"Tobias was a never-nude, which is exactly what it sounds like."

I am profoundly sorry that I have not posted a follow-up piece on the tumultuous situation in Iran. I promise to post a caustic and historically accurate piece tonight!

My absence is due to season 1 of "Arrested Development," which I purchased for a paltry $17. (What a steal!)

I've also been [somewhat] fierce on the job-hunt and I'm still working through my old Arabic work. Peet's is very conducive to productivity.

In the meantime, I urge you all to follow the #iranelection on Twitter and the NYT coverage of the situation.

Ma'a Assalama!

Let's hope they don't bring out the army tanks

Iran’s government keeps digging holes for themselves. The more they try to silence journalists, photographers, and protestors, the more they’ll have to answer later.

Should the Islamic Republic want to continue, they need to at least appear concerned and interested in the welfare of their people, especially the protestors. If over 60% of Iran’s population is less than 30, the Iranian government needs to do more to appeal to them. They are more technologically savvy, more exposed to Western culture, and are too young to remember the revolution or were born after the revolution and can only rely on their parents’ memories and ideals.

Rather than roll out the tanks, Ayatollah Ali Khameini should be bolder and simply state that there were flaws that need to be addressed during the ballot count. A partial recount sounds ridiculous and a shameful way to appease the discontented crowds. The legitimacy of the Islamic Republic is already tarnished. But should Ayatollah Ali Khameini bring a hard crackdown on the protestors, the Islamic Republic will face an even bigger problem on their hands, that is, a new revolution.

Nobody wants to see college students crushed by tanks. More force will only create more disenchanted Iranians and even worse, a disenchanted generation of young people ready to fight back.

Overall, it's a hot mess:

“It is a very complicated situation,” said Abbass Abdi, a political scientist in Tehran. “People feel humiliated because they came and voted in large numbers. On the other hand, it is very difficult for the establishment to admit fraud because its legitimacy would go under question. - "Protesters Defy Iranian Efforts to Cloak Unrest," NYT, 06/17/09

The legitimacy of the Republic is already under question. But I doubt the authorities are even thinking about relinquishing their power. But, let us not forget: "The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is." -Winston Churchill

The Revolution Will Be Twitterised/YouTubed/Flickred/Blogged

I am ecstatic to see that websites with user-generated content are recognizing the imperative role they play in perilous times. Iran's government can try to contain the havoc by blocking Facebook and text messaging, but the voices of people's discontentment will persevere via computer geeks and anyone growing up as AOL rabidly sent software with 30-day free trials to every home.

I've been feverisly following the Iran's post-election coverage through all the possible outlets. It's insane. I wish I knew what the student protesters of Tienanmen Square are thinking about all this.

Who suffers more?

How do you measure and compare the plight of two different groups subjected to the most inhumane suffering?

In Obama's historic speech in Cairo on Thursday, he compared the plight of Palestinians to the racism and inequality experienced by Black Americans in the post-slaver and pre-civil era. He goes on to say that the Palestinians have a legitimate aspiration to have their own state.

Obama was even-handed in his speech, reminding audiences that the Jewish people faced humiliation and persecution for centuries in Europe and were subjected to one of the worst genocides in modern history.

But not everyone was happy with his speech. Some decided to cling to some aspects of it and simultaneously forgetting other parts in order to add legitimacy to their baseless arguements. There were a lot of negative comments floating around after the speech. But the one that stifles me the most is this:

via NYT:

“I understand Palestinian suffering, it is terrible,” said Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League. “But it is not on the other hand to the Holocaust.”

But how do you compare suffering?

Does the group that suffers the most deserve a homeland?

Does the group that suffers the most have more legitimate aspirations?

Can you place a numerical measurement on suffering and heartache?

Boycott Jon & Kate Plus 8 and make it a Trending Topic on Twitter!

I'm officially boycotting Jon and Kate Plus 8.

Last weekend, I spent two days watching the J&K+8 marathon because hospital tevees don't give you many options. It was fun watching it with my mom, but even she got annoyed with it. But as I was watching, I remembered all the good times with the BMVers spent mocking and laughing our bellies off at Kate documenting their first 'poopies' in the potty trainers, Jon throwing the V-Day shirt at the ground ("IT'S A MEDIUM"), and of course, the "happy" couple bickering in front of the cameras.

But an hour before the premiere, I started Googling all the controversy surrounding the couple. I stumbled upon Gosselins Without Pity, Aunt Jodi's call to boycott the premiere, and all the websites dedicated to fight for the rights of the eight kids. Five minutes before the start off the premiere, I put on my running shoes and turned off the teevee.

What did it for me was that the kids were missing out on a real childhood. I look back at all my good and bad childhood memories with fondness. But when the Gosselin kids grow up, they'll realize that all the game nights, outings to the cow farm, and vacations that make up their childhood, were all concocted to boost ratings for a television show. It's just so disheartening.

The only reason TLC will keep the show is for the ratings. So please, stop watching the show. When we stop tuning in, TLC will have to pull the plug. A bunch of high powered, teevee execs obviously don't have hearts or a moral sense to look out for the kids' best interest, let alone their own parents.

