena Bobbitt and spawning other such jokes, this short gentleman has done what everyone in Christian history has wondered about one time or the other. C'mon, you seriously didn't grow up reading the passage "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off... etc" without thinking that removing something else might do more for you than being hands-free.
But our little hero does bring up, albeit in an unorthodox way, the question of how literally we should take that passage. Here are a few common viewpoints:
-- It's figurative. The action to be taken is removing parts of your life or activities or associations that lead you to sin.
-- It's rhetorical. The desired effect is to make people think about the relative importance of physical and spiritual life.
And one I thought up myself:
-- It's literal. The believer, in examining his life, is expected to realize that his hand is NOT the thing causing him to sin, it's his intangible humanness. Sin is original, and can't be cut off like gangrene. Remember that Jesus laid out an extremely strict path of life. The point was not just to show what real love, justice, etc were, but to show what real sin is. Just as love and justice are not following a list of prescribed rules, but rather living sacrificially and with a different attitude, sin is also not just breaking rules. At its root, sin is an attitude, a condition, a way of life. When people saw the right way, those with "eyes to see" saw that it is humanly impossible to be righteous on our own. Which is why Jesus had to die, to account for our shortcomings.
So before you go castrating yourself, think about how far you'd have to go with that knife to really cleanse yourself. Self-flagelation is not the answer to your spiritual needs. Our shortened Filipino friend was noted to have been depressed as well as obsessed with the Bible before commiting penicide. While sorrow for sin may last for a night, the joy of the Lord and His forgiveness will replace it soon if the believer is really focusing on God. My guess is that machete-boy was focused not on God but on his own sin. Instead of taking his burden to the Lord and departing joyfully and in freedom, as the Bible advises, he chose to wallow in his own mistakes. Genuine repentance, I'm sure, but an attitude that does not allow for redemption.

One more point -- THAT'S GOTTA HURT!!!

POLL - please refer a few posts below to take the poll I posted last night. Thanks very much! - Salim

Recommendations

The following is an exerpt from my Middler Year paper, a 6,000 word piece on the failure of sanctions in Iraq. This section is the lynchpin - and I completely rewrote it from my last draft, so we'll see what my prof says. I'm not particularly proud of it, but it's legitimately my work, so tell me what you think.

Having discussed the failure of sanctions to accomplish American goals in Iraq and other cases and examined to date and possible future progression of the current War on Terrorism I will now proceed to recommend a better course for U.S. policymakers. I will suggest an alternative policy, not reliant on sanctions, for the United States and its allies in 1990 and ’91. Using the same principles I will recommend how sanctions should be used – and when they should not be used – in the current conflict and the more distant future.

Past: What We Should Have Done in Iraq

To take my case study of the Second Gulf War to its conclusion I must now offer an alternative to the historical case of limited military action, sanctions, and punitive air strikes. Some might accuse me of taking unfair shots at U.S. foreign policy with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. However, Iraq can serve as a specific example of how my ideas might be implemented in a similar, future case.

First of all, Saddam Hussein himself should have been a target. While assassination is internationally illegal, and could not be conducted as part of a UN-authorized action, kidnapping is legal after an international tribunal warrant has been issued. Furthermore, nobody would take the U.S. to court if Saddam were accidentally killed in the bombing of a suspected military establishment.

To kill two birds with one stone, a conventional military conquest of Iraq would have both captured Saddam and attained the next goal, overthrow of the powerful Iraqi military. The Republican Guard especially is a seasoned military machine accustomed to holding power second only to the President’s, and is not in the least under civilian control. To destroy the expansionist, dictatorial power structures more than Saddam alone had to be removed. New, democratic institutions, a civilian-controlled military, and a stable economy could only be attained after flushing out the old regime entirely.

Fewer civilian deaths are likely to have resulted from a full-scale invasion in 1991 than the decade of sanctions-and-strikes warfare that followed 1991 in reality (Weiss, 199 p.506-7). Though reliable figures are hard to come by in Iraq, estimates of deaths bounce around in the six- and low seven-digit ranges. By contrast, few recent wars have resulted in even five-digit civilian losses. Thus, even a low estimate of deaths due to sanctions greatly exceeds a high estimate of deaths due to conventional military action.

