As an eleven year old, I wasn't much into politics. I had a faint grasp that Clinton got into trouble over something with a lady (not his wife), that we had bombed someplace far away (which my family watched on the news... in night vision), and that Bush beat Gore after some confusion in Florida. Yes, George W. Bush claimed the presidency before I became politically aware; and for millions of young Americans like myself, this is truly significant.
Tomorrow we say goodbye to the man who played a crucial role in shaping the views of so many in this country. After 9/11, I remember the leadership the President showed... I remember how much support he had. Bush was confident and on message-- he assumed the role of valiant leader during a time when so many were confused and afraid... including myself.
W. told me to stand with the country. He assured me that this great nation would prevail and defeat evil. I believed and defended him for many years. But George Bush did not teach me how to be a patriot-- he did not teach me the inspirational power of our ideals. Instead, he showed me that in times of terror, we must fear and act with that fear in our hearts. No, Bush will never be known as the man who reassured us, once again, that "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself--nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror..."
George Bush, along with nearly every member of the Congress, taught me that the United States could do whatever it wanted. That our government is free to spy on Americans. To torture. I was duped, and became cynical. Bush's words brought American arrogance to center stage, and his blunt style made this country a laughing-stock. He is an embarrassment to liberty and to the Republic... forever a stain on the American tale.
But in this final night of his presidency, perhaps it is time to put a hold on the character assassination; perhaps a moment of self-reflection is in order. Let's start with a question: Who is truly responsible for the last 8 years? The blame-game is fun, but not so much in a democracy-- for in a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.
It was ultimately American apathy, disillusionment, and ignorance that brought us Bush. Our inability to understand clear threats to the democratic fabric, and unwillingness to demand the best possible representatives has put us in a truly unfortunate position--one where the very essence of our ideals are slipping away.
But perhaps we are beginning to wake up... Obama did win an astonishing victory. He seems too good to be true, and maybe there is more truth to this statement than people would like to admit. Americans have, at the very least, denounced the ways of the Bush Administration, which is a start. But the complicit Democrats have escaped the wrath of voters, and will one day have to be reckoned with.
It is clear that Americans are ready for a new day, and tomorrow the next chapter of our story begins. The new President must help lead us out of the darkness that we have brought upon ourselves, but as he has said time and time again: this movement is about what we can do ourselves. President Bush is no more responsible for the economic crisis than a weatherman is for the weather, and a President Obama will not be able to fix the world. We must demand receptive and honest lawmakers. We must fight for reform and for our vital causes. We must rethink what place corporate America has in government, and what place America has in this world. And, indeed, we must develop the tools of the Internet so that we may enter an age of unprecedented civilian involvement in government.
President-elect Obama has taken serious strides, but America must be wary. Simply electing new people will not be enough. The restoration of responsible citizenship is the only way for us to survive.
With optimism and resolve.
Showing posts with label Future. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Future. Show all posts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
How to Break a Terrorist
I just watched a good interview on the Daily Show with a guy named Matthew Alexander who wrote the book "How to Break a Terrorist." This guy was an interrogator for the U.S. military and has been a part of hundreds of hundreds of interrogations, but now he is speaking out against the torture techniques.
Basically, he is saying that the best way to extract information from a prisoner is not to demonize them--by treating them like animals and putting them in pain (both psychological and physical)--but to understand them. Alexander is advocating that by coming to terms with insurgents, you can work to establish an agreement with the goal of helping Iraq in the best way possible.
In fact, he explains that the insurgents aren't ideologues like Al Qaeda; they are mostly regular people who fight for community or for money--suggesting that they would be much more than willing to cooperate if you build a bond of trust.
Alexander says that these methods are proven in many interrogations, but that the Department of Defense does not wish to concede that point--going as far as trying to stop the book from being published. He says to Jon Stewart: "I never saw coercive methods pay off..."--but rather rapport building and relationships yielded the results.
I think it's time that we find a better way. Isn't it obvious? We as a civilization are more advanced than any that has preceded us. Of course there is another way. We know what is right, so let's just do it.
Here is the interview:
Here is the interview:
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Choice
I'm going to let y'all in on a little secret of mine; it's the thing that keeps me going ... keeps me positive ... but above all, keeps me working to, for lack of better cliché, make a difference. It is the idea that no matter how messed up things are, many things have been improving. It's the essential belief that society makes a lot of mistakes, but that people learn and evolve in their sense of humanity.
