tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092Wed, 06 Nov 2024 02:54:48 +0000USIslamMiddle EastArab worldForeign PolicyIsrael/PalestineTerrorismdemocracyMuslim worldPoliticsCanadaIranPakistandevelopmentLebanonReligionSyriaObamaEconomyQatarAfghanistanConflictDubaiEducationEgyptGeopoliticsHezbollahMediaSectarianismTalibanUAEWorld cupunited nationsCultureGazaHuman rightsPhilanthropySaudi ArabiaShiiteSocietySportGlobalGlobal securityGulfInternationalIsraelLocoWorldTVPrivate sectorTurkeyViolenceYouthleadershipAlJazeeraCarterCartoonsCoexistenceEastern EuropeElectionsEngagementEspionageFinanceFlotillaGCCGatesGovernanceHistoryISISIconsIndiaMalaysiaNuclearOil spillPeacePetraeusPluralismPoetryRamadanRepublicansRethinkRiotsRussiaSunniTaufiqTechnologyTop10TrendsTrumpUnited StatesVancouverWestdiplomacyeuropetunisiayemen<div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="79qlp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="79qlp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="79qlp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; font-style: italic;">On the occasion of Canada</span><span data-offset-key="79qlp-0-1" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">’s </span><span data-offset-key="79qlp-0-2" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; font-style: italic;">150th birthday here are 150 things to know...</span></div> <br /> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1p65i-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1p65i-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2c6kA4SvNNziK4LHbelH3kPvZ10_hk-OKHoedZ_K7YD9gD8Y-W651jfuL3wHfqxYeZxeVOWGydjLsIDEnFPJYobpQ5IlA1I6mUTQiGYR1xVRTFrVf7fic1eqppof3cAsnWKokm4x0Q1w/s1600/Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2c6kA4SvNNziK4LHbelH3kPvZ10_hk-OKHoedZ_K7YD9gD8Y-W651jfuL3wHfqxYeZxeVOWGydjLsIDEnFPJYobpQ5IlA1I6mUTQiGYR1xVRTFrVf7fic1eqppof3cAsnWKokm4x0Q1w/s200/Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" width="200" /></a><span data-offset-key="1p65i-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">1. Today, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is one of the </span><a href="http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/justin-trudeau-is-now-the-most-prominent-and-popular-politician-on-the-planet-dion-says/wcm/c6b11074-6ed8-43bf-938a-a37aa027149b" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="1p65i-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">world’s most popular </span></a><span data-offset-key="1p65i-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">political leaders.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="2htrf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2htrf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="2htrf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">2. Justin Trudeau emerged out of the shadows and into the political spotlight when </span><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/2000-justin-trudeau-delivers-eulogy-for-his-father-pierre" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2htrf-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">delivering the eulogy</span></a><span data-offset-key="2htrf-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> at his father’s funeral, the late Pierre Elliot Trudeau in September 2000.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="ac1ci-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ac1ci-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="ac1ci-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">3. The four </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/04/world/crowds-fill-montreal-streets-for-pierre-trudeau-s-funeral.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="ac1ci-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">pallbearers</span></a><span data-offset-key="ac1ci-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> at the funeral were Justin Trudeau, the Aga Khan, former President Jimmy Carter and…the late Cuban autocrat Fidel Castro.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="852k1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="852k1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="852k1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">4. Justin Trudeau’s brother, Alexandre Trudeau, is a fearless filmmaker, who was </span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/embedded-in-baghdad/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="852k1-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Embedded in Baghdad</span></a><span data-offset-key="852k1-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> before, during and after the U.S. invasion in 2003.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="aacs8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="aacs8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="aacs8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">5. While Justin is a social media star, his father was the true showman, who once </span><a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/photographer-reflects-on-pierre-trudeau-s-iconic-pirouette-photo-1.2673598" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="aacs8-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">famously pirouetted</span></a><span data-offset-key="aacs8-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> behind Queen Elizabeth’s back.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="6oatf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6oatf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="6oatf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">6. In fact, this was just one of many colorful moments. To this day in Canada to give the ‘</span><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Pierre_Trudeau_salute" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="6oatf-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Pierre Trudeau salute</span></a><span data-offset-key="6oatf-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">’ means something, very interesting…</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9dnou-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9dnou-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9dnou-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">7. And who can forget </span><a href="http://www.macleans.ca/archives/1977-margaret-trudeau-parties-with-the-rolling-stones/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="9dnou-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">the moment</span></a><span data-offset-key="9dnou-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> featuring the Rolling Stones, the paparazzi and the Prime Minister.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5mskp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5mskp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5mskp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">8. However, the elder Trudeau also did some amazing things for Canada. For starters, until 1982 when he brought it back to Canada, </span><a href="http://www.duhaime.org/LawMuseum/CanadianLegalHistory/LawArticle-583/1981-Charter-of-Rights-and-Freedoms.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="5mskp-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">the constitution</span></a><span data-offset-key="5mskp-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> was effectively governed by the Queen of England.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="2mhpl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2mhpl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="2mhpl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">9. That same year he pushed through the </span><a href="http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1468851006026" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2mhpl-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Canadian Charter of Rights &amp; Freedoms</span></a><span data-offset-key="2mhpl-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5lhof-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5lhof-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5lhof-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">10. This protection of Canadian rights and diversity did not emerge overnight. Back in 1971, the elder Trudeau declared the new </span><a href="http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/citizenship.asp" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="5lhof-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Canadian multiculturalism policy</span></a><span data-offset-key="5lhof-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="e2fbq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e2fbq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="e2fbq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">11. Four years earlier, in 1967, Pierre Trudeau uttered these </span><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/omnibus-bill-theres-no-place-for-the-state-in-the-bedrooms-of-the-nation" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="e2fbq-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">famous words</span></a><span data-offset-key="e2fbq-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">: “There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation,” when he decriminalized homosexuality in sweeping changes to the criminal code.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5ug4g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5ug4g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5ug4g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">12. It took Canada until 2005 to </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/07/02/how-canada-led-the-way-on-same-sex-marriage.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="5ug4g-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">legalize same-sex marriage</span></a><span data-offset-key="5ug4g-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, being the first nation outside of Europe and fourth in the world to do so.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="fknuv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fknuv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="fknuv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">13. However, while things were eventful under Pierre Trudeau they were also turbulent. He suspended civil liberties during the ‘</span><a href="http://historyofrights.ca/history/october-crisis/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="fknuv-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">October Crisis</span></a><span data-offset-key="fknuv-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">’ in 1970, when he invoked the ‘War Measures Act’ after a provincial cabinet minister was kidnapped by separatist militants.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="bb7p-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bb7p-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="bb7p-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">14. He also enacted the </span><a href="http://www.history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/gas/transformation/west-vs-east/nep.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="bb7p-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">National Energy Program</span></a><span data-offset-key="bb7p-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in the 1980s which effectively federalized revenues from energy resources in Alberta, creating long-term hostility towards the federal Liberal Party in the years to come in Western Canada.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="bc5sj-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bc5sj-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="bc5sj-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">15. Trudeau was also an antagonist to separatist ambitions in Quebec, delivering two fiery speeches, one in </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoqf3h1WQKQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="bc5sj-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">1980</span></a><span data-offset-key="bc5sj-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, and another in </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKa6rm0TRZs" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="bc5sj-3-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">1995</span></a><span data-offset-key="bc5sj-4-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> to thwart referendums for independence.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="ernd6-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ernd6-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="ernd6-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">16. All in all, the elder Trudeau served for 15 years but he wasn’t the longest serving Prime Minister. That would be </span><a href="http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/politics-government/prime-ministers/pmportrait/Pages/item.aspx?PersonId=10" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="ernd6-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">William Lyon Mackenzie King</span></a><span data-offset-key="ernd6-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, who served for 21 years.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="7c5jd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7c5jd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="7c5jd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">17. In second place was the founding Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, who served for 18 years – and who also had a bit of a </span><a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/2819245/sir-john-a-macdonald-notorious-drinker-honoured-with-kingston-whiskey-tasting/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="7c5jd-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">drinking problem</span></a><span data-offset-key="7c5jd-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="2un6k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2un6k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="2un6k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">18. When Canada was </span><a href="https://lop.parl.ca/About/Parliament/Education/ourcountryourparliament/html_booklet/confederation-e.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2un6k-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">founded in 1867</span></a><span data-offset-key="2un6k-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, there were only four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="4lejf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4lejf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="4lejf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">19. In fact it was not </span><a href="http://canadahistoryproject.ca/1949/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="4lejf-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">until 1949</span></a><span data-offset-key="4lejf-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> that the last province, Newfoundland joined Canada, and that was only after a barely won referendum.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="8nigq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8nigq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="8nigq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">20. Canada also has three Territories: the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavat, the latter being formed in 1999.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="c2fr1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c2fr1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="c2fr1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">21. The country is extremely ‘big’, the second largest in the world with over </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/w7mit/til_canada_has_more_lakes_than_the_rest_of_the/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="c2fr1-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">2 million lakes</span></a><span data-offset-key="c2fr1-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, among other things.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1snji-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1snji-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="1snji-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">22. But, 75% of Canadians actually</span><a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/canada-facts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="1snji-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> live within 100 miles</span></a><span data-offset-key="1snji-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> of the U.S.-Canada border.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="83anl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="83anl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="83anl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">23. This may be one of the reasons why the U.S.-Canada economic relationship is the largest in the world, estimated to total </span><a href="https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/canada" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="83anl-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">US$630 billion</span></a><span data-offset-key="83anl-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in 2016 alone.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="7721a-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7721a-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="7721a-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">24. Close to </span><a href="http://cantruck.ca/us-canada-truck-freight-crossings-to-keep-increasing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="7721a-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">30,000 trucks</span></a><span data-offset-key="7721a-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> cross the border every single day between the two countries.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="8938m-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8938m-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="8938m-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">25. While things are rosy today, it wasn’t always so. During the War of 1812, the Canadas, as the British colonies were known then, went to battle with the U.S., ultimately </span><a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-burning-of-washington" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="8938m-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">burning down the White House</span></a><span data-offset-key="8938m-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> on August 24, 1814.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="97opb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="97opb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="97opb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">26. War was quite frequent back then due to competing French, British, and American ambitions. After fierce fighting, the 1763 </span><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/treaty-of-paris" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="97opb-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Treaty of Paris</span></a><span data-offset-key="97opb-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> essentially gave the British control over much of French Canadian land.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="atiht-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="atiht-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="atiht-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">27. In addition, one cannot forget that much of Canadian land belonged to the </span><a href="https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1303134042666/1303134337338" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="atiht-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">First Nations</span></a><span data-offset-key="atiht-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, who have been marginalized, ostracizied, occupied and colonized throughout much of Canadian history.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="a24sr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a24sr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="a24sr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">28. During Canada’s first years, a group of people called the Metis who were ethnically mixed between First nations and European descent, rose up in </span><a href="http://manitobia.ca/content/en/themes/bom/4" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="a24sr-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">rebellion</span></a><span data-offset-key="a24sr-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, ultimately establishing a short-lived provisional government in 1870.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="du9n1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="du9n1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="du9n1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">29. The leader of that rebellion </span><a href="https://www.biography.com/people/louis-riel-9458603" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="du9n1-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Louis Riel</span></a><span data-offset-key="du9n1-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> was ultimately ranked as the 11th Greatest Canadian.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9tqf1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9tqf1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9tqf1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">30. That battle was only one of many for the acknowledgement of the rights of First Nations. One of the worst stains on Canadian history was the </span><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/a-history-of-residential-schools-in-canada-1.702280" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="9tqf1-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">residential school system</span></a><span data-offset-key="9tqf1-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> that at one point put a third of all First Nations children under the care of the state.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5fa4s-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5fa4s-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5fa4s-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">31. Thousands of students died, and many more were subject to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9do66-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9do66-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9do66-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">32. While today, people acknowledge some of these aspects of history, the fight is not over. One of the scandals that was a campaign issue for Justin Trudeau, was the plight of up to </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/17/missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-in-canada-could-number-4000" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="9do66-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">4,000 missing or murdered</span></a><span data-offset-key="9do66-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> aboriginal women.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="6glph-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6glph-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="6glph-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">33. Canada’s history has not always been one of inclusivity. The </span><a href="http://www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/chinese-immigration-act-1923" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="6glph-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Chinese Exclusion or Immigration Act of 1923 </span></a><span data-offset-key="6glph-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">effectively banned immigrants of Chinese origin.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9ur51-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9ur51-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9ur51-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">34. This was a culmination of violence and protests against immigrants from East and South Asia, including riots in </span><a href="http://bclearningnetwork.com/LOR/media/SS10/Media/Immigration/anti_asian_riots.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="9ur51-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">1907</span></a><span data-offset-key="9ur51-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in Vancouver, British Columbia.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="7qedr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7qedr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="7qedr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">35. Today, whites are expected to </span><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Whites+become+minority+Metro+Vancouver+2031/8175821/story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="7qedr-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">become a minority</span></a><span data-offset-key="7qedr-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in Vancouver by 2031 (although I suspect this has already happened).</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="2fs7l-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2fs7l-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="2fs7l-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">36. 20.6% of Canadians are </span><a href="http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-010-x/99-010-x2011001-eng.cfm" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2fs7l-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">foreign-born today</span></a><span data-offset-key="2fs7l-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> and 19.1% identify themselves as visible minorities. 3% of the population identifies as Muslim.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="bqv8j-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bqv8j-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="bqv8j-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">37. There are more </span><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/i-have-more-sikhs-in-cabinet-than-modi-canadian-pm/article8348687.ece" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="bqv8j-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Sikhs in the Canadian Cabinet</span></a><span data-offset-key="bqv8j-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> than there are in India’s government (4 versus 2).</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="645dg-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="645dg-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="645dg-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">38. It was not </span><a href="http://canadiansikhheritage.ca/passage-to-canada/history/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="645dg-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">until the 1940s</span></a><span data-offset-key="645dg-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, however, that Sikhs truly received voting rights.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="ekp76-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ekp76-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="ekp76-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">39. Canadian women achieved the </span><a href="http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/cent/index-en.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="ekp76-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">right to vote </span></a><span data-offset-key="ekp76-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">around the same time as women in the U.S. in the late 1910s.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="2s0tb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2s0tb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="2s0tb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">40. Canada also became home to a number of Black Canadians due to the </span><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2s0tb-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Underground Railroad,</span></a><span data-offset-key="2s0tb-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> although racism has </span><a href="https://www.uoguelph.ca/diversity-human-rights/book-page/racism-against-blacks" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2s0tb-3-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">reared its ugly head</span></a><span data-offset-key="2s0tb-4-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in Canada as well.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="4k811-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4k811-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="4k811-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">41. While ethnic and racial struggles have been real, so have class struggles. A lot of this culminated in gained labor rights and ultimately </span><a href="http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-health.asp" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="4k811-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">universal healthcare</span></a><span data-offset-key="4k811-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9tvps-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9tvps-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9tvps-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">42. The ‘grandfather’ of universal healthcare was actually New Democratic Party leader </span><a href="http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/canada-150-tommy-douglas" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="9tvps-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Tommy Douglas</span></a><span data-offset-key="9tvps-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, who was named the Greatest Canadian in that (in-)famous poll.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="c74n4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c74n4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="c74n4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">43. Tommy Douglas is also the grandfather of prominent Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="817vd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="817vd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="817vd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">44. Kiefer Sutherland’s father is Donald Sutherland, who married Tommy Douglas daughter, prominent public figure, Shirley Douglas.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="323uf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="323uf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="323uf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">45. While living in the U.S. Donald Sutherland retained only Canadian citizenship but </span><a href="http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/im-canadian-expat-donald-sutherland-blasts-inability-to-vote-in-canadian-federal-elections/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="323uf-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">lost the right to vote</span></a><span data-offset-key="323uf-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> due to the Conservative Party’s new laws in 2015.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="bmfpc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bmfpc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="bmfpc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">46. This also led to a rallying cry by then candidate Justin Trudeau, that “</span><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/news-video/a-canadian-is-a-canadian-is-a-canadian-harper-trudeau-spar-over-right-to-revoke-citizenship/article26580135/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="bmfpc-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian</span></a><span data-offset-key="bmfpc-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.”</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="70rv7-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="70rv7-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="70rv7-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">47. There are almost </span><a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/3434894/canadians-living-abroad/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="70rv7-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">3 million Canadians living abroad</span></a><span data-offset-key="70rv7-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> but many retain a vibrant Canadian identity.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="cfptm-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cfptm-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="cfptm-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">48. For example, the </span><a href="http://www.terryfox.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="cfptm-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Terry Fox Run</span></a><span data-offset-key="cfptm-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, a hallmark of Canada, has been held in over 60 countries by countless millions over the years.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="elg2u-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="elg2u-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="elg2u-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">49. Through these runs over $650 million has been raised for cancer research.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="17iv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="17iv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="17iv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">50. And it is all inspired by Terry Fox, who ran the </span><a href="http://www.terryfox.org/terrys-story/marathon-of-hope/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="17iv-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Marathon of Hope</span></a><span data-offset-key="17iv-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in 1980 </span><span data-offset-key="17iv-2-1" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; font-style: italic;">after</span><span data-offset-key="17iv-2-2" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> losing one leg to cancer.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5ivpe-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5ivpe-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5ivpe-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">51. He ended his run after reaching 5,373 kilometres over 143 days.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="33pf5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="33pf5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="33pf5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">52. Inspired by Terry’s courage, a fellow West Coaster, </span><a href="http://www.rickhansen.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="33pf5-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Rick Hansen</span></a><span data-offset-key="33pf5-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> embarked on a </span><span data-offset-key="33pf5-2-1" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; font-style: italic;">Man in Motion World Tour </span><span data-offset-key="33pf5-2-2" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">for two years in 1985.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="auidl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="auidl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="auidl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">53. He criss-crossed 34 countries raising $26 million along the way.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="4efqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4efqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="4efqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">54. It also inspired the song </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVf4_WglzWA" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="4efqu-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">St. Elmo’s Fire</span></a><span data-offset-key="4efqu-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, which reached #1 on the Billboard Charts.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1sflf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1sflf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="1sflf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">55. The </span><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7378347/ask-billboard-celine-dions-career-sales-biggest-hot-100-hits" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="1sflf-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">best-selling Canadian artist</span></a><span data-offset-key="1sflf-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> of all time remains Celine Dion, who has sold over 200 million albums worldwide.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1od1h-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1od1h-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="1od1h-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">56. It appears though that fellow Canadian Justin Bieber may </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Bieber_discography" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="1od1h-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">soon beat her</span></a><span data-offset-key="1od1h-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> on the charts.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5r0-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5r0-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5r0-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">57. There are a lot of Canadian singers, that are quite prominent, but they often live abroad, like Bryan Adams.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="29jd7-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="29jd7-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="29jd7-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">58. In fact, Bryan Adams and Beverley Hills 90210 star Jason Priestly went to the same high school, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyle_Secondary_School" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="29jd7-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Argyle Secondary School</span></a><span data-offset-key="29jd7-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in Vancouver.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="e442j-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e442j-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="e442j-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">59. And while Bryan Adams is known for his singing, he </span><a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/alt.sports.hockey.nhl.vanc-canucks/L2Ta4DwNaR0/mFzBFNTeCAwJ" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="e442j-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">once</span></a><span data-offset-key="e442j-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> mixed up the lyrics of the Canadian national anthem.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="fqg75-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fqg75-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="fqg75-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">60. The Canadian national anthem, </span><a href="http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/o-canada/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="fqg75-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">‘O Canada’</span></a><span data-offset-key="fqg75-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, was itself composed in 1880.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9j4is-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9j4is-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9j4is-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">61. However, the lyrics of the anthem were originally French and were then translated into English.