Thursday, December 15, 2005
Tookie Irony
Lets forget about the fact that Tookie Williams murdered four innocent people. Lets forget about the trials, and appeals, etc that stretched for 25 years. I just wanted to take a moment to point out an amazing irony in television on Wednesday night (12/07/05).
While channel surfing late Wednesday night I found a story that the BET station was airing on Tookie Williams. I decided to watch the show and see what the African-American community had to say about the situation. The segment portrayed Williams’ co-author and the president of the NAACP, to name a few. They argued that Williams has become a model-rehabilitated inmate, that his books help keep children out of gangs, and that he helps fight the stereotype of the glorified African-American-Male-Gangster. Here is the irony, the first commercial BET ran during the first commercial break was a violent, gun slinging, gangster commercial for the new 50 Cent video game. I will not dispute the First Amendment Right to create and market the game, nor will I deny BET the right to show any revenue-earning commercial they deem appropriate. I just find the timing of a game that glorifies “gangster life” to be in relative poor taste (if not detrimental) to the message of the show -- especially when the show goes into the 50 Cent commercial with the line, “Brought to you by…”
While channel surfing late Wednesday night I found a story that the BET station was airing on Tookie Williams. I decided to watch the show and see what the African-American community had to say about the situation. The segment portrayed Williams’ co-author and the president of the NAACP, to name a few. They argued that Williams has become a model-rehabilitated inmate, that his books help keep children out of gangs, and that he helps fight the stereotype of the glorified African-American-Male-Gangster. Here is the irony, the first commercial BET ran during the first commercial break was a violent, gun slinging, gangster commercial for the new 50 Cent video game. I will not dispute the First Amendment Right to create and market the game, nor will I deny BET the right to show any revenue-earning commercial they deem appropriate. I just find the timing of a game that glorifies “gangster life” to be in relative poor taste (if not detrimental) to the message of the show -- especially when the show goes into the 50 Cent commercial with the line, “Brought to you by…”
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Blueprint for the next World War
Three continually escalating situations have become a concern of mine. After weighing these topics and comparing them to the recent past, I feel that the potential for a major world conflict is growing. My argument is based on an analogous comparison of current events to historical precedent. First, I believe that growing nationalism in Europe will destabilize current governments and create an environment for strong, aggressive leaders to take control. Second, a destabilized Middle East, highlighted by a manic fear of westernization, and led by increasing numbers of extreme jihadists, will only fuel anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe. Third, the one place in the world that has been consistently unstable, filled with a variety of cultures and religions, harboring ancient (and modern) grudges that could ignite such a war is the Balkans.
The recent riots in France are a vivid illustration of both the pitfalls of unchecked European nationalism as well as the increasing anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe. France has a 15%-30% unemployment rate in poorer parts of the country. A recent study in France found that “job applicants with ‘French-sounding names’ had 50 times the chance of being interviewed as those with Arab- or African-sounding names.[1]” To me these two statistics are not about socialism vs. capitalism, nor America vs. France; what they do highlight is the “Public Politically-Correct Europe” vs. “Private Nationalistic Europe.” When I say PC, I mean the way European countries try to represent themselves to the world as democratic, open-minded societies. When I say nationalistic, I do not simply mean pride in country; I mean the type of intense, violent nationalism that led to WWI. So what we see in France is economic disparity leading to violence and the French media accusing them of being anti-French and religious activists. While France is in the spotlight right now, this is not an isolated French problem. I recently spoke to a German who told me that in public, Germans distance themselves from anything remotely nationalistic. However, privately in the their homes and pubs they sing songs and celebrate German nationalism, talk of German pride, and a strong, powerful Germany. This type of pride and nationalism are growing in Eastern Europe as well, where people are free of the oppressive Soviet Union (as a side note, the same thing happened in Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Russian and Ottoman Empires.) Even in England, as “home grown” Islamic terrorists threaten their safety, a growing sense of “True English” vs. “Immigrant English” is beginning to take shape. These European problems will not cause a major war in themselves, but they do set the stage for a potential disaster.
