Southern California Proposes Secession

Souther California wants to secede from the rest of the state.

See the article in the LA Times here.

The state would be more populous than Pennsylvania and Illinois!

Just when I thought my studies secession were getting interesting, it pops up in my own country!

Failing Parallel Systems: Serbia Can't Afford Kosovo

For the past 12 years, driving through many Serbian enclaves in Kosovo one would see an abundance of people sitting as "security guards" at banks, post offices, and courts. However, none of these banks, post offices, or courts were run by Kosovo. Rather they were part of a parallel system funded by Belgrade. The many people employed there were also funded by Belgrade. For 12 years, many of these Serbs in Kosovo collected a check from Belgrade to resist assimilation into the Kosovo state system, or to even open businesses, go to Kosovo run schools, or take advantage of other benefits from the international community that was aligned with Kosovo.


For many years, these Serbs were under the patronage of Belgrade, collecting checks. That said, there were other checks from other internationals, and from Kosovo. Lets just say, there was money from different people at different times.

This kind of apathy and stagnation trickled down to the kids in the population, as described by my friend from Belgrade working there with the international community (excuse the vagueness, I just don't want to "expose" him). When the system was such that you could collect a check, very few youngsters made an effort to take advantage of opportunities within Kosovo or beyond.

This same friend mentioned before, working with Serbian IDPs in an enclave here, then told me something crazy. He could not get into his office because of very large protests of Serbians. He inquired into what was happening.

Belgrade had cut funding. They could not afford to pay for the six security guards at the post office in this parallel system. With economic troubles, it just was unfeasible to keep the remnants of this protest against Kosovo alive. At a certain point dollars speak louder than nationalism.

To boot, no one really reported this on the news; neither in Kosovo, nor Serbia, nor the English sources. Naturally, there is a strategic interest to not report this. Serbia doesn't want to seem like it is giving up on Kosovo and Kosovo often times doesn't want to admit this parallel system.

Naturally, all of this information is from word of mouth and from spending time with Serbian IDPs in this country. However, this is a critical sign at a critical moment in Kosovo. Serbia can't afford Kosovo anymore. There are bigger fish (like EU membership) to fry. With money leaving from many of the serial donors of days past, Kosovo could be facing a lot of civil unrest from the youth and now, even from the old who received those checks. Time is ticking in Kosovo.

Congrats South Sudan: Reflections from Kosovo, the 2nd Youngest

Last night, I sat in the NATO military base in Kosovo, Film City. With the American and Portuguese troops, I had delicious BBQ, sang 50s songs, and joked about riding a tank with them that is still on the base. These troops were still getting combat pay, meaning to say that they get the same pay in Afghanistan and Kosovo if they are the same rank. We drank to the fact that NATO will never leave in 100 years (the hope of many here) and that Kosovo was no longer the youngest country in the world.

Today, at a constitutional law conference designed in part by USAID to consult on amending the articles of the constitution dealing presidential elections, revamping the presidency (possibly making changes from vote by parliament to direct vote), and rethinking presidential powers. Considering 2/3 presidents in Kosovo have violated the constitution, serious problems exist in both the constitutional court and very possibly the constitution itself. Anyways, one person with a kind of melancholy announced, "KOSOVO IS NO LONGER THE YOUNGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD."

The room was quiet for a moment. Suddenly constitutional reform was not as much an adventure of a new nation, but a task and duty that had to be readjusted because of failure. Naturally Kosovo is still new born, but the branding of "THE YOUNGEST" is not there. There was a lot of work to do, a lot of laws to change, a lot of rewriting of constitutions, a lot of corruption to kick, and a lot of mandates to meet.

Reflecting on all of these things, I realize that the term "STATE-BUILDING" is perhaps more of a vogue thing in Political Science terms; it sounds nice and when you look from afar, it certainly does seem like "building" a state. It was very attractive for a while until I think many realized, on the ground and not from afar (with the challenges--sometimes failures--in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, etc.) that you don't go in and "BUILD" anything. I argue the better term is "TRANSITIONING" not so much building. "STATE-BUILDING" seems vain, imperialistic even as a term. Frustrating at times. Perhaps some think it is like building a country in Sid Meiers Civilization. The thought is that "THE PEOPLE" will build this government and state, when in reality power remains in the hands of very few, if not completely foreign individuals. "Building" is one thing. "Getting by" seems more like it. Even just not falling backwards, but moving forwards. With failed missions like the ICO in Kosovo (recently insinuated by many journalists and newspapers as a failed mission), there are a lot of haunting and frustrating things ahead in the future for young states coming out of serious conflict zones.

