The Virginia Tech Killings

The killings in Virginia have really affected me. I don't really understand why, but as an American looking into the country from the outside, I am saddened by the random insanity that is consistently displayed by my fellow countrymen. In trying to understand the senseless deaths, one question keeps floating through my mind. Why do these types of killings ONLY happen in America?

There are a couple plausible answers:

1. gun control.

In England, guns are completely illegal. Not even police officers are allowed to have guns. This has been the case since a school shooting in 1997 because Thomas Hamilton opened fire at a primary school leaving 16 children and their teacher dead. However, it is said that the ban did not actually decrease gun crime. See the 2001 BBC article.

2. a fundamental issue with society.

This is where it becomes very worrisome. What about our country keeps making people go crazy? Why do we think it is ok to just shoot each other? I know the killer in the VT killings was not even born in America - but his action was American in nature, according to history. I think it has something to do with the superficiality of life in the US. It's about money and pretty things. Life is not difficult in America, even people who think they have it difficult really do not have much to worry about. Job security, personal welfare, family life...we always ways of getting by. A spouse can take over the "bread-winner" job or if there is no spouse, we can get help from welfare and government aid. We have the best medicine that science offers, doctors are readily available and have to treat you in emergencies and our family life is not threatened by wars, persecution or extreme hardship. Living in London has really showed me how superficial American life really is. Which is a possible reason that people have less regard for life. Postal workers killing people, students killing people, cops killing people, our government killing people. So many people are dying and there are so few good reasons. It's upsetting to be an American looking from the outside in. It's not exactly a pretty picture.

www.interviewmag.co.uk

Our news site launched today. We have the week's top stories with basic, need-to-know info, features, social commentary and opinion pieces. check it out! www.interviewmag.co.uk

A World Without America

I found this video, dramatizing news headlines that *could have been* if America did not exist. It's kind of a load of crap.



This was sponsored by a British company to basically sell the US. While I am American and I love America, this video is superbly one-sided. What about the introduction of nuclear power? What about pollution and global warming? The video is so biased that is almost becomes comical.

Muhammed Salah - Innocent of terrorism charges

From a bulletin sent by the Council on American Islamic Relations:

THE MUHAMMAD SALAH BOTTOMLINE

(Chicago, IL 2/01/07) - For many years now, Mr. Muhammad Salah lived life in the infamy of being labeled as the only designated US terrorist. He suffered the repercussions of this judgment, long before he could face an open and fair trial in a US Court of law. His assets were frozen, and his life shattered. His family carried the burden of this label to their schools, workplaces, and to the local supermarket.

Today at the completion of an emotionally tolling trial on Mr. Salah and his family, the final verdict is out.

Though, he was found guilty of obstructing justice, he was found not guilty of racketeering – the major charge. The third charge of providing material support to a terrorist organization had been dropped mid-trial.

And so, here's the final word: Mr. Muhammad Salah is neither a terrorist nor a criminal for having supplied charitable aid to the most vulnerable factions of his occupied and war-ravaged country of origin, Palestine; a jury of his peers understand that to be true.

Our justice system has affirmed what many in his family have long claimed, that Muhammad Salah, a conscientious and upright family man and community member was only guilty of being a bold Palestinian activist. His fate is one that befalls many of his kind. It is to my personal relief, that our justice system is where the buck stops on the political persecution of the embattled Palestinian people.

My sense of pride in our court system, however, comes with reservation. Justice as we know it in America involves more than just an endpoint, it invovles the process of how to get there. And while the verdict vindicates Salah and his name, the process, the trial, raises questions for those of us who are concerned about the rule of law, and the sanctity of our constitutional rights.

As a civil rights organization, our aspiration is to see every American granted his or her full rights under any and all circumstances.

Muhammad Salah's right to a fair trial was forgone when the court decided to accept statements he made under torture. It is a cause for concern to the American people when a U.S. court endorses foreign interrogation methods and detention practices that would be considered illegal under U.S. law.