Actual military conquest of Iraq would have been easy. The transitional, pre-democratic government would have drawn from apolitical elders and municipal leaders to guide Iraq towards a long-awaited peacetime. Hopefully, individuals of integrity and accustomed to leadership would grow into political roles and build the political structure of the transitional democracy. Civil organizations would be encouraged, with the goal of integrating Iraqis into the fabric of their government and empowering them to run their country themselves.

Present: Choosing the Targets

Instances of sanctions in the War on Terrorism should be few and far between. As asserted by Patterson (1995) and Weiss (1999), “sanctions should stand in sharp distinction to military force, whereas too often they are a prelude to war” (p. 506). As shown in the Libyan and similar experiences, minor goals, not involving direct threats to the regime, have a greater chance of success than major goals (Schwartzman, 2001 p.133). Thus, sanctions should be considered as a primary policy tool in situations where military invasion is out of the question, but a minor goal needs to be accomplished. The obvious scenario is if Osama bin Laden escapes to an Islamic country that is ambivalent towards bin Laden and the U.S. The economic impacts – or even the threat –of sanctions could be just enough to spur a Malaysian or Yemeni government, for instance, to cooperate with the CIA.

Sanctions should not be used as a prelude to invasion or for major policy objectives, such as the overthrow of an enemy regime. Hardnosed diplomacy can isolate and threaten a potential military target without complicating the situation. Overthrow of enemy regimes must be accomplished by supporting domestic rebellion or invading outright. The Bush administration will assuredly be tempted to sanction some miscreant or other as the easy way to deal with a situation, but I trust that its close connections to the first Bush administration and its mistakes in Iraq will help this administration avoid similar mistakes. I would not be surprised, however, if a new president in 2005 without commitment to the War on Terrorism used sanctions as a halfway measure in a phase-out of the war.

Future: Sanctions as a Tool in the 21st Century

The lure of sanctions has always been the ease with which they can be imposed. However, as we witnessed in the case of Iraq, easy imposition does not translate into painless maintenance or meaningful results. In fact, the evidence suggests that sanctions are used more for convenience than for substance. I do not deny that sanctions have a place as a tool of U.S. foreign policy. However, that place should be as a constituent part of a comprehensive program. Sanctions must not be used in an attempt to reach large-scale goals, as in Iraq. Even when the alternatives may not be attractive, the fact remains that by and large, sanctions do not work.

In addressing future concerns the question of sanctions’ side effects arises. Sanctions do not generally create a big stir internationally as does open warfare. In the case of Iraq, though, the sanctions regime has been a sore spot in UN Security Council relations for most of the last decade. Thus, sanctions are neither much better nor much worse than warfare in terms of international criticism. However, sanctions do create circumstances distinctly unfavorable to America in victim countries and countries close to them. By engendering poverty on a massive scale, America, which is perceived as both the source and the goal of material wealth, gains an unfavorable reputation. By causing pain to entire populations instead of just enemy regimes, we create nations full of anti-Americans.

In many cases, the opposite could be accomplished. For instance, so far in Afghanistan, Americans have been welcomed as liberators from the Taliban. Contrast that with the anti-American attitudes prevalent in Iraq or Syria. Where we have imposed long-term poverty, we have created enemies. Where we have brought free food and fought alongside the local opposition, we have been hailed as rescuers.

September 11 underscored the empowerment of the common individual in making a huge splash or avenging themselves on their perceived enemies. We cannot afford to dismiss the complaints and vitriol of anti-American Iraqis, Pakistanis or Palestinians. Those who have nothing and are willing to die for revenge are the deadliest tools in the hands of Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. Likewise, while they may not seem to pose the greatest threat to us, they successfully launched the greatest assault on America since the Civil War.

Therefore, sanctions should be used sparingly and only where clearly demonstrated to be the best possible option. Sanctions should always be used as part of a comprehensive goal-attainment program. Before imposing sanctions, the U.S. or UN Security Council should submit a list of clearly defined and attainable conditions. If those conditions are met, the sanctions must be lifted. Thus, targets have a motive to comply, and sanctions are not simply maintained as a form of punishment.