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="12ql9-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="12ql9-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="12ql9-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">62. The final English version emerged two decades later, which remains with us today.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="62ssk-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="62ssk-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="62ssk-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">63. Like many things marking Canadian identity, the flag also was developed after Confederation – in </span><a href="http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2017/02/15/canada-history-feb-15-1965-canada-finally-gets-its-wonderful-flag/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="62ssk-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">1965</span></a><span data-offset-key="62ssk-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">!</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="cc6u9-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cc6u9-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="cc6u9-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">64. Until that point the Canadian flag always had the Union Jack.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="b36ca-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="b36ca-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="b36ca-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">65. It was the government of then </span><a href="https://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/once-upon-a-city-archives/2017/06/07/once-upon-a-city-lester-b-pearsons-peacekeeping-legacy.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="b36ca-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson</span></a><span data-offset-key="b36ca-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> that adopted the new flag.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="42qp2-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="42qp2-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="42qp2-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">66. He was inspired earlier to move on this when Canadian peacekeepers were not accepted in Egypt due to the presence of the Union Jack on their flags.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1jhsi-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1jhsi-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="1jhsi-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">67. He had a lot of legitimacy because PM Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his efforts to stop the Suez Crisis.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="8iith-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8iith-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="8iith-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">68. He remains the only Canadian to win the Noble Peace Prize.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="21ufr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="21ufr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="21ufr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">69. </span><a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/list-of-canadians-who-have-won-the-nobel-prize-1.2597526" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="21ufr-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">17 other Canadians</span></a><span data-offset-key="21ufr-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> have won Nobel Prizes.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="7friv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7friv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="7friv-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">70. Probably the most prominent was Frederick Banting in 1923 who co-discovered </span><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/discoveryofinsulin.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="7friv-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">insulin</span></a><span data-offset-key="7friv-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="b1ori-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="b1ori-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="b1ori-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">71. While Canadians are known for peacemaking in recent years it has been a </span><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/canadas-peacekeeping-conundrum-will-we-ever-make-a-choice/article34557676/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="b1ori-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">troubling area</span></a><span data-offset-key="b1ori-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3mrrt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3mrrt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3mrrt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">72. It was a </span><a href="http://www.romeodallaire.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="3mrrt-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Canadian lieutenant-general</span></a><span data-offset-key="3mrrt-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> who commanded the peacekeeping force that failed to intervene to stop the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="feq50-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="feq50-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="feq50-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">73. Romeo Dallaire’s outspokenness after, however, helped empower the </span><a href="http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="feq50-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Responsibility to Protect </span></a><span data-offset-key="feq50-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">movement.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="ferkf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ferkf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="ferkf-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">74. Today, Canada has a </span><a href="http://ccr2p.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="ferkf-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Centre</span></a><span data-offset-key="ferkf-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> dedicated to humanitarian protection as a result.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1l6h4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1l6h4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="1l6h4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">75. Canada often fights alongside the United States, but refused to join the Iraq War in 2003 and the Vietnam War decades earlier.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="890ur-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="890ur-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="890ur-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">76. It chooses to make its contributions more to specialized units and forces, such as </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/23/how-canadas-tiny-military-produced-deadly-record-breaking-snipers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="890ur-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Joint Task Force 2</span></a><span data-offset-key="890ur-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="eh2j3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="eh2j3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="eh2j3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">77. A sniper from that group just broke the world record for longest kill.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="d3s4k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="d3s4k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="d3s4k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">78. The long reach approach is a consistent one for Canada. It developed the </span><a href="http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/canadarm/Default.asp" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="d3s4k-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Canadarm</span></a><span data-offset-key="d3s4k-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, which for three decades has helped repair satellites in outer space.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="26or3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="26or3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="26or3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">79. Canada has a space program, but often collaborates with NASA and the Europeans, including sending </span><a href="http://chrishadfield.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="26or3-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Chris Hadfield</span></a><span data-offset-key="26or3-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> to space in 2012-2013 as the Commander of the International Space Station.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="4h4l8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4h4l8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="4h4l8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">80. Hadfield became a social media star, including running a </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3pxrfr/i_am_chris_hadfield_ama/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="4h4l8-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Reddit AMA</span></a><span data-offset-key="4h4l8-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> from outerspace.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3ibs8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3ibs8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3ibs8-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">81. He also had an </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRuRdL3P5e0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="3ibs8-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">exciting phone call</span></a><span data-offset-key="3ibs8-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> with William Shatner (also Canadian) of Star Trek fame from the Space Station.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="56sar-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="56sar-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="56sar-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">82. However, the most resonating aspect of his trip was probably his recording of David Bowie’s </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="56sar-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Space Oddity</span></a><span data-offset-key="56sar-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5ubrm-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5ubrm-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5ubrm-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">83. During his time in space he took </span><a href="https://qz.com/288018/astronaut-chris-hadfield-took-45000-jaw-dropping-photos-from-space-here-are-some-of-the-best/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="5ubrm-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">45,000 photos</span></a><span data-offset-key="5ubrm-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5dmtc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5dmtc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5dmtc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">84. One of the photos he took was of the Detroit River that separates Windsor, Ontario from Detroit, Michigan.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="bekqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bekqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="bekqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">85. A new bridge, called the </span><a href="https://www.wdbridge.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="bekqu-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Gordie Howe International Bridge</span></a><span data-offset-key="bekqu-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> has been proposed for the crossing, although it has come under scrutiny.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="415gl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="415gl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="415gl-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">86. </span><a href="https://www.nhl.com/player/gordie-howe-8448000" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="415gl-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Gordie Howe,</span></a><span data-offset-key="415gl-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> known as Mr. Hockey, was a Canadian hockey player that played for many years for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) and before Wayne Gretzky came along, he was the leading points scorer.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="7ksql-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7ksql-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="7ksql-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">87. This year is also the </span><a href="https://www.nhl.com/fans/nhl-centennial" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="7ksql-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">100</span></a><span data-offset-key="7ksql-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">-</span><a href="https://www.nhl.com/fans/nhl-centennial" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="7ksql-3-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">year anniversary </span></a><span data-offset-key="7ksql-4-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">of the NHL.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3gqr5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3gqr5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3gqr5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">88. The original teams in the modern era, are known as the Original Six, and included the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadians, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="7hdcd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7hdcd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="7hdcd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">89. Today, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nhl-player-nationalities-2015-10" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="7hdcd-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">almost half</span></a><span data-offset-key="7hdcd-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> of players are still Canadian.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="bi0ng-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bi0ng-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="bi0ng-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">90. Yet, a Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup since 1993.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="89sh1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="89sh1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="89sh1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">91. Since that time, teams from Tampa Bay, Anaheim, and Carolina have </span><a href="https://www.nhl.com/info/all-time-stanley-cup-winners" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="89sh1-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">won the Cup</span></a><span data-offset-key="89sh1-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="obsa-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="obsa-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="obsa-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">92. Little known though is that the official </span><a href="http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/n-16.7/page-1.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="obsa-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">National Game of Canada</span></a><span data-offset-key="obsa-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> is lacrosse.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="e6on5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e6on5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="e6on5-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">93. A professional men’s </span><a href="http://www.nll.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="e6on5-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">lacrosse league</span></a><span data-offset-key="e6on5-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> has 9 teams, with 5 in the US and 4 in Canada.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="fivg6-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fivg6-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="fivg6-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">94. Canada has only one professional baseball team (the Toronto Blue Jays) but it used to have two.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="dos6d-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dos6d-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="dos6d-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">95. In 2004 the Montreal Expos folded after 35 years.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9bueq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9bueq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9bueq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">96. Canada also has only one professional basketball team (the Toronto Raptors) but it also used to have two.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="e0727-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e0727-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="e0727-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">97. In 2001, the Vancouver Grizzlies moved to Memphis – they are stilled called the Grizzlies.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="e50lr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e50lr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="e50lr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">98. Many Grizzly Bears can be found at home in Western Canada (not Memphis).</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3oi6m-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3oi6m-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3oi6m-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">99. Canada’s natural landscape often affiliates the country with environmentalism.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="92qt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="92qt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="92qt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">100. A very prominent Canadian environmental activist is </span><a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="92qt-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">David Suzuki</span></a><span data-offset-key="92qt-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5q4kc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5q4kc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5q4kc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">101. In addition, </span><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/About-us/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="5q4kc-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Greenpeace was founded</span></a><span data-offset-key="5q4kc-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in 1971 in Vancouver, Canada.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="2nrku-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2nrku-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="2nrku-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">102. Despite this recognition and connection, Canada remains </span><a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2nrku-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">one of the worst polluters</span></a><span data-offset-key="2nrku-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in the world with a high carbon footprint per capita.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="ddl7f-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ddl7f-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="ddl7f-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">103. When it is possible, renewable energy is a big focus such as in British Columbia where 92% of power is </span><a href="https://www.bchydro.com/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="ddl7f-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">hydroelectric</span></a><span data-offset-key="ddl7f-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="68kv4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="68kv4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="68kv4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">104. Companies such as </span><a href="http://ballard.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="68kv4-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Ballard</span></a><span data-offset-key="68kv4-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> pioneered alternative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells but it hasn’t exactly worked out.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="bkdt4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bkdt4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="bkdt4-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">105. That is somewhat of a trend for Canadian companies in the modern technology era, with seemingly rising success stories like Corel, Nortel, and BlackBerry, falling back down to Earth.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="dviaq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dviaq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="dviaq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">106. </span><a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/investors-investisseurs/cities-villes/waterloo.aspx?lang=eng" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="dviaq-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Waterloo</span></a><span data-offset-key="dviaq-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, Ontario, has the 2nd most patents per capita in the world, according to some estimates.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="53jln-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="53jln-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="53jln-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">107. Canadians also have the </span><a href="http://www.oecd.org/canada/eag2014ca.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="53jln-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">highest rate of tertiary education </span></a><span data-offset-key="53jln-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">among advanced economies.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="f67rr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="f67rr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="f67rr-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">108. It costs on average </span><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/student-finance/how-much-does-it-cost-study-canada" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="f67rr-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">US$4,500 </span></a><span data-offset-key="f67rr-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">to study per year in Canada, nearly half of the price for a public education in the U.S.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9ju85-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9ju85-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9ju85-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">109. However, </span><a href="http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/income-inequality.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="9ju85-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">inequality</span></a><span data-offset-key="9ju85-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> is getting worse in Canada with the bottom 90 percent seeing their income increase only 2% since 1982.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5bfsn-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5bfsn-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5bfsn-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">110. Over the same period, the top 10 percent saw an income increase of 75%.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="e76sb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e76sb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="e76sb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">111. Healthcare costs are also rising, reaching </span><a href="https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/price-of-public-health-care-insurance-2015-rev.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="e76sb-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">$6,000 per person</span></a><span data-offset-key="e76sb-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> (Canadian dollars).</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3ee5t-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3ee5t-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3ee5t-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">112. And while there is universal healthcare, in 2016 wait times reached </span><a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/healthcare-wait-times-hit-20-weeks-in-2016-report-1.3171718" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="3ee5t-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">record levels</span></a><span data-offset-key="3ee5t-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3mrpt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3mrpt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3mrpt-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">113. The average wait time for medically necessary procedures was 20 weeks in 2016.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="auhgc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="auhgc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="auhgc-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">114. Some governments are trying to act, such as in Ontario where prescription drugs for people under the age of 25 will be </span><a href="https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/05/ontario-providing-free-prescription-medications-for-students.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="auhgc-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">free</span></a><span data-offset-key="auhgc-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="73ifp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="73ifp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="73ifp-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">115. The same provincial government is seeking to launch a universal </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/24/canada-basic-income-trial-ontario-summer" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="73ifp-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">basic income trial</span></a><span data-offset-key="73ifp-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in three cities.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="11qfk-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="11qfk-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="11qfk-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">116. And it matters what happens in Ontario because it has 13.6 million people, which is almost 40% of Canada’s population.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="8dj5g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8dj5g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="8dj5g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">117. Canada has the </span><a href="http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/canada-is-the-fastest-growing-g7-country/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="8dj5g-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">highest population growth</span></a><span data-offset-key="8dj5g-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in the G7 actually.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="d2sor-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="d2sor-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="d2sor-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">118. It is in the Western provinces where we are seeing the most growth, with Alberta leading the way most recently.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="fvinh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fvinh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="fvinh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">119. Migration is a large part of the story, as the country receives roughly 300,000 net immigrants per year (I think).</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="a7g09-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a7g09-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="a7g09-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">120. Since 1951, Alberta has seen </span><a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/census-2016-statscan/article33931243/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="a7g09-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">332.9% growth </span></a><span data-offset-key="a7g09-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">in its population.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="15p14-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="15p14-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="15p14-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">121. British Columbia has seen 298.9%.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="7e6uj-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7e6uj-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="7e6uj-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">122. Ontario has witnessed 192.5% while Quebec is at 101.3%.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5tqef-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5tqef-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5tqef-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">123. In the last 5 years, the capital of Newfoundland, Saint John’s, has seen negative population growth.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1i7q3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1i7q3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="1i7q3-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">124. Newfoundland, although sometimes forgotten, matters. 17,000 stranded passengers on 9/11 </span><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/31491/september-11th-and-hospitable-people-gander-newfoundland" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="1i7q3-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">found shelter and accommodation</span></a><span data-offset-key="1i7q3-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> there.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="8eqqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8eqqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="8eqqu-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">125. The Titanic also sunk off the coast of the Canadian province.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="cj9cd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cj9cd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="cj9cd-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">126. A </span><a href="http://www.deepseachallenge.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="cj9cd-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Canadian filmmaker became obsessed</span></a><span data-offset-key="cj9cd-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> with the shipwreck ultimately creating one of the highest-grossing films of all time.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="35lvq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="35lvq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="35lvq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">127. And this film, </span><span data-offset-key="35lvq-0-1" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; font-style: italic;">Titanic, </span><span data-offset-key="35lvq-0-2" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">also featured one of the most popular – or notorious – songs of all time, by that other Canadian, Celine Dion: </span><span data-offset-key="35lvq-0-3" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; font-style: italic;">My Heart Will Go On.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="93grq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="93grq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="93grq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">128. Shipwrecks off the Canadian coasts are not uncommon, given that Canada is surrounded by three oceans, the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="109mh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="109mh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="109mh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">129. Most explorers came by sea, including French explorer Jacques Cartier, considered one of the first Europeans to arrive in what is today Canada.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5891h-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5891h-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5891h-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">130. It is thought that he named the place, Canada, after an Iroquois name for ‘settlement’.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="5km3r-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5km3r-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="5km3r-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">131. Much of his crew suffered from scurvy, and were only saved by the help of indigenous people they encountered.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="1skfh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1skfh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="1skfh-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">132. The very </span><a href="http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/thanksgiving-day/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="1skfh-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">first Thanksgiving celebration</span></a><span data-offset-key="1skfh-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> in Canada was held in 1578 – in Newfoundland.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="e402d-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e402d-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="e402d-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">133. Canada, like some other Commonwealth countries, also celebrates Boxing Day, which occurs on December 26.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="fb172-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fb172-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="fb172-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">134. No one really knows why Canadians celebrate Boxing Day, except that it is a day when everything is on sale.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="b3i14-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="b3i14-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="b3i14-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">135. The U.S. and Canada share a lot but differences like these on a few holidays are matched by some linguistic differences, like the </span><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/garburator" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="b3i14-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">garburator</span></a><span data-offset-key="b3i14-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; font-style: italic;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3h8pq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3h8pq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3h8pq-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">136. However, all in all there are a lot of shared things, like NORAD, which among other things </span><a href="http://www.noradsanta.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="3h8pq-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">tracks Santa Claus</span></a><span data-offset-key="3h8pq-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="8e25g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8e25g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="8e25g-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">137. And Santa Claus still lives in the North Pole, which is in Canada.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="6ov1q-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6ov1q-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="6ov1q-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">138. There are still though a number of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_disputed_by_Canada_and_the_United_States" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="6ov1q-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">border disputes</span></a><span data-offset-key="6ov1q-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> between Canada and the U.S.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="2hm4k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2hm4k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="2hm4k-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">139. Though that can hopefully be resolved over a </span><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Double-double" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="2hm4k-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">double-double</span></a><span data-offset-key="2hm4k-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> at Tim Horton’s, the historic Canadian coffee chain.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="8pnil-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8pnil-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="8pnil-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">140. Like many brands, Tim Horton’s is owned by an American company.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="6v0gb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6v0gb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="6v0gb-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">141. The same is true for the </span><a href="https://www2.hbc.com/hbc/history/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="6v0gb-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">Hudson Bay Company</span></a><span data-offset-key="6v0gb-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">, which is one of the oldest companies in the world.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="dq3oa-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dq3oa-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="dq3oa-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">142. However, there is nothing to fret for Canada. The country still has 9% of the world’s </span><a href="http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/report/area/17601" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="dq3oa-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">forests</span></a><span data-offset-key="dq3oa-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="ccd1s-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ccd1s-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="ccd1s-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">143. Toronto is the </span><a href="http://www.blogto.com/city/2016/05/toronto_named_most_diverse_city_in_the_world/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="ccd1s-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">world’s most diverse city</span></a><span data-offset-key="ccd1s-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="9g56l-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9g56l-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="9g56l-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">144. The overall economy remains </span><a href="http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/canadas-economy-shows-solid-growth-bolstering-case-for-bank-of-canada-rate-hike/wcm/567378d5-9415-4898-9157-909af1b0303b" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="9g56l-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">one of the world’s largest</span></a><span data-offset-key="9g56l-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> and strongest.