I think about what is ahead for South Sudan. Secession is easier than building a country. "Getting by" is hard enough. The expectation of international assistance has its own complications as well. While I tend to be happy for South Sudan for its secession (and its recognition, something Kosovo will continue to struggle with), I can't help but think of the challenges of just putting together a decent constitution... and making sure people follow it. Luckily its secession was recognized by Sudan (Serbia still refuses to recognize Kosovo), but challenges still lie ahead. one challenge out of the way...

Kosovo is a lot better than it was 12 years ago, but it has a long way to go and optimism is beyond even waning. While I am happy for South Sudan, I can't help but think about where it may possibly be 5 or 10 years from now.

Liminality: Kosovo in Stages

Pardon my perhaps "aimless" reflection. Indulge me in this post. I promise some more investigative and interesting posts after this:

A dear friend of mine once describe me as a liminal person: always between one belief, place, status, identity or another one. I would say this may be true, but less because of liminality and more because of my own personal interest in both sides of the same coin.

Perhaps this is what draws me to Kosovo, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Palestine, Nagorno-Karabagh and many other places that have a liminal status.

The fascinating thing about Kosovo is that I have seen it develop and change in three years now. Someone has joked to me that Kosovo is kind of like Hotel California. You can check in any time you like, but you just can't leave. You can stab it with your steely knives but you just can't kill the beast. Its a kind of place that endlessly has something to change, develop or grow. Because of the general openness of the population here, most things like national politics, information, gossip, networks, and news are in your grasp. Learning about how development, change, transitioning, and growth (or decline) after a high profile war is all at your finger tips here and there is a temptation to continue to watch where it goes.

In any case, I have seen Kosovo on the threshold of many different stages each year. When I first arrived in 2009 for only 4 short days in Kosovo, NATO (KFOR, the Kosovo NATO mission) was just beginning to pull out its street patrols in the capital. I could still see Italian troops in the street, guarding Mother Theresa street. Kosovars, still high from independence were very optimistic; I was, after all, at a youth entrepreneurial conference. Many internationals were very obviously still here. The following year, the first day I touched down in 2010 there was a some several thousand Muslims protesting for the right to wear hijab in school. A stray away from the farm? NATO still patrolled parts like Mitrovica and I witnessed IDPs that still did not have homes. KFOR billboards lined the streets and so did Tony Blair's face!

This year, I had to search for NATO cars and the billboards were not as obvious. Barbed wire still abound, but rusting everywhere, the first thing I see are Muslim protests in the street for the right to mosques. Major mergers in parties had occurred between a very pro-economic reform group and a seemingly anti-internationalist, near anarchist group (that had not been a political party until recently). One politician, recently charged with war crimes, had his party pay for billboards showing their support for him and denouncing any allegation of violent crime. Somehow, things were on a different stage entirely. People were restless. There were recent protests against government corruption as well. That said, the IDPs I had visited, now had houses. Something had developed and grown, though the main street (Mother Theresa) still had not been completed and was the same as it was last year. Kosovo seems to be a place that always changes but always stays the same.

Perhaps there is a constant state of limbo in Kosovo that is of interest to a scholar or journalist. The general openness of all the people here allows you to get a glimpse into everything from pop culture, corruption, islamic fundamentalism, politics, education, and the military. Though now 12 years after the war, Kosovo has a long way to go, but with every year, takes a step towards a new "inbetween." I am fascinated to see its direction and its development and have been honored to watch it.

8 Proud Hours in Warsaw

When I think of Warsaw, I think of something like this (Photos are my own):

After getting off of a rickety Polish airlines flight (LOT)-- (they lost my baggage even before I got on the plane, and just told me so), my suspicions were confirmed: Catholic, elements of post-Soviet architecture and broad avenues, European in the center. Sure, I stereotype.