I'm so exhausted... that exam-from-hell totally drained me today. And getting up at 6 am didn't help. Neither is getting up at 6 tomorrow morning. I have no motivation or energy, but I do have plenty of work to do. All little stuff, all annoying and pestering. Except I still have one five-page paper that's due in two or three days that I haven't started. But that' s not a priority. I'm drained like a sink... I guess my writing style is so formal and stuff that it doesn't reflect the fact that I'm losing focus in my eyes and slouched over in front of my monitor here. I love snow, but I don't love winter... I wish we could have snow in the summer... that would kick butt. Who needs cold, wet stuff when the whole state is cold and dark?
I guess I need a good infusion of the joy of the Lord... it's no coincidence that I haven't been living up to par. Living responsibly means I get enough sleep, etc, to function healthily. I always pay for not getting to bed on time: I get wicked cold sores, and I have one right now that's making me want to have my lower lip amputated! Similarly, when I'm living outside the will of God (ie, selfishly and sinfully) I end up discouraged and disconnected. Like now. So I need to go back to the Source now, I guess. If I can get all the way there without falling asleep, mentally or physically. Actually, physically would be a blessing right now.

POLL - please refer a few posts below to take the poll I posted last night. Thanks very much! - Salim

Pardon My French, but...

What the hell does Ariel Sharon think he's doing?!?!?! Since when can a democratic government kill opponents without trial? It's not like these people are fugitives from justice; many of them would be acquitted in courts, or perhaps sentanced briefly. And then Israel thinks the world should be angry when one of their most racist politicians gets assassinated?! In the latest bout of spitting in the face of justice, Sharon sent helicopters to take out the car of a "suspected Islamic militant" (source: AP) or an "Islamic Jihad leader" (source: Jerusalem Post) or a "militant from the Islamic Jihad, Mohammed Sidr" (source: Israel Radio, via the New York Times).
OK, so Mohammed Sidr is no Israeli or American role model. He's spouted vitriol and probably done plenty of illegal stuff, maybe even deserving death. But he also deserves a fair trial. And the 3-year old and 13-year old boys who were accidentally killed in the attack certainly didn't deserve it. And the 6 people other than Sidr whe were wounded? Wouldn't it have been easier to menacingly land the helicopters in the road, hold up the car, pull out a warrant for the arrest of Sidr and incarcerate him? Sure Jihad would have been mad, but no one else would end up dead.
All I'm saying is a police state is better than an army state.

I usually don't admit to taking these... but I like this gem of post-modernity. Take the online personality test to find out which online personality test you are!!!

I'm The James Bond Villain Personality Test!

I live in a fictional world of spies and blonde women with ridiculous names, and I like to give people plenty of options. Although whether they're villainous is not optional.

Click here to find out which test you are!

Suckerpunched

Due to my lacking education I grew up with the mistaken impression that a punch in the stomach could only last a few seconds at most. I was enlightened this morning. My enlightener was Professor Goldman, whose 2.25 hour exam was one of the longest punches in the stomach I ever hope to witness, let alone experience. I guess you could say Goldman is what we complain about not having in universities: he demands that students learn, he can smell b.s. a mile away, he grades with justice and without mercy, and he knows his stuff colder than the russian winter.
Nonetheless, having memorized more than I ever wanted to know about Russian Foreign Policy I know I'm going to get a lower grade than in most classes where I just apply basic I.R. theories and common sense to a few facts and look like I know what I'm talking about. This guy makes you learn, which I suppose is good, but he also doesn't reward your knowledge. And there is NO ROOM whatsoever for creativity. I got a "D" on one section of our major report for de-emphasizing one part of the assignment and choosing a bad title. I wrote it well and mentioned all the parts of the question, but I had too much on part (a) and too little on part (b). So I got a "D" for not reading the question, which I have almost committed to memory I read it so many times!!

Please repeat after me:
I, insert name here, do solemnly swear never as long as I may live to take a class by Professor Goldman, should hell freeze over, pigs fly, and calves dance on ice on Saint Jutemis Day.

Twelve Politically Correct Days of C*****mas. Courtesy of Cal Ulmann.