Every major war needs two sides. We have seen how Europe is becoming the “western powder keg” of pre-war angst. Now, on the other side, we have the “eastern powder keg” growing larger and more volatile every day in the Middle East. Many observers of the Middle East and the Islamic World see a region in the middle of a renaissance period akin to the Western renaissance of the 15th century. They see a region wrestling with the lingering memories and enemies of its past. They see a region trying to preserve their culture while attempting to modernize. This is a hopeful future for the Middle East, one which is unfolding as I write. “This expectation of reformation is a recurring theme in the Western vision of Islam.[2]” But I feel that this vision of a renaissance more accurately represents Western hopes for the Arab world; it does not necessarily reflect the Arab world’s own vision of their future. It is in these two different visions of the modern world in which current Middle Eastern turmoil, compounded with my aforementioned European-turmoil that will lead the world to its next world war. There is a newly elected anti-western leader in Iran, there is growing (and honestly never ending) tensions in Israel; Syria and Jordan are a breeding ground for suicide bombers, and the list goes on and on. These two mighty global regions are now in an international stare-down just waiting for the other side to flinch. All they need is a spark: a passionate and equally violent impetus for war. Historically one of the most militarily volatile areas of the world is the Balkans. In this situation no other region is more geographically or historically suited to ignite such a world war as the Balkan Peninsula.
Extreme European cultural nationalism is nothing new to the world, particularly in the Balkans. However, a recent string of events in the Balkans gives cause for notice. Everyone knows that following the collapse of Yugoslavia there was an intense and violent war between Bosnia and Serbia. The pieces from that conflict are still being ironed out today. But a couple of recent press releases via Reuters give me great alarm over the future stability of the region. In October 24, 2005 there was an article entitled: School splits jinx Bosnia's multi-ethnic future. The article focused on the “separate-but-equal” schools in Bosnia where Catholic Croatians and Muslim Bosnians were going to the same buildings for school but where being educated in separate classrooms. In these separate classrooms they were learning the same history from different perspectives, different languages, and each side was teaching that the other was wrong. After class the kids were getting in fights with each other over ideas of cultural superiority. My thoughts tend to wander to the future where fighting 10 year olds become warring 30 year olds. The other article from November 2, 2005 is entitled: Kosovo "army" threat adds to war of words. The region of Kosovo that is currently about 90% Albanian has told Serbia that if they do not get independence they will go to war for it. The Serbs have said absolutely not. To give the reader an analogy, imagine if South Texas decided that because they are 90% Mexican, they were going to make their own country and take the Alamo with them. America would never let that happen. Now if you compound the issue with 1000 years of history and the religious importance of Kosovo, you may begin to see how Serbia will never give up the region.
The only reason I bring up issues in the Balkans is because my entire argument hinges on how European turmoil, coupled with Middle Eastern turmoil (and religious tension) could lead the world into a major war. If you view Europe as a sphere of influence and the Pan-Arab world as another, they very obviously come together in the Balkans. Remember, this is where the Austrians, Russians and Turks fought each other. This is where the Ottomans made a stand against the West. This is where WWI was sparked. This is where Christian and Muslim, East and West, Europe and the Middle East come together. As we can see from the Yugoslavian war of the 1990s, the Balkans will not single-handedly start a world war. But, as we remember from WWI, if the regions around the Balkans are in serious tension, a Balkan war could ignite a world war. The phrase: “Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it” is so often used today. Take this political and historical review session as a warning as to what is at stake.
[1] Newsweek, Nov 21, 2005, Europe Needs a New Identity, Zakaria
[2] http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/ISIM.htm
The recent riots in France are a vivid illustration of both the pitfalls of unchecked European nationalism as well as the increasing anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe. France has a 15%-30% unemployment rate in poorer parts of the country. A recent study in France found that “job applicants with ‘French-sounding names’ had 50 times the chance of being interviewed as those with Arab- or African-sounding names.[1]” To me these two statistics are not about socialism vs. capitalism, nor America vs. France; what they do highlight is the “Public Politically-Correct Europe” vs. “Private Nationalistic Europe.” When I say PC, I mean the way European countries try to represent themselves to the world as democratic, open-minded societies. When I say nationalistic, I do not simply mean pride in country; I mean the type of intense, violent nationalism that led to WWI. So what we see in France is economic disparity leading to violence and the French media accusing them of being anti-French and religious activists. While France is in the spotlight right now, this is not an isolated French problem. I recently spoke to a German who told me that in public, Germans distance themselves from anything remotely nationalistic. However, privately in the their homes and pubs they sing songs and celebrate German nationalism, talk of German pride, and a strong, powerful Germany. This type of pride and nationalism are growing in Eastern Europe as well, where people are free of the oppressive Soviet Union (as a side note, the same thing happened in Eastern Europe after the collapse of the Russian and Ottoman Empires.) Even in England, as “home grown” Islamic terrorists threaten their safety, a growing sense of “True English” vs. “Immigrant English” is beginning to take shape. These European problems will not cause a major war in themselves, but they do set the stage for a potential disaster.