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="f211c-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="f211c-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="f211c-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">145. That contrasts with the 1990s when Canada was </span><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crisis-timeline-idUSTRE7AK0FF20111121" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="f211c-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">facing a debt crisis</span></a><span data-offset-key="f211c-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;"> and was considered at risk.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="3i935-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3i935-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="3i935-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">146. The country ranks as the ‘</span><a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2017/03/20/world-happiness-report-norway-tops-list-canada-is-7th-happiest-country-in-the-world" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="3i935-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">7th happiest</span></a><span data-offset-key="3i935-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">’ in the world.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="af5dn-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="af5dn-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="af5dn-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">147. Although in 2016 Canada was 6th.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="f5iqe-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="f5iqe-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="f5iqe-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">148. And in 2015 was 5th.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="vtn1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="vtn1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="vtn1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">149. But that is okay because July 1, 2017 is Canada’s 150th birthday.</span></div> <div data-block="true" data-editor="586vn" data-offset-key="cuep1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </div> <div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cuep1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; line-height: 27px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important; padding-top: 10px !important;"> <span data-offset-key="cuep1-0-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">150. And everybody is </span><a href="http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1468262573081" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; box-sizing: border-box !important;" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="cuep1-1-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">celebrating</span></a><span data-offset-key="cuep1-2-0" style="box-sizing: border-box !important;">!</span></div> <div class="entry__text js-entry-text bn-entry-text" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mlid&quot;:&quot;entry_text&quot;}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="content-list-component bn-content-list-text text" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mnid&quot;:&quot;citation&quot;}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 720px; padding: 0px; width: 705px;"> <div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.75rem; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="below-entry js-below-entry" data-beacon="{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mlid&quot;:&quot;below_entry&quot;}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="below-entry__content" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="advertisement below_entry_recirc treated" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 705px;"> <div class="taboola hp-entry-you_may_like trc_related_container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_trc_77094 " data-placement-name="Below Article Thumbnails" id="taboola-below-article-thumbnails-7045949544107873" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="trc_rbox_container" style="box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="trc_rbox thumbnails-o trc-content-sponsored " id="trc_wrapper_77094" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 0px solid rgb(223, 223, 223); box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: auto;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="below-entry js-below-entry" data-beacon="{&quot;p&quot;:{&quot;mlid&quot;:&quot;below_entry&quot;}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="below-entry__content" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="advertisement below_entry_recirc treated" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 705px;"> <div class="taboola hp-entry-you_may_like trc_related_container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_trc_77094 " data-placement-name="Below Article Thumbnails" id="taboola-below-article-thumbnails-7045949544107873" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="trc_rbox_container" style="box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="trc_rbox thumbnails-o trc-content-sponsored " id="trc_wrapper_77094" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 0px solid rgb(223, 223, 223); box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: auto;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2017/07/150-things-to-know-on-canadas-150th.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-5765644645549641428Mon, 04 Jan 2016 18:15:00 +00002016-01-04T22:15:16.170+04:00ISISIslamMiddle EastTrump<br /> <i>This post originally appeared in the Huffington Post on January 3, 2015. You can find the original article by clicking <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taufiq-rahim/a-muslims-top-10-wishes-f_b_8904908.html" target="_blank">here</a> or on the title.&nbsp;</i><div> <i><br /></i></div> <div> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taufiq-rahim/a-muslims-top-10-wishes-f_b_8904908.html" target="_blank">A Muslim's Top 10 Wishes for 2016</a></span></b></div> <div> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div> <div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDV5phB4zw-sI23v3g0Wh9y7BRzFyPm9sfGEHupDLJUh06pghhOyXODHuDR95ppXSttmg4n9OG4dx1VkQL88VJWIPEBvpWLHeOFrOEJU5mgwNtPrA6QIVL9IhrS2Tk-9TSLSDTmHt-mU/s1600/1449770716108.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDV5phB4zw-sI23v3g0Wh9y7BRzFyPm9sfGEHupDLJUh06pghhOyXODHuDR95ppXSttmg4n9OG4dx1VkQL88VJWIPEBvpWLHeOFrOEJU5mgwNtPrA6QIVL9IhrS2Tk-9TSLSDTmHt-mU/s200/1449770716108.png" width="200" /></a><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Have you ever made a wish that's come true -- because you made the wish? Until now, making a wish, whether at the sight of a&nbsp;<a href="http://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/2012/12/wishing-upon-the-shooting-stars-the-geminid-meteor-shower/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">shooting star&nbsp;</a>or when blowing out the candle(s) on your birthday cake or when breaking a&nbsp;<a href="https://books.google.ae/books?id=m1-xCL47_7QC&amp;pg=PA289&amp;lpg=PA289&amp;dq=making+a+wish+wishbone+origin&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=MeTWahyYmT&amp;sig=kDoqx27uD_vEfD2LzN4wMmdbWJQ&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi3wprLuo7KAhUIKA4KHWToDXIQ6AEISzAI#v=onepage&amp;q=making%20a%20wish%20wishbone%20origin&amp;f=false" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">wishbone</a>, has not yet been scientifically proven to actually work, as far as I know. Yet, in the spirit of hope, I am making 10 wishes at the beginning of the New Year. And as is always the case, as a Muslim, I speak on behalf of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/07/worlds-muslim-population-more-widespread-than-you-might-think/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">1.5 billion people</a>. So here goes...</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. People no longer confuse me with ISIS.</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> My name isn't&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wsj.com/video/isis-vs-daesh-what-in-a-name/D12C694B-6846-49D5-874C-437E77407560.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">ISIS</a>. It's not even Islamic State. In fact, the words Islamic or State are not actually in my extended name. Nevertheless, time and time again, I keep getting requests to respond to the group's actions. I swear, ISIS or ISIL or IS -- none of them are in my family tree; they're not some distant cousins of mine. In 2016, I just want people to stop confusing me with ISIS. I really don't know what ISIS is thinking and why they do what they do. It's not like the State Department is asked for comment because of the State-to-State connection. As a postscript, can ISIS stop using the word Islamic?&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Muslims stop killing Muslims for being Muslim.</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Somewhere, along the way over the last couple of decades,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/new-middle-east-muslim-versus-muslim.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Muslims started killing other Muslims&nbsp;</a>for being Muslim in the wrong way, or at least took it to a whole new level. There's a whole ideology out there built around&nbsp;<a href="http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2319" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">takfir</em></a>&nbsp;or essentially "declaring Muslims as&nbsp;<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">kufar</em>&nbsp;or unbelievers" for failing an evermore peculiar litmus test. Imagine if death squads emerged killing Black people for not being Black enough. Originating in some of the philosophical exhortations by scholar&nbsp;<a href="http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e959" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Ibn Taymiyyah&nbsp;</a>700 years ago, the criteria by which you are deemed "<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">takfir</em>-ed" and permissible to be killed has reached insane if not idiosyncratic levels. It would be funny if the situation weren't so deadly. Even&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jul/07/iraq.rorycarroll" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">barbers were caught in the crosshairs</a>&nbsp;and were being assassinated in Baghdad in the 2000s.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Death and destruction in the Muslim world have a timeout.&nbsp;</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />From&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35214099" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Yemen</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35210440" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Iraq</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cfr.org/global/global-conflict-tracker/p32137#!/conflict/civil-war-in-libya" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Libya</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/suicide-bomb-blast-kills-civilian-in-somali-capital-mogadishu-1451745942" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Somalia</a>, and from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/indian-consulate-afghanistan-attacked-160103172951319.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;to far beyond, civil strife is rife in too many parts of what is defined as the Muslim world. Autocrats, militants, extremists and terrorists, don't care who they kill: men, women, children -- everyone is fair game. I wish this would stop. Into this toxic mix, the last thing needed is more killing coming into these countries from the outside; the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iraqbodycount.org/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">2003 invasion of Iraq</a>&nbsp;proved that. I wonder if&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/syria/2015-11-24/proxy-wars" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Russia</a>&nbsp;will hear that message?&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. We all get comfortable with the "other."</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />What a difference it was in 2015 between&nbsp;<a href="http://www.attn.com/stories/4793/justin-trudeau-responds-to-donald-trump" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Trudeau and Trump</a>&nbsp;in the North American political cycle. The world needs more Trudeaus and less Trumps (Donalds that is). The fear of the "other" is starting to define Western politics and it is not just about Trump. The rise of right-wing political parties in Europe from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/10/12/447911182/a-race-to-the-far-right-in-hungarian-politics" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Hungary</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/20/world/europe/rise-of-far-right-party-in-denmark-reflects-europes-unease.html?_r=0" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Denmark</a>&nbsp;is a poignant reminder of the breadth of this phenomenon. Yet, outside the West this fear of the other also permeates and often dominates. In Turkey, we are seeing a renewed&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-kurds-idUSKBN0UH0C020160103" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">vilification of the Kurdish population</a>. Further afield in Burma, the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/01/01/rohingya-refugee-crisis-about-to-begin-again.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Rohingya</a>are cast as outsiders. In&nbsp;<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/24/world/asia/malaysia-allah-ban/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Malaysia</a>, Christians are prohibited from using the Arabic word for God. And, in nearby Brunei,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/christmas-banned-somalia-tajikistan-brunei" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Christmas was simply cancelled</a>. In some of the war zones in the Middle East, Christians are on the verge of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/pope-francis-condemns-genocide-christians-middle-east-2002857" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">disappearing</a>. The world would be a lot better off if we weren't so afraid of the bogeyman of the other.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. The Muslim world deals with its taboos.&nbsp;</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Speaking of an aversion to the non-orthodox, there's a whole set of taboos that many Muslim countries and societies need to start dealing with. A lot of them relate to sex. Sometimes the Muslim world acts like it has one big case of the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooties" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">cooties</a>. There have been attempts by some to break through these restrictions.&nbsp;<a href="http://gulfnews.com/xpress/emirati-sex-book-author-plans-third-book-1.1050957" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Wedad Lootah</a>&nbsp;in the UAE comes to mind. Shereen El Feki's&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/nov/15/sex-citadel-shereen-el-feki-guardian-first-book-award" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Sex and the Citadel</a>&nbsp;is another. This is not an issue to take lightly, especially in societies where&nbsp;<a href="http://blog.euromonitor.com/2012/02/special-report-the-worlds-youngest-populations.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">60-70 percent of youth</a>&nbsp;are under the age of 30. Bombarded by sexualized imagery from modern and digital media, these youth then live, essentially, in an austere second world that is their reality. More importantly and tragically, rape and sexual assault are simply not talked about;&nbsp;<a href="http://al.odu.edu/sociology/faculty/documents/polonko1.pdf" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">child abuse</a>&nbsp;is an even worse curse hidden under the rug. Finally, at some point Muslim countries - and the clerical establishment -- will need to come to terms with the fact that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/07/muslim-gay-150712061122712.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">gay Muslims exist</a>.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Somewhere, over the rainbow, democracy and Islam go steady.&nbsp;</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Let's be honest, a lot of people have tried to set up democracy with Islam for a relationship. Sometimes it has been a surprise blind date (e.g.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e729b3e0-84c4-11e2-aaf1-00144feabdc0.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Iraq in 2003</a>). Other times, it was a relationship that grew from blind passion (e.g. the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/12/17/143897126/the-arab-spring-a-year-of-revolution" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Arab world in 2011</a>). Often, the sparks of love eventually turn into animus and things quickly go south. In the Arab world, Tunisia is carrying - with some fragility -- the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/nobel-honour-for-a-nascent-democracy-in-tunisia/article26760147/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">banner of democracy</a>. Many Muslim-majority countries that used to be counted as democracies now suffer from authoritarian syndromes (e.g.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/opinion/turkeys-authoritarian-drift-election-erdogan.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Turkey</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/scandal-hit-malaysian-prime-minister-najib-razak-conscience-absolutely-clear" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Malaysia</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/21/bangladesh-prime-minister-rejects-accusations-of-authoritarian-rule" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Bangladesh</a>). In other cases, democracy in its infancy quickly devolved into score settling or majoritarian mafias (e.g. the&nbsp;<a href="http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/07/01/egyptian-muslim-brotherhood-s-failure" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt)</a>. Perhaps&nbsp;<a href="http://cup.columbia.edu/book/democracy-and-islam-in-indonesia/9780231161909" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Indonesia</a>, the world's most populous Muslim country is our hope that can breathe life into this wish.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Averroes comes back in style.&nbsp;</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Averroes -- or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t243/e145" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Ibn Rushd</a>&nbsp;-- was a man's man. He schooled his way into Raphael's&nbsp;<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-ren-florence-rome/high-renaissance1/v/raphael-school-of-athens" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">The School of Athens</a></em>. The polymath kept alive ancient Greek philosophy, paving the way for much of Europe's modern intellectual movements. Back in the day, in Andalusia, he was a big deal (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmZdnJ-PJPI" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Biden-style</a>). And, why not? He vociferously argued for the co-existence of secular and religious thought in a posthumous debate with the Abbasid scholar&nbsp;<a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/al-ghazali/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Al Ghazali</a>. Ultimately, Ibn Rushd lost the debate to the detriment of the Muslim world, but his arguments culminated with the work,&nbsp;<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ir/tt/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">The Incoherence of Incoherence</a></em>, which I think would be a great riposte to all ISIS ideologues and their friends. If Ibn Taymiyyah came back, then let's bring Averroes back too.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Flying while Muslim is no longer a thing.&nbsp;</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They say that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-united-flight-muslim-discrimination-claim-20150601-htmlstory.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">flying while Muslim</a>&nbsp;is the new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu.org/report/driving-while-black-racial-profiling-our-nations-highways" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">driving while Black</a>. I guess if you're a Black Muslim, this really sucks, especially if you drive to the airport for your flight. So my wish maybe can be two-pronged: getting rid of both 'driving while Black' as well as 'flying while Muslim.' What is flying while Muslim? Well, it often starts with a casual stare or two from across the way. A timid approach then ensues: "Excuse me sir." This is normally followed by a more forceful: "Please follow me." It can then get quite aggressive, with clothes falling by the wayside. It normally ends with your belongings in disarray, your belt on backwards, and you fast-walking without turning back in the hope that no one thinks twice about you boarding your flight. Oh, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/travelers-kicked-chicago-flight-suspicious-behavior-article-1.2438587" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">don't watch the news while on the plane</a>. I hate flying while Muslim.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Trump presides over a Muslim beauty contest.&nbsp;</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Was 2015 the year of Trump? You have to hand it to Trump; he sure knows how to grab the spotlight. Unfortunately, he's used that spotlight to spew increasingly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCtiJOwzmN0" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">populist venom</a>&nbsp;targeted at Muslims (and others). Maybe, we need to better appeal to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KywuAJYknck" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Trump's core interest</a>: beauty pageants. There are a few lists circulating online for potential Muslim contestants (for Men:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shoesanddrama.com/top-12-middle-eastern-men-that-are-really-really-ridiculously-good-looking/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">click here</a>&nbsp;| for Women:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2009/08/the-10-hottest-muslim-women" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">click here</a>). Yet, I think we should make this a&nbsp;<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/mipsterz-somewhere-in-america-video_n_4374182.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">mipsters</a></em>&nbsp;pageant and turn this whole thing on its head.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Peace comes to Syria.&nbsp;</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This Muslim (me) -- speaking on behalf of 1.5 billion people around the world -- has 10 wishes for 2016 but if only one of them came true it should be this one. No country has been more ravaged in recent memory than&nbsp;<a href="http://www.unocha.org/syria" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #03497e; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Syria</a>. Hundreds of thousands have been killed as gangsters, terrorists, and dictators fight for supremacy. The surrounding region, instead of trying to promote a solution, has sent in weapons, fighters, and incitement. The world, instead of trying to mediate, has sought to settle old scores. All the while, the people in Syria live in lifeless limbo amidst daily death and destruction. If I had only one wish it would be that the violence in Syria would come to an end.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> This wish list is non-exhaustive. I think I may have missed a few...</div> </div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2016/01/a-muslims-top-10-wishes-for-2016.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-1962068210844713726Tue, 22 Dec 2015 16:44:00 +00002015-12-22T20:46:29.809+04:00<br /> <br /> <i>On December 16, the Los Angeles Times posted an <a href="http://www.gorkanajobs.com/job/58917/middle-east-correspondent-l-a-times-middle-east/" target="_blank">opening</a> for a new Middle East Correspondent. </i><br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Los Angeles Times is looking for a seasoned reporter to cover the Middle East.<br /> <br /> This correspondent will anchor our coverage of the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Syria, as well as monitoring the turbulent progress of “democracy” in Egypt, North Africa and the Gulf. But more than that, we are looking for an accomplished writer who is capable of plunging into these ancient and dazzling cultures, capturing their mesmerizing variety, deep intellectual history, turbulent social upheaval and — from ISIS insurgents to entrenched dictators — their capability for brutish violence.<br /> <br /> The successful candidate will be the one who avoids the office and wanders the back roads; who will leave the others to tally the daily mayhem and bring us stories we will not have the power to forget.<br /> <br /> Fluency in Arabic is strongly preferred. Home base is negotiable. Please apply to Kim Murphy, assistant managing editor for foreign and national news.</blockquote> <i>After a week of contemplation I finally decided to apply. Here's my Cover Letter. Please wish me luck!</i><br /> <br /> Dear Kim, <br /> <br /> I consider myself seasoned - well at least lightly seasoned- especially at the time of the holiday season, and so I thought why not: maybe I should apply to be the Middle East Correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. What can I tell you - I have always loved living in the Middle East ever since my first visit to Damascus in 2003. I have travelled from Baghdad to Agrabah and everywhere in between over the last decade or so. Along the way I too have learned to put things like "democracy" in quotes. Sometimes I put it in double quotation marks because "democracy" that is imported can become an even more interesting version of ""democracy."" But that is neither here nor there. I too agree with you that the only thing really worth covering in this region - besides the contested debate over Hommus in my humble opinion - are the "ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Syria" and the "turbulent progress of democracy in Egypt, North Africa, and the Gulf." What better way to ensure that the readers of the Los Angeles Times have an in-depth understanding of the region than to ensure they only hear about those specific issues? However, I know you are looking for "more than that" from the new correspondent. An accomplished writer? Sure let's check that box. Capable of plunging into ancient and dazzling cultures? I have been known to take the plunge but only rarely dazzle. By the way normally when someone refers to ancient and dazzling, I don't really think of the Middle East but maybe Jack Nicholson. Nevertheless I feel you about this place. I too love its "mesmerizing variety" and "deep intellectual history", topics that are almost superfluously covered in the pages of the LA Times. <br /> <br /> Allow me at this point to pivot to what I think is my defining characteristic - and a key characteristic for anyone who writes about these Middle Eastern "dazzling cultures": my ability to understand "their capability for brutish violence." I know you are looking for a focus on ISIS insurgents and entrenched dictators but what about Jafar the sinister wicked Vizier? Or how about further afield, Scar and his brutish attack on Simba and Mufasa? Or Shere Khan - does anyone really understand why he went after Baloo? What caused him to choose violent extremism? I'm sorry, I digress. Getting back to the point: I am your man, your successful candidate. Just as the doctor ordered, I always avoid the office. I don't really wander the back roads - do you? What do you do there? Finally I wholeheartedly support your call: who needs to tally the mayhem when we can indulge on stories to give us the power to forget. <br /> <br /> Should you find my candidacy deserving, please be in touch with me and I will fly my carpet right over for an interview. <br /> <br /> Sincerely, <br /> <br /> Taufiq<br /> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2015/12/application-for-middle-east.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-8308636445303975504Fri, 10 Oct 2014 20:54:00 +00002014-10-11T00:54:15.348+04:00<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <i>Originally published in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taufiq-rahim/muslim-liberals-caught-in_b_5965546.html">Huffington Post</a></i></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Muslim Liberals Caught in No Man's Land</span></b></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Islam is the motherload of bad ideas." - Sam Harris</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> "That's just a fact." - Bill Maher</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> When the host of&nbsp;<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Real Time</em>&nbsp;on HBO, Bill Maher, tag-teamed with 'new atheist'&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/sam_harris_science_can_show_what_s_right?language=en" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Sam Harris</a>, to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vln9D81eO60" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">lead an assault</a>&nbsp;on Islam last week, it was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2975590/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Batman-to-be</a>&nbsp;Ben Affleck who stood up as the inexplicable first line of defense against the disjointed attack. Rounding out the panel of record, was&nbsp;<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New York Times</em>&nbsp;activist&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/opinion/kristof-her-crime-was-loving-schools.html?_r=0" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Nicholas Kristof</a>&nbsp;and Republican-lite&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Steele" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Michael Steele</a>. The debate - in which, of course no Muslims participated - quickly went viral. In the messy aftermath, Sam Harris even claimed that the media reaction&nbsp;<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2014/10/09/Sam-Harris-Critics-Are-Proving-My-Point-on-Radical-Islam" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">vindicated him&nbsp;</a>and proved his point.&nbsp;</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_LSNcBJgnp20iLwLBgu3-jX7qmaMPdDBNhQ-CCquPZ2lUGuF-LZ5n26r665qMCgoZCdg2DgwzuxEfhKTevUWExauE3ZrUiDLXwCz6jSORiCjw_g7hwqtYY-y-x22yDoFyLeDfyAIqYc/s1600/BenMaher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_LSNcBJgnp20iLwLBgu3-jX7qmaMPdDBNhQ-CCquPZ2lUGuF-LZ5n26r665qMCgoZCdg2DgwzuxEfhKTevUWExauE3ZrUiDLXwCz6jSORiCjw_g7hwqtYY-y-x22yDoFyLeDfyAIqYc/s1600/BenMaher.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> While Maher and his sidekick, Harris - and for that matter the entire&nbsp;<a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119596/appetite-wonder-review-closed-mind-richard-dawkins" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Dawkinsian</a>&nbsp;crew - may not be the bigots that Affleck accused them of being, they certainly should not feel any sense of self-absorbed vindication. They are not emissaries of the truth nor do they represent the vanguard of neo-enlightenment. Rather they come across as pseudo-intellectual bullies driven by a vain desire for celebrity, feigning any concern for the 'victims of Islam' they cite in remarks branching from their central diatribe against the religion. In effect, they silence the very Muslim liberals and champions who are leading the charge for a more just, equal, and tolerant (i.e. liberal, I guess) Muslim world, forcing on them a Faustian and false choice between identity and values.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Just today,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/10/us-nobel-prize-peace-idUSKCN0HZ0O120141010" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Malala Yousafzai</a>, the ardent campaigner for girls' education from Pakistan and a proud Muslim, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In fact,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10101487421881422&amp;set=a.749460682622.2374114.122585&amp;type=1&amp;theater" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">five of the last twelve</a>&nbsp;recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize have been Muslim. These five alongside millions of others seek to promote progressive and positive change in the Muslim world. They constitute everyday Muslims, not necessarily Islam incarnate. The reason this distinction is important is that treating as equal the Muslim world and the ideology of Islam is a misdirection that confuses an evolving 1,400-year philosophy with a disaggregated non-body politic of 1.5 billion people. As I&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taufiq-rahim/is-it-time-to-separate-is_b_5702985.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">wrote on these pages</a>several weeks ago, it does not mean ignoring a problem but diagnosing it accurately:&nbsp;</div> <blockquote style="background-color: #f0f0f0; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 15px 0px; padding: 15px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> "There is no crisis in Islam. But, there is, conversely and unmistakably, an existential crisis (or crises) in the Muslim world...The approach of religious discourse divorces us from what is the larger crisis facing the Muslim world, which is one of being mired in a political, social and economic malaise, characterized by hollow leadership and disintegrating states, an environment into which extremism seeps."</div> <div class="ql" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="qr" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </blockquote> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Malala and others are the vanguard in the fight being waged by Muslim liberals, one that is just unfolding, and which contests a broad range of injustices, inequalities, and intolerances in Muslim-majority countries. Yet, these individuals are also caught in a tripartite 'battle' that is ongoing: within the West, within the Muslim world and between the West and Muslim world. These battles are not clear-cut by any means, but each places the Muslim liberal effectively in no man's land.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Within the West, we are witnessing the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.loonwatch.com/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">rise of xenophobic and anti-immigration sentiment&nbsp;</a>broadly in the conservative movement, and in the United States, most acutely, on the fringes of the Republican Party. This has been exacerbated by the War on Terror, in which, domestically, the Muslim constitutes the ubiquitous bogeyman. So mainstream is this sentiment, that a series such as&nbsp;<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Homeland</em>&nbsp;entertains many Muslim Americans, even though it not-so-subtly portends that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/10/02/homeland-is-the-most-bigoted-show-on-television/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">every Muslim from a secular journalist to a CIA agent could be a threat</a>, simply because he or she is Muslim. More tangibly, in terms of everyday consequences,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Center_of_Murfreesboro" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">each new mosque</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. now faces anti-Sharia protestors, including from sitting politicians (who conveniently forget the meaning of the First Amendment).&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Europe, however, while there has been similar sentiment from the conservative side of the spectrum, such as from political parties such as the UKIP or BNP in the United Kingdom, it has often dovetailed with a similarly xenophobic liberal view, such as that&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/03/sam-harris-muslim-animus" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">espoused by Sam Harris</a>. Much akin to the convergence of the liberal humanitarian perspective with the neoconservative movement in recent years (e.g.&nbsp;<a href="http://bosco.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/04/09/what_divides_neocons_and_liberal_interventionists" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">prior to the Iraq War in 2003</a>), this neo-liberalism is partly a revivalist movement of the White Man's Burden. Overall, within this battle, Islam is portrayed as a flawed essence, and there can be no equivocation. When an assured liberal such as Reza Aslan&nbsp;<a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/10/03/cnn-host-reza-aslans-tone-demonstrated-why-peop/201008" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">appears on CNN</a>, he is forced to choose between Islam and liberalism, and asked to re-confirm that indeed Islam is the threat. Meanwhile, the anchors (on CNN) fail to realize that this would mean he would be asserting that he himself (and many members of his family) have an essentialized evilness about them. Whether or not a person like Reza Aslan is liberal is cast aside due to this inability to disavow Islam.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Yet, it is not just Muslims on the American side of the Atlantic who are caught up in this game. In the Muslim world's own multi-dimensional civil war, we see hyper-nationalists and Islamists battling it out, overlaid with a layer of sectarian strife. Muslim liberals - a term used loosely without weighing the religiosity of individuals - are often the last ones in the streets pushing for open societies. Take the example of the exemplary&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/15/egyptian-activist-blogger-alaa-abdel-fattah-released-bail" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Alaa Abdel Fattah</a>&nbsp;in Egypt, who, fresh off from being released from prison on bail after being charged for encouraging a demonstration, had his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/alaa-abd-el-fattah/statement-on-sakharov-prize/10152757206228442" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">nomination for the prestigious Sakharov Prize revoked</a>. He, like all Muslims, inevitably faced the pro-Israel test, and (two weeks ago) failed. Already under threat of condemnation from within their countries, Muslim liberals within Muslim countries are abandoned in their hour of need by the haughtier-than-though 'critics' in the West. Muslim liberals may be fighting for democracy, against gender discrimination, and for the rights of minorities, but they likely have not reconciled with Zionism. Ask Malala for her views on Israel: you may not like the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-31750-Malala-Yousafzai-condemns-Gaza-violence" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">answer</a>.