View of the Week: On the Grid For the Week-End in #Gaza, The Media & Other Thoughts

The war in #Gaza continues with no apparent end in sight.   There are some startling statistics that were reported on early on Twitter: 

Numbers of suffering seem to no longer shock.. 900,000 in Gaza have no electricity or water, 500,000 IDPs from Mosul,170,000 Syrians killed
— Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi) July 19, 2014

It was quite interesting how the Institute for Palestine Studies remembered #Madiba on Mandela Day: 

Post by The Institute for Palestine Studies.

What is quite refreshing is how some of the leadings lights in Israel are noting how this war that was unleashed will hurt Israel in the long-term because of the challenges it represents.   Israeli Soldiers have already died.   It was quite startling to hear how much it is actually costing the Israel to fire each Iron Dome Rocket and the daily cost of the War that seems to be expanding by the day.   Israel does not have much time politically and it continues to undermine Israel's position.    Israel24 is reporting that Hamas has reported on an Israeli Tank being ambushed near Gaza City--and Haaretz just reported sirens in south and central Israel.    This is as some of the realities of life in Palestine today is hard to ignore--which has forced the resistance to continue as it has:

Post by Middle East Monitor.

Thankfully the Web and the Grid is able to provide some sense of the reality on the ground.  However, with the pending FCC decision to change the rules, who knows what happens.   Comcast--that owns NBC--made a move to reassign Ayman Mohyeldin after he witnessed the 4 Children being killed and was reassigned.  After an outcry, the decision was made to send him back into Gaza.   It underscores that the US Media has lost all sense of credibility.   Thankfully, there are outlets such Israel24 that are trying to present probably the most realistic view at hand.     The eminent scholar Professor Dabashi reflected on it on his Facebook Page: 

Post by Hamid Dabashi.

A journey of peace and brotherhood is an impossible journey right now especially as all are trying to gain an advantage--but to what end.   Code Reds continue to be going off throughout Southern and Central Israel.       There is no other choice though and Tony Robbins reminded us all: 

On A Challenging World: Brief Thoughts 4 the Day

It has been a very tragic day around the World.   Malaysia was subject to another tragedy today as 290 people perished when #MH17 was shot out of the air.     #NDTV of India just interviewed a couple in Amsterdam who was slated to be on the ill-fated flight.   There is a lot of finger pointing so far and no one seems to know yet--although this that Mashable reporting on was quite disturbing:

Pro-Russian rebel leader boasted about downing a plane before he realized the plane was #MH17 http://t.co/hi8cYWC9In pic.twitter.com/VywFHsMUG8
— Mashable (@mashable) July 17, 2014

The War between Israel and Hamas has entered a new phase as Israeli forces have entered Gaza ostenibly to destroy the tunnels--but it is probably bound to expand further.  The ordinary Gazan is paying a profound price as ever so depicted by the gifted Iranian artist Golrokh Nafisi "Termeh".   This is a beautiful depicition of the 4 young souls who perished when the Israeli Navy shelled the beach in Gaza City as they were playing Soccer/Football.  Professor Dabashi of Columbia was good enough to share this with the World as he released it to his Facebook page earlier tonight: 



 

As the World is able to see this live feed from Gaza @
 http://www.aa.com.tr/live1/gaza-live.html, one wonders when will this insanity stop?   

A "Thought 4 the Week"

Watch Now & Help make the world Your laughter will inspire the world today. Let it ring loudly and often. Your thankfulness will give life its beauty today. Your love makes the entirety of existence worth all the trouble. Your actions will make life richer today. Your thoughts and words and feelings will bring new substance to the wonder that is life. Your awareness will inform and improve things. Your curiosity will make a whole new set of experiences possible. Whatever you do will matter very much, going far beyond you and coming back in wonderful ways you cannot even imagine. So do, and do, and do some more, with authentic joy and boundless, delighted generosity. Your life will help make the world what it is today. Live it for all it can be, and more. — Ralph Marston

The Transformation of Our World: It has Begun in Earnest.....

The BRICS have made their major move during their Summit in Brazil.   They have created a bank to serve as a counterweight to the IMF and the World Bank.     Despite their internal challenges, it is ever so an important development as we're ever so a witness to a World that continues to change before our very eyes.

 

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: 

Post by FRANCE 24 English.

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:

Post by Middle East Monitor.

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:

Post by Middle East Monitor.

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 : 

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.”  

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.

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