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

A Hope & A Prayer for #Israel & #Gaza

Enough Said:

Post by The Gandhi Foundation.

An "Outsiders" Newsflash From the "Social Grid": As the War Between #Israel & #Hamas Continues....

A compelling read:

Post by Middle East Monitor.

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:

 

Watch Now

A "View For the Week-End" From the "Social Grid" On Israel & Gaza

The War between #Israel and #Hamas is now in its' sixth day. Israelis took shelter in bomb shelters as Hamas launched rockets against Israel. Yet, Israel's 6-Day "Protective Shield" campaign has resulted in 2100 strikes resulting in 156 deaths--mostly women and Children. Al Jazeera reported as the Father of a 3-Year Old just could not let go of his Son who was killed in one of the Israeli Strikes. It also reported that a strike on the home of the #Gaza Police Chief killed 18 members of the family. One more report was even more chilling: an actual missile attack. Such attacks are pre-staged with a phone call from Israeli Intelligence warning the residents of the house to get out. An Israeli Drone then hits the roof of the house--and then the Missile Hits.

There has been a vibrant discussion on Facebook as Gaza-Based Journalists have reported on the strikes and the injuries. One of the latest casualties was the nephew of the former Prime Minister and current Deputy Head of #Hamas' Political Bureau, Khaled Mashaal. One has to really look though to get some sense of what the US mainstream media is doing. It was so interesting how the US House--who's not doing much these days--was able to quickly pass a resolution in support of Israel even as President #Obama offered up US mediation to end the War that seems to have no end in sight. There have been a number of perceptive perspective--including one by the BBC's Jeremy Bowen--that underscores that neither side is ready to stop yet. As Gaza is being pounded, Palestinians in the West Bank are also subject to constant harrasement and attack from Right Wing Israelis. The challenge faced by Palestinians and the double standard was reflected here (please click on the "link" below):

Post by Middle East Monitor.

There has been a vibrant discussion on Facebook as Gaza-Based Journalists have reported on the strikes and the injuries.   One of the latest casualties was the nephew of the former Prime Minister and current Deputy Head of  #Hamas' Political Bureau, Khaled Mashaal.   One has to really look though to get some sense of what the US mainstream media is doing.   It was so interesting how the US House--who's not doing much these days--was able to quickly pass a resolution in support of Israel even as President #Obama offered up US mediation to end the War that seems to have no end in sight.     There have been a number of perceptive perspective--including one by the BBC's Jeremy Bowen--that underscores that neither side is ready to stop yet.   

As Gaza is being pounded, Palestininans in the West Bank are also subject to constant harrasement and attack from Right Wing Israelis.       The challenge faced by Palestinians and the double standard was reflected here @ MIddle East Monitor: 

Post by Middle East Monitor.

The reality on the ground is also noted below as how the actual land being negotiated has shrunk:

 

Henry Ford noted not just to find fault, but find a remedy.   It is not an easy thing.    But the problem is that the 350-Million Strong Arab Nation has been just as much responsible for the plight of the Palestinians.    Although The UAE has committed 52 Million Dollars--how this is sent is another profound challenge.   What was depicted here was ever so moving to underscore the plight that the hapless people of Palestine feel:   

Post by Mike Pouraryan.

As this tragedy continues,  remembering Mohammad Assaf's beautiful performance that elevated the spirit of hope and Palestinians was so eloquently noted by the noted Scholar Professor Dabashi from Columbia:  

Post by Hamid Dabashi.

The World is yet to act, though.  It is probably the most profound challenge of all.