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Finally, since 9/11 (and before as well), Western countries have increasingly been at war in the Middle East and within other majority-Muslim countries. The recent strikes against ISIS are just one recent example. In this battle, again the Muslim liberal is caught in no man's land. On one hand, he or she will surely be in favor of crushing the cancer that is ISIS but not by any means necessary nor will this mean broad support for the securitization of the interaction between the West and the Muslim world. When a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/10/08/twisted-ivy-harvard-students-say-us-bigger-threat-to-world-peace-than-isis/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">recent video surfaced</a>&nbsp;on Fox News from the Harvard campus, where many students alleged that the U.S. had a more detrimental footprint, overall, on the world stage than ISIS, the headline read, "Twisted Ivy: Harvard students say US bigger threat to world peace than ISIS." Imagine, a Muslim making the same statements as in the video. Game over.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> When Bill Maher and Sam Harris pontificate from their plush perches, criminalizing a faith, which has 1.5 billion adherents, they think they are doing the world a big service. Nothing could be further from the truth. It should be pointed that Muslim countries are not uniquely in crisis and that broadly there are many countries in crisis in the developing world. In addition,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">America's homophobia</a>&nbsp;is only now beginning to subside for example, and in many ways is still real (so no real claim can be made of some type of civilizational superiority). And many of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.independent.ie/world-news/asia-pacific/burmese-bin-laden-monk-announces-partnership-with-hardline-buddhist-group-in-sri-lanka-to-defend-their-religion-30624027.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088c3; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Burma's Buddhist monks&nbsp;</a>would have something to say about religious militancy being the dominion of Islamists only. Nevertheless, there are indeed a myriad of unique problems within the Muslim world, which is in a deep crisis. Yet, there are also countless Muslim leaders, intellectuals, clerics, philanthropists, and others, facing these problems, and trying to stand-up to illiberal phenomena in their communities and societies. They already are well aware of the challenges in front of them and do not need lectures from people far-removed from the very violence they face.&nbsp;</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Maher's (and others) self-titillating orgies of intellectual masturbation demonstrate a total lack of awareness. Perhaps they'll be comforted by the controversy they spawn, indulging their egos as they eye retweets and dollar signs. As for the Muslim liberals on the frontlines? Once again they are caught in No Man's Land.</div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <i>Original Link:&nbsp;http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taufiq-rahim/muslim-liberals-caught-in_b_5965546.html</i></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2014/10/muslim-liberals-caught-in-no-mans-land.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-7772193227320750401Sat, 12 Oct 2013 18:25:00 +00002013-10-14T13:46:54.948+04:00IslamPakistanTalibanTerrorismUnited StatesWestOn October 9, 2012, a Taliban gunman accosted a bus carrying 15 year-old Malala Yousafzai and her schoolmates, and <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/1011/My-conversations-with-Malala-Yousafzai-the-girl-who-stood-up-to-the-Taliban-video">coldly shot them at close range</a>. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan not only claimed responsibility for the blatant assassination attempt of the teenage education activist, but as it emerged that Malala would survive the attack, the movement also reiterated its<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/13/world/asia/malala-yousafzai-faces-new-taliban-threat.html?hp"> desire to kill her</a>. Miraculously through the efforts of friends and family, the local community in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bACMv0XiV4k">Swat Valley</a> where she is from and where she was shot, and the Pakistani army that airlifted her to Peshawar, Malala Yousafzai survived (as did the other victims). Given the seriousness of her condition, it was imperative she was treated by the best doctors, and a <a href="http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2012/November/nationgeneral_November44.xml&amp;section=nationgeneral">generous gesture</a> by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi allowed her to be flown by air ambulance to England for major surgery. Fast forward just one year later, Malala has recovered and is even more emphatic in her message against the Taliban, promoting the empowerment of young women like her across Pakistan, and all around the world. And expectedly, the global media, including <i>The Daily Show's</i>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjGL6YY6oMs">Jon Stewart</a>, have been celebrating her courage (perhaps caught in the moment of it all).<br /> <br /> Great story, right? And what could be wrong about the alleged 'overexposure' of a young girl&nbsp;expressing words of peace and fighting for girls' education against a religious patriarchy? Apparently a lot. In fact, in Pakistan and in her hometown, her global coronation is <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/11/us-pakistan-malala-idUSBRE99A07P20131011">treated with derision</a>: "Malala is spoiling Pakistan's name around the world." Others have more sinister accusations of a CIA conspiracy involving both Malala and the gunman, claiming the entire affair is a Western plot. Yet, in recent days, an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/assed-baig/malala-yousafzai-white-saviour_b_3592165.html">article written by a blogger</a> in July on <i>Huffington Post</i>&nbsp;has been making the rounds on social media, entitled, "Malala Yousafzai and the White Saviour Complex." It argues, "Please, spare us the self-righteous and self-congratulatory message that is nothing more than propaganda that tells us that the West drops bombs to save girls like Malala."<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lHvbOEi9aXJukfGg8GG5KsOq4QdlNGNZveUEv_3DAfe0YdtLSafYUfVbDF4cnDLrIZyTtSrisdNrUZ5G_zQrv3jHmjIYrKINotC5gS-uLgOqazPkLyTDWWVQWkbo71FCiGAQGlqUVkA/s1600/time-malala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lHvbOEi9aXJukfGg8GG5KsOq4QdlNGNZveUEv_3DAfe0YdtLSafYUfVbDF4cnDLrIZyTtSrisdNrUZ5G_zQrv3jHmjIYrKINotC5gS-uLgOqazPkLyTDWWVQWkbo71FCiGAQGlqUVkA/s320/time-malala.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <br /> The truth is there is no white savior coming for Pakistan or for any Muslim country, the vast majority of which are characterised by pernicious politics, inequitable economics, and irrational intolerance. Lecturing the chattering classes about geopolitical realties and distributing treatises on Western imperialism won't change anything. Fundamentally it will only be the indigenous leadership - helped or not helped by outsiders - that will drive change. Yet, when leaders do emerge, it seems that the local media (and now social media) are pre-occupied with tearing them down rather than building them up. People instead squander their energy on misguided diatribes, as the case of Malala has unfortunately shown. The real reason that the 'white savior complex' even is relevant is that we fail to champion the very 'brown saviors' in our midst.<br /> <br /> Malala Yousafzai was thrust into the spotlight after her initial attack, which was so jarring that all Pakistani leaders came out in strong condemnation. Then Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari - himself a questionable character to say the least - <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19960207">labelling the attack</a>&nbsp;as one against "all civilized people." Prior to the attack, Malala had rose to prominence as an activist, encouraged by her father, for girls education and against the policies and values of the Taliban, which was why she was targeted in the first place. Without picking up a gun, her message was considered a threat to their movement, which is amazing in it of itself. Yet, it was on July 12 earlier this year, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23282662">speaking on her birthday </a>to the United Nations that Malala brought tears to the eyes of millions of people around the world. Having remarkably recovered from her wounds (and having undergone partial facial reconstruction), and still facing death threats, Malala stood steadfast in front of a global audience, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtprX8i2k-Q">spoke with fortitude and confidence</a>: "The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions but nothing changed in my life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born."<br /> <br /> It was such a powerful moment, that almost every international news outlet carried the speech of this young woman live across the world. And for the first time in a long time, the Pakistani and Muslim in the spotlight was not an extremist but someone standing up to extremism. The plaudits continued to come, especially in the last few weeks, as Malala <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/book-review-i-am-malala-by-malala-yousafzai/2013/10/11/530ba90a-329a-11e3-9c68-1cf643210300_story.html">released a book</a> about her experience and was awarded the prestigious <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24475305">Sakharov Prize </a>from the European Union. In fact, she was the rumored favorite for the Nobel Peace Prize, which in the end was awarded to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in a <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/syria/131011/nobel-peace-prize-goes-the-organization-the-prohibiti">surprise but perhaps deserving win</a>. Of course, the Western media in particular have a penchant for over-hyping (if not over-milking) and over-sensationalizing such stories of heroism. And it will be very difficult for Malala to not only live up to such hype but also to prevent the perception that she is over-shadowing other deserving heroes. Yet, is that not the story of all figures of change who inspire us? Was Nelson Mandela really the only Black leader in South Africa's prisons? Was Martin Luther King Jr. the only individual marching in the South? Was Aung San Suu Kyi the only fighter for freedom in Burma?<br /> <br /> It does seem increasingly, however, that Malala is a leader denied a strong constituency back home. It is easy to dismiss the allegations that she is a CIA agent - although the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/10374549/Malala-Yousafzai-meets-the-Obamas-at-the-White-House.html">photo-op</a> with the Obama's won't help - as well as the <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/taliban-delighted-malala-yousafzai-denied-nobel-peace-prize/story-fni0xs61-1226738684502">gloating of Taliban supporters</a> after she was not awarded the Nobel Prize. Yet it is harder to dismiss the cacophony of criticism in Pakistan, in Swat Valley, and on the social media pages of Pakistanis, and for that matter, Muslims from around the world. As one <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/world/asia/pakistanis-cant-decide-is-malala-yousafzai-a-heroine-or-western-stooge.html?_r=0">government official said</a>: "Everyone knows about Malala, but they do not want to affiliate with her." The primary complaints include the following:<br /> <ul> <li>This is another example of the West trying to portray themselves as a savior of the East.&nbsp;</li> <li>Malala is a secular heroine not a Muslim heroine.&nbsp;</li> <li>While her case is tragic there are other victims who deserve prominence.&nbsp;</li> <li>The crimes of the West through drones and in Iraq and Afghanistan,&nbsp;far outweigh the crimes of the Taliban.&nbsp;</li> <li>This is an effort of the West to try to avoid its own complicity in the situation in Pakistan that led to Malala's shooting.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <div> As with most disinformation campaigns, this one is based on kernels of truth. For starters, the world does neglect the stories of deserving others. One such example would be of the tour-de-force Pakistani social worker &nbsp;Parveen Rehman who was <a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/03/16/parveen-rehman-killed-pakistans-largest-slum-loses-its-guardian-angel/">shot dead in Karachi </a>earlier this year. Additionally, it has been the Western media that has largely driven the popular support for Malala globally; that, however, has to be attributed to the dismal failure of the Pakistani media to not do so instead (in my humble opinion). Finally, and the most valid critique is that the story of Malala should not negate the very pivotal role the United States and the West has played and continues to play in creating the current perilous conditions in Pakistan and in contributing to the deaths of innocents there, and in other countries.&nbsp;</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Firstly, U.S. policy has been heavily involved in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taliban-Militant-Fundamentalism-Central-Edition/dp/0300163681">rise of the Taliban</a> in Pakistan, which it tacitly supported alongside Saudi Arabia and Pakistan's intelligence service in the mid-1990s. Moreover, the United States and Saudi Arabia (and some other Western and Muslim powers) cooperated to <a href="http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/USjihadABCs.html">support radical jihadism</a>&nbsp;(even printing textbooks to that effect for Afghanistan) and Islamism as a bulwark against the Soviet Union and communism. In fact, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123275572295011847.html">Israel also supported the radical group Hamas</a> as a counterweight to the secular Fatah movement of then Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Yes, the world was and is screwed up, and the powers of the world have much complicity in that.&nbsp;</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Secondly, and more importantly, the military operations carried out by the U.S. in particular in <a href="http://www.livingunderdrones.org/">Pakistan</a>, <a href="http://icasualties.org/oef/">Afghanistan, and Iraq</a> have led to thousands of deaths of innocent people in recent years. These actions have largely gone unpunished and the victims have been forgotten. Certainly it is not just the Taliban that are killing and the world cannot dispense justice selectively.&nbsp;</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Does saying all of that make Malala Yousafzai any less of a hero (or heroine)? Is her courage dimmed by the crimes of others? Is her movement for the empowerment of young girls in Pakistan any less important? Of course not. Criticisms of the West will bring no one closer to emancipation. And it cannot mask the very pure fact that today's purveyors of disaster and death in the world also include Muslims.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Who bombed the church in Peshawar <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/23/pakistan-church-bombings-christian-minority">slaughtering 85 worshippers</a>? Who attacked <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westgate_shopping_mall_attack">Westgate Mall in Nairobi</a> killing dozens of innocents? Who <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/05/iraq-suicide-bombings-baghdad-shia">murders dozens of men, women and children in Iraq</a>&nbsp;every week? When a Muslim rises up - a so-called brown savior - to fight such crimes and the movements behind them, we should put him or her on our shoulders and not try to chase that person into the darkness. There is no shame in admitting Brown and Muslim guilt in the world's crimes, and it does not negate the wider reality and context around the violence that does occur. In fact, our fear of partial guilt in particular should not misguidedly cause us to throw out the very sparse examples of (counter-) leadership in Muslim countries that emerge and strike fear in the heart of radical extremists.&nbsp;</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> It has become far too easy on all sides to blame the other rather than introspect inward. Above all, instead of blaming the West for its 'white savior complex' maybe it's time to develop our own brown savior complex to save ourselves from ourselves.&nbsp;</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/10/malala-yousafzai-and-missing-brown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-5445453511846658045Wed, 11 Sep 2013 20:08:00 +00002013-09-12T16:08:17.604+04:00<br /> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <i>This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post, where you can visit for the original piece by clicking here or on the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taufiq-rahim/award-spurs-debate-in-desert_b_3897929.html#es_share_ended">title</a>.&nbsp;</i></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> </div> <h1 class="title-blog" style="border: 0px; color: #111111; font-size: 32px; line-height: 36px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taufiq-rahim/award-spurs-debate-in-desert_b_3897929.html#es_share_ended">Award Spurs Debate in 'Desert of Silence' in Muslim World</a></h1> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> LISBON -- There was something truly captivating about sitting in the Castle of São Jorge in Lisbon, Portugal, waiting for the announcement of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.akdn.org/Architecture/2013recipients.asp" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">2013 winners</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.akdn.org/Architecture/default.asp" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Aga Khan Award for Architecture</a>. Overlooking the cityscape, the citadel is home to both the Christian and Muslim history of the Iberian peninsula, a fitting setting for an event looking to promote common linkages across geographic divides. Held every three years, the Award looks to promote conversation around the themes of development and the built environment in the Muslim world and beyond. Once again, the gathering -- hosted by the President of Portugal and the Aga Khan -- brought together an eclectic array of participants from representatives from around the world, ranging from ministers and diplomats to religious figures (including from the Vatican), to architects and builders, to thinkers and writers.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5Wjw6ICoYPeshyFGQSoE_N36kj6LU5Wj8HoEcx9b3dCFW-dq3QXiDpWMqfVTD2DWTOL4naaSJji-8jRXdDD05QprU4R_h7Ivgn2AiiiPulqNKoUDyF2us7KihsjENOOMXs9Kuth_pow/s1600/2013-09-10-AKAA2013AwardRecipients-thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5Wjw6ICoYPeshyFGQSoE_N36kj6LU5Wj8HoEcx9b3dCFW-dq3QXiDpWMqfVTD2DWTOL4naaSJji-8jRXdDD05QprU4R_h7Ivgn2AiiiPulqNKoUDyF2us7KihsjENOOMXs9Kuth_pow/s320/2013-09-10-AKAA2013AwardRecipients-thumb.png" width="320" /></a></div> The Award recipients were equally diverse, with five projects celebrated in this cycle (bringing the number of winners in the history of the Award&nbsp;to 110). They included: the Salam Center for Cardiac Surgery in Sudan; the revitalization of Birzeit in Palestine; the Rabat-Salé Bridge in Morocco; the rehabilitation of the Tabriz Bazaar in Iran; and an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.akdn.org/architecture/project.asp?id=4319" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Islamic cemetery in Austria</a>&nbsp;(the latter perhaps the most intriguing project). While the initiative represents the largest, in terms of monetary value, architecture award in the world, its objective goes beyond aesthetic design, seeking to identify projects that are on the frontier of sustainable development (in all senses of the term) and that are locally attuned. Yet what was clear this year was the juxtaposition of the contemplative conversation in Lisbon and the "<a href="http://www.akdn.org/Content/1197" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">desert of silence</a>&nbsp;"that still characterizes much of the Muslim world, outside specialized or academic circles, on these very themes. And this is the challenge for the Award, and similar such platforms -- to not just hold the conversation but to widen the debate to engage with the multitude of forces shaping and influencing the broader Muslim world (and beyond).</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Founded in 1977, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is part of the wider set of initiatives of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which mobilizes annually over $600 million to support development activities throughout the 30 countries in which it works. The Award shares the holistic approach of the AKDN towards development, whereby local participation, alignment, and empowerment are critical to the viability and impact of any activity. Held every three years, 2013 represented the 13th cycle of the awards. Governed by a nine-person Steering Committee that includes some of the top minds in the field, such as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/about-us/team/senior-partners/norman-foster/" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Norman Foster&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;Glenn Lowry (from the Museum of Modern Art), the Award appoints a new Master Jury for each cycle; this year's Jury, for example, included<a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/anthropology/fac-bios/mamdani/faculty.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Mahmoud Mamdani&nbsp;</a>of Uganda and Wang Shu of China.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> One of the central purposes of the Award, according to its founder, the Aga Khan, and voiced during this years ceremony was to replace the "vast desert [of] silence [that] had set in" in the Muslim world with lively debate, around the issues of development, architecture, and the built environment. Certainly, this would be no easy challenge. Over the last three decades, the Award has highlighted a number of worthy projects, recognized and encouraged leading architects and builders, and promoted education with the principles of the Award in mind. Yet, it has not been enough to fill the silence. Instead, at the frontier of the built environment in Muslim communities, and places like the Arab world, this silence has been filled by what appears too often like cacophonous chaos. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the holy city of Mecca, where a giant clock tower and monstrous skyscrapers not only cast a shadow over Islam's holiest mosque, the Kaaba, but are systematically&nbsp;<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-photos-saudi-arabia-doesnt-want-seen--and-proof-islams-most-holy-relics-are-being-demolished-in-mecca-8536968.html" style="border: 0px; color: #0088c3; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">destroying</a>&nbsp;the city's historic heritage while contributing very little to community needs, besides increases in property values.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> This is emblematic of the challenge of the Award, in particular, but also of other similar initiatives seeking to influence trends in the broader Muslim world, where it is not contemplative conversation that drives change but rather copious (often misallocated) capital that determines development patterns instead. How can you not just fill that vast desert of silence but also ensure that it is not the loudest voices that win the debate?</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Given the ongoing shifts throughout the developing world, such as the move from rural to urban environments, political transition, and economic modernization, more engagement will be needed on a number of critical issues, especially the built environment and how it promotes sustainable development. Hopefully the conversations, such as those in Lisbon, begin to move beyond the classroom and into the mainstream.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Photo credit: AKDN</em></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/09/award-spurs-debate-in-desert-of-silence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-3558545946628016142Thu, 05 Sep 2013 10:19:00 +00002013-09-06T04:16:15.255+04:00Arab worldForeign PolicyObamaSyriaUS<br /> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <i>This article originally appeared in Syria Deeply, and can be found <a href="http://beta.syriadeeply.org/op-eds/waiting-obama-arab-world-intervention/#.UikewhbbwxQ">here</a>.&nbsp;</i><br /> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> On Aug. 2, 1990, a Saddam Hussein-led Iraq launched a bombing campaign and invasion of Kuwait. Part of the decision was the thought that the U.S., facing its own economic issues at home and a perceived passivity towards disputes in the Arab world, would not react with force.&nbsp;</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59T7g2OoYPWLLMXuqcwJHfgiA5615EXDkjKuTy1cRjftP3gGQ3E2F5rJTudq-k6pDrQvNXGKh2i851RgHxlYfabKE2W0VPkuMBHNvSjCBB-iiqflHUkDv6kKQ51hmAuwUIhe1UCTNBIE/s1600/22058cc024aacac5b5160731e01a9692.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59T7g2OoYPWLLMXuqcwJHfgiA5615EXDkjKuTy1cRjftP3gGQ3E2F5rJTudq-k6pDrQvNXGKh2i851RgHxlYfabKE2W0VPkuMBHNvSjCBB-iiqflHUkDv6kKQ51hmAuwUIhe1UCTNBIE/s200/22058cc024aacac5b5160731e01a9692.png" width="200" /></a></div> <span id="more-8015" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Almost five months later, Operation Desert Storm, led by a broad international coalition under the direction of then President George Bush (who had secured a resolution from the U.N. Security Council), began with aerial attacks and ended with the capitulation of Saddam’s forces after just five weeks.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Two things became clear: that the U.S. would take decisive action to enforce peace and security in the region when a “red line” was crossed; and secondly, that it would be methodical in building a strong coalition.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been waiting for a similar moment from President Barack Obama on the Syrian conflict.&nbsp; After months of endless prodding, with only a series of half-steps coming from the U.S., the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack near Damascus (allegedly carried out by the Assad regime) finally seemed to have pushed Obama to take robust action on Syria.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> But initial urgency by the U.S. to act has since subsided, or so it appears. With the passing of each day, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are left increasingly in the lurch, waiting for Obama, wondering if the U.S. has reversed its approach to the region that was heralded by the Gulf War over two decades ago.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> In 1991, when military action was mobilized against Iraq, it was done so under the auspices of a U.N. resolution. And while the Arab world was divided on the intervention, the six GCC countries, along with Egypt and Syria, were part of the armed coalition that was formed. Twenty years later, the situation is markedly different as the Arab world contemplates involvement in military strikes against Syria.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Outside of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, enthusiasm to participate in a military coalition is weak at best. While Jordan will have to be involved due to its reliance on both Saudi Arabia and the U.S. for economic support, Syria’s other Arab neighbors, Lebanon and Iraq, have voiced staunch opposition to external intervention.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> In an unambiguous statement, Egypt, under its new military leadership, also voiced its objections to “aggression in Syria.” Even the United Arab Emirates may not get involved without broad international legitimacy; unlike in Libya in 2011, this would constitute a military strike by Arab countries allied with the U.S. without any other legal or symbolic cover.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Obama’s initial enthusiasm for military action, juxtaposed with his subsequent hesitation, has furthered the Arab world’s reluctance to participate. Staunch Western allies like the United Kingdom have indicated a lack of desire to be involved, and it is still in doubt whether action would be approved by NATO or the U.N. In the current atmosphere, a broad coalition involving multiple regional actors is unlikely, especially from a military standpoint. Most of the “diplomacy” to build a coalition has so far been limited to public speeches by high-level U.S. officials, rather than effective diplomatic engagement in the region. It indicates to the Arab world that the U.S. is not serious about a response, and is itself perhaps buying time.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Sunday’s Arab League meeting in Cairo, rhetoric was high. But it was clear that beyond Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the appetite for intervention had dissipated. Following two years of bluster, including countless meetings of the Friends of Syria, the moment for a decision finally came, and the U.S. blinked. The hawkish stance of the Arab League and even the GCC must, to Assad, have looked hollow. In the end, the statement by the Arab League called for “deterrent measures” by the U.N., without calling for military or unilateral action.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> While we may yet see strikes on Syria or the symbolic contribution of military hardware (like fighter jets) by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the process has already overshadowed whatever the result may be. In many ways, whatever happens now in response will be far too little and far too late. All the while, the conflict in Syria will continue without any end in sight.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div class="related-posts" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="related-posts-type" id="related-posts-MRP_all" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/09/waiting-for-obama-arab-world-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-520847890778910065Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:25:00 +00002013-09-04T20:25:15.333+04:00Arab worldEgyptIslamPoliticsReligion<i>This article originally appeared in <a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/09/democratic-case-against-islamism-egypt-arab-world-rahim.html">Al-Monitor</a>, where you can find the full text.&nbsp;</i><br /> <i><br /></i> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">These days, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is under a systematic (some would say justified) assault by authorities seeking to&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/09/201392133642216350.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">dissolve the entire organization</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">.&nbsp; Yet, it’s not just in Egypt that Islamists find themselves under attack, rhetorically or by force. Across countries in the Arab world that had revolutions in the past two years, there is a growing wave of public opposition to the participation of Islamists in the political system, whether in&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23918035" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Tunisia</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">,&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/20/libya-rebels-muslim-brotherhood-blockade" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Libya</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;or elsewhere.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br /> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Against this backdrop, countless Western analysts have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/20/libya-rebels-muslim-brotherhood-blockade">clashed</a>&nbsp;with their liberal Arab counterparts on the issue of Islamism, arguing that the exclusion of religious parties is incompatible with modern democratic principles. Yet is the exclusion of parties like the Muslim Brotherhood undemocratic on its face? The truth is somewhere in the middle and in fact, there is a legitimate democratic case to be made against the inclusion of some Islamists.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdM1GjZC1NoNkepWsxPoobAGRFE4LtsHSDj2sxfLiI_Vh2XS2NLqu5wZ6nNvy4usWjocZx0jCrNb6yhzB6hvxSqhGkPFGY0RlkFP91c5bkWsrsVLt1wYaYf50GNrE3WDctR2cOE1noZk/s1600/mor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdM1GjZC1NoNkepWsxPoobAGRFE4LtsHSDj2sxfLiI_Vh2XS2NLqu5wZ6nNvy4usWjocZx0jCrNb6yhzB6hvxSqhGkPFGY0RlkFP91c5bkWsrsVLt1wYaYf50GNrE3WDctR2cOE1noZk/s200/mor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Since 2011, there have been two primary grievances levied against Islamist parties. The most salient argument in recent weeks has been that these groups are linked to a wider “<a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2013/08/14/Is-the-Muslim-Brotherhood-a-terrorist-organization-.html">terrorist</a>” agenda, and are, as such, enemies of the state. Of concern is not necessarily their religious nature but the fact that they represent a subversive political movement. Granted, the closed nature of the Brotherhood, given its precarious legality in past decades, only feeds this view. In addition, offshoots from the Brotherhood like&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cfr.org/egypt/jamaat-al-islamiyya/p9156">Gamaa Islamiya</a>&nbsp;have been responsible for terrorist attacks in Egypt, and other affiliated groups such as Hamas do have militant wings as well.</div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Nevertheless, this argument is not one against "Islamism" or in favor of "secularism." When Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held court with his beautifully&nbsp;<a href="http://muftah.org/state-authoritarianism-in-egypt-the-military-al-azhar-coptic-church-triad/">choreographed choir</a>&nbsp;of support on the night of the coup on Egyptian state TV, at his side were two religious figures, the grand sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Coptic pope. Furthermore, the recently announced<a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/80570.aspx">constitutional committee</a>&nbsp;includes a representative from the Salafist Nour Party, a group also present at that previous gathering. Thus, the argument in Egypt appears to be that the right type of Islamists (and in limited number) can be tolerated, as can a role for religion in the state.</div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Of course, the second case against Islamism is that it is inherently incompatible with modern democracy. At its core, the ideology is an absolutist form of thought that rejects all other intellectual currents in a society. While that may be true, couldn’t the same argument be made for any political ideology, whether it be libertarianism, or communism, or socialism, and the list goes on? Each political movement sees its ideas and philosophies as essential and paramount. A corollary to Islamist thought, however, is that it constitutes a religious supremacist movement that seeks to achieve the supremacy of its religion — Islam — at the official level of the state. It is here where Islamism and democracy start to have legitimate friction....</div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Read more:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/09/democratic-case-against-islamism-egypt-arab-world-rahim.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter#ixzz2dwRsXyRb" style="color: #003399;">http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/09/democratic-case-against-islamism-egypt-arab-world-rahim.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter#ixzz2dwRsXyRb</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/09/the-democratic-case-against-islamism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-2058219868048544014Tue, 03 Sep 2013 19:59:00 +00002013-09-03T23:59:04.155+04:00Arab worldForeign PolicySyriaunited nationsUS<i>This article originally appeared on <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/03/opinion/rahim-syria-conflict/">CNN.com </a>and can be found at the link below.</i><br /> <i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_909770961"><br /></a></i> <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/03/opinion/rahim-syria-conflict/">http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/03/opinion/rahim-syria-conflict/</a><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As has frequently been the case in the last two-and-a-half years, I found myself this past weekend caught in an intense conversation about the ongoing civil war in Syria. This time it was with a supporter of the al-Assad government. He was relentless, insisting that there was no choice but victory, at any cost, especially since the government has been facing foreign fighters from "83 countries."&nbsp;</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuaG6yOcaKpP7jYgmq4tgARgJVdQb4C-zq0OWBswRKF3tatdC2jQnUKiaaUGBwZDeymLV25hoeomQRyb8m2-GgK4DlpzGtA2KJ86P3wVbaH1iCNcun4cfkFu7XkSxRO9hKZSsk1_6X-I/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuaG6yOcaKpP7jYgmq4tgARgJVdQb4C-zq0OWBswRKF3tatdC2jQnUKiaaUGBwZDeymLV25hoeomQRyb8m2-GgK4DlpzGtA2KJ86P3wVbaH1iCNcun4cfkFu7XkSxRO9hKZSsk1_6X-I/s200/images-3.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a common refrain I've heard in different variations from all sides of the conflict -- there is no choice but victory. As the world debates the efficacy of a military strike against the al-Assad government in response to its use of chemical weapons on civilians, the fighting on the ground shows no signs of abating. It is clear that the Syrian people are caught between a zero-sum political game being played by the regime and rebels, and their respective backers.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite lofty rhetoric from a number of countries, diplomatic efforts towards a political solution should have been more vigorous.</span></span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Calling for an immediate cease-fire on all sides is the only path towards peace. But will the United States and other key players go down that road?</span></span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i>Please visit <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/03/opinion/rahim-syria-conflict/">CNN</a> for the full article.&nbsp;</i></span></span></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/09/the-only-road-to-peace-in-syria.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-492726748896058818Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:37:00 +00002013-09-02T14:40:25.990+04:00Middle EastSyria<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWW2QvpB635CUyxb1lQaaM1zg9wgd_pEmrQ3GpNVDRaEwapf8ZIsImshdPTVFX9_66MTTdFxbc-n6cIhuImPkvFdvQlV6OoB9jatXJzice3CGmJQEzr1GXNGlPuQiOYeynGz8tH-jbqI/s1600/o-RUSSIA-SYRIA-CHEMICAL-WEAPONS-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWW2QvpB635CUyxb1lQaaM1zg9wgd_pEmrQ3GpNVDRaEwapf8ZIsImshdPTVFX9_66MTTdFxbc-n6cIhuImPkvFdvQlV6OoB9jatXJzice3CGmJQEzr1GXNGlPuQiOYeynGz8tH-jbqI/s200/o-RUSSIA-SYRIA-CHEMICAL-WEAPONS-facebook.jpg" width="200" /></a>A potential military strike by Western powers on Syria now appears to be a <a href="http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/27/20209022-military-strikes-on-syria-as-early-as-thursday-us-officials-say?lite">fait accompli</a>&nbsp;and is being touted as<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/27/exclusive-mccain-says-obama-gave-green-light-to-syria-to-use-chemical-weapons.html"> long overdue</a>. Given the spiralling humanitarian disaster that has overtaken the country during the last two years of conflict, continued inaction appears to be an untenable reality. The death toll is now well over 100,000 (although the proportion of civilians to combatants is unclear). There are <a href="http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/syria.php">2 million refugees</a>, half of whom are children, and over 4 million more internally displaced persons (IDPs), amounting to a quarter of the country's overall population. Yet, it was the <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/2013-08-23/chemical-attack-allegations-focussed-on-rebel-held-areas/">apparent chemical weapons </a>attack in the suburbs around Damascus known as Ghouta last week that has served as the impetus for international military intervention into the conflict. Amidst the rhetoric and war rehearsals, clarity on what is really happening seems to be cast aside in the media, in favor of<a href="http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/08/27/exclusive_us_spies_say_intercepted_calls_prove_syrias_army_used_nerve_gas"> faux-spontaneous leaks</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5FJruFlstw">retired generals</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Pollack">trumpeters</a> of past wars. Here are ten questions to try to set the record straight.