On US policy and despots

A friend recently asked me about how Egyptians would regard Hillary Clinton's comments about Tunisia ridding itself of a despot. I responded as follows:

Egyptians, and most people that have interaction with American foreign policy would regard her speech as duplicitous and hypocritical. For Tunisia, its oppressive regime received applaud for economic growth and stability until that regime fell down. A similar reaction from France, which said it started monitoring transfers of money from Ben Ali's family after it fell, but did not prior to that, despite widespread knowledge of despotic nepotism.

Meanwhile there is a conspicuous absence [in the US media and political establishment] of what actually triggered the revolution, which resulted from economic disparities. And even though looting occurred primarily from those within the regime, the White House spokesman denounced violence as an expression of popular will. (bear in mind that personally I'm a pacifist, so I'm against violence, but I'm pointing out that he intentionally misrepresented the events).

As for Egypt, well, it's been America greatest recipient of aid in the last 30 years with the exception of Israel. And all Egyptians know that. So they see America as the main sponsor of their dictatorship, of which America is barely critical. See the most recent sham parliamentary elections for one of many references to that.

While I would agree with the statement that most of the regimes in the region are oppressive at best, when such criticism comes from an outside power it's rather condescending.

The American official policy is to support friendly dictatorships. This may seem conspiratorial–but is actually a stated policy. Unfortunately such a statement plays into the stereotypes of the Gulf, Levant, North Africa and western Asia (the Western strategic zone commonly referred to as the Middle East) while ignoring that such regimes are supported all over the world from Guatemala and Nicaragua, to Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan and to the Philippines.

Tunisia is an interesting case. While the regime was oppressive, particularly on freedom of expression, it also had a progressive legal system with the strong personal status laws for women. I'm not positive how that's played into the current events, but it seems that these institutions coupled with a strong education system helped set the foundation for the revolution. Contrasting with Egypt, despite its billions of US aid, it has regressive laws and a failed education system.

A man of contradictions

I am doggedly persistent, only to give up in the end.
I like my food spicy and bland or sweet and bitter. Occasionally I eat pickles and ice cream, but in separate bites.
I often dream of a world at peace, but I'm constantly at war with the belligerent.
I criticize modern, consumerist materialism, yet I own five pairs of shoes, four hats, three jackets, two laptops and one candlestick.
My favorite quote is by Ralph Waldo Emerson: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines."
My favorite quote is by Ralph Waldo Emerson: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines."
My favorite quote is by Ralph Waldo Emerson: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines."
I am my own best friend and my own worst enemy.
At 25 pounds below the average weight, I view myself as obese.
I rarely live up to the ideal image I hold of myself.
Preferring to keep to myself, I have 743 friends online.
As a Buddhist, my philosophy is to live in the here and now, although I often dwell on the past and dream of the future.
I consider myself a modern man who should have been born in a previous age.
I like to keep in good shape to show off to other people, but I prefer to exercise alone in my room.
People tell me I'm indignant and arrogant, yet acquiescent and humble.
I have modest dreams and overly ambitious goals.
As part of the privileged, suburban, white upper-middle class, I most closely associate myself with downtrodden, oppressed minorities.
I like diet cola and chocolates.
My job involves meeting new people every day, but I'm terrified of approaching strangers.
I have a fear of heights, yet wish I were taller.
My allergies bother me from my cats.
I require peace and quiet in my urban apartment.
As a rabid carnivore, I love animals.
I honk my horn at people who hold up traffic, but double park to avoid looking for parking spaces.
My humor is not funny written down nor is it funny when spoken.

Double Standards & Racism: Williams & Thomas

On the firings of Juan Williams and Helen Thomas:

It was a rash decision to fire Juan Williams. A thorough review should have occurred. While his comment that seeing Muslims on airplanes made him feel uncomfortable certainly had racist undertones–which I'll explain–media outlets and other entities that value a diversity of opinions, like universities, should not so easily fire people based on their opinions. People from different backgrounds with different ideas are the sign of a vibrant organization. When those opinions are harmful to individuals or unsupported with good scholarship, then they deserve review.

The real question about Williams' comments is why did he express them in the first place? Also, why were these comments not denounced outside NPR as the comments of Helen Thomas that lead to her firing from the Washington Post were?

On the first question, we can see that Muslims have now been associated with terrorism, particularly on planes. What role has the media played in this? Is this portrayal accurate? Would these comments be appropriate if another group of people were used instead of Muslims?

