7/16/2014
On the "Virtual Grid" On The War Between Israel & Hamas: Sobering Thoughts
As I write this, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 5-hour humanitarian truce. This is as journalists were witness to the horror of 4 Palestinian Children being killed by Israeli shelling--but there was also reporting by Israel24 of 13 Hamas fighters being killed as they tried to attack a Southern Israeli Kibbutz through a tunnel:
Israel24 is reporting that 8,000 reservists have been called up. Al Jazeera provided a very nice histogram of the reality that has transpired over the past five years: Gaza: A History. Yet it seems as if the voices of the ordinary Palestinians is not being heard.
What is ironic is how the World has been witness again and again. Queen Raina's words 5 years ago was ever so evident as the World had a muted reaction to the plight of the children: "..either the declaration is not universal..or Gazans are not human... Our Humanity is incomplete when children are victims of military operation" :
As the ceasefire is going into effect, Mahmoud Abbas has become ever so irrelevant. He's supposed to be going to Cairo on Thursday to see the Egyptian President. But the Middle East Monitor depicted his role and it is a rather chilling one:
The devastation of the past 9 days was outlined in such detail by the Norwegian Doctor who has been serving in Gaza tending to the wounded:
The only refuge that Gazans seem to have is in UNRWA facilities which is now full to capacity. I saw a report about UNRWA being hit. As Jon Stewart noted, the World has gone mad.
As I assessed how futile it all has been so far, I took comfort in this admonition from Audrey Hepburn: “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness;and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
Israel24 is reporting that 8,000 reservists have been called up. Al Jazeera provided a very nice histogram of the reality that has transpired over the past five years: Gaza: A History. Yet it seems as if the voices of the ordinary Palestinians is not being heard.
What is ironic is how the World has been witness again and again. Queen Raina's words 5 years ago was ever so evident as the World had a muted reaction to the plight of the children: "..either the declaration is not universal..or Gazans are not human... Our Humanity is incomplete when children are victims of military operation" :
As the ceasefire is going into effect, Mahmoud Abbas has become ever so irrelevant. He's supposed to be going to Cairo on Thursday to see the Egyptian President. But the Middle East Monitor depicted his role and it is a rather chilling one:
The devastation of the past 9 days was outlined in such detail by the Norwegian Doctor who has been serving in Gaza tending to the wounded:
As the debate ensues, though, the emminent Scholar Professor Hamid Dabashi wrote an admonition to us all not to condemn all the Jews and gave a call to action to all to remember:
Post by Hamid Dabashi.
No one seems to have an answer to the devastating reality of Gaza that was noted by Jon Stewart :
No one seems to have an answer to the devastating reality of Gaza that was noted by Jon Stewart :
As I assessed how futile it all has been so far, I took comfort in this admonition from Audrey Hepburn: “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness;and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
On Iran & The P5+1: Notations on the Latest Developments
Iran has been in negotiations with the so-called P5+1 on the nuclear question. As noted in previous notations, the Iranian Foreign Minister has been sounding optimistic although the July 20, 2014 deadline is at hand.
Iran has been insisting on having 190,000 centrifuges with the eventual right to be able to produce enriched uranium for domestic use. As comments from both the Iranian Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State were ever so hopeful, what continues to be of concern is the continued challenges on the right of the political spectrum in both the United States and Iran. This was noted in a straightforward way by two of the leading experts on Iran, Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment and Ray Takeyh of the Council of Foreign Relations:
Although anything that Iran signs off on will probably be approved, the issue is the United States and indeed the influence that Israel will have.
It is also quite perceptive to note that that all have suffered as a result of the sanctions as this as noted by Trita Parsi of the National Iranian American Council reflects. At least discussions are continuing--and with it a sense of hope:
Post by Trita Parsi.
Iran has been insisting on having 190,000 centrifuges with the eventual right to be able to produce enriched uranium for domestic use. As comments from both the Iranian Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State were ever so hopeful, what continues to be of concern is the continued challenges on the right of the political spectrum in both the United States and Iran. This was noted in a straightforward way by two of the leading experts on Iran, Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment and Ray Takeyh of the Council of Foreign Relations:
Although anything that Iran signs off on will probably be approved, the issue is the United States and indeed the influence that Israel will have.
It is also quite perceptive to note that that all have suffered as a result of the sanctions as this as noted by Trita Parsi of the National Iranian American Council reflects. At least discussions are continuing--and with it a sense of hope:
Post by Trita Parsi.
7/14/2014
Tip of the Week: On the Skillset Needed by 2020
A "Tip of the Week" On the Skillset as we're faced with profound change:
Source: Top10OnlineColleges.org
Source: Top10OnlineColleges.org
7/13/2014
An "Outsiders" Newsflash From the "Social Grid": As the War Between #Israel & #Hamas Continues....
A compelling read:
As I read this, this from Malcolm X Resonated that Al Jazeera's Mehdi Hassan noted:
Post by Mehdi Hasan.
A Very Busy Sunday: Brief Thoughts 4 the Day
The Nuclear Talks with #Iran are at a critical stage. This is as #Iraq is on the brink of collapse the war between #Israel and #Hamas continues. It was in this context that the interview with #Iran's Foreign Minister, Dr. Zarif, was ever so revealing:
There are rays of hope on a deal although William Hague, John Kerry and Laurent Fabius have worked to dampen expectations. But, one has to remain positive as this beautiful little clip from Simple Truths reminds us all ever more:
There are rays of hope on a deal although William Hague, John Kerry and Laurent Fabius have worked to dampen expectations. But, one has to remain positive as this beautiful little clip from Simple Truths reminds us all ever more:
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