Mr. Salah was systematically tortured by the Israeli Secret Service and interrogated for 80 days. In some countries, such brutality is typically used to break down the psychological condition of a suspect. Because the manner in which the confession was extracted would be inadmissible in the United States, it is repugnant to the public policy of American courts.

Muhammad Salah's 6th Amendment right to a public trial was also violated when the court ruled that portions of the suppression hearings and trial would be closed to the public.

Also, Muhammad Salah's due process rights were violated when his assets were frozen before he could have the opportunity to defend himself in a public trial.

We hope that the suffering of the Salah family is over. We also hope that the "terrorism" label be reserved in the future for those found guilty of that charge in an open and fair trail administered in a respected court of law.

Most Depressing Day of the Year

Apparently, psychologists (well, one psychologist - Cliff Arnall from the University of Cardiff in Wales) have developed a scientific equation to determine the most depressing day of the year. And according to the equation, today would be the day to stay in bed a little longer. Or maybe all day.

The "formula" looks like this: [W + (D-d)] x TQM x NA.
The letters each stand for something:
W: How bad the weather is at this time of year.
D: Amount of debt accumulated over the holidays minus how much is paid off.
T: The time since the holidays.
Q: Amount of time passed since New Year’s resolutions have gone south.
M: Our general motivation levels.
NA: The need to take action.

Now the equation may well work, but there are definitely limitations. Mainly, it only applies to people who celebrate Christmas. A large part of the equation depends on holiday debt and length of time since the holidays. So if Christmas was just another day - you didnt spend any money, you didnt make plans to see family, etc, the holidays are actually insignificant. So this theory applies to less than half of the world. Just to put it in perspective. But it makes quite an interesting read. Check it out the article: A Good Day to Stay in Bed

Danish cartoon editor

It has been reported in Saudi newspapers that the editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten died in a fire a couple weeks ago. It's odd, some shariah lawmakers ruled, in a private case against him, that he should be given the death sentence. Also, he (and the 12 cartoonists) received numerous death threats for their animated ridicule of Islam's holiest figure, Prophet Muhammed.

The problem here: no major news outlets have covered the story. So the question then becomes "did it really happen?" Bloggers (well, one blogger) has posted on it, which is how I found it. Most of the people who told me about it received an email about it, saying the cartoonist died (which, incidentally, is wrong because as it was reported, the editor died, not the cartoonists). But nothing on the BBC, CNN, ABC or New York Times even hints at the event.

I have heard some rationale about the reason for this: Muslims may get rowdy all over again, it is disrespectful, it simply isn't news, etc. But at the end of the day - isn't it newsworthy? Noting that a story that made headlines for weeks has taken a new turn is worthy at least of an honorable mention...

first post of the new year

Happy New Year!

I have said that so many times to so many people (most of whom I didn't know) in the past weeks. I have never said it so much. But it's pretty much over now. I'm settling into the aftermath of the craziest new years on record (we finallllllly made it to edinburgh after missing our flight in barcelona and sleeping in the airport...after losing a ton of money on our hostel in edinburgh and having to call home for cash...after edinburgh's hogmanay (new yrs celebration) was cancelled due to high winds and rain). Now I find myself in Morocco, having a long-awaited day of chill at my sisters house. She made me thanksgiving dinner (better late than never). Morocco is a crazy country, I think it has an identity crisis. It is European in the north (it's right next to spain and was once colonized by france), arab in the middle and african in the south. they speak arabic, french, berber and sometimes english. They have mountains covered with snow, flat grassy lands and the sahara desert. It's got a little bit of everything.

We went to the markets of marrakech a few days ago and returned yesterday. it reminds me of aladdin. of all the places I have traveled I cannot compare it to anything. I guess its closest to spain with a strong dash of arabia. though I have been told that morocco's closest political ally is the UAE, which makes a lot of sense. Anyway, we have done marrakech and are going to agadir tomorrow. my sister and her husband have been very gracious hosts.

I had three pairs of jeans hemmed here and it cost me only 30 dirhams...about $4. That's like 2pounds. What a wonderful country!

Happy New Year! oh wait, I already said that.