POLL

OK, the Winter Vacation theme is getting married, how and why, etc. So before I start soapboxing, why don't I get some opinions. Click "Comments" and leave your answer. Even if you don't know me or whatever - I'd like to do a bit of an audience survey, so to speak. So speak up!

PREP Q's - If you're comfortable revealing them, what's your age/sex/status?
QUESTION #1 - If you had to marry one person right now (and pretend divorce is now illegal), do you know who that would be? Don't say who, but think seriously.
QUESTION #2 - At what age did/would you consider yourself eligible?
QUESTION #3 - At what age did/will you start dating? Did/do your parents have a lot to say about that?
QUESTION #4 - How long do you think you'd have to know someone before becoming engaged to them?
QUESTION #5 - Would you consider marrying someone you had never seriously dated?
QUESTION #6 - Would you consider not dating, but using an "alternative" courting method (such as, but not limited to, the one described below in "New Thinking")?
QUESTION #7 - How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Thanks very much for your time! I've decided to enjoy this... um... process... as much as I can, so watch me go! I will be as amicable as I can with my parents, but at the same time look very critically and seriously at all my options. I don't wanna be stuck in a box... nor do I want to be kicked out of the house!

Yippee-aye-SNOW!

Yes, folks, it's finally snowing in Massachusetts. After a November and early December with a serious identity crisis, winter has finally graced us with her presence. It's 2 inches and growing - pretty good for the first snow of the year. Had a great snowball fight at the Weston's Christmas Party. Kudos to Dave for being the best target....... I'd just like to say that I LOVE SNOW!

Quote me this in late February and I'll deny every word...

Howdy, Rachel

Thanks for stopping by!

Arafat

What a world-class loser... I pity the git, believe it or not. He's like a mini-Pinochet or Nero, but he's as helpless as a mole on hang-glider! Anyway, the NY Times reports more Israeli attacks on Gaza. I'll let James Bennet take over here:

In Ankara today, the Turkish prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, said the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, had told him in a telephone conversation that he wanted to be "rid of" Mr. Arafat. But the Israeli government continued to insist that it did not want to kill Mr. Arafat or destroy his Palestinian Authority. Israel sent warplanes screaming over Gaza at about 3 a.m. today. They fired three missiles into the Arafat Police City, destroying one building that the police said was used for administration and another that they said was for training women officers. The Bush administration has refrained from criticizing such Israeli action. Palestinians said 18 people had been wounded in the raid, which left six cement floors pancaked atop one another in a jumble of cinder blocks. The blasts broke windows for blocks around. Teenagers and young boys hurled stones at one truck carrying police officers and at police buildings they passed on the route, applying to fellow Palestinians the tactics they usually reserve for Israeli soldiers. At the grave [of a Hamas martyr], a dwindled crowd of a few hundred listened to a brief speech criticizing Israel and the Palestinian Authority and then chanted: "You, Arafat, are not among us! Take your dogs and go away!"

Arafat really is waiting to die. More precisely, everybody else is waiting for him to die. I think Bush and Powell have given up on peace in Arafat's lifetime, and are just waiting. Hoping. Sharon doesn't dare kill Arafat, though he wants to in the worst way. Even Ariel Sharon (or somebody hanging tight onto the end of the bulldog's chain) has realized that creating martyrs has only hurt the State of Israel. Hamas is waiting for Arafat to die. They can't really challenge his Israeli-backed police forces in a real fight, and I don't think they can politically afford to assassinate him (assuming they physically could do it). Once he's gone expect all hell to break loose as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is compounded by a war of succession for control of the Duchy of Gaza.

My only suggestion for the embattled dictator is a fast-track career change. Ditch Palestine - it wasn't worth it anyway. Ditch your first name too - nobody can spell it. Move to the USA, modify your last name to "AraPhat", hook up with Britney Speares' public relations guy and launch a meteoric career as a pop artist. Make sure the drummer is Jewish, so they can't call you a racist, and shake it up from NYC to Hollywood. The novelty would wear off, but hopefully not before you die, that way you could be a great sob story.

Or don't....