The media has certainly played up the Muslim-terrorist connection, particularly related to air travel. While Muslims were involved in Sep 11, certainly the millions of Muslims that fly on airplanes are not terrorists. Finally, if Williams said he was uncomfortable when he sees a black man in a grocery store (implying black men have robbed grocery stores) would such comments be acceptable? Of course the answer is no. Those are not only stereotypes, but are racist. (admittedly Williams probably wouldn't say that because he is black himself, but that's not the point)

Now when comparing the reaction to Williams' firing with Thomas', you can see two columns appearing in the same section of the New York Times on the same day. In the one regarding Thomas her comments were called "insensitive," "infamous," "incendiary" and her new job "naturally stirred up anger." She is also described with positive terms, such as her "tenacious," reputation and was noted for her "stature and professionalism" by her new employer. In general, however, she was described as a controversial figure. The author said her "misguided anger" was the result of being the child of Lebanese-Syrian parents. Does that mean that all immigrants have misguided anger or just Lebanese-Syrians? Does that mean Lebanese and Syrian frustration at Israel are misguided? Such a sentence leaves too many questions, makes too many implications and does not take history into consideration. The author also said that she defended her statements in a recent speech, ignoring that she made an apology when she left her job.

In the one regarding Williams no such negative adjectives were attributed to his comments. Instead, NPR's decision to fire him were "hasty," and created a "firestorm" and a "flashpoint." NPR executives were labeled "Nazis" and as part of an "incestuous culture in that institution that’s not open to not only different ways of thinking but angry." The article noted twice that federal funding to NPR was in question. Not only that, but it also leaves NPR "with no prominent African-American male voice," implying that NPR has not made efforts to hire black males and possibly that race played into his firing.

In journalism we are not supposed to introduce the race of a person unless it is relevant to the story. Both articles decided race was relevant. You may also note that no voices critical of Williams' comments or hiring at Fox News occur in the story, such as from a Muslim organization. In the column about Thomas several critical opinions appear about her comments and her new job, including from a prominent Jewish voice, Ari Fleischer.

What both these affairs indicate is a rejection of racism in America directed at some groups, but not others. It is no longer acceptable to publicly denounce Jewish or black people, but Muslims (and Latinos) are fine targets because they are largely considered law-breaking illegal immigrants and terrorists. This is an obvious case of double standards

and a clear example of bias in the media, as shown by the two New York Times columns.

The complicated process of buying a phone

US mobile phone companies will do everything they can to control consumers.

Try to buy a phone without a contract. Try to buy an “unlocked” phone. They want you yoked into a one or two-year contract and using a phone that will only work on their network.

Bear in mind that companies around the world do not follow this policy. Any person can walk into a mobile phone store, buy a phone without a contract and use it immediately. In many places, such as Egypt and Lebanon, it is actually more onerous to get a post-paid plan, or a plan where you receive a monthly bill, as opposed to buying minutes in advance. All phones by default are unlocked.
Recently I arrived at home from abroad. My phone broke the following day (don’t buy refurbished electronics or sold online by smaller retailers; they often break). I brought my phone to five stores: three large retailers and two independent shops. None could fix it.
Thinking that phones and technology should be cheaper in America than elsewhere, I set out to buy a new phone and bring it back to my residence in Lebanon with me. In order to do so I would have to buy a phone without a contract because I don’t want to pay for service on a phone in America that I won’t use.
I would also need an “unlocked” phone that works with any sim card. None of the retailers I visited would allow me to do so: AT&T, T-Mobile and Radio Shack. Despite labels that clearly list the full retail price of phones, all insisted I could only buy a phone with a contract. I also went onto T-Mobile’s website to buy a phone, and it too required I pick a contract. Some companies, like T-Mobile, charge an “activation fee” of $35 on new phones.
I called T-Mobile to order a phone after visiting Best Buy’s website, which sells unlocked phones, but many are out of stock, refurbished or back-ordered. T-Mobile is the only big mobile provider that gives a sim unlock code to its customers upon request.
I spent about 45 minutes with T-Mobile on the phone. The mobile phone would arrive in the mail the next day rush delivery.
It didn’t arrive two days later. I called again. The phone I chose was back-ordered. So I canceled the order and reordered the same phone, but colored purple. Now the sales rep told me I must get a data plan since I was purchasing a Blackberry. After quite some time arguing that the previous rep had allowed me to buy the phone without a data plan, the new rep finally acquiesced.
The new phone arrived in two days, but I had to wait for a third day because I was not home when the delivery person came.
Then I emailed T-Mobile to get an unlock code, which was supposed to arrive within 24 hours. Since it was a holiday, it took an extra day. The response was that customers must have service for at least 40 days before the company would provide an unlock code.
I called the company. Actually it was 60 days before I could get an unlock code (which later proved untrue; 40 days is correct). I asked how I could send the phone back and cancel my service. Fortunately the company sent a return label with the phone in the box. I hung up. I would have to buy a phone in Lebanon.
Determined to keep my phone, I called back.
The next rep told me I was signed up for a two-year plan. I paid full retail price for the phone, so I was supposed to have a month-to-month plan. Again, you cannot buy a phone outright without at least getting a month-to-month plan. The rep conducted a “pull-call,” which involved a request to the sales to department to verify that I did pay full price for the phone and was therefore eligible for a month-to-month plan. After putting me on hold for several minutes, she returned and told me she would change the plan from a two-year contract to a month-to-month service. She also confirmed the 40-day waiting period for sim unlock codes, which could not be waived. She suggested I go online to purchase the unlock code because her friends had done so.
I was skeptical of using one of these online services to buy the code. I was worried they would steal my money. But I gave it a shot, paid $7.99, and received the code by email in 15 minutes.
I called the company to cancel phone service while on the airplane back to Lebanon. I still had a two-year plan. The rep would have to make another “pull-call.” I waited a few minutes. He returned, changed my plan and canceled service in about a minute.