Every major war needs two sides. We have seen how Europe is becoming the “western powder keg” of pre-war angst. Now, on the other side, we have the “eastern powder keg” growing larger and more volatile every day in the Middle East. Many observers of the Middle East and the Islamic World see a region in the middle of a renaissance period akin to the Western renaissance of the 15th century. They see a region wrestling with the lingering memories and enemies of its past. They see a region trying to preserve their culture while attempting to modernize. This is a hopeful future for the Middle East, one which is unfolding as I write. “This expectation of reformation is a recurring theme in the Western vision of Islam.[2]” But I feel that this vision of a renaissance more accurately represents Western hopes for the Arab world; it does not necessarily reflect the Arab world’s own vision of their future. It is in these two different visions of the modern world in which current Middle Eastern turmoil, compounded with my aforementioned European-turmoil that will lead the world to its next world war. There is a newly elected anti-western leader in Iran, there is growing (and honestly never ending) tensions in Israel; Syria and Jordan are a breeding ground for suicide bombers, and the list goes on and on. These two mighty global regions are now in an international stare-down just waiting for the other side to flinch. All they need is a spark: a passionate and equally violent impetus for war. Historically one of the most militarily volatile areas of the world is the Balkans. In this situation no other region is more geographically or historically suited to ignite such a world war as the Balkan Peninsula.
Extreme European cultural nationalism is nothing new to the world, particularly in the Balkans. However, a recent string of events in the Balkans gives cause for notice. Everyone knows that following the collapse of Yugoslavia there was an intense and violent war between Bosnia and Serbia. The pieces from that conflict are still being ironed out today. But a couple of recent press releases via Reuters give me great alarm over the future stability of the region. In October 24, 2005 there was an article entitled: School splits jinx Bosnia's multi-ethnic future. The article focused on the “separate-but-equal” schools in Bosnia where Catholic Croatians and Muslim Bosnians were going to the same buildings for school but where being educated in separate classrooms. In these separate classrooms they were learning the same history from different perspectives, different languages, and each side was teaching that the other was wrong. After class the kids were getting in fights with each other over ideas of cultural superiority. My thoughts tend to wander to the future where fighting 10 year olds become warring 30 year olds. The other article from November 2, 2005 is entitled: Kosovo "army" threat adds to war of words. The region of Kosovo that is currently about 90% Albanian has told Serbia that if they do not get independence they will go to war for it. The Serbs have said absolutely not. To give the reader an analogy, imagine if South Texas decided that because they are 90% Mexican, they were going to make their own country and take the Alamo with them. America would never let that happen. Now if you compound the issue with 1000 years of history and the religious importance of Kosovo, you may begin to see how Serbia will never give up the region.
The only reason I bring up issues in the Balkans is because my entire argument hinges on how European turmoil, coupled with Middle Eastern turmoil (and religious tension) could lead the world into a major war. If you view Europe as a sphere of influence and the Pan-Arab world as another, they very obviously come together in the Balkans. Remember, this is where the Austrians, Russians and Turks fought each other. This is where the Ottomans made a stand against the West. This is where WWI was sparked. This is where Christian and Muslim, East and West, Europe and the Middle East come together. As we can see from the Yugoslavian war of the 1990s, the Balkans will not single-handedly start a world war. But, as we remember from WWI, if the regions around the Balkans are in serious tension, a Balkan war could ignite a world war. The phrase: “Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it” is so often used today. Take this political and historical review session as a warning as to what is at stake.
[1] Newsweek, Nov 21, 2005, Europe Needs a New Identity, Zakaria
[2] http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/ISIM.htm