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>1. Were chemical weapons used in Syria?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> When the initial attack unfolded last Wednesday, August 21 in the suburbs in Damascus known as Ghouta (near the town/suburb of Jobar), news quickly spread to local, regional and international media. Claims were made of hundreds of deaths, with some activists claiming the death toll was <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10256236/Syrian-opposition-claims-1300-killed-in-chemical-attack.html">1,300</a>. Moreover, the Government of Syria immediately denied responsibility and has <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/08/20138271141631363.html">continued to do so</a>. However, the attack did unfold amidst a series of army strikes on Jobar, which is a rebel-held area, and has been for quite some time. The Government conversely claimed to find chemical <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/24/us-syria-crisis-jobar-idUSBRE97N04T20130824">weapons supplies in tunnels</a> in the same area, and it is alleged that some Hezbollah fighters were also exposed to <a href="http://www.albawaba.com/news/hezbollah-syria-chemical-weapons-516267">chemical toxins</a>.<br /> <br /> A week on, it appears incontrovertible that chemical weapons were used, not just from <a href="http://brown-moses.blogspot.ae/2013/08/are-these-munitions-used-in-todays.html">YouTube videos</a>&nbsp;but also from visits by <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/story/2013-08-21/syria-nerve-gas/">independent journalists</a>, and of course by a <a href="http://www.euronews.com/2013/08/24/medecins-sans-frontieres-reports-syria-patients-with-neurotoxic-symptoms/">report</a> by&nbsp;<em>Médecins Sans Frontières</em>&nbsp;that has documented at least 355 deaths from local hospitals. It is likely that the chemical agent used was a neurotoxin or nerve gas, most likely sarin gas. What is still not clear, is how they were delivered (i.e. in what form and carried on what type of weapon) and from where.<br /> <br /> It should also be kept in mind that this was not the first attack that has been alleged. There have been numerous claims by rebels, and counter-claims by the government on the use of chemical weapons in the conflict. Here's a map of <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/08/2013821141123502962.html">those events</a>. In fact, this is precisely why the team of UN inspectors had arrived in the country, the day before this latest incident (and massacre) took place. In fact, what is interesting is that their <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=45708&amp;Cr=Syria&amp;Cr1=">investigation of other sites </a>has now been put on the back-burner due to the latest developments.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>2. Do we know who actually used the chemical weapons?&nbsp;</b><br /> <b><br /></b> The United States, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10269876/Syria-we-must-act-now-against-Assad-says-Cameron.html">United Kingdom</a>, and <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/27/hollande-says-france-ready-to-punish-syria-over-gas-attack/">France</a> have all stated they are certain that the Government of Syria has undertaken the attack last week. On the U.S. side, at the forefront of the rhetoric has been <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23859892">Vice President Biden</a>&nbsp;- who has said there is 'no doubt' - and Secretary of State John Kerry, who made an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u0P7MILq4w">evocative plea</a> for action several days ago. Of course, the next speech is the most important, and it would be one made by President Barack Obama. In light of this certainty, it would be difficult to question the attribution of blame. A leak from the US government also claims to have intercepted a murky call between commanders in the Syrian army that supposedly is evidence of culpability on the Syrian side.<br /> <br /> There is tremendous reason to doubt U.S. claims. Firstly, it should not be forgotten that then Secretary of State <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt5RZ6ukbNc">Colin Powell</a> presented ironclad evidence to the United Nations Security Council of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that Saddam Hussein possessed, a finding that was later proven to be <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/27/us-syria-crisis-china-idUSBRE97Q09420130827">utterly false</a>, but which was the basis of a war that continues until today. Secondly, the U.S. claimed that there was incontrovertible proof that the Government of Syria was responsible for earlier chemical attacks this year, but that finding has been contested, and some experts <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57575054/syria-rebels-regime-blame-each-other-for-first-alleged-chemical-weapons-attack/">apportioned blame</a> to the rebels fighting the government. And finally, in this case, no evidence has been presented, as of yet to make such a determination, at least not conclusively.<br /> <br /> Does that mean the Assad and his regime are not responsible? No. It is very likely given the ongoing military operations in the same area that the Syrian government launched such an attack. Yet, more evidence needs to be presented to make a definitive conclusion. The other scenarios that could be possible are:<br /> <br /> - Extremists groups like <a href="http://rt.com/news/alawite-syria-nusra-faith-962/">Jubhat al-Nusra</a>, who have previously seized advanced weaponry and possibly chemical weapons from Syrian army bases and positions, were <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/27/216172145/is-it-possible-the-syrian-rebels-not-assad-used-chemical-weapons">attempting to use them</a> on Syrian soldiers (or conversely to cast blame on the Syrian army);<br /> <br /> - The Government of Syria inadvertently hit a stockpile of sarin gas releasing the toxins (although unclear if this would lead to the effects that we've seen); or<br /> <br /> - Rogue elements within the chain of command used chemical weapons intentionally or inadvertently.<br /> <br /> Russia, Iran and China have of course cast doubt on western claims but that is to be expected.<br /> <br /> <b>3. What would be the basis or justification for US intervention?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> The U.S. intervention would likely be on the basis of Obama's previously <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/08/president-obamas-red-line-what-he-actually-said-about-syria-and-chemical-weapons/">stated red line</a> on Syria, which would be the mass use/movement of chemical weapons. It is not in fact about humanitarian intervention and the <a href="http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/">Responsibility to Protect</a> framework, developed in the 1990s to prevent genocide and mass civilian deaths. If it was, then the humanitarian case for intervention has been present for some time, and other massacres by the Syrian regime, such as in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houla_massacre">Houla in 2012</a>, would have provided sufficient pretext. Obviously, the U.S. and other Western powers, and regional countries, have their own interests at play that are much more geopolitical in nature, but the justification or <i>casus belli</i> being offered is around the issue of chemical weapons, and chemical weapons alone.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>4. Will anybody else be involved in the military strikes besides the US and will this affect whether they are 'legal'?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> Given Russian and Chinese opposition, and a likely veto of any resolution by the United Nations Security Council supporting such a military strike on Syria - especially in light of the intervention in Libya, which Russia&nbsp;<a href="http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/libya-one-year-on-russia-regrets/20316">regretted supporting</a>&nbsp;- a 'coalition of the willing' will need to be developed. This coalition would be broader than the Iraq War in 2003, and would be similar to the coalition carrying out the strikes against Serb positions vis-a-vis <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_War#NATO_bombing_timeline">Kosovo in 1999</a>. While the U.S., U.K. and France will likely lead an effort, Turkey would also be critical as a staging ground (as it borders Syria from the North), and thus there will be an attempt to launch such an attack under the auspices of NATO. Despite its reluctance,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Aug-28/229033-jordan-no-attack-on-syria-from-its-soil.ashx">Jordan</a>, given its reliance on the U.S. and Saudi Arabia politically and economically, will have no choice but to support . The two other neighbours of Syria, Iraq and Lebanon are squarely against any military strike. And of course, the other neighbor - Israel - would sit this one out but would provide intelligence to the U.S. and other parties on Syrian positions, given that it has already undertaken a number of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/05/israel-more-air-strikes-syria">air strikes on Syria</a> in the past two years.<br /> <br /> Further afield, it is likely the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) will support military intervention, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates possibly sending fighter jets to participate in a strike to give it regional cover and credibility. Finally, while many groups within the Arab and Muslim world, and the 'left' of the West, will oppose military intervention, many others will support it, because of the spiralling humanitarian situation in Syria.<br /> <br /> Technically speaking if the military intervention is not sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, and there is no imminent threat that the U.S. and other parties can point to towards its own territory or its assets, it would be <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Global-Viewpoint/2013/0827/US-strike-on-Syria-would-be-illegal-act-of-war">illegal under international law</a>. However, that has not stopped NATO or other countries (i.e.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Georgia_war"> Russia in Georgia</a>) form undertaking military action in the past. And before the Iraq War, some scholars claimed that while such an attack would be <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/opinion/good-reasons-for-going-around-the-un.html">illegal it would be legitimate</a>, and demonstrated retroactively to be legal. Given the state of world affairs, 'legality' is likely not a determining factor for a strike on Syria.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBznlWpmv9UVjQb02yxgPE9x7Z-R8TA7yT4p2HALJBRIUtJ8KPGpWcp0W5cMqxQlYHHGXH83yanWhOqzIZHtDyFKuSsWRPfA00IMnTNh0tphLKonT51bvLIU848x69wdqxLVlAa581qFk/s1600/Syria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBznlWpmv9UVjQb02yxgPE9x7Z-R8TA7yT4p2HALJBRIUtJ8KPGpWcp0W5cMqxQlYHHGXH83yanWhOqzIZHtDyFKuSsWRPfA00IMnTNh0tphLKonT51bvLIU848x69wdqxLVlAa581qFk/s1600/Syria.jpg" /></a></div> <b><br /></b> <b>5. Are we seeing a repeat of Iraq in 2003?&nbsp;</b><br /> <b><br /></b> No. The situation today with Syria is different than it was in 2003 in Iraq, for many reasons, despite some passing similarities. In Iraq, the U.S. claimed that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction while in Syria, we already know Bashar al-Assad possesses chemical weapons, and the question is whether he used them (<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/08/what-complicity-in-chemical-weapons-attacks-says-about-america/279019/">small aside</a>, it was released this week that thirty years ago, the U.S. obstructed a UN investigation when it knew Saddam Hussein had used chemical weapons). In Iraq, the U.S. alleged that Saddam Hussein had links with Al Qaeda (and related groups), while in Syria, Bashar al Assad is widely acknowledged to be <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/does-obama-know-hes-fighting-on-alqaidas-side-8786680.html">fighting Al Qaeda</a> (and related groups) in addition to the 'Free Syrian Army' (and in addition to crushing peaceful demonstrators). In Iraq, there was no active state of conflict that was leading to a spiralling humanitarian catastrophe (and the potential use of WMDs), while in Syria there is not just a violent conflict, but also WMDs have been used by somebody (even if the culprit is not yet clear).<br /> <br /> What should be noted, however, is that both Iraq in 2003 and Syria in 2013, are in complex environments, and any removal of government or sustained military intervention would have dramatic unforeseen consequences. It seems like the media debate in the U.S. is also similarly anaemic (but slightly better) this time around.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>6. What is the real motivation for the United States and other powers?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> As with all things in this world when it comes to international relations, the primary interest is not humanitarian but geopolitical. This is not absolute, however, and it could be argued that <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/27/us-syria-crisis-turkey-idUSBRE97Q0CP20130827">Turkey</a> has been insisting on humanitarian intervention from an early stage. However, the regimes (not peoples) in the Gulf, most notably Saudi Arabia, are exclusively concerned with dislodging Syria from the Iranian orbit, and severing connections between Syria and Hezbollah. Humanitarian concerns are a by-product. And for the United States, something similar is at play. As noted above, if this was about humanitarian concerns, action would have been taken long before 100,000 deaths had occurred.<br /> <br /> For the U.S. it has been looking for regime change in Syria for a while. However, these strikes if they occur, will be about sending a message and asserting America's position in the Middle East, given the red line that Obama drew. Ultimately, it may tip the scales in the rebels favour or improve the U.S.'s negotiating position vis-a-vis Iran. The chemical weapons attack in a morbid way, opened a door of opportunity for Western powers (with GCC support) to do something limited without a full-scale intervention.<br /> <br /> <b>7. Will military intervention solve the Syrian conflict?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> No. Military intervention no matter how small or how big will not solve the Syrian conflict. In fact, it could very much exacerbate the situation on the ground even further (if that can be imagined). What is being reported currently is that the U.S. and allies will undertake a series of <a href="http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/08/26/architect_of_syria_war_plan_doubts_surgical_strikes_will_work">'surgical strikes'</a>, a euphemism for a large-scale assault on key military and strategic installations, such as army positions, air bases, radar installations, communications infrastructure, supply routes, and, where appropriate, power stations (among other targets). More than anything this will be intended to send a message to the regime and weaken its capabilities. Yet, it would not be a fatal blow. And it would not necessarily tip the scales in favor of the rebels. It may in fact mobilize certain parties to support the regime, if there are civilian casualties from the intervention.<br /> <br /> The solution to the Syrian situation has to be political, if it is going to lead to stability or peace. Yet, if the military intervention escalated and led to the removal of the Syrian regime, that would still not be the end of the conflict. After the Soviets were booted out of Afghanistan, the country devolved into a civil war for five years until the rise of the Taliban in 1996. Somalia has only recently stabilised (somewhat), more than 20 years after the assassination of its leader, President Siad Barre. And neighboring Lebanon, took 15 years of conflict (1975-1990) to reach an end, which was brought about by ironically Syrian military intervention (which committed its own crimes), that produced a - audible gasp - political settlement.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>8. What could potentially go wrong?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> Everything. The potential for disaster following military intervention in any country is great (see Black Hawk Down, Iraq, Afghanistan and the list goes on). Yet, in Syria it could be apocalyptic. Here is a list of what that could entail:<br /> <br /> - Chemical weapons are used by Syria against its neighbors such as Jordan and Turkey, or U.S. military positions in those countries;<br /> - U.S. planes/helicopters are shot down leading to an escalation of U.S. involvement requiring boots on the ground;<br /> - Syria sends a volley of missiles into Tel Aviv and other places in Israel, leading to a regional war;<br /> - Proxy forces of Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, launch a sustained campaign against Israel/U.S. interests, including attacks embassies within Lebanon/Palestine/Israel but also in other countries, in the short and medium-term;<br /> - Al Qaeda forces in the region, while opposing the Assad regime, oppose U.S. intervention especially if there are masses of civilian casualties, and use it as a pretext for attacks in places such as Yemen;<br /> - Russia objects to the U.S. strike, and mobilizes warships to the Mediterranean, leading to a standoff with Europe and the U.S.;<br /> - Negotiations with Iran, still in embryonic stages are suspended irrevocably;<br /> - Six party talks with North Korea are suspended by Russia, China, and North Korea irrevocably;<br /> - The Syrian regime goes all out in its conflict and begins to bomb with even more abandon civilian areas controlled by rebels, leading to thousands of casualties, and counter-massacres by enraged rebel fighters;<br /> - The Syrian regime is removed by force from power by the intervention, leading to a power vacuum sinking the country further into civil war for over a decade of even more violent strife and a possible Al Qaeda style government;<br /> - Tensions rise in the Middle East, especially in places of sectarian division (i.e. Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia, and Iraq) leading to civil strife and attacks on governments, and counter-attacks on populations; and<br /> - World War 3.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>9. What could potentially go right?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> It may seem that what is written above is slightly alarmist and that's true. Many things can go wrong (most of which, to be honest, are hard to predict as they will be unforeseen consequences or as Donald Rumsfeld, ironically calls them,<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiPe1OiKQuk"> unknown unknowns</a>). However, the U.S.-led strikes could be quite effective. Firstly, if they are limited in scope, they can be completed in one day, reducing the risk for a military entanglement and civilian casualties. Secondly, if they are from the air, there is limited risk for casualties on the side of the intervening forces. Thirdly, an attack that is forceful and hits Syrian military positions, will send a message to Assad that there is a limit to what he can do, which thus far has not been the case, and may entice him to reach a political settlement. Fourthly, it is unlikely that the Syrian regime would retaliate, for a short strike on positions, against Israel, knowing that they cannot afford to fight a war on so many fronts (and thus far they have yet to retaliate to any Israel air strike). Finally, the systematic destruction of Assad's air capabilities could be instrumental in limiting civilian casualties by the regime in the future.<br /> <br /> All of this is one possibility of what could occur.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>10. Let's cut to the chase - should I support or not support military intervention?</b><br /> <b><br /></b> There is no clearcut answer. Ultimately, military intervention should not be supported as a solution to the Syrian conflict. It is not, and whether we like it or not, a political solution/settlement is the only way the current situation moves towards peace and stability. The U.S. is negotiating with the Taliban. The Vietnamese negotiated with the U.S. The Lebanese negotiated with each other. The Dayton Accords to end the Bosnian War were signed with Slobodan Milosevic. It may not be easy, it may be unlikely, and it will not work perfectly, but political discussions involving all parties is the only way to find a real solution.<br /> <br /> That being said, if a case is made with overwhelming evidence by independent parties (not U.S. conjecture) that chemical weapons were used by the Syrian regime, then military intervention on a limited scale, and for a period of 1-2 days only, should be undertaken, ideally with UN support - and if not with broad support of half of the members, i.e. 90, of the UN General Assembly to demonstrate legitimacy - against military targets only, which will both send a message about the use of these weapons and damage the capabilities of Assad.<br /> <br /> What is clear is that whatever happens, there are no clear answers with regards to the conflict in Syria.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/08/10-questions-on-conflict-in-syria.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-997015633867372891Sat, 24 Aug 2013 06:40:00 +00002013-08-24T10:40:23.007+04:00<i>This article appeared in <a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/violence-arab-nationalism.html">Al-Monitor</a>, where you can find the full version.&nbsp;</i><br /> <i><br /></i> <br /> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> Since the military overthrow of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s government in early July, the rhetoric by critics of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/muslim-brotherhood-ban-egypt-terrorist-list.html" target="_blank">Muslim Brotherhood</a>&nbsp;has been vitriolic and relentless. The campaign has sought to delegitimize the Islamist movement, and in fact, negate its Egyptian identity. Morsi himself has been&nbsp;<a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/79468/Egypt/Politics-/Morsi-slammed-with-another-day-detention-for-presi.aspx" target="_blank">charged with&nbsp;</a><a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/79468/Egypt/Politics-/Morsi-slammed-with-another-day-detention-for-presi.aspx">espionage</a>&nbsp;and serving foreign interests. The general prosecutor has&nbsp;accused Muslim Brotherhood supporters&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="http://gulfnews.com/news/region/egypt/syrians-paid-to-kill-egypt-protesters-1.1206402" target="_blank">hiring Syrian and Palestinian mercenaries</a>. Partisans of the army-led government, including some familiar “democracy” activists, have repeatedly called for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egyptian-liberals-call-for-crackdown-against-pro-morsi-sit-ins/2013/08/12/986d7dce-036b-11e3-bfc5-406b928603b2_story_1.html">additional crackdowns</a><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egyptian-liberals-call-for-crackdown-against-pro-morsi-sit-ins/2013/08/12/986d7dce-036b-11e3-bfc5-406b928603b2_story_1.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;on Islamists</a>. More often than not, Muslim Brotherhood members are portrayed in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/world/middleeast/egypt-morsi.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0">juxtaposition</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/world/middleeast/egypt-morsi.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0" target="_blank">&nbsp;to ordinary Egyptians</a>, rather than among the people, and&nbsp;as a “cancer” that must be removed at all costs.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe7WpLasWWzNihKtadLcZZ4iFWZIHCKW1lekld0mffJgw_nwa9w989V9CaEHVvXY2_pzY0bMElvEIqyBIQ8ilJRAJPo0mg_ucnhz5eU3Ud_KZonbm6Es98swvgSu0tgKyujSJ-O0l5kc/s1600/Reuters+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe7WpLasWWzNihKtadLcZZ4iFWZIHCKW1lekld0mffJgw_nwa9w989V9CaEHVvXY2_pzY0bMElvEIqyBIQ8ilJRAJPo0mg_ucnhz5eU3Ud_KZonbm6Es98swvgSu0tgKyujSJ-O0l5kc/s200/Reuters+Photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> As the Arab world continues to politically devolve following the revolutions of 2011, it seems that a new fascism is becoming en vogue. In many ways, a response to the rise of religious supremacy over the past three decades, the ideology is predicated on a foundation of hypernationalism whereby the state is paramount, and any intellectual contestation is met with rhetorical — if not legal —&nbsp;excommunication. As the dust settles, a shrinking political class of moderate Islamists and liberals are increasingly caught between these dueling ideologies and their proponents.</div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> This religious supremacy, or Islamism, has its roots in the modern Middle East&nbsp;in a seminal work by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/08/egypt-brotherhood-new-interim-supreme-guide.html" target="_blank">Sayyid Qutb</a>,&nbsp;the Muslim Brotherhood leader imprisoned and executed in Egypt in the 1960s. In "<a href="http://web.youngmuslims.ca/online_library/books/milestones/hold/index_2.htm">Signposts along the Road</a>"&nbsp;(or Milestones), Qutb intellectually grounds the rejection of fellow Muslims in a process of delegitimization, or&nbsp;takfir. This ideology went into overdrive with the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and the subsequent jihad in Afghanistan in the 1980s, both of which laid the groundwork for Islamism as a modern political movement.</div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> The continuum of Islamism has always been expansive, so it is sometimes hard to differentiate what constitutes the extremist elements of the political community as opposed to more moderate forces. In post–Saddam Hussein&nbsp;Iraq, the philosophy of takfir&nbsp;descended to a new level&nbsp;with the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cfr.org/iraq/al-qaeda-iraq-k-islamic-state-iraq-greater-syria/p14811" target="_blank">dehumanization of other Muslim groups</a>,&nbsp;with&nbsp;authorization to kill those deemed takfiris. Yet, Morsi, allegedly a mainstream Islamist,&nbsp;<a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/10/world/la-fg-egypt-sectarianism-20130810">sat applauding</a>&nbsp;the same rhetoric targeting Shiites&nbsp;by preachers in relation to the Syrian conflict, illustrating how difficult it can be to draw distinctions.</div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> With the rise of Islamism, most regimes in the region — lacking a real contesting ideology&nbsp;in response — felt compelled to peddle hollow exhortations of bygone regionalism, or pan-Arabism. Direct attacks on Islamism would have run the risk of alienating their Muslim populations. In this space&nbsp;and amid the tumult of the last two years during which Islamists have grown increasingly unpopular after ascending from the opposition to seats of power, religious supremacy has finally met its match — hypernationalism. In effect, takfir is now being opposed with takhwin, the delegitimization of opponents of the state as traitors of the national cause....</div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /><b>Read the full version here:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/violence-arab-nationalism.html#ixzz2crhOSTyD" style="color: #003399;">http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/violence-arab-nationalism.html#ixzz2crhOSTyD</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/08/hypernationalism-islamism-and-fascism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-4818096438725723383Fri, 16 Aug 2013 01:16:00 +00002013-08-16T05:17:09.151+04:00<br /> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <i>This article appears on <a href="http://al-monitor.com/">Al-Monitor.com</a>, where you can find the full version.&nbsp;</i></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> On June 8, a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/libya-shield-benghazi-clash-militia">devastating clash</a>&nbsp;between residents and militia members erupted at the headquarters of the Libya Shield Brigade in Benghazi, Libya, leaving dozens dead and scores more injured.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the next day on the&nbsp;<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/304359-rand-paul-vows-to-use-nuland-confirmation-to-probe-benghazi" target="_blank">Sunday talk show circuit</a>&nbsp;in the United States, amid continued partisan discussion of the&nbsp;September 2012&nbsp;consulate attack in Benghazi, there was scant mention of the major clash from&nbsp;the day before. The&nbsp;disconnect exemplified the chasm between the new battle lines on the ground across the Middle East and the political discourse a world away.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBp-X6Tti44W5A4GfC2ZeFtzpTbqA8DFlB0aCcDv9TkGacATcr5JuiBNFuZg88w7qPn2WBcKY0PLlt1oZpWJIDWEcS8O8KqBpNH-Ux1XkzAF2CU6VJ3KUjdjMWb3wQ1599Kf3x4WrAtw/s1600/RTX12KXZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBp-X6Tti44W5A4GfC2ZeFtzpTbqA8DFlB0aCcDv9TkGacATcr5JuiBNFuZg88w7qPn2WBcKY0PLlt1oZpWJIDWEcS8O8KqBpNH-Ux1XkzAF2CU6VJ3KUjdjMWb3wQ1599Kf3x4WrAtw/s200/RTX12KXZ.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> For much of the last decade, most have digested the narrative of a Muslim-West divide. It was so pervasive that newly elected US President Barack Obama, portrayed as a symbolic messiah bridging two worlds, was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/announcement.html">awarded</a><a href="http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/announcement.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;a Nobel Peace Prize</a>&nbsp;before even completing a year of his term. Twelve years after the 9/11 al-Qaeda attacks, much of the discussion about the "Muslim world" has internalized this language, and why not? The conflict&nbsp;between the Palestinians and US-supported Israel remains unresolved, US drone strikes continue unabated in Pakistan and Yemen and terrorist attacks like the Boston Marathon bombing are still occurring in deadly fashion.</div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> These days, however, one is more likely to see the burning of a Syrian government flag than an American flag amid the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/06/daily-chart-5">world’s deadliest</a><a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/06/daily-chart-5" target="_blank">&nbsp;ongoing conflict</a>, for which the United States is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.acus.org/viewpoint/syria-what-idris-says-needed-turn-tide">criticized</a><a href="http://www.acus.org/viewpoint/syria-what-idris-says-needed-turn-tide" target="_blank">&nbsp;primarily for not intervening</a>. One is more likely to see Iraqis killed in a terrorist attack than Americans. In fact, in recent years approximately&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/nctc2011.pdf">90%</a><a href="http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/nctc2011.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;of terrorism-related fatalities have been Muslim</a>. One is more likely to see the&nbsp;<a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/74773/Egypt/Politics-/Angry-mob-kills-at-least--Shias-in-Giza-village.aspx">demonization of a Shiite</a>&nbsp;than a Jew by an extremist Muslim ideologue. The battle lines have shifted from Islam versus the West to Muslim versus Muslim, and it is time for politicians and pundits in the United States and the Middle East alike to catch up.</div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br />Read more:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/new-middle-east-muslim-versus-muslim.html#ixzz2c5fRQCzj" style="color: #003399;">http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/new-middle-east-muslim-versus-muslim.html#ixzz2c5fRQCzj</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/08/the-middle-easts-new-divide-muslim.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-2226163000160701425Wed, 17 Jul 2013 20:06:00 +00002013-08-29T01:23:27.648+04:00 <!--StartFragment--> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;">Johann Hari’s </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">article</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt;"> “The Dark Side of Dubai” in <i>The Independent </i>in 2009<i>, </i>crystallized the hyperbolic writing on the Gulf emirate in the recent past:</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">“</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">This is a city built from nothing in just a few wild decades on credit and ecocide, suppression and slavery. Dubai is a living metal metaphor for the neo-liberal globalised world that may be crashing – at last – into history.”<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Of course, Dubai did not crash into history and Hari was <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jan/20/johann-hari-quits-the-independent">dislodged</a> from his perch due to a plagiarism scandal a few years later. Yet, for many commentators and journalists, any mention of Dubai still evokes a sense of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/16/dubai-sex-tourism-prostitution">moralistic derision</a> – Dubai the land without culture filled with a people without history. For the youth of the region, however, Dubai represents something different: jobs, a relatively open society, and a government (in progress) that works. As countries in transition, like Libya, Tunisia and Egypt look to transform their own societies, Dubai is an enigmatic model in the distance. &nbsp;</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFQyx7uvRlivbhfh5P6wqNe10rm1hjGXOMVktfpQ7Xrw06wvd5W4oWNqkSPTCC64MebeRtTApmXmB9hcpnapAU23pSVsktPO6X5oBhT5W4pajI0MfIkj5fRgDWreCQ2yVRWsmIl_Exlg/s1600/Burj+Khalifa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFQyx7uvRlivbhfh5P6wqNe10rm1hjGXOMVktfpQ7Xrw06wvd5W4oWNqkSPTCC64MebeRtTApmXmB9hcpnapAU23pSVsktPO6X5oBhT5W4pajI0MfIkj5fRgDWreCQ2yVRWsmIl_Exlg/s200/Burj+Khalifa.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <o:p></o:p><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="color: #262626; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What is the Dubai model? It is hard to fully capture the multi-faceted nature of it in just a few words, but there are several key dimensions. In addition, the unique (and transferable) aspects of the Dubai model, however, are less to do with its political system, and more about the policies pursued. In fact, too much time is spent in the region debating the political system rather than the impact of policies on the ground enacted by any ruling group or party. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Fundamentally, Dubai made itself open to people flows from around the world, with all its associated risks. This has meant that its small population – today 90% of residents are non-citizens – has been able to build an economy depending on an externally generated labor and consumer market. In addition, to unskilled labor, Dubai has also been keen to open itself to the best talent from around the world.&nbsp; Take Dubai Aluminum (DUBAL) as an example, founded n 1979 and predicated on leveraging international talent and expertise. In fact, in its </span><a href="http://www.dubal.ae/who-we-are/our-history/a-30-year-heritage.aspx"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">initial year of operation</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">, few of the 1,386 employees were Emiratis. Yet that has changed over time, as DUBAL has grown to become the world’s largest aluminum smelter. Understanding its own labor market and taking advantage of regional and international labors flows and talent has been critical to the Emirate’s success.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Despite being in conservative surroundings, Dubai has also ensured that it functions as an open society, in terms of social and religious practices. While this diversity can raise tension, like last summer’s </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18720920"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">#UAEdresscode</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> campaign for example, there is an open coexistence, as can be witnessed while walking on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewalkatjbr"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">JBR Walk</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">, along the beachfront, with full-length <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niq%C4%81b">niqabs</a></i> side-by-side with what could well be described as the opposite of that! This openness has also contributed to Dubai becoming a global hub, and now the </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/ehlk45iehm/7-dubai/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">7^th most visited city</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> in the world, with 10 million tourist arrivals annually. This did not occur overnight, and was linked to the gradual (and sometimes sudden) growth of the hospitality industry and expatriate population. Being an open society, however, does not just mean bottles and bars; the government has consistently emphasized </span><a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/07/09/the_new_arab_awakening_uae_moderates_middle_east"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">gender empowerment</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> in all fields as a matter of policy, including in key positions, political and economic. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">In addition to people flows, Dubai has ensured an inflow of capital, by building a financial sector and set of institutions to leverage the capital-rich environment around it. The </span><a href="http://www.difc.ae/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dubai International Financial Centre</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> (DIFC) has created a separate regulatory environment and court system to provide security to investors and companies alike. In addition, while still not perfect, it is relatively easy for any foreigner to set up a local free zone company, allowing him or her to deploy capital, which subsequently generates employment (albeit more for non-locals than Emiratis). The stability of Dubai and the strength of its soft and physical infrastructure has meant that in times of uncertainty, capital finds its way there; last year that included </span><a href="http://arabiangazette.com/foreign-direct-investment-uae-increases-20130701/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">$8 billion</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> of foreign direct investment (FDI), a 25% increase from 2011. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">In order to spur growth and absorb investment, Dubai borrowed a page from several economic models (Singapore &amp; Hong Kong among them) and cluster-based theories (</span><a href="http://www.isc.hbs.edu/pdf/2010-0124_UAE_SessionONE.pdf"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">see Michael Porter)</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">. Take a look at the growth of the </span><a href="http://www.dubaiairport.com/en/media-centre/Documents/Oxford%20Economics_Explaining%20Dubai's%20Aviation%20Model_June%202011.pdf"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">aviation sector</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> in Dubai, which in 2011, directly or indirectly contributed $12 billion towards the GDP, and accounted for 125,000 jobs (in a city of 2 million people).&nbsp; The same can be said for the logistics (e.g. </span><a href="http://www.dpworld.ae/en/home.aspx"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dubai Ports</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">) and retail sectors (e.g. </span><a href="http://www.majidalfuttaim.