US contractor: cultural misappropriator

Recently I was stuck in the airport in Rome because of inclement weather. A US government contractor sat near me, talking with a waiter visiting Italy to test its cuisine. The contractor, a white male, spent hours talking about all the countries he visited– purporting cultural expertise–but actually showing bigotry toward every place he has lived.

He also gave away several pieces of personally identifying information, as well as identifying his wife. I will not share this information, but I will just say that she is not white and is a prominent US ambassador. I find it strange that he would speak so openly in a public place.

Here’s what he shared:

“Colombian women are aggressive. I was in Nicaragua for two years and they’re aggressive, but not like [Colombians].” –Explaining that Colombia has a high rate of divorce.

“I don’t think I’ve lived in one peaceful place, like Australia, where nothing ever happens.”

“Go to Cape Town and do a safari.”

On Thailand: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” On partying in Thailand: “If you can make it without catching some incurable disease…”

“You have to give the Middle East 24 hours.” -In response to a colleague’s complaint that a train in Egypt she took left 30 minutes late (said while waiting several hours for a flight on a US airline).

Russian is originally an “Arabic-based language.”

“I am so done with third-world countries.”

“Italy is a third world country trying its best not to be.”

“There’s more people in Tokyo [than Rome] but everything runs on time.”

“I could live here the rest of my life.” –talking earlier about Italy.

“It’s about time. When I call up [a company, etc] and I have to press one just to hear English, otherwise it’s going to be in Spanish.” -Talking about a cheesesteak joint in Philadelphia that had sign on its window that said, “English only.”

About riots in Piazza del Popolo, Rome on Tuesday, Dec. 14: “Molotov cocktails” were thrown “directly in front of the UN.”

“When I joined the Marines I was that guy. Now I see how other cultures work, cause I’m really in the society.” –After saying he can spot Americans a mile away because they are loud and act like they own the world.

“That’s the shit I’m missing about the United States.” -The waiter is talking about a store that sells Asian cooking supplies, the “Walmart of Asian cooking.”

“Which I’ll do because I’m a dedicated fan.” –On staying up until 4am to watch American football.

“I just wanna walk around Best Buy for two hours and not buy anything.”

“The worst thing we have [in the United States] is people are anti-war or anti-government.”

He gives out a personal email because you don’t know “what the department’s reading.” He also doesn’t keep a business card when he’s “tourist traveling.”

“Everything is Wikileaks now. He turned himself in right?”

He says the US State Department gets a discount at many hotels. In Istanbul he was staying in the city’s “big, five-star hotel” for about $70 a night, because the whole floor is already reserved by the State Department, and even if no one stays there State still pays for it.

What is the state?

The state derives its power from the people and enforces it through the law. When the people are powerless and the law flouted, what is the state?