What I did NOT expect, right as I was visiting one of the last synagogues in Warsaw, was a lot of loud, a lot of rainbows, and a lot of pride in this thriving "young" country.

The Spaniards gone wild. (Reminds me of my first pride in 2006, Madrid)

Whatever you are, you can be proud. (The rest of the sign reads, "Proud by choice")

SRSLY

This one is for a special friend. Notice the flag.

Warsaw was hopping with pride. Announcers, men "dressed" as priests, drag queens, lesbians, gays, straights, purples. We all marched together with the support of the police (who were thanked, by the little Polish I could understand). We marched together to the armory (I think?) towards Old Town where dancing, chanting, laughter, and love ensued. Balloon (wo)man, my favorite.

Of course, Poland is a traditionally ethnic country, and at the fringes of every Pride, there is always some not so proud people, held back by police (don't let this picture fool you, those police are just getting off duty).

Anti-Gay posters.

One man was even sprinkling holy water on the crowd.

As I was being shoved around by lenses much larger than mine, I decided to get some lunch before I starved to death from lack of food for almost 12 hours (or edible food). In the process of getting some perogies (sp?) I stumbled upon a movie set, WWII something:

Lord knows today, I was both in front and behind a lot of pictures...

For a country that went from communist to European Union capitalist (and the president of the EU is polish this year) in only a span of about 15 years, I am really impressed at how far they have come and the amazing direction they are going. I AM PROUD!

The Rent is Too Damn High

Oh leader of the "Rent is too damn high "party, Jimmy McMillan. How right you are.

Don't know what I'm talking about, click here.

The Rent or the Deficit is too damn high. Walking around Natrona Heights Pennsylvania today, I saw some things that I witnessed in some of the poorer towns of the Black Sea region where I have traveled:

1) Pawn Shops and Cash for Golds (I have counted FIVE new ones during my time at home)

2) Empty buildings to be rented

3) Small tobacco stores

4) Banks I have never heard of

5) Buildings falling apart and not kept up

Naturally, of course, these things could be anywhere. It was just the uncanny parallel of aesthetic and visual likeness that threw me a curveball.

Of course there was more to all of this, but you get the idea. Basically, what I know is the United States of America is matching up with some of the poorer towns in the world. Stop into a makeup store nearby, and they tell you they haven't sold anything in a week. Walk into certain grocery stores and they make you check your big purse at the door because of excessive amounts of shoplifting. The economy is bad and getting worse. As my astute mother pointed out, many people are just finishing up their unemployment benefits (which began at the crashes in 2008 and 2010). As people have no money to spend and no one else's money to spend, it only gets worse and worse.

I don't think most people in the cosmopolitan circles one usually frequents in the Ivy League see the effects of this poverty and how harsh of a toll it is really taking on parts of America. It is honestly frightening to see how derelict parts of what I must call my hometown have become.

If there is one thing people cling to, it may not be their "guns and bibles" but definitely the victories of the American military. A victory that happens thousands of miles away, that certainly did not resuscitate the dying businesses surrounding the super market where I took the picture of this t-shirt.

How is this helping us?

Seeing Robert Gates tear up in front of Diane Sawyer sparks many questions in me about the nature of war, economy, morale, and morality, just as it does in, dare I say it, Gates himself?

A few thoughts. Not developed, obviously. More importantly, observations.

Cigarettes, Pumping Gas, Moronic People: Signs Our Country Is Going Crazy?

I thought this was something that was so moronic, that no one would ever even consider the possibility of something like this happening in real life because common sense and LIFE SAVING INSTINCT would prohibit it:

Gasoline Fight

But NO. Today, as I was pumping my gas in a local grocery story gas station, I saw a woman and her daughter lighting up as they were pumping gas. At first, I was struck with the sensation of, "Why you dumb b****es!" But then I realized, "Wow, they could really catch this place on fire." So I decided to approach them, as calmly as I could, considering my innards were shaking with anger at their idiocy. I said, "Are you aware you can catch this place on fire with that lighter and those cigarettes?"

"Yes" said the very obvious chain smoker with sagging skin, wrinkled lips, and charred complexion.