Day of Infamy

It's odd. Since the 11th of September, many things have seemed tasteless that were OK a few months ago. But I feel almost disloyal in thinking about the Pearl Harbor attacks of 60 years ago. That's so weird... I dunno maybe I'm weird. But it's like "Our generation's tragedy is worse than your generation's! So there!" But any thought of how terrible Pearl Harbor was prompts a response of "Oh yeah? 9-11 was even worse!" And, yeah, that's all going on between my two big ears. I assume that's not a normal reaction. I'd hate to think that's a normal American reaction. But it is symptomatic of the fact that we're living through history. With the enormity of the events of the last few months, we're just a little less self- and now-centered and a little more aware of the rest of the world and the rest of Time, past and future. It's like finding out you're on Candid Camera....

Haircut

I got a beautiful haircut. Check it out! Most people are surprised to hear that this is totally ok with my folks... my nine-year-old brother wanted a similar do when he saw mine, so he has the same deal. After I had this cut in the summer, he imitated me and had one all autumn. He'll cause a stir at Cub Scouts tonight....

New Thinking

I'm scared. Maybe I need to grow up...

When I was young, my Mom bought each successive title in a series of books about kids of various ages, e.g. "Your 7-year-old". She, as well as my father, has always taken her duty as a parent very seriously, which I appreciate, despite our frequent differences. Anyway, I'm scared. That's because the books and stuff she's buying now are on courtship and marriage. And it's not with my little brother in mind....

Anyway, when I was a minor dating was never an issue. I didn't, wouldn't have, and my parents wouldn't have let me. I never wanted to get emotionally involved so long before marriage was a realistic possibility. Since I became 18 (over a year ago), however, I've gradually become slightly open to the idea that I might get into a serious relationship. Incidentally, I felt older when I was 17 and living in Israel with all these older people who were getting married. Now, back in my normal circles, marriage seems more remote than it did 2 years ago! I did go on a date this summer, but it doesn't really count since (a) she asked me out, (b) I didn't know it was going to be a date beforehand, and (c) absolutely nothing came of it.

Anyway, I'll probably revisit this topic with some frequency. But for now, let me say a few words about how my Mom started getting into this, and the direction she's going. I'll save my own opinions on the matter. The catalyst is certainly my age, the fact that I'm a junior in college, and the fact that I spent a lot of time with a female friend this fall. I've always had close female friends - Krispy, Sarah, Sanne, Judith, Lindsey, Lindsay, Ruthie, Kara, Lauren, Melanie, etc - but usually away from home, so my parents never really thought about it. But this fall I hung out a lot with Meredith, who's a friend-of-old-friends and came to school from California. They like Mer, but I think the fact that I'm capable of becoming friends with a girl without their input or whatever sort of scared them. So they're sort of like, "Oh wow, he's getting old, and we want to have a marriage 'policy' in place before it's too late!" Interestingly, I'd been thinking along the same lines, but not with my parents' involvement in mind. I'm not going to make a value judgment on their involvement at this point, but I hadn't been figuring it in.

The first written material I've seen, besides reading the much-behyped book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" (by Joshua Harris) last year, are from a Christian homeschooling publication. The people who produce it are almost Amish and have a "my way or the highway" mentality. Mom says she's rejecting a lot of their philosophy and their arrogance, but gleaning the useful aspects. Basically their model is go about life as normal. When you feel God telling you to marry a certain individual, marry them. It's a little more nuanced then that, with reality checks and stuff, but that's the idea. I'm resisting making a value judgment right now, but for those of you who don't know me, I certainly do believe in - and experience - getting direction from God. However, I'm also keenly aware of my fallability, and would never base a crucial decision on my own hearing. More to come on this, for sure.

Abstract

This is posted twice because Blogger is messing up again. The following is the abstract for my Middler Year Writing Requirement, a nearly 6,000-word recommendation report, a university requirement fabled and dreaded in the halls of Northeastern University. It's not a very good paper in my own opinion. I dunno... my heart wasn't in it. Maybe I'll post more of it later, but here's the abstract. I can send anyone the whole thing if they really like this and have way too much time on their hands.