***

Use the hashtag #boycottjon&kate on Twitter

Repeat Assault

I know, I'm so late to the game. But this is what Pop/R&B/Top 40 should sound like.

Why Twitter is So Cool: See journalism in action sans cheesy anoraks

Ann Curry is posting incredible tweets and pictures from Iran.
Follow @AnnCurry!

A word from the wise

"No human, nor any living thing, survives long under the eternal sky. The most beautiful women, the most learned men, even Mohammed, who heard Allah's own voice, all did wither and die. All is temporary. The sky outlives everything. Even suffering."

-Bowa Johar, Balti poet, and grandfather of Moufazer Ali

[From Chapter 16 of Three Cups of Tea]

Book review: Three Cups of Tea

Book Review: Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Three Cups of Tea puts you directly in the shoes of Greg Mortenson, a real American hero. After a failed attempt to climb one of the second highest mountains in the world, he stumbles upon a small village in Northwest Pakistan. Disappointed and shocked by the village’s lack of a proper school for the children, Mortenson embarks on an incredible and inspiring journey which takes him all over Pakistan and Afghanistan to build much needed schools.

I want to point out five great things about this book:

[1] You will be in awe of Greg Mortenson. He is the epitome of generosity. While trying to raise funds for the first school, Mortenson scrounges on necessities, such as proper living arrangements. For months, he sleeps inside his car while parked on the streets of Berkeley. He is open-minded, humble, and empathetic which allows him to build strong friendships with diverse groups of people. His sincerity allows him to gain the affection of even the most hardened of personalities. Mortenson’s ability to transcend so many different cultural boundaries is simply amazing and a privilege to witness.

[2] You will see recent history through the eyes of a sympathetic and knowledgeable American. His journey of building schools in Pakistan begins in the mid-90’s. Through Mortenson, you are privy to the Pakistani side of the Taliban regime, Kargil conflict, the murder of Ahmad Shah Massoud, rebuilding of Afghanistan after the Taliban, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the invasion of Iraq. As Americans, we only saw what was reported on the television. But Mortenson goes through the impact of these events on the Pakistani and Afghan civilians.

[3] He will challenge your understanding of the “War on Terrorism.”

[4] There are so many endearing and memorable people that Mortenson befriends such as his avuncular mentor, Haji Ali, the leader of Korphe.

[5] Building schools in Pakistan is not easy. But his perseverance and the determination of the Pakistani friends he meets along the way is infinitely inspiring.

This is one of my favorite non-fiction books. I especially admire how Mortenson recognizes the importance of young girls as strong agents of change. Many thanks to Joan for the awesome gift.

Go read it!

Suggested Links:

Central Asia Institute (Find out more about Mortenson's work)

Three Cups of Tea website

Amazon.com: Three Cups of Tea

First-hand witness: Iraq Veteran Against the War and for Rethinking it

Rick Reyes served when the U.S. went into Afghanistan and Iraq. The son of immigrant parents, he grew up in East L.A. and wanted to enlist in order to make his family and country proud.

But he was disheartened following his experiences in the 2001 and 2003 wars:

After receiving an order, we would ransack homes, destroying windows and doors, chairs and tables, families and lives--detaining and arresting anyone who seemed suspicious. The problem, of course, was that it was impossible to distinguish militant Taliban members or Al Qaeda from innocent civilians. Everyone became a suspect.

...

Another time, my squad and I detained, beat and nearly killed a man, only to realize he was merely trying to deliver milk to his children. These raids compelled me to tell Congress we have been chasing ghosts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

...

But how effective is such military might against extremists who blend in with innocent civilians and fight guerrilla warfare? Moreover, how effective can it be when we leave civilians little alternative but to support extremists?

Read the entire article and his plea to ask Congress to rethink the strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan in The Nation.

Reyes' article reminded me of Three Cups of Tea. Mortenson initially supported the War in Afghanistan but later became disillusioned with it. Witnessing the eyes of innocent children orphaned, injured, or displaced by U.S. missiles, he wondered whether Washington would continue if they saw what he was seeing on the ground.

Although the U.S. government was right in going after Osama bin Laden, they also inadvertently created a generation of people who would also hate America. Mortenson found that creating schools that would offer a balanced (and culturally sensitive) education is more effective than guns in fighting terrorism. (See "Another Way to Stop Terrorism," a 2006 Parade article spotlighting Mortenson's work. The article garned mass attention and support for Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute which planted more schools, vocation centers, and water works projects in Pakistan and in Afghanistan for children.)

Grandma

High School Flashback!

This is a poem I wrote senior year of high school. Gee golly:

"Eric's One-Night Stand"

Smells red, humid, sticky nicotine
Sheer shirts glued with sweat on your back
Crave sugar, frost-bite, brain freeze
Rapids of salty saliva on the tongue

Got green?

10 minutes tick tick tick

Antarctica blanketed with chocolate-covered snow
Flies and brown dust linger in the pale-blue sky,
pests in your eyes, arm-hair

My malts are better than yours.