Take, for instance, the idea that just less than fifty years ago segregation was an accepted aspect of American society. For those individuals who were born after that era, the idea of having a 'black' drinking fountain and a 'white' drinking fountain is absolutely inconceivable. It was just 88 years ago that women were granted the right to vote in this country, and only 55 years before that, people legally owned slaves. Your great or at least great great grandparents lived through that. Our social evolution has seen us change from individuals who kill for gain, to ones who view the act of murder with utter disdain; though I should point out that we still have a ways to go. We continue to kill as punishment for killing—as we justify killing in the ‘just’ wars; perhaps the distinction between people and governments ought to be made in this respect.
Of course I am generalizing to an extent. Many societies--primitive, advanced, and industrialized—have displayed desires to be more humane and tolerant communities, but the social advances of developed nations in the 21st Century are astronomical in comparison to the ways of yesteryear. To use the obvious examples: a black man may be President this year, and a woman may be Vice President. There will be a woman President, and soon there will be a gay President of the United States. And with the revolutionary development of the Internet, people everywhere are connecting and learning about each other and their plights like never before in all known history. The Internet will continue to grow, the world will continue to shrink, and tolerance will spread faster than we are able to conceptualize.
However, we must not constrain ourselves to the promises of tomorrow. A large part of the world does not have the wealth and prosperity that citizens of developed nations have been blessed with. Will Africa ever be able to catch up with the rest of the world? Or will there forever be a continent of suffering masses? Even more important are the negative implications that have come along with our advanced technology--the prime one being the ability to split the atom.
The world is now in a position where one false move and a series of bad decisions will obliterate all that we know. This unfathomable potential for doom is the one thing that could undo all of the progress humanity has made, and will prevent us from ever discovering what kind of people we could have become. Humanity will one day be faced with the choice: we will either continue the traditional route of aggression and nuclear politics, or we will realize that this struggle can be overcome. The day we realize that having enemies (and thereby making enemies) is no longer an acceptable or survivable threat, will be a great day.
How will the world change? What will the status of the traditional nation-states be? How will we fix broken government? Will world government become a reality?
It will likely take a true disaster for us to reach that point…
…but then again, humans have been known to be unpredictable buggers.
Take, for instance, the idea that just less than fifty years ago segregation was an accepted aspect of American society. For those individuals who were born after that era, the idea of having a 'black' drinking fountain and a 'white' drinking fountain is absolutely inconceivable. It was just 88 years ago that women were granted the right to vote in this country, and only 55 years before that, people legally owned slaves. Your great or at least great great grandparents lived through that. Our social evolution has seen us change from individuals who kill for gain, to ones who view the act of murder with utter disdain; though I should point out that we still have a ways to go. We continue to kill as punishment for killing—as we justify killing in the ‘just’ wars; perhaps the distinction between people and governments ought to be made in this respect.
Of course I am generalizing to an extent. Many societies--primitive, advanced, and industrialized—have displayed desires to be more humane and tolerant communities, but the social advances of developed nations in the 21st Century are astronomical in comparison to the ways of yesteryear. To use the obvious examples: a black man may be President this year, and a woman may be Vice President. There will be a woman President, and soon there will be a gay President of the United States. And with the revolutionary development of the Internet, people everywhere are connecting and learning about each other and their plights like never before in all known history. The Internet will continue to grow, the world will continue to shrink, and tolerance will spread faster than we are able to conceptualize.
However, we must not constrain ourselves to the promises of tomorrow. A large part of the world does not have the wealth and prosperity that citizens of developed nations have been blessed with. Will Africa ever be able to catch up with the rest of the world? Or will there forever be a continent of suffering masses? Even more important are the negative implications that have come along with our advanced technology--the prime one being the ability to split the atom.
The world is now in a position where one false move and a series of bad decisions will obliterate all that we know. This unfathomable potential for doom is the one thing that could undo all of the progress humanity has made, and will prevent us from ever discovering what kind of people we could have become. Humanity will one day be faced with the choice: we will either continue the traditional route of aggression and nuclear politics, or we will realize that this struggle can be overcome. The day we realize that having enemies (and thereby making enemies) is no longer an acceptable or survivable threat, will be a great day.
How will the world change? What will the status of the traditional nation-states be? How will we fix broken government? Will world government become a reality?