The United States frequently utilizes multilateral economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool. Sanctions, however, have not attained U.S. goals. I examine the case of Iraq, where overreliance on sanctions after the abbreviated Second Gulf War has produced large-scale starvation, hurt economies worldwide, and fallen woefully short of expectations.
In the wake of the tragedies of September 11, 2001, the Second Gulf War and its aftermath takes on a new role as an example to the second Bush administration of what not to do in Afghanistan or other countries targeted in the “War on Terrorism.” The administration should not impose sanctions against Afghanistan. If further alleged sponsors of terrorism, such as Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Libya, or others, become targets of U.S. action, the lessons learned in Iraq should be applied.
I offer an alternative to the ten-years-and-counting sanctions regime in Iraq. The first Bush administration should have made eliminating Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi military priorities, and invaded Iraq outright in 1991. In the War on Terrorism, sanctions should not be used as preface to military force, and only rarely in any context whatsoever. Sanctions should never be expected to accomplish major objectives. In the future, sanctions may or may not be an option, depending on the strength of sovereign states. Even if sanctions are an option, however, they should not be used. Given the ineffectiveness of sanctions, diplomacy and military intervention must suffice as major tools of U.S. foreign policy. The findings of this report have relevence to American voters, the military, and politicians. If military and political accountability and openness are pursued, popular support of sanctions will wane, and the democratic process will be enhanced in the field of foreign policy.

Abstract

The following is the abstract for my Middler Year Writing Requirement, a nearly 6,000-word recommendation report, a university requirement fabled and dreaded in the halls of Northeastern University. It's not a very good paper in my own opinion. I dunno... my heart wasn't in it. Maybe I'll post more of it later, but here's the abstract. I can send anyone the whole thing if they really like this and have way too much time on their hands. Just posted by Macro Guy at Thursday, December 06, 2001

