Category: politics

Who is behind the Eilat terror attack?

There has been no claim of responsibility and the only proof that PRC is behind these terror attacks comes from Israeli government officials who do not cite any specific or verifiable source. The PRC very well might be behind these attacks but the “shoot first, ask questions later” principle, accepted as mantra in Israel, often results in the loss of innocent life.
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The speed at which Israel began airstrikes in Gaza without providing factual evidence of PRC’s involvement raises questions concerning the existence of a premeditated Israeli plan to launch a summer offensive against the population of Gaza. For the record, Hamas has publicly stated numerous times in the past 24 hours that it had nothing to do with the terror attacks in Eilat.
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More here.

The Diana/Whore Complex by Lakshmi Chaudhry

lakshmi chaudhry argues that women have come a long way since the lovelorn vulnerability of marilyn monroe and princess diana. now we have the “skank posse” (paris, britney, lindsay) rich and powerful women who r unapologetic about their sexual appetites/need for cheap publicity. ok. maybe celebrities have the right to be skankier now but does that really help real women? is that the slutwalk argument or what?
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the word “skank” is itself prejudicial. men who exhibit the same kind of sexually reckless behavior r somehow not categorized as “skanks”. chaudhry uses the word in quotes – she is referring to that social characterization. i’m just not sure that her argument about how we’ve come a long way baby since diana/marilyn holds currency. also, i am not sure that lindsay’s ability to live out her sexuality in front of a camera means anything for the vast majority of women. have sexual mores really changed? do women really have the same kind of freedom as men? is holding women to ridicule better than loving them for being tragic? is that progress? it reminded me of the slutwalks in that some select white women in underwear do not really transform women’s rights generally. or do they?
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i think that the problem is that woman is always the object, while man is the subject – hence all this analysis of woman. “woman is defined and differentiated with reference to man and not he with reference to her; she is the incidental, the inessential as opposed to the essential. he is the Subject, he is the Absolute – she is the Other.” (simone de beauvoir)
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read chaudhry’s article in the nation here.

Super-rich are super selfish

“We have now done 12 separate studies measuring empathy in every way imaginable, social behaviour in every way, and some work on compassion and it’s the same story. Lower class people just show more empathy, more pro-social behaviour, more compassion, no matter how you look at it.” More here.

Tariq Ali: Pakistan at 64

In Pakistan the contrast between rulers and ruled is so stark that there is nothing to protect the weak majority from the powerful and rich minority. Progress, to be meaningful, has to be in the interests of the collective as a whole. This has never happened in Pakistan.
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The fault is neither in the stars nor in the people, whose forbearance and patience have been exemplary. They have tried everything in terms of political parties and military regimes and have obtained nothing. Despite this fact, there is no gadarene rush to join even the moderate Islamist parties, leave alone armed jihadi groups. Till now a large majority of Pakistanis have resisted this course, despite the inducements on offer in the next world. Contrary to global media images, ordinary Pakistanis are not attracted to religious extremists.
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There have been three constants in Pakistan’s political life: the United States, the Pakistani army and a corrupt, uncaring elite, currently symbolised by President Asif Ali Zardari, known throughout the world as someone whose interest in making money and accumulating property transcends all else.
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The US is currently waging war in Afghanistan that has leaked into Pakistan and destabilized the country even further. Add to this the US drone attacks, agreed to by the country’s rulers, that supposedly target ‘terrorists’ but end up killing innocents. Civilian casualties, if one takes the lowest figures, are now just under 2,000, mainly women and children.

The Pakistani army and other security forces are showing signs of strain at having to carry out attacks on their own people in the border villages in the northern provinces. The army forcibly removed 250,000 people from the Orakzai district on the Afghan border and put them in refugee camps. Many swore revenge and militant groups have targeted the ISI and other military centers.
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The economy is in a mess and the conditionality of IMF loans bears little relationship to what citizens need. To insist on indirect sales taxes in a country where the rich pay virtually no tax at all has to be grotesque by any standard. To force the Pakistani government to raise electricity tariffs led to riots in many cities with WAPDA offices being burnt to the ground. Pay more, get less is the IMF-inspired message.
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The powerlessness of individuals faced with the apparatus of powers big and small has only been enhanced by what is happening now. Sooner or later, the people will rise and sweep the rubbish aside. Don’t ask me when.
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More here.

Nothing ‘mindless’ about rioters

Those who want to see law and order restored must turn their attention to a menace that no amount of riot police will disperse; a social and political order that rewards vandalism and the looting of public property, so long as the perpetrators are sufficiently rich and powerful. More here.

erró’s thought provoking art

was introduced to erró, one of iceland’s most remarkable artists, at the reykjavik museum of art. the museum was built in order to house the work that he has generously donated. his collages, paintings and sculptures r not only beautiful but political. check these out, they’re called “retreat from iraq” (mixed media, 2005) and la petroleuse (mixed media, 1977).

retreat from iraq by erro

la petroleuse by erro

Fault Lines – The Top 1%

From Aljazeera: The richest 1% of US Americans earn nearly a quarter of the country’s income and control an astonishing 40% of its wealth. Inequality in the US is more extreme than it’s been in almost a century.

Hopefully Kashmir Won’t Be a Forgotten Conflict

Al-Jazeera launched a special human rights spotlight on Jammu & Kashmir called “Kashmir: The Forgotten Conflict”. It’s an apt description given the difficulty human rights organizations have faced in highlighting the abuses that have occurred in the past 2 decades, e.g. we need 30,000 signatures on this petition to improve juvenile justice in the state! More here.

Gay and Muslim — Is that even possible? One imam says ‘yes’

For anyone who’s an LGBTQ Muslim, I want them to understand the Quran’s promise is for all of humankind for all of human time. Our society was very different 1,500 years ago. Human conditions remain the same, but the way we approach them now is different. Either you follow the rituals of dead people, or you live the Quran for today.
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So do you think it’s harder to be gay, black, or Muslim in the U.S.?

They’re all the same. If I go down P Street then I’m that black guy who may be a criminal. If I go in my garb, then I’m that Muslim who might try to blow us all up.

When the Chinese come here on vacation and I see them having problems on the subway, I’ll stop and say, “How can I help you?” And they’re shocked, like, “Who is that big black man speaking Chinese?” [Laughs.]
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More here.