It will likely take a true disaster for us to reach that point…
…but then again, humans have been known to be unpredictable buggers.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Next Generation
So this is my Blog. I just deleted my first version; it was about 9/11 and it sounded sappy and repetitive. That’s not the impression I want to make. I guess I just want to start posting my views and leaving my mark in cyberspace. It’s my Freshman Year in college, it’s 9/11, and I think it’s a good time to try new things.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my role in the next generation. People call us “Generation Y”—the tech-savvy, independent, and self-important youths who are out to “challenge the status quo” and who thrive off of creative innovation. Our parents (Generation X) were similar to us, but USA Today says that we are “Generation X on steroids.” To us, social equality is a norm, not a privilege. In our world, the Internet has always existed, and if we need something we can pull it up with high speed. As we assume leadership roles, we will demand change with that same high speed. The Y’s are the ones who will determine what happens next. The storm is here, and our parents are almost done ruling. We are next in line. This is not a rebellious rant, but rather a declaration: We are charged with the fate of the world. This is serious.
My two greatest fears are fanaticism and apathy. I’m afraid of the fanatics because of their blind devotion to extreme views that are, more often than not, dangerous. I’m afraid of the apathetics because they don’t worry about the fanatics. My experiences with many of my peers, and fellow members of the Y Generation, have ranged from inspiring to despairing. Growing up, I was lucky to make friends with some of the most intellectually active people—these were people who challenged my thinking and made me who I am today. I’m also lucky to have had family members and teachers who forced serious reflection and questioning—tools that are now a part of my very being. However, I have encountered countless who refuse to question…refuse to think…refuse to learn…refuse to care. These are the Paris Hiltons. These are the Entertainment Channel addicts. These are the ones who have never watched the news or read the paper. These are the ones who don’t know the capital of Iraq. These are the self-indulgent mallrats. These are the ones who continue living without regard to the world. These are the overly-patriotic citizens who vote Republican or Democrat without any knowledge on the issues at hand. These are the blind, propaganda-devouring, ethnocentric masses. These are Americans.
Well, I like T.V. and I have an iPod—the difference is that I’m also writing a Blog. I have BBC.com open on my computer and a NY Times on my desk. My point is that you can care and act on your beliefs while still enjoying the perks of life. I do. The problem arises when people push out all of the stuff that matters just to fit in another show or another visit to the mall. Don’t sacrifice democracy just so you can fill your life entirely with meaningless extras. We can maintain a balance.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my role in the next generation. People call us “Generation Y”—the tech-savvy, independent, and self-important youths who are out to “challenge the status quo” and who thrive off of creative innovation. Our parents (Generation X) were similar to us, but USA Today says that we are “Generation X on steroids.” To us, social equality is a norm, not a privilege. In our world, the Internet has always existed, and if we need something we can pull it up with high speed. As we assume leadership roles, we will demand change with that same high speed. The Y’s are the ones who will determine what happens next. The storm is here, and our parents are almost done ruling. We are next in line. This is not a rebellious rant, but rather a declaration: We are charged with the fate of the world. This is serious.
My two greatest fears are fanaticism and apathy. I’m afraid of the fanatics because of their blind devotion to extreme views that are, more often than not, dangerous. I’m afraid of the apathetics because they don’t worry about the fanatics. My experiences with many of my peers, and fellow members of the Y Generation, have ranged from inspiring to despairing. Growing up, I was lucky to make friends with some of the most intellectually active people—these were people who challenged my thinking and made me who I am today. I’m also lucky to have had family members and teachers who forced serious reflection and questioning—tools that are now a part of my very being. However, I have encountered countless who refuse to question…refuse to think…refuse to learn…refuse to care. These are the Paris Hiltons. These are the Entertainment Channel addicts. These are the ones who have never watched the news or read the paper. These are the ones who don’t know the capital of Iraq. These are the self-indulgent mallrats. These are the ones who continue living without regard to the world. These are the overly-patriotic citizens who vote Republican or Democrat without any knowledge on the issues at hand. These are the blind, propaganda-devouring, ethnocentric masses. These are Americans.
Well, I like T.V. and I have an iPod—the difference is that I’m also writing a Blog. I have BBC.com open on my computer and a NY Times on my desk. My point is that you can care and act on your beliefs while still enjoying the perks of life. I do. The problem arises when people push out all of the stuff that matters just to fit in another show or another visit to the mall. Don’t sacrifice democracy just so you can fill your life entirely with meaningless extras. We can maintain a balance.
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