Conversationally Speaking

The good part of instant messenger conversations is you can always save them. And this conversation was particularly interesting and enjoyable on both sides, so I got my friend (a fifteen year old girl who was one of my 4 wives in Joseph).
UmBoPuS8486: but i dont think ill be drinking or anything
s2chops: it's not advisable
UmBoPuS8486: i dont like it much
s2chops: i mean, basically you get all giddy, then stupid, then sick
UmBoPuS8486: bad experiences
s2chops: i like beer, but I've never been drunk
UmBoPuS8486: I got alchohol poisoning
UmBoPuS8486: because I was stupid. my first time trying it. and my last
s2chops: oh man
s2chops: so many kids do that
UmBoPuS8486: Im willing to try anything once. Everything ive tried I will never try again
UmBoPuS8486: ive tried alot of stupid stuff, too
s2chops: maybe don't try everything once then... like heroin and addictive stuff... or sex.... or almost-sex....
UmBoPuS8486: Ive tried smoking, weed, drinking...
s2chops: i've never had a cigarette - I hate that smell. And I've never smoked pot, even though I've lived in Holland where its legal
UmBoPuS8486: I cried when I tried weed
s2chops: really?
UmBoPuS8486: I didnt know what I was doing
s2chops: naturally
s2chops: how old were u when u did all this?
UmBoPuS8486: I couldnt feel my legs, and I felt like I was 6 different people/ And I couldnt lift my legs. Every little thing was funny.
UmBoPuS8486: recently...around when my parents divorced
s2chops: ic
s2chops: weird... interesting description
UmBoPuS8486: so in that case its kind of obvious why i did it
s2chops: yeah
s2chops: with Taryn etc?
UmBoPuS8486: taryn and bryan
s2chops: bryan looked like a pot smoker...
UmBoPuS8486: he is..
s2chops: that's too bad
s2chops: you all are so young too... yikes
UmBoPuS8486: yeah. Everyone in my school does. I never believed in peer pressure until I started High School
s2chops: it exists
UmBoPuS8486: I know
s2chops: i never had many friends till recently, so i never had a problem. But all the people i know do
UmBoPuS8486: luckily I didnt become addicted or anything
s2chops: Here's the thing, you need something stronger than peer pressure, etc. If that something is yourself, then you break down when you're weak and need help the most. And you end up doing things you wouldn't otherwise
UmBoPuS8486: yeah
s2chops: For me, I have a relationship with God that keeps me on track even when I personally am very weak. It makes all the diffirence when things are real bad
s2chops: if I was just trying to make it on my own I know I'd screw up, and end up unhappy. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. God really led me to what I'm studying now, and I really enjoy it.
UmBoPuS8486: At that time, when I tried it all, I thought that God didnt even exist, i felt so depressed. I thought that nothing could be worse.
UmBoPuS8486: So I started throwing everything away. But then I started getting back to church. (I hadent been in a whild because my mom was working Sonday mornings)
UmBoPuS8486: Ive stayed out of trouble
s2chops: That's why having a relationship with Him is so important. If you just know about Him from what other people say or from books or whatever then you doubt Him just when you need Him most. But having a relationship with God means you know Him yourself, and even though sometimes I don't understand why He lets crap happen, I know He loves me and wants to help me through.
s2chops: cool
s2chops: that's awesome
UmBoPuS8486: Everything happens for a reason, its just a lesson
s2chops: yeah
s2chops: and bad things happen because people sin, not because God doesn't care.
UmBoPuS8486: yeah
s2chops: He cares, but He lets us have free will. And we abuse our privelege of free will and we do things like get divorces and run planes into buildings
s2chops: it's a sad world
UmBoPuS8486: got that right
s2chops: but that's why Jesus died in our place, even though He'd done nothing to deserve it, and we'd done everything to deserve it
UmBoPuS8486: oh
s2chops: see, we can't earn our way to heaven by doing good things.
UmBoPuS8486: Thats why im straightening out my track
s2chops: but you'll never be good enough to go to heaven by your own good deeds.
s2chops: it's impossible, which is kinda scary.
UmBoPuS8486: yeah
s2chops: but I know I do all kinds of bad things - mean to my sister, lustful towards girls, lying sometimes, thinking I'm better than other people
s2chops: so I can't come to a Perfect God with my imperfect, sinful life
UmBoPuS8486: im worse, you have a better chance than I do
s2chops: but Jesus was tortured and killed instead of me - and you - and he suffered instead of me, paying the punishment for my sins.
s2chops: you have the same chance I do.
s2chops: I have no chance at all to reach heaven on my own.
UmBoPuS8486: ya..
s2chops: But since Jesus paid the penalty, we're all on equal ground.
s2chops: if you ask God to forgive you, based on Jesus' payment, then He will!
UmBoPuS8486: I do all the time
UmBoPuS8486: The only friends I have who dont smoke, do weed, or drink are in the play. Maybe I should stick with all them, lol. I mean, Taryn is my best friend, but I dont wanna get pulled into everything she does.
s2chops: and also, the Bible says we should make Jesus the boss of our lives, and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, comforting, helping, changing us
s2chops: yeah
s2chops: that's good
s2chops: see, most people in the USA call themselves Christians, right?
UmBoPuS8486: yeah
s2chops: but most people aren't really
s2chops: i mean, what is a Christian?
UmBoPuS8486: I know, and the ones that are arent open about it
s2chops: yeah
s2chops: and true Christianity is having your sins forgiven, not trying to follow a bunch of rules only
UmBoPuS8486: exactly
s2chops: God wants to have a relationship with us as His children, not as slaves or robots
s2chops: He wants to talk with us, and be close to us
UmBoPuS8486: yeah
s2chops: I always have a hard time being consistent with having quiet times, praying and reading the Bible, every day
s2chops: but that's the only way to get to know someone; to spend time with them
UmBoPuS8486: I havent really done much praying lately
UmBoPuS8486: :/
s2chops: i know what you mean
s2chops: i didn't do well at all this quarter
UmBoPuS8486: I do a small prayer at night but not as much as I feel that I should
s2chops: vacation I have more time, but I usually fill it all. I gotta make a daily time, like an appointment for half an hour or an hour
s2chops: reading the Bible's important as well... that's one way that God speaks to us. Cuz he does want a two-way conversation.
UmBoPuS8486: I read the bible alot, well used to anyway.
s2chops: also, if you listen when you're praying, just sit and listen, He will speak to you. Not out loud usually, but you can tell when He does
UmBoPuS8486: A friend of mine got suspended for reading a bible in school
s2chops: WHAT!?!?!
s2chops: she should sue... omg that's awful
UmBoPuS8486: Its illegal to teach religon in public schools
s2chops: exactly. And what the school is doing is teaching atheism!
UmBoPuS8486: I wanted to go to a school where they do, sut they're so expensive
s2chops: yeah