"Do you care that you could kill everyone here?"

"I'm aware, okay?"

"So why aren't you a little accountable for the lives of everyone around here, okay?"

She got angry and started to walk towards me so I ran inside and told the attendent. Just FYI to you readers, smoking and pumping gas is illegal. I told him that some insane woman outside was smoking and pumping and he also freaked out, but laughed pretty hard too. I went back outside with my mother, both of us talking quite loud,

"How could you be so stupid?"

"Seriously, don't they know that is illegal?"

"Well at least they are on camera."

"Oh I hope she heard me."

Seriously. ACCOUNTABILITY folks. If there is one thing I Can-not-stand, it must be incompetence. If you are not awake enough to realize that you could possibly kill someone because of your own addiction, carelessness, or incompetence, you do not deserve the same freedoms the rest of us have. This kind of moronic behavior is something I do not tolerate (clearly). I feel a duty to my fellow human and myself; if we are in this game of evolutionary russian roulette, I want to make sure that we have the best odds of survival. I am not afraid to raise my voice when something I see is life-threatening.

Funny enough, in my near shaking anger as I drove away (as I heard the woman b***h about how I "didn't have the right to tell someone how to live" --hunny, I have the right to try to stay alive), I thought of America. It is kind of a political jump to make. Basically, is this the kind of behavior America is coming to? I didn't know who to blame. I jumped to stereotypes: Conservatives for their "freedom" and "no intervention" ideology, or liberals with their "rights for all" and "entitlement" and "welfare state." I might have had five different bad radio talk shows going on in my head and finally realized (whilst listening to Beyoncé's "Single Ladies) that it wasn't anyone's fault but that one person, for not having the common sense to stave off her addiction for 5 minutes to pump gas. Seriously, it wasn't political. It was just life.

So my moral of the story? If you see behavior that could harm others and kill everyone in an instant, don't make a political charade out of it. Change that behavior.

Commonsense.

Civil War Reenactments

This year marks the 150th anniversary of America's "War Between the States" (not the "Civil War" according to the Prussian General actor at one reenactment). Unlike perhaps other countries who hold moments of silence for their some 500,000 who died in war, Americans like to celebrate the history and symbolism of this war by reenacting it.

As one dear friend said, "A sitting African-American President from Illinois (who sounds more and more Lincolnesque) at the same time of Civil War Reenactments. Strange times indeed." And rightly said. At a time in American history where we have powerful blacks, women, minorities, Southerners, Northerners, and many troops on ground abroad fighting very bloody wars, you would think Americans would not feel a need to constantly celebrate the Civil War, but they do.

My sister, inspired by a book, Confederates in the Attic, by Tony Horwitz, decided to do her senior project exploring Civil War Reenactments. First top? Lewisburg, West Virginia. During this particular May weekend, reenactors would carry out a four day "living history" extravaganza.

Now, Lewisburg has been voted the "coolest small town in America" by travel magazines. It has quirky little shops, yoga, homeopathic medicine, and tons of people who love to study the Confederates; very few think of themselves as Yankees, even though West Virginia, "Mountain Moma" as John Denver might say, seceded from Virginia in a disagreement over whether they should be Confederates or Yankees; one reenactor told me the disagreement was not over slaves, but overeconomy--the rich folk in the East were doing all the politicking while the poor white trash in the West were doing all the dying.

This is a trend in Civil War Reenactor Speech. As one Prussian General who fought on the side of the Confederates told me, the biggest misconception about the War Between the States was that, "Americans just want to put it on a bumper sticker, 'SLAVERY.' It was more than that. It was economy and states rights." Alright, economy in the South depended on slave labor (which of course New York and other cotton consuming industries depended on), but what rights were they trying to exert other than to keep their economies in healthy condition, to lower tariffs, and to keep the slaves that allowed them to have such labor intensive economies. One Black Soldier, from the 54th Massachusetts regiment claimed, "Slavery had NOTHING to do with the war. Not one thing." Then we asked if it had anything to do with moral, "Maybe. Sure you wanna go shoot the guy oppressing you, but we just wanted to be like everybody else. Not about slavery at all." I think you are feeling what I'm feeling right?