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Majid al-Futtaim</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> &amp; City Centres), all of which have benefitted from an ecosystem approach that has included new regulation, government-driven investment, and infrastructure development. Emirates Airlines did not become one of the world’s leading airlines by accident or in isolation. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally, on a consistent basis, Dubai has pushed excellence in public services, culminating in the </span><a href="http://governmentsummit.ae/ar/home"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Government Summit</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;"> earlier this year, which convened public servants from across the country to “exchange best practices.” In Dubai, there are regular awards for government excellence given to high-performing departments. In fact if you go see the Director-General of the Dubai Courts, he will likely give you a PowerPoint presentation on their caseload, wait times, and improvements. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lest, anyone think that everything is ‘perfect’ in Dubai, it is not. There are a number of issues, ranging from<a href="http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/courts/uae-security-trial-convicts-are-not-prisoners-of-conscience-ministry-1.1204580"> political prisoners </a>in the country (due in part to a stifling intellectual/political climate) to the lack of legislative oversight to continued labor exploitation (far less than before but still problematic, given <a href="http://gulfnews.com/uaessentials/ask-the-law/uae-labour-law-section-5-payment-of-wages-1.1208188">there is still no minimum wage</a>). Societally, there are also a number of challenges, including naturalization, obesity, and a growing culture of materialism, none of which should be taken lightly. And, for the local Emirati population, there is a high rate of unemployment due to a mismatch between expectations and skills and the needs of the labor market. None of these should be under-estimated for both the moral issues they pose as well obstacles they may present to the viability of Dubai's success, as is the case in many transformative development contexts.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Dubai model works quite obviously, in Dubai. While other countries – especially those in transition – cannot copy-and-paste what Dubai has done, particularly on migration, cultural change, and government led-investment, they can still apply lessons from Dubai’s experience. Although it may seem that Dubai had the guarantee of Abu Dhabi behind it or capital flows in the Gulf to harness, every country has an advantage, which can be used as a foundation. Egypt has the largest consumer base in the entire Arab world that can drive industry. Tunisia has some of the highest literacy rates and education levels in the region, and an established tourist bridge with Europe. Libya has tremendous oil-wealth and a strong connection to the Sub-Saharan economy. <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt;">The fragility of transitional countries means that everything must be done to improve.&nbsp; What Dubai has demonstrated is that there can be positive momentum and development on areas that affect the quality of people’s lives and their livelihoods. There remain critical challenges in front of it, but there is also something that works in Dubai, and it’s about time that some of these lessons are transferred to the wider region.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div> <!--EndFragment--><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/the-dubai-model-and-new-arab-world.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-8549638431249889579Tue, 09 Jul 2013 22:26:00 +00002013-07-10T02:39:06.293+04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvnOYGvUEV16ljb-mebfehP5_axdJ2G5x4uI9FCpUaOQv9cEw13xjk3M-ejhG5QdLL0ndzFuDsaA1ApeXqDzKNIfRFvMoEj5Unw_g-xk3e_Htg6ad30ASzIxZxKktfxGRizdPXywXyCU/s1600/Ramadan-Kareem-Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvnOYGvUEV16ljb-mebfehP5_axdJ2G5x4uI9FCpUaOQv9cEw13xjk3M-ejhG5QdLL0ndzFuDsaA1ApeXqDzKNIfRFvMoEj5Unw_g-xk3e_Htg6ad30ASzIxZxKktfxGRizdPXywXyCU/s200/Ramadan-Kareem-Wallpaper.jpg" width="200" /></a>This week marks the start of Ramadan. I would say today, but as is the case for many things, Muslims <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/ramadan-start-date_n_3566129.html?ir=Religion">cannot even agree on what day</a> marks the beginning of the holy month. Is it Tuesday? Wednesday? Thursday? Sometimes, even in the same country, clerics from different sects or schools of 'jurisprudence' disagree on the sighting of the crescent moon (which signifies that Ramadan has arrived). In Lebanon, Shiites started the fast on Tuesday, and Sunnis on Wednesday, at least the <a href="http://www.yalibnan.com/2013/07/08/ramadan-starts-tuesday-for-shiites-wednesday-for-sunnis/">last time I checked</a>. If only the Shiite-Sunni conflict was relegated to a debate over the start of Ramadan. Alas, while diversity is something to be treasured, that is not always true in what is the proverbial Muslim world. The Qur'an <a href="http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=49&amp;verse=13">tells us</a> about what we can gain from diversity:<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another.&nbsp;</blockquote> Somehow throughout history, perhaps the year after Prophet Muhammad died (circa 633 AD, or 1), Muslims lost sight of this. Today, you're more likely to hear about diversity as a threat rather than an asset. In fact, it seems to go hand-in-hand with regards to whether a Muslim country can be peaceful or democratic or successful: <i>Well, I would say Country X would have a smooth transition, but they have a very diverse population with different ethnicities and groups. </i>It's almost like Muslims can't survive with their own layered identities in the modern-age, longing instead for some Orwellian dictator to give them all a uniform to gloss over any differences that they may have. Of course, enough of those beautiful strongmen have come along for us to know that is not a great path either (um, certain exceptions aside of course).<br /> <br /> And so in 2013, we enter into Ramadan, all 1.5 billion Muslims, or 1.2 billion, or 1.8 billion of us, depending on who's counting (or better yet who's making up statistics off the top of their head and then getting cited by the media, thereby cementing that figure as real), with a 'Muslim world' in complete conflagration - i.e. business as usual. Now all these millions of Muslims, some nominal, some not so nominal, live in different places with different challenges faced. Some in the West. Some in the East. Some in Muslim majority countries. Some as minorities in secular or other countries. And so it goes. Yet, look around, and we see challenges. There's the <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=146&amp;Body=Syria&amp;Body1=">conflict in Syria</a>, with a death count now over 100,000 and a displaced population representing a quarter of the country. There's the spiralling situation in <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/20137821445536472.html">Egypt</a>, with an uncertain future ahead. And you can never count Pakistan out, with essentially <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/world/asia/pakistan-suicide-attack-kills-8.html?_r=0">a bombing a day</a>.<br /> <br /> You start to go through Muslim countries, and there's a lot that leaves a lot to be desired. It's almost too long of a list. It kind of makes you want to sing an Islamicized version of <i>Les Misérables "</i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6YwuqWFTbc">I Dreamed a Dream</a>", I guess with a Fatima instead of Fantine. Given the state of Islam, you might actually get in <a href="http://somalilandsun.com/index.php/world/somalia/396-al-shabaab-bans-music-and-dance-at-weddings">trouble for singing</a> in public. I know that the 29 or so days of Ramadan will not bring peace, emancipation, and progress to the lands where so many Muslims live. Likely the strife, struggle, and scarcity that defines so many people's lives will not change. In fact in places like Syria, violence could actually intensify this month (some militant groups have actually announced an 'Operation Ramadan').<br /> <br /> Thus, the realities of Ramadan may overwhelm us. Yet, if Ramadan is anything, it is a time for reflection and thinking of what can <i>be</i>, rather than what <i>is</i>. And in that spirit, I thought it would be good to end with a vision, a so-called Ramadan Dreams, of the realm of a possible future, of the Muslim world (i.e. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummah">Umma</a>), where:<br /> <ul> <li>There are far more <i><a href="http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=45024">Sushis</a></i>&nbsp;than Sunnis &amp; Shiites;&nbsp;</li> <li>Being an 'Islamist' means being an expert in Islam rather than a judge/jury/executioner;&nbsp;</li> <li>The&nbsp;<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takbeer">takbeer</a></i>&nbsp;is used in excitement of a goal scored on the soccer field rather than a direct hit on the battlefield;&nbsp;</li> <li>Having a beard is a fashion statement not a religious statement;&nbsp;</li> <li>When we hear about a scandal about a royal Prince, it's because he had a nipple slip and not a multi-billion dollar arms deal go to his bank account;&nbsp;</li> <li>There are more ninjas than women in face-covering black robes;&nbsp;</li> <li>There will be&nbsp;<i>actual Jews</i>&nbsp;around to respond to somebody who&nbsp;says "don't be such a Jew";&nbsp;</li> <li>When someone says "that's the bomb" he's not actually pointing at a bomb;&nbsp;</li> <li>You can debate the existence of God with two sides of the debate present; and</li> <li>People can be proud to be Muslim...and not Muslim.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <div> Now before anybody gets their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keffiyeh"><i>kefiyyeh</i></a> in a twist, there are many Muslims who live in countries where things are not so bad, and countless others in Muslim countries, who believe in a pluralistic and open society. Yet, there is a long ways to go before we escape so many of the ills that have come to define Muslim lands and societies. Ramadan 2013 will not bring the change many of us would like to see, but here's hoping that, that change will come sooner rather than later, and help shape a Muslim world that embraces its pluralism, recognises its intellectual tradition, and empowers its people. <a href="http://www.ask.com/question/what-does-ramadan-kareem-really-mean">Ramadan Kareem</a>.&nbsp;</div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/ramadan-dreams.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-7863193655916142243Sat, 06 Jul 2013 14:37:00 +00002013-07-06T18:37:04.644+04:00It was clear that this would be no ordinary Friday (on July 5), given&nbsp;all the <a href="http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/the-counterrevolution-in-egypt-will-be.html">recent events </a>the past week in Egypt. The holy Muslim day has served, for all sides, as a critical time to mobilize demonstrations. Yesterday was no different. Masses of supporters of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/05/morsi-final-days-egypt-president">ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi</a>, gathered outside the Rabaa al-Adawiyah Mosque in Nasr City, an area in Cairo just several kilometres from the famed Tahrir Square. Their chants grew louder throughout the day, with a series of speeches by leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, culminating in the fiery (oral) missive by the Supreme Guide of the movement, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/egypt/130705/egypt-mohammed-badie-urges-crowd-sacrifice-our-souls-">Mohammed Badie</a>. It was a day of "rejection," called for by supporters of Morsi, and the rejection was vociferous and real. That rejection and its swell of supporters, later in the evening, marched down the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnhT9sxF3y0">October 6 Bridge</a> towards Tahrir Square. Already earlier in the day, unarmed demonstrators from the pro-Morsi camp had been shot dead (as seen in this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKoRKaqA70E&amp;feature=c4-overview">graphic video</a> here) when coming too close to military positions. By nightfall, the two camps - the pro-<i><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23131953">Tamarod</a></i> (or rebellion) groups in Tahrir &amp; the pro-Morsi demonstrators - were in full-fledged street battles, not just in Cairo but in Alexandria and other cities as well, <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/2013767313227438.html">leaving 30 people dead</a>.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPODczasalusmd2zN774wGKukdvd8GS1QOFMAwMKGZoQa-A1vJ6WzbUcqh9a_eyn0VNturaQVyJcrSNFmNyuiM_70ddERpwzemjl61nRsi4pQ3cI32_JMKN0tdZouYZo-sovpgPpRKAoo/s1600/egypt-army-fires-on-morsi-loyalists-070513-003-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPODczasalusmd2zN774wGKukdvd8GS1QOFMAwMKGZoQa-A1vJ6WzbUcqh9a_eyn0VNturaQVyJcrSNFmNyuiM_70ddERpwzemjl61nRsi4pQ3cI32_JMKN0tdZouYZo-sovpgPpRKAoo/s320/egypt-army-fires-on-morsi-loyalists-070513-003-L.jpg" width="320" /></a>If there's a lesson (for post-revolutionary contexts) to be taken from the past week &nbsp;it is that 'impatience' is not a virtue. The <a href="http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/the-counterrevolution-in-egypt-will-be.html">military takeover</a> of the Egyptian government - albeit fuelled by a legitimate and popular uprising - did not resolve anything but it definitely made things worse. Instead of hitting the reset button, Friday's clashes have shown that Pandora's Box is now wide open. In the midst of growing uncertainty, there would appear to be only one way forward and that is the immediate return to democratic legitimacy, whether through the re-running of a presidential election or a referendum on Mohammad Morsi. Everything else is a red herring, including discussion on whether what transpired in the last few days was a <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/07/03/morsy_military_coup_egypt_us_obama">military coup</a>.<br /> <br /> There is no question that the movement to oust President Morsi was a popular uprising. Driven by deep frustration from political overreach (by Morsi) starting in November 2012 and exacerbated by worsening living conditions, millions of people joined the <i>Tamarod </i>movement, culminating in the Tahrir protests that coincided with Morsi's one year mark in office (<a href="http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/the-counterrevolution-in-egypt-will-be.html">more on this is available in a previous post</a>). Yet, two things should have been clear:&nbsp;1) Removing an elected President, no matter how unpopular, is not easy; and&nbsp;2) There was a popular base that still supported President Morsi. On Friday, the latter disenfranchised group, perhaps the same that saw "their" democratically elected parliament invalidated back in <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/53609/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-Islamists-slam-parliaments-death-knell,-libe.aspx">September 2012 </a>by the courts, now saw "their" democratically elected President overthrown. Add to that, the Constitution that was passed with 64% support of the vote was essentially also declared <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57592217/egypt-military-president-morsi-ousted-constitution-suspended/">null and void</a> by the armed forces, to be re-drafted or amended by a select committee.<br /> <br /> To believe that an 85 year old movement - the Muslim Brotherhood - flanked by its supporters and with the winds of at least electoral legitimacy in their sails, would take these developments lying down, would have been naive. And if the face of this change for all intents and purposes was the very armed forces that have essentially dominated Egypt since 1952, than certainly it would raise the spectre of forceful if not violent resistance. Thus, what has unfolded so far in Egypt on Friday is completely expected and moreover, is a reaction that will only deepen and grow. Furthermore, there is an absence of a 'neutral' authority, as the military appears to have chosen one side in this clash of camps, especially as it is <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/05/muslim-brotherhood-leader-arrested_n_3552567.html">arresting leaders</a> of the Muslim Brotherhood in the interim.<br /> <br /> And so we arrive at the inevitable question: How bad can it really get? Despite the fact that the Brotherhood was ruling 'non-inclusively' and without an effective plan for the government, there is no basis to argue that what has replaced it is anymore inclusive (in fact likely the opposite) and has any clearer plan or set of policies for the country. The country is divided and there is no broader political or democratic legitimacy for the military transition, beyond the assumption that it represented the popular will; but can the latter be proved? We hear numbers such as <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/07/egypt-protest-photos-night/66762/">33 million bandied</a> about but not only are these figures not based on any tangible scientific analysis (see <i>Wired</i>&nbsp;for how to <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/02/how-many-people-are-in-tahrir-square-heres-how-to-tell/">measure people in Tahrir Square</a>) but they are assuredly less 'legitimate' than an actual vote.<br /> <br /> With both sides claiming popular support and the cringe-inducing word (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23161987">thanks to Morsi's speech</a>), 'legitimacy, the clashes that began Friday will not end and if anything, they will escalate (or become something even more dangerous if driven underground). There are 93 million people in Egypt, and each confrontation will lead to more deaths, more 'martyrs', and more outraged friends, supporters, and families. Each week that passes will only deepen the divide and the division, ultimately rooting out the basis for any coexistence in the near-term. Civil disobedience, will turn into civil strife, and civil strife could turn into, yes, civil war (a distant but real possibility). There are multiple videos emerging of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUq6ThxYgsQ">salafi-jihadi style groups</a> seeking to exploit this moment, and resort to outright violence against the governing authorities. While naysayers may be right that Egypt will not turn into Syria tomorrow, each day that passes without resolution, the disintegration of the state becomes an evermore possible scenario. And if that happens, the consequences will be unimaginable.<br /> <br /> There then appears to be only one way forward and that is the immediate (or urgent) return to a democratic process. While there are some who have cheerleaded the military takeover and the appointment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adly_Mansour">Adly Mansour</a>, not only does this not have broad-based (mind universal) support within Egypt, but the continuation of this process in its current form, will only destabilize the country further. Given that the unquestioned return of Mohammed Morsi to the presidency would also only inflame tensions within the previous opposition, the only way forward is to hold a referendum with the following question:<br /> <br /> 1) Do you support Mohammed Morsi finishing his full-term as President of Egypt?<br /> <br /> It is a direct question on the mood in Egypt, and the answer given, while not quelling all unrest, would provide the legitimacy to any transitional period that would follow (that is if the people answered no). With this referendum in tow, the country could move towards new presidential elections under a carefully managed process or continue with Morsi's presidency, with guarantees that he would govern much more inclusively (if the answer is yes). Yet, who will press for this type of solution, both internally and externally? On an international level, thus far, the U.S. has appeared "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/world/middleeast/egypt-crisis-finds-washington-ambivalent-and-aloof.html?hp&amp;_r=0">aloof</a>", the Europeans "<a href="http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/european-aid-to-egypt-ineffective/">ineffective</a>," and the Arab states mostly <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/03/us-egypt-protests-gcc-idUSBRE9621EZ20130703">partisan</a>. And while the <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/07/20137518523285137.html">African Union</a>, which has dealt with such situations previously and has come out strongly on the current situation, likely has less influence in Egypt. Thus the reality should dawn on all Egyptians and all political forces within the country that there will be no basis for compromise or true salvation, if it does not emanate from within Egypt itself.<br /> <br /> There will be many analyses made in the coming days around definitions and comparisons. Yet, fundamentally, Egypt is not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolhassan_Banisadr">Iran</a> in 1980 or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_Civil_War">Algeria</a> in 1991 or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_military_memorandum_%28Turkey%29">Turkey</a> in 1997. It is Egypt in 2013, as hollow as that sounds - but that is the truth through which everything flows. And any resolution that emerges, must come from within the forces of Egypt in 2013. With Nelson Mandela, appearing to be on his deathbed (and our prayers with him), it is worth heeding, in closing, some of his <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/06/24/mandela.quotes/">words of wisdom</a>, in this crisis:<br /> <br /> "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/in-egypt-is-only-way-forward-out-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-4452333342148586453Thu, 04 Jul 2013 02:15:00 +00002013-07-04T06:47:55.793+04:00Around midnight in Cairo the night of Tuesday, July 2, millions of people in Egypt awaited the President of the Republic, Mohammad Morsi, to respond to the 48-hour&nbsp;<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/02/egypt-morsi-military-tahrir-square">ultimatum</a> delivered by the country's military on Monday: resolve your differences with the protestors or we will do it for you. With the deadline fast approaching, and due to hit at 4:30pm local time the next day, Morsi rejected the challenge by the military in a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/02/egypt-morsi-defies-military-ultimatum-tweet_n_3536593.html">tweet</a>. Then, he came on television and delivered what was the most important speech in not just his life but in the history of the Muslim Brotherhood movement he represents. And it was a spectacular failure. While not as long-winded as the<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/06/201362884049463308.html"> two-and-a-half hour speech </a>he had given just days earlier - akin to a State of the Union - it was just as hollow. His near constant use of the word 'legitimacy' began to elicit uncontrollable laugher in many corners (with the usage count of the word at around 75 in the speech). With millions of Egyptians on the streets across the country - some in support of him but many if not most in opposition - and the military's ultimatum in the background, Morsi had seemingly put the final nail in his own coffin.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlQbqMdpmA9T_EfQK4_L9ocKbA-_hBm6rLYGWwYbMm9Xaex9HyDMRIEXujsGS3f2tPVGnCEAnp0J-J_XHpJmUFYsVe2FZQyqOwQzaSxPeviVeXd8Y3yw4PRej1wK5PCpY2XX-n7Ms1Xo/s384/_68537443_68536394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlQbqMdpmA9T_EfQK4_L9ocKbA-_hBm6rLYGWwYbMm9Xaex9HyDMRIEXujsGS3f2tPVGnCEAnp0J-J_XHpJmUFYsVe2FZQyqOwQzaSxPeviVeXd8Y3yw4PRej1wK5PCpY2XX-n7Ms1Xo/s320/_68537443_68536394.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Just 30 months after the ousting of the dictator for the past 30 years, Hosni Mubarak, street protests in Egypt culminated on Wednesday night in a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/egypts-morsi-defiant-under-pressure-as-deadline-looms/2013/07/03/28fda81c-e39d-11e2-80eb-3145e2994a55_story.html?hpid=z1">coup d'etat</a>, effectively overturning the <a href="https://twitter.com/DrOmarAshour">14 democratic elections</a> since February 11, 2011 (the total voting cycles for the parliament, presidency and constitution). Indeed, it was broader than a coup d'etat, as the <i>Tamarod </i>(rebellion) movement that brought millions of people to the streets was a grassroots uprising that gathered millions of signatures from ordinary Egyptians, and more significantly, managed to coalesce a previously disparate and dispirited opposition. Additionally, deposed President Mohammad Morsi had governed incompetently and non-inclusively, which seemingly left the invitation open to change. Yet, what transpired this week, especially in the final sequence of events, could be the initial salvo of a counter-revolution 2.0, potentially endangering the process of democratization in Egypt for years to come.<br /> <br /> While things seemingly have not changed that much in Egypt, and in many ways have gotten worse, a lot has transpired. Following the departure of Mubarak and his gang from the scene, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/crisis-in-egypt/the-new-face-of-power-in-cairo/article1904700/">SCAF</a>) took charge of managing the country's affairs. It took nearly a year to hold&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_parliamentary_election,_2011%E2%80%9312">parliamentary elections</a>. When it did happen, in late 2011-early 2012 the Brotherhood's party (the Freedom &amp; Justice Party or FJP) took 38% of the vote, followed closely by the more conservative Salafist party, <i>Al Nour</i>, which took 28%. Given that this body would determine the fate of the new constitution (and the assembly to draft it), the fact that it was dominated by 'Islamists' already meant the new era of Egypt was handed a poisoned chalice in the eyes of many. Six months later, in June 2012, the Presidential elections saw a run-off between a former Prime Minister but tainted 'remnant' of the old Mubarak regime, Ahmed Shafiq, and Mohammed Morsi (representing the Muslim Brotherhood). Morsi won, and with the <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/06/20126191465269424.html">backing of protests</a> in the famed Tahrir Square, also managed to wrest plenty of executive authority from SCAF. Within two months, Morsi also seemed to assert civilian control over the military, with a <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/50395/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Morsi-honours-retired-military-brass-Tantaw.aspx">shuffling of key positions</a> in the defense establishment.<br /> <br /> Then on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20554079">November 22, 2012</a>, with full executive powers, and the parliament in limbo (due to pending court cases), Morsi assumed essentially legislative powers and declared himself immune from judicial oversight until a new constitution was formed. In essence that gave birth to the current movement (well at least the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20667661">National Salvation Front</a> that formed 2 days later and was a hodge-podge of opposition groups, including figures such as Mohamed El Baradei) which culminated in Morsi's removal from office this week. Morsi and the FJP then ham-fisted a constitution through a referendum, which garnered the support of 64% of the voting public. However, the process was not led by consensus and Morsi appeared to be increasingly marginalizing the judiciary, which many viewed as being too linked to the old regime, especially given that many senior judges were appointed by Hosni Mubarak (the judges had their own <a href="http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/blog/2006/05/egypt_a_battle.html">democracy movement</a> in 2006 so not a unified group by any means). Yet for many in the opposition, the <a href="http://www.aawsat.net/2013/03/article55296303">judiciary</a> was still a check against Morsi and the Brotherhood's power. And there were also complaints about the <i><a href="http://www.aawsat.net/2013/03/article55296303">ikhwanization</a> </i>of the state; given what transpired this week, this appeared not to have been the case.<br /> <br /> Nevertheless, the concentration of power by the Brotherhood and its non-inclusive method of governance as described above, could have overcome minor challenges from the opposition, if Morsi had enacted policies that improved the lives of everyday people. His <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/egyp-morsi-brotherhood/1688387.html">approval rating </a>had begun to drop dramatically, falling to 28% of the public just weeks before his overthrow. This was mainly due to the inability of the government to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/16/egypt-worst-economic-crisis-1930s">turnaround the economy</a>, with 25% of Egyptians below the poverty line, unemployment on the rise, and the country's fiscal health on the decline. Meanwhile, his approach to foreign policy of <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/09/the-us-and-egypt-sure-look-like-allies-at-least-on-military-matters/262411/">aligning with the US</a>, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/world/middleeast/irans-president-visits-egypt-in-sign-of-thaw.html?_r=0">engaging with Iran</a>, partnering with <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22093320">Qatar</a>, and leading the charge on <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/74082.aspx">Syria</a>, did little to assuage a frustrated public waiting for change at home in their daily lives that had yet to materialize. And sectarian clashes that mainly killed <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/africa/egyptian-government-faces-blame-in-mob-sectarian-killing">Shiites</a> and <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/04/06/muslim-christian-clashes-egypt/2058639/">Christians</a> tarnished the impartial role the President was assumed to play, given that he was close to figures that were prone to incitement. <br /> <br /> In the backdrop of all of this, the <i>Tamarod</i> movement, which started <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23131953">just several months ago</a> (in April), began to tap into the widespread anger and frustration. Gone was the gloss of a technocratic 'Islamist' party - a la the AKP in Turkey, who incidentally are having their own issues - replaced instead by the reality of the FJP in Egypt. And gone also was the mystique of a survivalist Brotherhood that was the David against the Goliath of the last half century; the Brotherhood was now the Goliath, and seemingly squandering the power that it had accumulated. The <i>Tamarod </i>activists&nbsp;<i>claimed</i> to have gathered 22 million signatures, in a country of 93 million people, which seems patently ridiculous for many demographic/logistical reasons (in the course of just two months). Nevertheless, their demands were clear, and principally centered on early Presidential elections (Morsi had served one of a four-year term). They were supported by umbrella opposition groups such as the National Salvation Front, April 6 Movement, and others, and with their deadline of June 30 for Morsi to respond coming fast, thousands and then millions began to fill Egypt's squares (some as noted in support of Morsi).<br /> <br /> By Wednesday, just prior to the removal of Morsi from power, several implications of what was transpiring were already clear. Firstly, the <i>Tamarod </i>movement, and subsequent mobilization demonstrated that there could be an organized opposition to Islamists in the 'new' Arab world, and that this secular alternative could mobilize numbers. This could have far-reaching consequences in other countries such as <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/75627/World/Region/New-Tunisian-protest-movement-to-mirror-Egypts-Tam.aspx">Tunisia</a>, where Islamists like the <i>Nahda</i>&nbsp;Party hold sway, as well as eventually (in the longer-term) in autocratic countries where often the only strong opposition movements are bogeyman Islamists movements. Secondly, Morsi's reign had as noted above, dulled - as power does to any party - the shine of the Brotherhood. It <a href="http://carnegieendowment.org/2012/06/11/gaza-five-years-on-hamas-settles-in/birb">has been noted</a>, for example that the clashes that led to the separation of the West Bank &amp; Gaza Strip, and undermined the Hamas victory in Palestinian elections, only emboldened Hamas instead of forcing the movement into the pubic accountability spotlight.<br /> <br /> Of course, in the euphoria of what the opposition was about to gain, the darkness just around the corner might have seemed far away. With millions on the street, and the military indicating a willingness to force itself on the scene as the arbitrator, Morsi <a href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4400452,00.html">offered</a> a new constitutional process, a unity government of technocrats, and an accelerated schedule of new parliamentary elections but it was too little too late it seemed for the street, especially with the military now backing the activists' play. And so instead of a negotiated agreement with President Morsi, or a legal process through the courts, or any other process through civilian authorities, it was the military that removed Morsi from power. The crowds in Tahrir Square cheered but the supporters of the deposed President, in Nasr City (also in Cairo), jeered. In a carefully <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23173794">choreographed display</a>, the civil secular state - with an associated roadmap essentially a reset of the revolutionary period - was re-established by <a href="http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/al-azhar-grand-sheikh-elbaradei-and-pope-tawadros-ii-announce-roadmap">three initial speeches</a>: first by General Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, head of the armed forces (appointed by Morsi), second by the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, and third by the Coptic Pope. Short statements followed from a range of opposition figures, including a representative of <i>Tamarod</i> and El Baradei and the conservative Nour Party.<br /> <br /> If you are an opponent of the Muslim Brotherhood, this was indeed a victory. And given the direction that Egypt was going, if you are an Egyptian, you can only hope that this could lead to a more positive future. Whatever the case, however, the military re-takeover appears to also be a re-launch of the counter-revolution. The <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/03/us-egypt-protests-gcc-idUSBRE9621EZ20130703">autocratic powers that be in the region</a> were effusive and immediate in their praise of the military and the coup. More worryingly, was the systematic campaign of <a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/03/egypt-live-blog/comment-page-4/">arrests </a>that already started to unfold late into the night of Muslim Brotherhood activists, leaders, affiliated journalists, and yes even Mohammad Morsi. The military is looking not just to referee the playing field but to define the playing field and the players allowed on it. That's not democracy. It may be that in the modern Arab world the demographics are such that the debate is about choosing between <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/opinion/in-egypt-democrats-vs-liberals.html">liberalism and democracy</a>, but isn't that the false choice of the last 40-50 years offered by autocratic rulers in the Arab world? And there is nothing 'rosy' about liberal autocracy versus religious autocracy in this region. In fact, if anything, liberal/secular authoritarianism has been the bane of decay in modern Arab history: the Baath parties in Iraq and Syria, Ben Ali's Tunis, Mubarak's Egypt, and the list goes on.<br /> <br /> Yet, unless the Egyptian military is kept in check, it will likely go down the path it knows best and one that it has followed since 1952, which is to systematically crush dissent and marginalise and exclude the Muslim Brotherhood. All indications today point to a proclivity to re-instate this exclusion, which <i>could</i> lead to an&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/middle-east-north-africa/north-africa/algeria.aspx">Algeria</a> scenario of the 1990s, albeit in a different form, of course. Paradoxically, as this new Pandora's Box is opened, the only hope to keep the military in check is the very street and youth who demanded its removal from the scene, and then demanded it to come back to its role as guarantor of the state. Hopefully the&nbsp;<i>tamarod </i>or rebellion, will keep that spirit, now that they have been given a share of the power.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/the-counterrevolution-in-egypt-will-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-5996732052145103666Tue, 02 Jul 2013 18:01:00 +00002013-07-02T22:01:08.073+04:00There's a lot to say about what's going on in Egypt, and a lot of great analysis out there. So I will simply re-post here a status I had on Facebook which I think sums up on the high-level the situation:<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6s6Boz3ZHn4KTWQ0FvLfuXwhdFClBSFA-XGBsrwoNedAu2akxPEC_5CCZiDTYFpzW1Kglfeo_jPb92ehfdgJk-f74PY_oylPSLqgTnaCifUTVtNJopgH3jJWgsIWmhFtlNozQkrkUhs/s304/Egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6s6Boz3ZHn4KTWQ0FvLfuXwhdFClBSFA-XGBsrwoNedAu2akxPEC_5CCZiDTYFpzW1Kglfeo_jPb92ehfdgJk-f74PY_oylPSLqgTnaCifUTVtNJopgH3jJWgsIWmhFtlNozQkrkUhs/s200/Egypt.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Today in&nbsp;</span><a class="_58cn" data-onclick="[[&quot;HashtagLayerPageController&quot;,&quot;click&quot;]]" data-pub="{&quot;id&quot;:490281974365249}" href="http://www.facebook.com/hashtag/egypt" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">Egypt</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;there are uncountable millions on the streets demonstrating in rebellion (</span><a class="_58cn" data-onclick="[[&quot;HashtagLayerPageController&quot;,&quot;click&quot;]]" data-pub="{&quot;id&quot;:481490385254214}" href="http://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tamarod" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">tamarod</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">) against a President that the people democratically elected. And the military under their reconstituted form (i.e. SCAF) have backed their play and essentially called for a 'roadmap' towards an orderly transition. This is just 30 months after&nbsp;</span><a class="_58cn" data-onclick="[[&quot;HashtagLayerPageController&quot;,&quot;click&quot;]]" data-pub="{&quot;id&quot;:347427562036037}" href="http://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tahrir" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">Tahrir</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Square came to the world's attention when the then</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;dictator for 30 years, Hosni Mubarak, was forced to step-down from power. So it is a little confusing. Adding to the confusion..The party in power is the Freedom and Justice Party, or Muslim Brotherhood. The people in Tahrir? Most of them Muslims, many devout, and still opposed to their so-called Brothers. Somewhat allies of the youth-driven, secular (not same as atheist) political opposition are the Salafists (Al Nour Party) or more conservative Muslims, who find themselves also calling for the President to step down. What should we make of all this? Some people may take this to mean that this is a strike against the role of Islam in government in the Arab world. Perhaps, but likely we won't see the same movement - yet - in Tunisia or Yemen and we now have a long ways to go in whatever Syria ends up (thanks to Assad &amp; his enablers from all sides). Essentially, this ended up being a transaction between people and those in power. The Brotherhood in Egypt didn't fail because it started to ban alcohol or force women to wear Niqabs; no they failed because they failed to govern effectively. They failed to protect women in the streets from sexual assault. They failed to protect logically Egypt's interests with foreign countries like Ethiopia. They failed to stabilize an economy with any plan whatsoever. They failed to realize that appointing a member of a foreign terrorist organization that killed tourists in the 1990s to the position of Governor in a province that depends on tourism was a bad idea. The Brotherhood failed in Egypt not because they were Muslim - for their opponents are also Muslim - but because they failed to improve the lives of the very people that elected them. But here's the rub...and it's three-fold. First, removing them from power through the military's might could set back the country for decades to come. Only a negotiated democratic roadmap should be accepted. Second, the end of President Morsi's tenure, does not and should not mean the end of the Brotherhood. They are still Egyptian, will still be Egyptian, and will still have the support of many people. They are part of the political fabric of the country. And finally, the fact that the Brotherhood fails does not mean that the patchwork National Salvation Front - i.e. the Opposition - will succeed. Thus far their alliance is based on opposition to something rather than a coherent ideology. Moreover, their ideas for economic development and governance are no more clear, practical, or informed than the Brotherhood's. And so we end up with one takeaway, and this is applicable to all 'transition' countries. There will always be backsliding and regression in post-revolution environments. The key is to self-correct and aim to go two steps forward and one step backwards, rather than the other way around. Good luck to all our friends in #Egypt. They'll need it.