Promises We Can’t Keep: Why America Cannot Bring Women’s Rights to Afghanistan
Women’s rights is on Kerry’s priority list, but is there really much he can do?
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Be Happy, It’s Happiness Day
Today is the first International Happiness Day. It’s not a joke, though laughing is very much encouraged. Decided upon only last June, the 20th of March is a UN declared day of Happiness.
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Mr. Morsi’s Highflying Words
On June 29th, 2011, Egypt’s new leader Mohamed Morsi swore a symbolic oath to his people in the middle of Tahrir Square, the birthplace of revolution six months earlier. The president, visibly moved as he rose to face a sized and spirited crowd, declared that they were the only source of “power and authority.” “None of you will be deprived of his right”, Morsi cried, “those who gave me the votes and those who didn’t give me their votes. Those who say Yes and those who say No will be given their rights.” Yet, as the echoes of those highflying words fade, the Muslim Brotherhood consolidates its position as the single party of Egypt, leading many to question if their rights will in fact be given. Revolutions are a two step process. First, a government must be overthrown....
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Syria: Is It Time for the US to Intervene?
The civil war in Syria is rapidly spinning out of control, with no end in sight. The body count has now surpassed 30,000, and the cease-fire that was agreed upon has not stopped the toll from rising. Furthermore, Syria’s relationships with Turkey and Russia continue to worsen, and the violence risks spreading into Lebanon. Syrian stability is in the U.S.’s interest, not only because the U.S. would be viewed as defending its values, but also because a U.S.-allied Syria would likely cease to be an Iranian ally. As such, as the conflict escalates, the debate over the future of U.S. involvement intensifies. Background Demonstrations began in Syria on March 15, 2011 as a push for reforms similar to the other Arab Spring revolts that swept the Middle East. President Bashar Assad responded to these demonstrations with violence, beginning...
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The Syrian Crisis: Massive Displacement
It’s no secret that massive displacement is, historically, a prominent side-effect of war; indeed, the social, political, and economic problems of refugees come into consideration for nearly every conflict. But the Syrian crisis, which will reach its two-year anniversary this March and shows few signs of potential abatement, is exceptional in the number of displaced residents that it has precipitated. The UN refugee council (UNHCR) estimates that 26,500 Syrians have fled to Jordan so far this month alone in an attempt to escape the violence that has already taken 60,000 lives. This number represents an intense escalation in refugees, for the entire month of November saw approximately 13,000 displaced peoples—less than half the number that have been reported since January 1. Syrians are typically led into Jordan through a network of various checkpoints, organized by the Free Syrian Army....
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The West Reacts to Bangladesh Factory Fire
Despite its status as the 8th most populous country in the world, Bangladesh usually avoids the attention (and interference) of the West. But shocking news of a fire that killed over 120 workers in one of Tazreen’s garment factory has occasioned a second look at the affairs of this South Asian country. Reaction to the Tazreen tragedy has been exacerbated by echoes of industrial accidents still present in Western memory, most notably the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City. A century ago, escape routes had been locked to prevent employee theft, while in this modern case, escape routes were carelessly blocked by stacks of textile products. In both, hundreds lost their life as they burnt, suffocated, and jumped from windows and down elevator shafts. Horrifying accounts of the Shirtwaist accident spurred safety laws and unionization in New...
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