Indeed, aside from slavery, many reenactors place many of their own anxieties onto the war. The man playing General Lee assured us that if Lee were alive today, he would be part of the Tea Party. Because really, the rebel flag and Confederacy were exactly what American conservatism were today; anti-government, rebels with a cause of keeping the government out of their issues. Another man claimed he did reenactments because "The First thing that dies in war is the truth" and that we all had to read the other side to know "truth." I don't deny these things. Another man was very concerned about how youth learn history; his teachers had been very cruel to him in college with certain failing grades when he had to make a relative's funeral and couldn't make up the exam. He felt he was beloved by his students because of his stories and did reenactments to tell STORIES. He did have some really interesting stores too!

(temperance movement, at the irish pub of course)

Perhaps the strangest aspect is the frequency of such reenactments. One woman from Montana who used to work for the Department of Defense claimed she used to do just one a month, now spends almost every weekend in the spring and summer devoted to being different Confederate women, prostitutes, dames, abolitionists, and peacemakers. (While she was there, she led a temperance movement and threw all the guys out of the Irish Pub!) She said she liked it because it reminded her of a simpler time and life back home in Montana (though she assured us she saw some interesting things, like events leading up to the Fall of the Berlin Wall, or archaeology in Tel Aviv). She flashed in and out of personae, as if living multiple lives in multiple times and places.

The strangest thing is that all of the reenactors placed their own wishes, desires, doubts, frustrations, and hopes onto this war reenactment. Everything they hated about the government could somehow be in there. Everything they love about a certain lifestyle was suddenly manifest. Some men escaped their boring day jobs as mechanics, store cashiers, or high school students in small towns. Some women escaped their husbands for a little while and found other women doing the same. The war, the Rebel Cause, and the reenactment suddenly became a sort of escape, even despite being a symbol of suffering, division, slavery, and death. These "living historians" preached the truth, just like the Evangelical preacher at the Confederate Sunday Mass claimed. Everyone in the reenactments has their own truth; they choose when they die and when they resurrect (which is ultimately shouted at the end of skirmishes as well!). They choose what kind of history they approve of and which are too simple. (States rights and economy apparently do not go back to the issue of slavery at all, but each reenactor can tell you that the buttons on underwear at the time were made of animal bone, or that train tracks were standardized during the Civil War.)

All and all, this strange phenomenon in American history will be here for a long time. Perhaps as we sit here and dwell on how half a million lives were lost 150 years ago for economics, slavery, belief, propaganda, power, or rights, we should think of our own paranoia, angst, problems, shame, and concerns in an era of struggling economics, bipolarity, and division; let us not let history repeat itself except in a reenactment, on a hot summer day in Lewisburg, in 19th century garments.

No Mitch; Who?

As you probably have heard, Mitch Daniels is not running for president.

#hopeless

Debt. Debt. DEBT.

My generation is screwed.

What is a liberal girl like myself to do? Obama 2012? c'mon, can't someone give this guy a run for his money?

Mitch Daniels: The Dinner

Perhaps you know about my rather interesting relationship with conservatism. Born with a fiscally conservative father (currently undergoing a kind of "social liberal" make-over), without any one religion, raised on a horse farm in the hills of Pennsylvania, having attended an all-girls feminist and near bra burning institution, and currently at Yale--the bastion of elitist liberalism on the East Coast---naturally I have a funny kind of relationship with the GOP and with those Dems.

I mean, come on think about it:

+ (PLUS) +

=

? WTF ?

When I heard of this Mitch Daniels fellow, it was through my friend Max Eden, who started the Students for Daniels movement, to try to get Mitch to run for President in 2012. Ambitious and dedicated as he was, Max (the former long haired hippie who campaigned for Obama) started a national student movement with over 65 chapters at schools around America to get Mitch to run.

I was skeptical. How could a REPUBLICAN ever solve America's problems. But then I researched more about this guy. Some basic stats: Under Mitch, Indiana (what I thought to be quite the poor "backwards" state before), now has a Triple AAA credit rating by Standard and Poor's. He changed a $600 million deficit into a $370 million surplus within a year. He has reduced the state's debt by 40%. He has brought many jobs to the region and many international trade deals. His goal is to make Indiana the best place to open a business in the world. Basically, he wants people to have the choices in their pursuit of happiness.

