I just
want to take a moment to start writing a weekly entry about the goings on in
the world. With the serious lack of things to do here I find myself watching
the news....a lot. Well, a lot more than I usually do. Most of you know that I
am a newspaper freak (gots to get my daily fix) and I have also recently
subscribed to Time magazine amongst a few other publications for my iPad.
Essentially, I am filling up with events that are happening globally and don't
have anywhere to really express opinions or thoughts. Thus "Big Ups,
Little Downs" has been born. If you've ever watched The Colbert Report you
might be familiar with "Tip of the Cap, Wave of the Finger" in which
Colbert gives his approval or disapproval to people or events throughout the
week. I plan to do that but on a much smaller scale; just one event for each
with a brief blurb about why. I'm hoping by doing so it might inspire you to
leave comments, give your thoughts, or strike up a conversation with somebody
you know. The only time something truly ends is when people stop talking about
it...I just want to fuel that conversation.
Big Ups-
Ceasefires
I'm going
to give some serious big ups to Ceasefires this week, namely the one just
agreed to by Israel and Gaza. This conflict has been going on for a while and I
read a great articles in Time this week entitled "The Gaza Problem"
by Karl Vic. It referred to the Israeli operations against Gaza as
"cutting the grass". A bit of a crude metaphor that explains when
Gaza gets too big for its boots, it's militants become a little too daring, or
they start firing rockets at an increasing rate; Israel feels the need to cut
them down to size and destroy these capabilities. I'm not going to launch into
a huge diatribe about the history of this conflict and which side is right or
wrong and blah, blah, blah. What I DO want to touch on was my feeling of just
how close this conflict was to me this time. Usually I am not too affected by
these sorts of events, they seem to be more common in this area of the world and
especially with the recent Arab Spring uprisings. However, there has always
been a significant distance between
myself and the events allowing me to view them as just news; nothing else. It
really struck me to realize how close the proximity of this conflict is now
that I am based in Saudi. Combined with the conflict in Syria as well, there's
a lot of nasty stuff happening all around us. Luckily I am in a country that is
not experiencing these sorts of conflicts, nor is there any overt antipathy
towards North Americans...but I just can't shake that sliver in my brain of
distance (or lack thereof). It's made me learn more about both sides of the
conflict and appreciate what each people are fighting for. And thankful that
this one has finished. So, big ups Ceasefires...well done.
Honourable
Mention- The Egyptian People
Big Ups
also to the Egyptian people. Fair play that Morsi helped broker the
aforementioned ceasefire between Israel and Gaza but when he turned right
around and decided to grant himself sweeping new powers to enact laws and
gaining near absolute power in the country the people said
"Whoa.....umm...no". These people just went through a hell of a
revolution to oust somebody who held similar powers for decades...and good for
them for not allowing the next dude to step into office to do the same. Well
played Egypt.
Little
Downs- Secessionists
Serious
little downs this week for secessionists in the United States. Like....really?
Obama gets elected to a second term and the first thing you think of is
"You know what would be a much better idea? Becoming our own country"
because that's so easy (just ask Quebec). States tried this before...it didn't
go so well. I know most states who have people who have signed petitions have
quoted the current economic state of the country, unwillingness to participate
in Obamacare, xenophobia, and so on as their reasons but you don't solve any of
these problems by just up and leaving. If anything it's just going to
exacerbate issues within the states themselves. Granted it is a minority of
people who are for secession (only 100 000 people in the entire state of Texas
have signed their petition) but it's a microcosm of the growing discontent
amongst the American people with their government. People, you are in this for
the long haul...there are a lot of issues happening and they are not going to
be an overnight fix. Playing the "Screw you guys, I'm seceding from the
Union" card is not helping. There needs to be a renewed trust amongst the
people and their government. More importantly, amongst the squabbling political
parties in Washington. Maybe if this Fiscal Cliff is resolved there will be
more willingness to listen to each other and work issues out for the benefit of
a nation instead of their own personal politics. Secessionists, I give you
little downs this week...work your shit out.
Dishonourable
Mention- David Petraeus
Come on
man. Seriously? You're the top spy in the country and head of the spy agency
and you got caught doing something secretive? Really? You used Dropbox...DROPBOX
to exchange messages. That's amateur man. You were untouchable Dave, people
were thinking presidential nominee one day a la Eisenhower. But noooooooo, you
let the wrong part of your body do the thinking. As if the military wasn't
going through enough of an identity crisis with Afghanistan winding down now
you put them through this? Poor form man.
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