Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Libya vs. Syria

Read article HERE

As the situation in Libya continues to unfold, so does a similar situation in Syria.  Syria is currently experiencing the same type of "mass genocide" by the government and no one is doing anything about it.  This is conflicting and interesting at the same time.  How could one country (or several countries) choose to help one country and not another when they have the same issue?

In Syria more than 400 people have been killed within the past weeks and this rarely makes news.  Is this because of economic or political ties, or does the US just not have a dependence on Syria like it has with Libya?  Either way this should be solved.

Since February the Middle East and northern Africa have experienced a vast number of revolution in societies where the citizens felt that they were being treated unfairly and decided to make a change.  If America and other countries want to truly support democracy and help other countries achieve democracy they should strive to help every country and not just countries that they could benefit from helping.

-Kali

Monday, April 18, 2011

Is it really our fault?

Read article HERE

The current President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was recently quoted blaming Middle Eastern unrest on the West because, "[we] are trying to cause destruction and provoke wars between nations and governments to sell [our] weapons."

I agree and disagree with his opinion.  It is no secret that when the war in Iraq started it was fueled by oil (no pun intended) and money.  Many American corporations benefited from the start of the war and many jobs were created because of it.  The majority of the corporations that benefited were defense oriented and made tanks, weapons, planes and many more for the US Army.  Because of the previous Administration no one truly knows why the war in Iraq started and who it benefited.  Most Americans believed that we were looking for 'Weapons of Mass Destruction' and wondered why we were still there 2 years after none were found.  The truth is this: The United States and many other countries in the West are powered by money and without money the country could and would stop (ex. the shut down that almost happened last week).  All in all, President Ahmadinejad's words are true and false at the same time.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Read article HERE

This past week the American Government almost SHUT DOWN due to funding issues.  Ironically I was learning about what the government has spent its money on since the Cold War - the majority of it going to defense.

After thinking about it I realized how crazy it is that things like Education and health care (among others) are constantly under funded - especially in the South.  I understand that the US has to keep their Military (and everything associated with it funded) it should not affect the funding that other sectors receive.

This past week was a wake-up call for our politicians that the American government can not continue to do business the way it has previously.  Until things change, the deficit will continue to increase and leave the American people to pay for mistakes unknown to them for the rest of their lives.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Same thing. Different day.

Read article HERE

Arab unrest in the Middle East is at an all-time high.  Although it has been overshadowed by the internal turmoil in Libya, protests have started in Yemen killing 12 and injuring 500 with some people being arrested.  At this point there seems to be one common theme: Hope (and no I didn't just pull that out of thin air).

When revolts started in Tunisia earlier this year they were rough, deadly and tough, but at the end of the day the Tunisian people achieved their goal.  Their revolt gave the Egyptian people hope that they could change their government into one that was truly democratic and spoke for the people.  After weeks of fighting they finally achieved their goal.  Now the worst case scenario has happened.  The revolts have spread to more middle eastern countries and have become even more deadly.  The little hope that travelled from the Tunisians to the Egyptians and then to the Libyans and Yemeni has grown bigger and gained perseverance.  But what happens when the government is as stubborn as the citizens, thousands are killed, and a country is at a stand still for months? Where does that hope go then?  Who gives up? Who keeps trying?