s2chops: say, can I post this conversation on my blog? say no if you aren't sure - i don't wanna be over the edge!
UmBoPuS8486: No, go right ahead, I dont mind
s2chops: ok... i think it's interesting
UmBoPuS8486: It kind of feels like a relief that I just had a conversation like that. I know it sounds odd..
s2chops: hey, i know what you mean.
UmBoPuS8486: allright, I dont feel completely weird now, lol
s2chops: being around people who are being antisocial and bad leaves a bad taste in your mouth, so to speak. It's nice to be normal after that.
UmBoPuS8486: yeah

Last post continued. Well, blogger is malfunctioning. But the end of the last post did at one time express my doubt that the interim governments will actually work. There are too many links able to be broken. For this to work:
--- Current leader Rabbani has to hand over power peacefully;
--- The Taliban has to be crushed and liquidated (remember, the Alliance hung on in a corner for 5 years);
--- Karzai, the new Prime Minister, has to cooperate with the Alliance for 6 months;
--- The Loya Jirga must convene peacefully and work out a medium-term solution;
--- The 2-year interim government has to function in rebuilding Afghanistan and maintain popular support;
--- The lucrative opium poppy industry has to be curtailed without causing a farmers' rebellion;
--- A constitution has to be agreed upon;
--- Fair elections must be held in 2004;
--- The transfer of power needs to go smoothely as Afghanistan starts to become a democracy.

That's a tall order, and if any of it goes wrong then the whole thing is a failure. It's a long chain. And every chain is as strong as its weakest link.

Afghan Statehood

The Afghan factions meeting in Bonn today reached an agreement on how many seats in a six-month interim cabinet each faction would control. It's complicated, with factions based in Kabul (Northern Alliance), Peshawar, Rome, and a minor one in Cyprus. Besides balancing every faction, they had to balance the ethnic groups. If one faction agreed to take one seat less than it had planned, and said "OK, we can cut Mo Schmo from the Culture Ministry," then if Mo was a Hazera ethnic minority the Hazera's in other factions would make a stink. So it's pretty complicated, balancing ideologies and ethnicities with only partial correlation. There are only 2 women in the 30 seats, which I see as a negative sign. It's an extremely patriarchal society, and while I'm the farthest thing from a feminist I still think that for the women (who are less likely to be attached to private armies and more likely to legitimately care about humanitarian issues) to have any serious voice in the government there need to be more than a few. The setup has the Rome royal faction with the Prime Ministerial seat occupied by a relative of the royal family, a Pashtun named Hamid Karzai, though the preponderence of seats (17) are controlled by the Northern Alliance. The New York Times gives a good account of the agreement.

He noted that this agreement is legally binding, will be supported by the United Nations and all of Afghanistan's normally feuding neighbors, and will transfer the seat of Afghanistan to the new interim government, which will be the country's sole representative and "repository of Afghan sovereignty."
posted by Macro Guy at Thursday, December 06, 2001

12.03.2001

Phew....sob... sniff...

Well, Joseph is over... It was good. It was very good. Best show, quality-wise, that I've ever done. Biggest net audience too: 1,200. I guess I can't say much without saying everything, which I won't try to do. It was a "good old-fashioned" show in the off-stage aspects. To those of you who don't act, this may seem foreign, and maybe even to those who do act. But there's an emotional connection and a remarkable cameradery from being so dependent on each other on-stage that knits you together off-stage as well. And when the show's over it can be broken pretty violently: those people who were your life all last week are now all back in their own worlds and you all feel disconnected. I suppose Freud would have a heyday with this emotional thing: it builds through the rehearsals to a crescendo on the show weekend, then it ends with a sort of "little death." No, I don't study Freud, but it's kinda obvious.

Freud aside, the show was indeed a blast, and I became friends with a lot of people who are new, or who I knew only marginally from previous shows. And I found out how much I've changed since previous shows, which I'll get into in another post, I think. So, yeah, I gotta go clean up from the Cast Party now.

About Me

Name: Josho

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• Cultivating new future at farm, market
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