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/07/the-muslim-brotherhood-in-denial-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-6325457904690461915Tue, 25 Jun 2013 17:45:00 +00002013-06-25T21:55:19.959+04:00In July 2010, the (now outgoing) Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/qatars-emir-visits-south-lebanon">traveled to South Lebanon</a> to bask in the gratitude for his country's largesse in supporting reconstruction following the Israeli bombardment just four years earlier. The $300 million (and beyond) <a href="http://www.internal-displacement.org/idmc/website/countries.nsf/(httpEnvelopes)/4A4AD162E34BBEF3C125763F004A99E2?OpenDocument">committed by the Gulf state </a>was very much appreciated by the Shiite armed movement Hezbollah, who ensured billboards in the South and on Airport Road in Beirut were decorated with notes of thanks to the Emir. It was a conspicuous visit because Qatar had stood out amongst the GCC in taking a strong if not controversial stand. Hand-in-hand with Hezbollah, the Emir, was not apparently one of the <a href="http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2011/11/how-gcc-aims-to-benefit-from-turmoil-in.html">"half-men"</a> that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pointed to in the Gulf during the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war. In fact, the Emir and Assad were quite close, if not close friends, and were <a href="http://sana.sy/eng/21/2008/05/30/pr-176904.htm">frequently in touch</a>. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNBh5gBwsE0EbntDlG2JPETu6eFTfUDd1MAiAkirK2Ld5U_SQZOEFQbfH7CrtNJbZ60hkVx2DMI7jH66XS52-zNF-xILcSvtPAaU5_039Z8j8gTXwX8o2aCFIoeaGTC2tm38IquXpM5s/s1600/2013-06-24T143121Z_1_CBRE95N14CK00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-QATAR-EMIR-HANDOVER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNBh5gBwsE0EbntDlG2JPETu6eFTfUDd1MAiAkirK2Ld5U_SQZOEFQbfH7CrtNJbZ60hkVx2DMI7jH66XS52-zNF-xILcSvtPAaU5_039Z8j8gTXwX8o2aCFIoeaGTC2tm38IquXpM5s/s320/2013-06-24T143121Z_1_CBRE95N14CK00_RTROPTP_2_CNEWS-US-QATAR-EMIR-HANDOVER.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> In 2013, Qatar finds itself at the forefront on a number of regional issues, most notably the conflict in Syria, which had pitted the Emir in direct opposition to his old friend Bashar Al Assad. In fact, on the sectarian front, hosting firebrand spiritual figure, <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/06/02/Top-cleric-Qaradawi-calls-for-Jihad-against-Hezbollah-Assad-in-Syria.html">Yusuf al-Qaradawi </a>who recently called for a Sunni-led jihad, and allying almost openly with Muslim Brotherhood movements in the region (which brought <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/04/06/Orchestrated-attack-Egypt-s-Bassem-Youssef-mocks-Qatari-backing-of-Brotherhood-.html">criticism from people</a> as far afield as Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef), has increasingly prompted the question: Has the politically adept Qatar lost its touch?<br /> <br /> Once again, however, the Emir of Qatar (who I'll refer to by his initials HBK) shocked the region with another unprecedented move - this time the transfer of power to his 33-year old son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (the 'new Emir'). In doing so, HBK put Qatar back on the political front-foot and raised the pressure on regional allies. And in typical style, he added another deft touch in his address to the nation <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/qatar-succession-abdication-speech-of-outgoing-emir-in-full">with a quote </a>(and the only quote outside from scripture) from Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph in Islam and the first Imam of the Shi'a Muslims: 'Teach your children other than that what you were taught; as they are created for a time other than yours."<br /> <br /> It was nearly 18 years to the day, on June 27, 1995 [although official <a href="http://www.qatarembassy.net/emir.asp">Qatari sites</a> list his 'start-date' as June 26] that the outgoing Emir, HBK, came to power in a bloodless coup with the aid of his current outgoing Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamid bin Jassim al-Thani (HBJ) and other figures. He dislodged his father, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalifa_bin_Hamad_Al_Thani">Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad</a>, at the time, under largely benign circumstances but also as Qatar was starting to truly <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/emir-of-qatar-deposed-by-his-son-1588698.html">increase its economic base</a>. When HBK took the reigns, the country was bit-player on the regional scene, with a GDP of $8bn. Today, the country is a regional powerhouse, punching far above its weight with a GDP in upwards of $170bn. The transformation, after HBK's rise, began in a number of areas:<br /> <ul> <li>In 1995 (August), the Emir alongside his wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, launched what has become one of the largest foundations, <i>Qatar Foundation</i>, dedicated to 'knowledge' and social development in the country and wider region; </li> <li>In 1996, the State of Qatar launched <i>Al Jazeera</i>, initially only in Arabic, which shocked the region by becoming literally the only widespread outlet of independent voices (from the 'regimes') in the region;&nbsp;</li> <li>And in 1997, <i>Qatar Airways</i> was relaunched and became a symbolic flagship for the country, although it is not clear whether the carrier will ever truly be profitable.</li> </ul> Economically, with growing revenues from natural gas over the last decade and a half, the departing <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/sheikh-hamad-bin-jassim-bin-jaber-althani-meet-the-man-who-bought-london-8669134.html">Prime Minister, HBJ,</a> effectively became the CEO of the country. In addition, to governing national investments through the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund, HBJ also built up constituent vehicles like Qatari Diar, which looked to deploy billions of dollars in capital throughout the region, including in places that would traditionally be 'off-the-grid' like <a href="http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=11&amp;i=5107">Libya</a>, <a href="http://www.dohapress.com/portal/index.php/archive/57-all-local-news/8524-qatari-diar-freezes-real-estate-projects-in-unrest-hit-syria-v15-8524">Syria</a> and the <a href="http://www.zawya.com/story/Qatari_Diar_to_build_350m_West_Bank_township-ZAWYA20080529033951/">Palestinian Territories.</a> <br /> <br /> Yet, while the transformation of Qatar happened on several levels - and Sheikha Moza led a number of key initiatives that have separately built up the profile of the country - the Prime Minister &amp; Emir particularly forged a formidable political duo, implementing a plan for political leadership which led to alternating reactions of admiration and consternation in the region. HBK &amp; HBJ became in recent years, the guiding and influencing force on a number of key regional files. It was a strategy of multi-faceted engagement and relevance, often replete with paradoxes, that even until now has confounded observers and analysts, who were always late to the party in understanding and engaging with Qatar.<br /> <br /> For example, while condemning Al Jazeera Arabic for links to Al Qaeda, the U.S. government in September 2002 began <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,62680,00.html">moving its Central Command </a>(CENTCOM) Headquarters in part to Doha. Qatar maintained an Israeli trade office since the late 1990s (closing intermittently during the Intifada and in 2009 during the Gaza War), while also building up relations with Hamas throughout the 2000s. The country maintained strong links within the GCC, and also with Sunni allies such as leader of the Future Party Saad Hariri, but in 2008 it was their ties with Hezbollah that allowed them to forge the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doha_Agreement">Doha Agreement</a>, averting what could have been a dark period of civil strife in Lebanon. There was no end to the political engagement: peace talks on Darfur, engagement with the Taliban, mediation between Chad and Sudan, and the list goes on.<br /> <br /> On the political level, while the period prior to the Arab awakening was characterized by engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders, in early 2011, it seemed that Qatar was starting to play a much more partisan role. Previous allies such as Syria's Assad, and Libya's Gaddhafi fell by the wayside very quickly, with Qatar in fact <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/middle-east-north-africa/292159-obama-to-meet-qatari-leader-as-concern-grows-over-arms-flow-to-syria">leading efforts </a>in the fight to topple both dictators. And in other 'revolutionary' environments such as Egypt and Tunisia, where the ruling parties are Islamist, Qatar has become the political football for its perceived support for Islamist movements. Critics ask why figures like Qaradawi (mentioned above) are based in Qatar? Why was the state mosque in Doha <a href="http://dohanews.co/post/14207705908/state-mosque-officially-opens-friday-with-new-name">named after the founder </a>of Wahhabism, the particularly conservative brand of Islam, in 2011? And why has a station like <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/al-jazeera-criticized-for-lack-of-independence-after-arab-spring-a-883343.html">Al Jazeera portrayed</a> only one side of the story, often with an 'Islamic' bent, the last two years especially?<br /> <br /> Yet, the criticism has only grown commensurate with the prominence of Qatar in the region. On one hand, the policies of Qatar were simply part of its strategy of engagement in the region, to demonstrate leadership but also fundamentally relevance - important for a small country that previously lived in the shadow of Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Arab uprisings and subsequent rise of Islamist movements in the region was a tremendous opportunity for Qatar to provide indispensable leadership. Yet, leadership and unique prominence, has consequences, and it is likely that the inflection point of a transfer of power, provides a moment for reflection, especially as the region comes to terms with its new (and oft-changing) dynamics. What was immensely popular in late 2011 no longer is definitively so. For example, in Egypt, President Morsi's <a href="http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/06/17/are_egyptians_souring_on_the_muslim_brotherhood">approval rating</a> has notably dropped from 70% to 40%. <br /> <br /> Thus, the transfer of power to a new ruler, in Sheikh Tamim, means that Qatar can assess its strategic position and alignment. Perhaps, the country could benefit from a broader engagement given rising divisions in the region, and once again capture the role of lead mediator? Domestically, Sheikh Tamim will play close attention to catalyzing the role of his generation in the country's leadership. After all, Qatar had yet to enact the legislative or Shura Council that HBK promised when he rose to power, and enshrined in the <a href="http://english.mofa.gov.qa/details.cfm?id=80">Constitution ratified</a> 9 years ago. The first step will be the announcement of a <a href="http://sultanalqassemi.blogspot.ae/2013/06/possible-new-qatari-cabinet-arabic.html">new cabinet </a>that will replace what is increasingly seen as a gentrified political elite with new or younger faces. It is also expected that there may be a rise in salaries of Qataris employed in the public sector, at a smaller scale, however, to a similar announcement in <a href="http://dohanews.co/post/9911409857/qatar-announces-dramatic-salary-increases-for-govt">2011</a>. Most important, however, will be a new dialogue and series of consultations that the new Emir will have with Qatari citizens, whose expectations have risen with new-found wealth and prosperity. In particular, with 70% of Qataris <a href="http://www.cop18.qa/en-us/aboutqatar/cultureofqatar.aspx">under the age of 30</a>, engaging youth will be a priority. Do they feel included in the governance of the country and its institutions? Are there sufficient opportunities for employment and growth? And do public services meet their expectations? <br /> <br /> As Sheikh Tamim assesses the domestic situation, he does have a strong ally in his mother, <a href="http://www.mozabintnasser.qa/en/Pages/MozabintNasser/Biography.aspx">Sheikha Moza</a>, and the institutions she leads that address youth, health and education. And he will rely on&nbsp; experienced hands like Sheikh Abdullah al-Thani to evaluate macro-projects like the Qatar World Cup preparations and the development of the national railways. Yet, both on the national and international fronts, the new Emir is not without experience or preparation. While observers were caught off-guard, it is thought HBK had planned for this day far ahead of time. The ascension of the Crown Prince to the leadership, began in earnest over the past two years. In fact, when significant announcements like the salary increase from 2011 were made, it was from Sheikh Tamim's office. He was also front and center, for example, when the <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/2012129133314758190.html">move was made to shift Hamas</a> headquarters out of Syria. And the then Crown Prince had been taking an increasing <a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ca3c97de-dd66-11e2-892b-00144feab7de.html#axzz2XFSvUz00">"foreign affairs role"</a> amidst the Arab uprisings. <br /> <br /> While the policies that Qatar will follow will likely be unchanged in the short-term, we will have to wait and see what path the new Emir forges in the long-term. Yet, his father has assured that he enters on the political front-foot. Even in his departure, the outgoing Emir left as he came in - with a coup. Upending traditions in the region, he ensured that he would leave the scene at the ripe (for the GCC) age of 61, leaving power to his son who is only 33. This is next to countries such as Saudi Arabia, where the King is 91 (if not older) and where power has never been transferred to the 'next generation', passed instead from brother-to-brother among the descendents of King Abdelaziz (since his death in 1953). Or take Bahrain, where the Prime Minister, Khalifa bin Salman, has helmed the government for over four decades without interruption. <br /> <br /> Certainly, the move by HBK has not ushered in a democracy in Qatar; it is still an authoritarian state. And the ascension of Sheikh Tamim does not automatically assuage any of the concerns (real or perceived) ranging from migrant rights to nepotism to regional interference. Nevertheless, in its own way, Qatar has provided the region with a new revolutionary moment. Now we wait to see how the day-after, always the hard part, plays out. <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/06/another-coup-for-outgoing-emir-of-qatar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-1466289607667274961Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:00 +00002013-02-26T18:18:11.767+04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YTRwgz0dy7KyTe9i1q5yyjpzvl-rbL2sfQ7IgftzsTzwACusn1ngEIPOzHN17TshYU965xrmyXtrazzpPzyoNhGowZegEWJCUUDUVAFXm2hAmzwYE37okD41XU8NxztMErv0GvFjLB8/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YTRwgz0dy7KyTe9i1q5yyjpzvl-rbL2sfQ7IgftzsTzwACusn1ngEIPOzHN17TshYU965xrmyXtrazzpPzyoNhGowZegEWJCUUDUVAFXm2hAmzwYE37okD41XU8NxztMErv0GvFjLB8/s200/images-1.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div> In 1968 when then ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al Maktoum (father of the current ruler, <a href="http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=630d0cb40c7bd210VgnVCM1000004d64a8c0RCRD">Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid</a>) and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, <a href="http://www.cdr.gov.ae/ncdr/English/uaeGuide/hisFederation.aspx">agreed to form a federation</a> of what were then then <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trucial_States">The Trucial States</a>, a British protectorate, hardly anyone could have envisioned what the United Arab Emirates would have become today, nearly 45 years after that historic meeting [eventually seven of the nine 'sheikhdoms' joined the union]. For all intents and purposes, at inception in 1971, the United Arab Emirates could be described as a desolate backwater, despite a strong history of local traditions, and legacy as a trading post. Today, Dubai and the UAE bring forth images of economic strength and progress in an increasingly volatile and definitively confused region. Dubai's development, specifically, is a once-in-a-generation global phenomenon, and the city is unique like no other. As the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/were-ready-says-uaes-expo-bid-chief">bid committee for Expo 2020</a> look to decide on the host city for the world event seven years from now, there really is no other choice but Dubai - and let me tell you why.<br /> <br /> 1.<b> The other candidate cities are Izmir, Sao Paulo, Yekaterinburg, and Ayutthaya...</b><br /> <br /> There is nothing wrong with Izmir, Sao Paulo, Yekaterinburg, and Ayutthaya but do they really measure up to Dubai? Now before anyone gets in a tizzy or their 'socks' in a twist, they are all great cities! <a href="http://www.izmir.com/">Izmir is Turkey's third-largest city</a> and home to a great literary tradition.&nbsp;<b> </b>Sao Paulo is one of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu5h4OwCHh0">five largest metropolitan areas</a> on the planet. Yekaterinburg (in Russia), well it's Yekaterinburg and they have a <a href="http://english.ruvr.ru/photoalbum/52567834/">monument to Michael Jackson</a>. And Ayutthaya was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_(city)">historical capital </a>of the Kingdom of Siam. Let's just say the final three are likely Izmir, Sao Paulo and Dubai. Izmir is certainly a great city but does not have the global resonance of Dubai. And Sao Paulo...well Brazil has <i>both </i>the Olympics (2016) and the World Cup (2014); are you telling me that they really need the pesky Expo 2020 as well!?<br /> <br /> 2. <b>The Expo needs a city of significance to make the event significant</b><br /> <br /> Do you remember where the last Expo was held (or even that there is an Expo!)? You could be forgiven for not recalling that it was <a href="http://www.worldexpo2012.com/">Yeosu, South Korea.</a> Where was the one in 2010? That's right <a href="http://www.shanghaiexpobook.net/">Shanghai</a>. The Expo 2010 attracted a staggering 73 million visitors and was the most visited exhibition of its kind and brought together 189 different expositions from around the world. While in 2015 the Expo will be held in Milan and in 2017 in Astana (Kazakhstan) it is likely that it would take the Expo 2020 in Dubai to bring the event back to the international spotlight (the governing body regards the Expos held every 5 years to be 'World' Expos). In fact, it normally requires an emerging or new city of a transformative nature to inspire the type of attention that Shanghai in 2010 did (or Osaka in 1970 etc).<br /> <br /> 3. <b>The entire ethos of Dubai is synonymous with what Expo 2020 would be about</b><br /> <br /> Dubai is a global city by its very nature. It is home to over 2 million residents - and growing - from all over the world and from every socio-economic background, representing over 200 nationalities. The city is at once a home to and meeting-ground for people from the the Middle East, Subcontinent, Central Asia, Africa (especially East Africa) and Europe, North America, and Australia. There are even an estimated <a href="http://www.timeoutdubai.com/community/features/3683-chinese-expats-in-dubai">180,000 Chinese residents</a> in Dubai.&nbsp; With the tourist profile of the city, Dubai has in fact become the <a href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efik45ljkd/most-visited-cities-in-the-world-2012-8/">8th most visited city in the world </a>(in 2012). It's cultural diversity is on constant display with a <a href="http://alserkalavenue.com/uploads/news/135196429831.pdf">burgeoning arts scene</a> (that is driven at the grassroots level), <a href="http://www.dubaifilmfest.com/en/">international film festivals</a>, <a href="http://www.tasteofdubaifestival.com/">culinary celebrations</a>, and so much more that you might as well just visit <a href="http://www.timeoutdubai.com/">Timeout magazine</a>. <br /> <br /> 4. <b>Dubai inspires the imagination as the Expo event is meant to do</b><br /> <br /> The landmark World Expo (or Great Exhibition) was organized under the auspices of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, all the way back in 1851, in Hyde Park. It was an inspiring event that showcased the burgeoning city of London - the world's city at the time - and the promise of a future driven by technology and industrialization.&nbsp;<b> </b>In a region too full of dark pessimism and cynicism, Dubai represents optimism and opportunity. And it will represent that even more so in 2020, as the city, albeit far along the way, is only at the beginning of its journey in my view of what it will become. Think about it. Who would have said twenty years ago that the <a href="http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/">world's tallest building </a>would be built in the (Arabian) Gulf? Who would have said only several years ago after the 9/11 attacks that the <a href="http://www.emirates.ae/">world's leading airline</a> would be from an Arab country? Who would have thought that the 3rd <a href="http://www.drewry.co.uk/news.php?id=149">largest ports operator </a>in the world, handling over 33 million containers annually, would be from Dubai? Today, when you look at the volatile, unstable, and stagnant Middle East, there is one destination for entrepreneurs and innovators to go to - and that is Dubai.<br /> <br /> 5. <b>Expo 2020 would drive Dubai and the UAE to improve </b><br /> <br /> Before I even write this sentence, I'm sure several of London's finest are in a huff-and-puff that I have not yet mentioned <a href="http://www.arabianbusiness.com/uae-accuses-94-over-islamist-plot-state-news-487445.html">jailed Islamists</a> or tourists <a href="http://www.google.ae/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CC0QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arabianbusiness.com%2Fdubai-back-of-cab-sex-duo-see-jail-terms-cut-488548.html&amp;ei=W7ssUb3rHITjrAfwp4HoDQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNGs2pTVbgzuGuBeqnRNb-LWRYU5ug&amp;sig2=sdSIIPG5rF6qJBE7IMoT3w&amp;bvm=bv.42965579,d.bmk">having sex in a taxi</a>.&nbsp;<b> </b>Better yet, given the refusal-of-entry for a <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bbdbaa30-7e99-11e2-9080-00144feabdc0.html">scholar from LSE</a> this past week, shouldn't I be talking about the closure of the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/20/us-emirates-rand-idUSBRE8BJ0K320121220">academic environment</a> (I mean I masquerade as an intellectual from time to time as well)? Whether or not I believe in liberal democracy (I do - shock!), is it really a matter of discussion for Expo 2020? Well, in that case, we should reject Izmir's candidacy because of <a href="http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-turkey">Turkey's campaign</a> against Kurdish militants, Ayutthaya's candidacy because of <a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/01/thailand-rights-challenges-go-unaddressed">Thailand's campaign</a> in Malay Pattani, Yekaterinburg's candidacy because of <a href="http://www.freedomhouse.org/article/panelists-call-mounting-pressure-russias-illusory-democracy">Russia's crackdown</a> on political opposition, and Sao Paulo's candidacy because of <a href="http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/brazil-slum-campaign-human-rights-ahead-police-operation-2012-11-05">Brazil's anti-slum raids</a>. Such nullification would leave no one left to host the event! Now beyond the two issues I mentioned above there are a number of continuing issues of concern in the UAE, allow me to list some of them: <a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/09/27/uae-report-highlights-need-worker-protections">labor rights</a> (even though this is improving); integration of stateless residents (i.e. <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/the-frustration-of-being-a-bidoon">bidoons</a>); and increased confusion around <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/uae-cyber-law-is-full-of-surprises">cyber surveillance</a>. Hosting the Expo 2020 would not exacerbate but more than likely shed more light on and ameliorate these challenges. In fact, the event would serve as a target-date for when Dubai and the UAE will be (even more so) on the world stage, and that attention would drive improvements on areas of concern.<br /> <br /> There are more reasons than the five I've listed here on why Dubai should be the host for Expo 2020, but I like the number 5 (it's the former consultant in me - I almost went with three). Whether you live here or plan to visit, I look forward to seeing you in Dubai in 2020! Until then:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OnhnOsnpGFw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/02/why-dubai-is-best-biggest-tallest-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-5138030086097773629Sat, 19 Jan 2013 12:50:00 +00002013-01-19T16:51:02.864+04:00On Day One: A New “New Beginning” <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXD8_rvExveXclco5BncKr66KSDj6oNXiE5fGmsFvFOBltOVReUwtNvYCYnz8UsBpZyRAtOGevMSgrMenYria-4DmCjSoPQa7nj76wjeLxnxqEPFPvqhYyRLOK56GzqFFx78Iz4zjYKM/s1600/Obama+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXD8_rvExveXclco5BncKr66KSDj6oNXiE5fGmsFvFOBltOVReUwtNvYCYnz8UsBpZyRAtOGevMSgrMenYria-4DmCjSoPQa7nj76wjeLxnxqEPFPvqhYyRLOK56GzqFFx78Iz4zjYKM/s320/Obama+new.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> There was never a question that President Barack Obama represented a symbolic break with the past – someone who could redefine relations with the Muslim world. However to add substance to the symbolism of change, early on in his first term, President Obama went to Cairo to make a speech entitled, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/us/politics/04obama.text.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0">“A New Beginning.”</a> Yet, as he begins a second term it is clear that this new beginning needs to be reinvigorated in both style and substance. That initial speech, while poignant then, today rings hollow. If indeed President Obama and the administration are to achieve a definitive step change in relations with Muslim communities, there must be a renewed effort for honest dialogue, robust development initiatives, and tangible shifts in policy. <br /> <br /> At the onset of the Iraq War in 2003, President George W. Bush had <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2008/12/18/global-public-opinion-in-the-bush-years-2001-2008/">abysmal numbers</a> in many Muslim-majority countries. While 59 percent of Nigerians, 56 percent of Jordanians, and 46 percent of Pakistanis held confidence in Osama bin Laden’s leadership, Bush was polling in the single digits in the same countries. By 2008, in countries like Jordan and Turkey, nearly 90 percent of people had “little or no confidence” in President Bush.<br /> <br /> So when a young Kenyan-American Senator with Muslim roots, Barack Obama, emerged on the political scene, he was a welcome sight in even unsavory and sharply antagonistic corners of the Muslim world. In the midst of the political campaign even <a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2008/04/16/no-hard-feelings/">Hamas seemingly endorsed</a> him saying, “Actually, we like Mr. Obama.” Winning over Hamas never was (nor should it have been) a litmus test, but when President Barack Obama was elected, there was near <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/3384968/Euphoric-world-reaction-places-burden-of-expectation-on-Barack-Obama.html">universal euphoria</a> across Muslim communities.<br /> <br /> Early on, Obama and others in the Administration acknowledged the challenge in meeting these expectations. Even before he was <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2008/12/04/obama-wants-to-address-the-muslim-world-but-from-where/">inaugurated</a>, the Administration was already planning to mark this ‘new beginning.’ Going into the heart of Cairo to engage university students in an honest speech about a real change in relations between the U.S. and Muslims was indeed something to be commended. Subsequent to the speech, the White House created a position on the National Security Council for Global Engagement, and the State Department launched a number of partnership initiatives. In the fall of 2009, D.C. played host to the <a href="http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/140552.pdf">Presidential Summit of Entrepreneurship</a> that brought together 250 delegates from over 50 (mostly Muslim) countries.<br /> <br /> Then the situation started to become more difficult. There are no easy answers in the complex geopolitical relations in the wider Middle East and beyond. When the Green Movement in Iran demanded democratic change, the Obama administration had to contemplate whether it was for engagement with ‘regimes’ or engagement with ‘peoples.’ One of the President’s early visits was to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Abdullah prior to his Cairo speech, during which he said in reference to fundamental liberties, “They are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.” But during his visit with the King, there was <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-5058132.html">deafening silence</a> on this point. The advent of the Arab Spring made these dilemmas even sharper. Support democracy in Tunisia and Egypt at the last minute. Push democracy by force in Libya. Half-heartedly support it in Yemen. Remain frozen on Syria. Tacitly oppose it everywhere else.<br /> <br /> While Obama has grappled with difficult decisions, as any President would, he also shirked following up on critical points he made during his speech in Cairo. For example, he declared, “I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.” Guantanamo Bay <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/opinion/close-guantanamo-prison.html">remains open</a>, almost glaringly so. And while, torture has allegedly stopped being an officially sanctioned practice, summary executions and civilian casualties by <a href="https://twitter.com/dronestream">drone strikes</a> have dramatically increased in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, and the Horn of Africa. The latter have led directly to animus towards Obama from <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/06/13/u_s_drones_deeply_unpopular_around_the_world/">within many Muslim countries</a>.<br /> <br /> Then there was the line in the speech about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements…The settlements must stop.” Of course, they did not. In fact, in February 2011 the <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37572">U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council Resolution</a> that called on Israel to simply “cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian Territory.” Out of 15 countries on the Security Council, the U.S. was the lone dissent (and of course the fatal one). This is not to mention that the U.S. also stood against 95 percent of the world’s population in voting against recognizing Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in November.<br /> <br /> There were other elements of the ‘New Beginning’ that were promised, particularly around education and entrepreneurship. It is true that the U.S. has now (co-)organized three global entrepreneurship summits, in D.C., Istanbul, and Dubai, the latter being held in 2012. Yet, it is also clear that beyond the pomp of a summit, the once-robust programmatic initiatives that have come out have been weaker. Leadership changes within internal initiatives, as well as those with partners, have meant stalled if not stagnant programming. The idea of connecting entrepreneurs between the Muslim world and the West is a mutually beneficial and powerful concept, but it has not translated into the impact it should have by now. In the last summit in Dubai, it was as if the institutional memory from three years ago was lost, and everything was starting again.<br /> <br /> All this being said, there still exists the perception that relations have improved between the U.S. and Muslim communities. However, since 2009 and Obama’s inauguration, positive views have been on a steady decline in Muslim countries, according to the <a href="http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/06/13/chapter-3-global-opinion-of-barack-obama/">Pew Global Attitudes Project</a>. In 2009, 33 percent of respondents held confidence in Obama; that number slipped to 24 percent in 2012. In 2009, 25 percent of respondents held a favorable view of the U.S.; that figure dropped to 15 percent in 2012. Finally, approval of Obama’s ‘international policies’ fell from 34 percent in 2009 to 15 percent in 2012. Without a substantive shift, these numbers will continue to decline, further cementing the reality that there never was a new beginning.<br /> <br /> Can things be turned around, given the current state of affairs? It would be misleadingly Pollyannaish to think that President Obama could snap his fingers and magically change opinion towards him from Muslim countries. Moreover, there are certain political realities that will remain. The U.S. will continue to be an ally of Israel. The U.S. will continue to fight terrorism. And the U.S. will not be able to fund new Marshall plans in the Middle East for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, there is a lot that can and should be done.<br /> <br /> At the outset, President Obama needs to re-launch a dialogue with the Muslim world. At the beginning of his first term he went to Cairo to give a speech. Perhaps he should go to Cairo in 2013 to have a conversation. In fact, since becoming president, Obama has visited only the country of his upbringing, Indonesia, apart from the initial trips to Saudi Arabia and Egypt (in addition to cloak-and-dagger visits to Afghanistan), within the Muslim world. Instead of distant speeches and dispatched drones, the Administration would be served by a President who is more engaged with his audience, through visits as well as frank and honest dialogue during those trips.<br /> <br /> Although the U.S. will not reverse decades of support for Israel, it need not ally with the most extreme policies of the Israeli government. Continuing to be the lone voice at the United Nations and international community defending illegal Israeli practices is a sharp blow to many efforts of the Obama administration. There is no third-term, and the President should stop pandering to contrived political interests in Washington D.C. There are enough Jewish supporters, lobby groups, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Zionism-Peter-Beinart/dp/0805094121">intelligentsia</a>, who would support a more moderate and principled set of policies towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.<br /> <br /> Israel is, of course, not the only foreign policy issue that should be of concern. The U.S., while acting in its national interest, should remain consistent in its language and support for key principles of human rights. It is when it becomes caught in naked hypocrisy that support for the Administration falls, whether in Bahrain in 2011 or Egypt in 2012, and a range of countries, perhaps, in 2013.<br /> Finally, initiatives that can make an impact on tackling the economic despair for young people, like the <a href="http://www.weforum.org/reports/addressing-100-million-youth-challenge">100 million youth</a> who will enter the labor market over the next decade in the Arab world, need to be prioritized. There needs to be sufficient attention and support for the global entrepreneurship program that can truly support the emerging and exciting entrepreneurial energy in places like Amman and Ramallah, Karachi and Kuala Lumpur. The U.S. has the best soft-power in this area, from the start-up scene in Silicon Valley to MIT Labs, yet it is hardly deployed, even though the White House <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/12/11/entrepreneurship-critical-pillar-us-global-engagement">calls entrepreneurship</a>, “a critical pillar of U.S. global engagement.”<br /> <br /> There is a tremendous opportunity in President Obama’s second term to catalytically shift relations with Muslim communities and turn potential adversaries into allies. If the status quo, however, is maintained in policy and practice, this opportunity will be lost.<br /> <br /> <i>This article originally appeared in the print edition of the Diplomatic Courier, in the January/February 2013 issue. It can be accessed online at: http://www.diplomaticourier.com/news/regions/middle-east/1315-on-day-one-a-new-new-beginning.&nbsp; </i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2013/01/for-president-obama-on-day-one-new-new.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-1912304187141797674Fri, 28 Dec 2012 01:33:00 +00002012-12-28T05:40:33.606+04:00<i>This post comprises a set of reflections peppered with professional musings about geopolitics and the world around us.&nbsp;</i><br /> <i><br /></i> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UIJcGexw0tSA5ufHtpfA47G1jQzwGN390xyaNRCi9WzZAt9gWLDl5bGJG5hMnBzpwSbkTLjL0i-57vM4lZ8SMQWTNWjllaZ_oY9h7Qn54G4yy1BLnuOma3UVU6vFVc-WR8oyV8WwAqs/s1600/identity.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UIJcGexw0tSA5ufHtpfA47G1jQzwGN390xyaNRCi9WzZAt9gWLDl5bGJG5hMnBzpwSbkTLjL0i-57vM4lZ8SMQWTNWjllaZ_oY9h7Qn54G4yy1BLnuOma3UVU6vFVc-WR8oyV8WwAqs/s200/identity.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div> There's probably an entire television series I could write simply based on 'interactions' that I've had at the airport. Whether it's been in Central Asia, the Sub-continent, the Middle East, Europe or of course, North America, I've never felt more brown than when I've walked into an airport. It's as if I spend a few extra hours in the sun on the days I travel. I'm crispy and a shade darker. Every Muslim - or Muslimish - male likely has a special razor he uses for long-haul flights, lest his 5 o'clock shadow becomes a security-risk mid-flight.<br /> <br /> Brownness it seems is an odd curse in our world. There are entire industries dedicated to de-browning people. Literally. The leading products are those from our friends at <a href="http://www.unileverme.com/brands/personalcarebrands/fairandlovely.aspx">Fair &amp; Lovely</a>, who politely inform us that our skin could get in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIUQ5hbRHXk">way of a dream job</a>. There are also more 'intimate' concerns as well (<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2128854/Vagina-lightener-Indian-company-launches-intimate-wash-designed-lighten-vagina.html">for down there that is</a>). Estimates are that the global skin whitening market reaches upwards of <a href="http://www2.carleton.ca/fass/ccms/wp-content/ccms-files/Amina-Mire-Article.pdf">$18 billion</a> in just Asia alone. Yet, it's not just an Asian (West or South) trend, our darker shaded brethren also partake in the habit. The Economist reported that a <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2012/09/beauty-nigeria">whopping 77% </a>of Nigerian women use some form of skin-lightening product. And why not - from your personal life to your professional life, there are countless studies that shows being a little lighter and whiter can make your days brighter. <a href="http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/10/06/Skin-color-cited-in-Mexican-inequality/UPI-29281286405657/">In Mexico</a>, it appears that dark skin can limit your socio-economic status.&nbsp;Nevertheless, who wants to live a life not comfortable in your own skin?<br /> <br /> I think I've always been comfortable with 'brown' even if others have always been ambivalent about the term (and my own level of comfort with it). UPS' branded slogan, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ_ZSLt-HvQ">"What can brown do for you"</a> was my slogan when I ran for student government at the Kennedy School of Government (n.b. never run for government at a school of government). This was to the chagrin of some of my <i>latino-</i>associated 'browns'. You see, 'brown' is an amorphous word that can encompass a range of individuals from across the religious, ethnic, and racial spectrum. Hispanic. Latino. Indian. Pakistani. Middle Eastern (Arab to Persian). Even Black. From there. Originally from there. Kind of from there. It's a catch-all term that belies ascription or description. It is a self-definition. There is much more of a tendency of society, Eastern &amp; Western, global and local, to avoid the obvious or conversely assume while oblivious.&nbsp;It is why, the term Black when entering into popular consciousness is still uncomfortable in contemporary American society, even though many feel that it is the term that <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46264191/ns/us_news-life/t/some-blacks-insist-im-not-african-american/">refers most closely to their being</a>.<br /> <br /> Our mass media culture is much more comfortable failing to acknowledge difference or accentuating it without understanding it. President Barack Obama is an African-American - even though he is half-white, raised by White grandparents in White America. Everything else is too complicated. The world looks for static and stereotyped identities when the truth is our own sense of self is much more fluid and dynamic. 'Brown' is at once simple and sophomoric while at the same time nebulous and nuanced. I've found that whether you like it or not, others will seek to define you along the lines they would like you to fit within - it's your choice, however, to live inside or outside those lines.<br /> <br /> Growing up in the West, you are automatically attuned to your racial identity. In Canada you are a jigsaw piece to a mosaic multicultural puzzle. What exotic element do you represent? In Vancouver over 50% of respondents <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Vancouver">identify themselves as non-white</a>. There, 'brown' is part of the visible majority (visible in being dark I guess) rather than a visible minority. In the U.S. you are expected to blend into some type of melting pot. There, across the nation, over <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1179654--minority-birth-rate-tops-whites-for-first-time-in-the-u-s">half of children born</a> in the country are born to ethnic and visible minorities.<br /> <br /> Some people run from their background. It's an immigrant story not just specific to the brown-folk.&nbsp;Afshin turns into Sean, Mohammed into Mo, and the list goes on. That well integrated Muslim may be shaving, but he mysteriously disappears around prayer time on Fridays. I once had a friend who thought that 'Mosque' was the name of some club I went to every week. True story (actually true). One of the key things is to not speak like your parents, depending, of course, on how your parents speak. In my case, at 12, I still had trouble pronouncing the letter 'V'. For whatever reason, I would also mix up my 'Vs' and 'Ws' - being from West Vancouver, it was a bit of a problem.<br /> <br /> Yet, as much as there are people trying to wash the brown away, there are others who soak in it. They bask in the familiarity of their likeness. Other brown-folk get the jokes. The inside jokes. About why the house may smell like curry spices. That at least one relative is an illegal immigrant. That you don't understand why white people can't dance (although your Bollywood numbers would cause you to question your own moves).<br /> <br /> And all the while, whatever the second-generation immigrant choice, the society around you has already made its own decisions. For the former group, one day they'll walk into a room and realize: we're brown. It may be that your true name will be discovered. Once, when I came to my grade 7 science class, my teacher excitedly looked at me claiming he had seen my namesake in the movies over the weekend. He had just watched the Lion King and pointed at me saying '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffgnK-imS0k">Rafiki</a>'. The fact that I actually do have East African roots, and relatives who live in Kenya was not known to him; he was just amused by the exoticism of the phonetic connection. It happens to the best of those hiding in plain sight, when they are asked to speak for a 'group'. You can run all you want but you are always an outsider to some people. After 9/11 all types of brown people who had never even contemplated their brownness were swept up - literally and figuratively - in the hysteria.<br /> <br /> Yet, even the latter group, that seeks to withdraw into a bubbled existence of sameness, realizes the folly of that path. Going back to Mumbai. Or Baghdad. Or Cairo. Or Karachi. It's much more going until returning than going back. The first thing that normally happens is your language is bit off. That Hindi isn't really that good. You never quite mastered how to read Arabic. And there's that aunt who's kind of laughing at the fact that you aren't really brown anymore but white. What? Exactly.<br /> <br /> Neither here nor there is the place of the East-West hybridity that is many of us today. You can be confused. And the world around you will be confused. Living in Dubai and working in the wider Middle East (another strange term of history) has only heightened the absurdity of dissonance for me. While in the West, your compatriots may give you the colour-blind benefit of the doubt, there ain't no leniency back East. The moment I get into a cab, the fellow brown driver (Nepali, Indian or Pakistani) tries to make the 'original' connection. But it's worse with your socio-economic classmates. With the cavalry of cacophonous colours collecting in the city, disaggregating the rainbow appears to be priority number one. There is no priority for understanding complex identities. As if you could wash the colour away with one generation (even if that was not what you were trying to do)? In Canada or the U.S., I'm a hyphenated identity or a misunderstood one, but in Dubai, I'm - Indian or Pakistani. Is it worth it to confuse people? To tell them your father is from Uganda - ah but he's not Black! Or that you are born in Canada - but you're not White! Or that you feel connection to India as much as Pakistan - but you're Muslim!<br /> <br /> Being 'brown' really is a euphemism for what is really our ability to define our own identity. I'm Brown not Indian or Ugandan or Pakistani or Muslim or Eastern or Western. There's more to that identity than just pronouns and assumptions. And while people may feel it's inventive or counter-cultural, is it more so than the modern form of nationality? Until 1945, there was no such thing as the United Nations and most the developing world was the 'third world' under colonial rule. India and Pakistan didn't exist when my father's family immigrated in the late 1800s and early 1900s to East Africa - it was British India. Canada itself only became a country in 1867. There's a myth that migration is new and borders old. It's the other way around.<br /> <br /> So then, what is my identity? How can you embrace a multitude of discrete faces without becoming unrecognizable? And can society and the world accept what confounds conventions?<br /> <br /> These are some of the questions that I'll address in subsequent posts in the coming days. Yet, one thing I'll say:<br /> <br /> Each of us has a multitude of identities we are always balancing that weave together to form our individual tapestries. We are a blend of ethnicity and language, religion and philosophy. Our parents and grandparents often have varying geographical roots and in our lives so far we've traversed many more. Where we settle isn't always where we started. For me, finding how this comes together becomes important for understanding my own individiual path. Yet, for society, and especially transitional societies, understanding this complexity of identity becomes formative in building stable nations in the 21st century.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2012/12/on-identity-post-identity-reflections.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-3711030204142804971Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +00002012-12-18T19:41:21.984+04:00A <a href="http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1296230--canada-s-un-vote-against-palestinian-statehood-only-empowers-extremists">lot has been written</a> in the subsequent weeks following Canada's strong stand and vote against Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. The government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, in an almost intrinsic and essentialist stance. It is a relationship that Harper has said he would defend at any cost:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AUfFdhIOoQM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <br /> <br /> There is a history of how Canada's policy towards the Middle East conflict has shifted from neutral peacemaker to partisan cheerleader over the last decade and it started not with the Conservatives but with the Liberal Party, particularly under Paul Martin's leadership. Yet a lot of what is out there in the media is based on revisionism. I wanted to therefore post for the first time, exclusively on these pages, the official policy of the Government of Canada back in 2001, just over a decade ago, on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is in the form of a formal email that I received (as a freshman at Princeton!) from then <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Manley">Foreign Minister John Manley</a>, clarifying Canada's position following the 'controversial' <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Conference_against_Racism_2001">anti-racism conference in Durban </a>that year. Obviously written by his policy team, it is still telling on the marked departure that Canada has taken from its more grounded and neutral past in the region.<br /> <br /> ----------------------------<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnXLoCK6P1ikdRjUqDFq7tctqt67MsA0tm6ntNKxFvQ9d-I824UH7iiJpmVAC-HB4CG_JkxfDnir8dKUNSc2Trq9Xtmf7R7JspYtXupUCh1CXnjpLiABg4kJZOD8sj0vHCn_wq3Lk5e4/s1600/manley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnXLoCK6P1ikdRjUqDFq7tctqt67MsA0tm6ntNKxFvQ9d-I824UH7iiJpmVAC-HB4CG_JkxfDnir8dKUNSc2Trq9Xtmf7R7JspYtXupUCh1CXnjpLiABg4kJZOD8sj0vHCn_wq3Lk5e4/s1600/manley.jpg" /></a></div> Dear Taufiq Rahim:<br /> <br /> Thank you for your e-mail of August 30, 2001, concerning the situation in the Occupied Territories, and the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) held in Durban, South Africa, from August 31 to September 8, 2001. &nbsp;I regret the delay in replying. <br /> <br /> The Government of Canada has an ongoing dialogue, both in bilateral and in multilateral forums, with the Government of Israel concerning the general state of human rights, including minority rights. Canada does not recognize permanent Israeli control over the territories occupied in 1967 (the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip) and opposes all unilateral actions intended to predetermine the outcome of negotiations, including the establishment of settlements in the territories and unilateral moves to annex East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. &nbsp;We consider such actions to be contrary to international law and unproductive to the peace process. Canada's policy on Palestinian refugees is based on UN Resolution 194 of December 11, 1948, which stipulates that refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practical date, and that compensation should be paid for those choosing not to return. &nbsp;Canada believes that the Palestinian refugee issue must be resolved in a manner in keeping with the spirit of Resolution 194 through negotiations among the parties directly concerned. Any solution must respect the rights, dignity and human security of the refugees, and should be consistent with international law. &nbsp;Canada also believes that the best way to ensure a durable peace is to offer the refugees real choices.<br /> <br /> The international community must work with the parties to encourage them to live up to their agreements and continue the active search for a just peace. Both parties must work toward the complete cessation of violence and terrorism, stay committed to the Peace Process and build upon the real progress achieved at Camp David and Taba. Please be assured that we continue to monitor the situation closely, and stand ready to assist Israel and the Palestinians to bring about peace. The objectives of the WCAR were: to review all factors leading to racism; review progress in the fight against racism; increase awareness of the problem; and recommend new and improved measures to combat racism. &nbsp;Canada had hoped that the WCAR would lead to a renewed global commitment and action plan against racism and racial discrimination. <br /> <br /> Canada stayed at the Conference in an attempt to ensure that the Declaration and Program of Action contained text worthy of global support, and to speak out against the elements of text that were inappropriate and unacceptable. At the closing of the WCAR, Canada believed it was necessary to issue a strong statement of reservation on the Declaration and Program of Action. Our concerns centred on inappropriate references to the Middle East, the failure to include the multiple forms and grounds for discrimination, and the issue of apology, reparations and compensation for slavery, colonialism and the slave trade. &nbsp;The Canadian delegation registered its strongest objections and dissociated itself integrally from all text in this document directly or indirectly relating to the situation in the Middle East. We have said, and will continue to say, that any language presented in any forum that does not serve to advance a negotiated peace that will bring security, dignity and respect to the people of the region is - and will be - unacceptable to Canada. &nbsp;A copy of a news release issued in this regard, to which Canada's statement of reservation is attached, can be found on our Web site at http:/<a href="http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/" target="_blank">www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a>, News Releases and Statements.<br /> <br /> However, these reservations should not overshadow the positive elements of the final documents, or the strong role Canada played in influencing progressive strategies for indigenous peoples and in encouraging the role of civil society, especially youth, in combatting racism, in particular hate on the Internet.<br /> <br /> The issue of Zionism was excised from the United Nations' books in 1991. &nbsp;It had no place in the work of the WCAR. &nbsp;Canada strongly maintained its position that any attempt to equate Zionism with racism was unacceptable.<br /> <br /> Canada remains committed to fighting discrimination in all of its forms, and will continue to channel its international efforts through the United Nations until a global consensus is reached in which Canada could join.<br /> <br /> Thank you again for writing.<br /> <br /> Yours very truly,<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> John <span class="il">Manley</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2012/12/when-did-canada-go-wrong-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-3318427875957980245Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:19:00 +00002012-12-12T19:19:59.990+04:00Today there was a pivotal meeting of the so-called 'Friends of Syria' group held in&nbsp;Marrakech, Morocco. At the meeting and just ahead of it, a number of countries recognized the Syrian National Coalition (the abbreviated name of the opposition group by consensus formed in Doha several weeks back) as the '<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/12/201212124541767116.html">legitimate representatives of Syria</a>.' Yet, this recognition and perhaps an approved tranche of funding, will certainly not be enough to end the despair and difficult situation in Syria right now. There are no easy solutions. I am reposting below a piece from a month-and-a-half ago that I wrote on a simple basis for a way forward.<br /> <br /> <br /> <i>This article was originally published on <a href="http://www.syriadeeply.com/">Syria Deeply</a>, on October 29, 2012.&nbsp;</i><br /> <i><br /></i> <br /> <div class="module-title-surround" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="module-title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; border: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h1 class="title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 32px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://alpha.syriadeeply.org/op-eds/2012/10/assessing-syria-seeking-a-way-forward/#.UMidkZNeu_4">Assessing Syria: Seeking a Way Forward</a></h1> </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdWBBcmylUYZ-6v0NXyHJu8pUtbZAWZZRp-8nQ1HmWywU4yAiuQDPf_g1a28SfxQH8I047cwsg9BDhPnf1gw47_yfdNGFFcS3W7Ns98PM4NXapMjoE6jNORL2UEKiCBk1suXLWUXwBk4/s1600/Image-for-Rahims-piece2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdWBBcmylUYZ-6v0NXyHJu8pUtbZAWZZRp-8nQ1HmWywU4yAiuQDPf_g1a28SfxQH8I047cwsg9BDhPnf1gw47_yfdNGFFcS3W7Ns98PM4NXapMjoE6jNORL2UEKiCBk1suXLWUXwBk4/s200/Image-for-Rahims-piece2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> In Syria today, there are no easy solutions. In fact, there may be no solutions at all, something that even UN Special Envoy<a href="http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/04/u-n-still-has-no-plan-for-syria/" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lakhdar Brahimi affirmed</a>. Moreover, unless the objective is to destroy the castle in order to unseat the king, reinforcing the status quo of active conflict will only make Syria’s situation harder to solve.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/10/destruction-comes-to-aleppo/100381" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">war scenes have been horrific</a>&nbsp;over the last several months in Syria, particularly in Aleppo. The army has continued its systematic ground and air campaign, indiscriminately firing into vaguely-defined rebel areas in almost every major city.<a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42909" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the United Nations, this has included:</a>&nbsp;“murder, summary executions, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, sexual violence, violations of children’s rights, pillaging, and destruction of civilian objects – including hospitals and schools.”</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Aleppo’s historic Souq, purportedly the largest in the entire Middle East,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reuters.com/video/2012/09/29/scorched-history-in-aleppo?videoId=238083855" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">went up in flames</a>&nbsp;in late September.&nbsp; In early October, a blast by the extremist Jabhat al-Nusra group ripped through the heart of the city’s main square,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/03/syria-suicide-bombs-34-aleppo?INTCMP=SRCH" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">brutally killing dozens</a>&nbsp;of civilians and injuring countless more.&nbsp; Violence from all sides continued with varying intensity through the Eid al-Adha holiday.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Center for New American Security projects&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cnas.org/files/documents/publications/CNAS_AsadUnderFire_Dalton.pdf" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">five potential scenarios in Syria.</a>&nbsp;Unfortunately, some of these are either unlikely (i.e. #2 managed transition) or ominous (i.e. #5 disintegration of the country). The fourth scenario envisions that Bashar Assad remains in power after a protracted civil war, something that seems completely untenable for regional forces and many Syrians to accept, despite Iran, Russia and perhaps China in support. The first scenario, the sudden death of Assad, is neither a solution nor something to bank on. Even if Assad is killed, his regime is well entrenched in Syria. Scenario number three, which consists of the overthrow of the regime by the armed opposition, appears to be where the U.S., the GCC, and Europe have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16304302,00.html" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">invested most of their energies</a>, somewhat nervously.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> It has become increasingly clear, however, that this latter scenario is dangerous, will not work, and is only leading to a greater conflagration of violence and deaths. UN Envoy Brahimi, who has extensive experience in conflict mitigation from Iraq to Afghanistan, has even&nbsp;<a href="http://turtlebay.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/10/12/brahimi_presses_saudi_king_to_stop_arming_syrian_rebels" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">told the Saudi King</a>&nbsp;that the crisis “would not be resolved through military means.” Conversely, any scenario that keeps Assad in power and the regime status quo intact is a hollow solution that won’t satisfy the armed opposition, as the breakdown of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/kofi-annans-six-point-peace-proposal-for-syria" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kofi Annan’s plan demonstrated</a>&nbsp;(a plan that did not explicitly call for a regime transition). Yet foreign military intervention to dislodge the regime still appears unlikely and counter-productive.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> That leaves us with a quixotic proposal that also seems like the only plausible option: the simultaneous call for a universal ceasefire and an immediate process of transition of the regime. Many rebel groups, particularly hardline Salafist jihadist fighters, would hardly be receptive to any ceasefire. Yet, other groups, such as the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/142261/syrian-opposition-seizes-crossing-on-turkish-border-hoists-flag-representing-rebel-army.html" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Farouq Batallion</a>, could welcome a ceasefire if it was accompanied by real change in Syria’s leadership. Such a ceasefire could also be guaranteed by a no-fly-zone. This would give Russia and China comfort that the no-fly-zone is part of a universal cessation of violence, and not one simply imposed on the Syrian government.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> Meanwhile, on the regime side, its supporters have already been meeting with opposition groups, demonstrating declining confidence in Assad. Russia has received&nbsp;<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-07/10/c_131705681.htm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">several opposition delegations</a>, and there are reports that Iran has met with the Muslim Brotherhood,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&amp;id=31213" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">although Tehran denies the meeting</a>. Even in regime strongholds, such as Assad’s hometown of<a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Oct-04/190093-tension-spreads-to-assads-hometown.ashx" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(252, 215, 0); -webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-out; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #3c5e7f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Qardaha</a>, there have been growing skirmishes between groups as the situation has grown fractious.</div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: minion-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"> The dual call for a simultaneous, robust ceasefire and a process of regime transition seems simple and obvious. And while there are many layers of complexity, and a complicated path to align stakeholders to make it happen, it is this dual call that is the only basis for a real solution to Syria. The alternative, a systematic escalation in violence, is no solution at all.</div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2012/12/assessing-syria-seeking-way-forward.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-4906198803681401188Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:11:00 +00002012-12-11T20:20:06.254+04:00<br /> <div class="notebookIntro" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> <h1 style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px;"> <span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><i>This article originally appeared in the Princeton Alumni Weekly magazine.</i></span><br /> <a href="http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2012/12/12/perspective/" style="color: #8c2013; font-size: 26px;"><br /></a></h1> <h1 style="color: #8c2013; font-size: 26px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px;"> <a href="http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2012/12/12/perspective/">A world of Islams</a></h1> <h3 style="color: #444444; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 0.45cm; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px 18px;"> By Taufiq Rahim ’04<br />Published in the December&nbsp;12, 2012, issue</h3> </div> <div class="storyDivider" style="background-image: url(http://paw.princeton.edu/images/story_div.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; color: #202020; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 12px; line-height: 18px; width: 523px;"> </div> <div class="notebookCt" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; padding: 10px 0px 20px 20px;"> <div class="no_border"> <div class="notebookCtImg noPaddingBottom" style="background-image: none; float: none; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; width: 490px;"> <a href="http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2012/12/12/pages/2741/Persp.jpg" style="color: #660000; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="340" src="http://paw.princeton.edu/_internal/cimg!0/jul4kmzdd43s7z1rr1x4sdr08tmcm5m" style="border: 0px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); margin-bottom: 5px; margin-right: 15px;" width="482" /></a><br /> <div class="ImgCredit" style="color: #98afc7; font-size: 10px;"> ILLUSTRATION: ROBERT NEUBECKER</div> </div> </div> <b>I remember waking up</b>&nbsp;in my dorm room on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, to the shouts of my hall-mate and friend beckoning me to come next door. It was the beginning of our sophomore year, and I was a leader of the Muslim Students Associa­tion (MSA) at Princeton. Watching television in 1937 Hall, we were gripped and confounded by the horrific scenes that unfolded in the ensuing hours, which are forever etched in my ­memory —&nbsp; as I am sure they are for countless others.<br /> <br /> It was the start of what has been termed the post-9/11 decade, during which much of the world’s narrative was shaped by an “us versus them” mentality. Especially in the first few years, Muslims in the West endured an uncomfortable feeling that the surrounding society considered them suspect.<br /> I fielded calls shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks from local newspapers, the reporters asking if things were OK for Muslims on campus. Though there were incidents, the general situation at Princeton was safe. I sometimes received hate mail. One group of students was assaulted one weekend in Boston and returned with the bruises to show for it. And, I, like so many others, was given the so-called special treatment and faced lengthy interrogations at JFK or Newark whenever flying to and from school.<br /> <br /> I came to Princeton as a student like everyone else, but at some point I had to transform into an ambassador of understanding. The funny thing is, at the same time I was explaining Islam to promote understanding, I was questioning the state of Islam in the world around me. It is a duality that has stayed with me in the years since.<br /> <br /> This year, on the anniversary of the attacks, a deadly assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, shocked the world once again. It also shocked the residents of Benghazi. This past January, I spent time with youth activists and entrepreneurs in that city. What I witnessed was a courageous and driven group of young Libyans determined to forge a better future. Alongside tens of thousands of their compatriots, many of these youth marched in mid-September to the central al-Kish Square in memory of the slain U.S. ambassador, Chris Stevens, calling as well on militias to disarm.<br /> <br /> Their march was emblematic of the duality I experience. No doubt, there is still a need to combat what is more a “clash of ignorances” (not a clash of civilizations) across the divide between the Muslim world and the West. This was the impetus that drove two colleagues and me to found the nonprofit initiative Project Encounter, which promotes engagement and dialogue. We bring groups of young people from North America and Europe to the Middle East, to allow them to form their own narrative about the region. I feel that only through improved understanding and greater familiarity can we find constructive ways forward.<br /> <br /> Nevertheless, through my work and travels in countries from Afghanistan to Syria, Palestine to Pakistan, and places in between, I find there is a need for just as much soul-searching within Muslim communities themselves.<br /> <br /> When a cheaply made YouTube film can lead to violent demonstrations in more than a dozen countries, you cannot help but ask questions. When a young Christian girl can be jailed swiftly on the demands of an unhinged cleric alleging “blasphemy” in Pakistan, you cannot help but raise an objection. When a college is raided and 25 students are killed in Nigeria by a group whose name (Boko Haram) means “West­ern education is sinful,” you cannot help but be dismayed.<br /> For many countries in the Muslim world, the next few years will not be easy. The political and economic challenges facing them are immense — and that’s an understatement. A few are in active states of internal conflict, if not internecine warfare. Others are under the grip of debilitating authoritarian regimes. So many are still afflicted by economic deprivation.<br /> <br /> There are, of course, counterexamples. In places like Malaysia and Dubai, there are new economic models of development. The Arab uprisings have started to push back against political authoritarianism. Yet the forces of religious orthodoxy seem to be not only constant, but growing. Popular clerics who appear on Pakistani television are busy calling minority groups, such as Ahmadis, non-Muslims — with deadly consequences. I remember seeing the bloodstains in an Ahmadi mosque in Lahore in 2010, shortly after an attack by religious militants. More than 90 people had died in attacks at two mosques. Within a year, the governor of the Punjab province, of which Lahore is the capital, had been assassinated for opposing draconian blasphemy laws, as was the federal minister of religious minorities. What was the basis or justification for those attacks?<br /> <br /> Sooner or later, everybody comes into the sights of the bully pulpit: marginalized groups such as Ahmadis, other religious groups and Muslim minorities, and then so-called “moderates.” Sufi shrines that existed for centuries have been attacked and destroyed by extremist groups in recent months in Libya and Mali. When I was working for an NGO in the Gujarat province in India, many of my meetings were held in Hindu temples, sometimes during religious ceremonies. What would the view of the hardline Muslim orthodoxy be of me?<br /> <br /> Traveling through the wider region, you quickly realize that while the bullies are strong and loud, they are surrounded by people who would like to see a pluralistic and prosperous society. These are people like the young activists I met in Libya. They are the Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs who have formed an organization dedicated to the empowerment of women in the workforce (Glowork). They include my Syrian friends who are helping to ensure that those fleeing conflict have a place of refuge, no matter their sect or creed. They are like my former colleagues, who have spent their entire careers in Pakistani villages working on local development.<br /> <br /> I’m hopeful that these progressive forces within many Muslim communities and Muslim-majority countries can coalesce to form a stronger and wider constituency for change. Such a movement would be the most effective bridge between the Muslim world and the West, as well. </div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2012/12/a-world-of-islams.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164034863738398092.post-730516323435087071Sun, 02 Dec 2012 22:45:00 +00002012-12-03T02:45:03.129+04:00<br /> <h1 class="tdH1Article" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></h1> <br /> <i>This article initially appeared in the Toronto Star (December 2, 2012). The original article can be found by clicking on the title below. </i><br /> <h1 class="tdH1Article"> <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1296230--canada-s-un-vote-against-palestinian-statehood-only-empowers-extremists">Canada’s UN vote against Palestinian statehood only empowers extremists</a></span></h1> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “This resolution will not advance the cause of peace or spur a return to negotiations. On the contrary, this unilateral step will harden positions and raise unrealistic expectations while doing nothing to improve the lives of the Palestinian people.”</blockquote> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqWERvxHSBEHzUgA0jFbS3iXBHb_pJLpi_FbioMUAr_cyVvuCVsC0jlnwGQe9u-Kjj19eQXzl1szJSDnEEy8C2ZmMlRZ-csJFexOAPF9ogoUQ9Sj6lHvV7IMx1GZX1ABDtexAp1oH1hg/s1600/c0fa35014c3eab14f04c3b43840d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqWERvxHSBEHzUgA0jFbS3iXBHb_pJLpi_FbioMUAr_cyVvuCVsC0jlnwGQe9u-Kjj19eQXzl1szJSDnEEy8C2ZmMlRZ-csJFexOAPF9ogoUQ9Sj6lHvV7IMx1GZX1ABDtexAp1oH1hg/s200/c0fa35014c3eab14f04c3b43840d.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird delivered this message in a strident speech from the podium of the UN General Assembly before the historic Thursday vote that affirmed Palestine statehood. But in the end his words failed to resonate with the rest of world, quite literally, as Canada found itself stranded in opposition to the resolution with a hodgepodge of Pacific island nations and Israel’s stalwart ally the United States (and, for whatever reason, the Czech Republic). The final vote was 138 countries in favour, 41 abstentions and 9 against, the latter representing only 5 per cent of the world’s population.<br /> <br /> It wasn’t always this way. Canada traditionally played a much more even-handed role in the conflict, realizing the need to support both Israel’s security and Palestinian aspirations for statehood. But over the last decade Canadian policy on the Middle East conflict has become increasingly one-sided in its affinity for Israel. At the UN, Baird asserted that the resolution did not serve the interests of peace. Yet rather than promoting peace, the lonely Canadian UN vote only empowered extremists on both sides and could contribute to increased violence.<br /> <br /> The push for recognition at the world body was the culmination of an effort that was launched roughly two years ago by the Palestinians, led by President Mahmoud Abbas. In his speech in New York, Abbas reiterated that this initiative was intended not to “delegitimize” Israel but instead to “affirm the legitimacy” of Palestine. The campaign is one of only a few non-violent forms of activism left in the Palestinian arsenal to achieve a two-state solution.<br /> <br /> After more than 64 years of dispossession and 45 years of occupation, Abbas and the Palestinian leadership viewed the UN vote as a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. That message resonated not just with countries that Prime Minister Stephen Harper could dismiss but also with democratic nations such as Norway, Spain, France, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Italy — not really a motley crew of rogue states.<br /> <br /> It would be easy to ignore the significance of the Canadian vote. After all, it’s hardly news that under Harper Canadian policy has lacked balance. But today the Holy Land finds itself at a seminal inflection point, where there is a greater tolerance for intransigence on both sides. Coming out of the crisis in Gaza, where residents suffered massive casualties and destruction, Abbas was viewed as a weak, irrelevant figure. His invisibility, combined with changes in the wider region, has meant that the profile of Hamas has been raised. During the recent conflict, leading political officials from the Arab world met with senior Hamas figures in Gaza for the first time in five years.<br /> <br /> Beyond this, among the Palestinian community, commitment to a two-state solution has been waning. It is no longer viewed as tenable given the growing encroachment of settlements in the West Bank. Leading activists have started to reintroduce the democratic solution that promotes one state in which there is universal suffrage, as in the South Africa model. For them, Abbas’s UN initiative was dead on arrival, regardless of whether it received support.<br /> <br /> Against this backdrop, the Canadian government’s message is that this last-gasp support for a two-state solution and a peaceful Palestinian movement toward that end is “utterly regrettable.” Not only that, the government has also intimated it will review its aid to the Palestinian Authority.<br /> There should be no illusions about what this means. Palestinians — after many decades of waiting — are looking for realistic traction toward self-determination. If the peaceful avenues leading to that end are closed, it will leave only the extremist approach. Hamas will point out that Gaza doesn’t have any Israeli settlements, that their kidnapping of Israeli Gilad Shalit led to the release of Palestinian prisoners, and that Arab states are recognizing their leadership. And then they will ask: What has President Abbas done for you lately?<br /> <br /> Beyond the question of whether Canada is on the wrong side of history, which hardly seems debatable, it now appears to be empowering violence and extremism. How can you support Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution and inexplicably oppose that very reality, claiming it is not conducive to peace? That cognitive dissonance should stimulate a deep examination of Canadian policy — there is a lot more at stake here than just a UN vote.<br /> <h1 class="tdH1Article"> <span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></h1> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><font size="1" face="Verdana"> For the full post and more information please visit <a href="www.TheGeopolitico.com">TheGeopolitico.com</a></font></div>http://www.thegeopolitico.com/2012/12/canadas-un-vote-against-palestinian.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0