That is Mitch's thing: choice, agency, freedom.

Of course, I ask about social issues. On these, Mitch is relatively quiet. Okay, pro-life, but has not banned abortion in the state. He has supported the choice of abortion up to 20 weeks (by then, you should know...) Gay marriage, he has been quite quiet on. Of course, I am skeptical of him on these issues, but the man is deeply concerned with the deficit of our country and how our country is just about to default on our debt. As he said, "Our problems right now are purely mathematical." He is less concerned with converting values as he is from converting red to blue ink on a ledger.

Basically, I was curious. I decided to go to the Indiana GOP dinner along with over 50 other students from out of state who are all gunning for Mitch to run. We were "tipped off" that he might announce his candidacy that night (based on the fact it was live streamed and nationally televised). Luckily, a member of the Indiana Republican Party donated the $200 per head dinner tickets... and made sure we sat in the very front next to the podium in a room of 1,100 people at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. I put on a not-so-Republican blue dress with grey stilettos and went down to meet Mitch at 5:00. He had agreed to meet with all of us students, encouraging us that "If anyone could be a factor in his candidacy, it was us." He also encouraged that "Most politicians don't know 'why' they want to run, other than for themselves. I know the 'why' now it is just if me and my family are ready." (He later made the analogy that running was like going bungy jumping with 5 people who did not want to jump). He was charming, short (5'6"), self-deprecating, but very very intelligent. I was struck by his humility. He was just not so much of a rock star as one sees in Obama.

At dinner, he said he "was not saying we wouldn't" run, but he definitely let the issue aside. Instead, he emphasized out the Indiana GOP was different than national movements. In Indiana, they were more concerned about getting things done fiscally and economically, offering up a social truce until everyone could agree on certain things, like the budget. He said that the Indiana GOP used to be a "conservative party" meaning they did not like change or newness. Part of his goal was to make sure not just the GOP but Indiana changed that way, dusting themselves off and "MAKING THE CHANGES" that make everyone else change. Some would say he is speaking as Reagan would want. Others, including myself, think he is calling for a new order (even if informed by those Republican heydays).

Mitch was definitely no Newt. That is for damn sure. While we did not get the announcement of candidacy we had hoped for, we got a speech from Cheri Daniels, Mitch's reluctant wife. From one of Mitch's politicos, we ascertained that this was a test in Cheri's public speaking abilities; she has never campaigned for Mitch before and would have to hold off on milking the cows and being Indiana state's "Miss Maiz" or champion milker in order to give a public speech. (Wearing shorter heels would have helped....) It was a sign they were preparing for the public light.

At the dinner, I was sitting with the women from Chicks on the Right, a conservative blog dedicated to giving conservatism a make-over. (Check out the article they wrote after here). They helped me understand certain social issues of Mitch's I had been skeptical of. They were cool and wanted to sop my friend from Tennessee "up with a biscuit." They commented about Cheri's very full chest and loved Max and Michael, the two Students for Daniels leaders.

After dinner, we mingled. Max ended up asking the governor to a bar after and, after canceling his other plans, the Governor came with the Students for Daniels! I was standing outside of the hotel (not wanting to walk the 6 blocks to the bar in my heels). The Governor saw me and asked, "Do you need a ride?" I said yes, and soon 4 others were with me, riding in the Governor's personal SUV. He was genuinely kind.

Later at drinks, I asked him a more personal question, "Why did you go into politics?" He answered more along the lines that in college, he had been inspired while working in the Mayor's office, but went into the private sector upon their advice. Later, people were begging him to go into public service! (Better than forcing oneself early on!) For him, it was a twist of fate, interest, and passion. He asked me then, not where I go to school, but said, "Danielle, where are you from?" I was struck that he knew my name. I had not tag on. (He must have remembered me as the "ambivalent Democrat" on CNN, because I did not talk to any of his politicos up to that point). Turns out we are both from Western PA and he was happy to share his Kennywood park memories, Steelers fanaticism, or love of sports. He was actually driving to Monongahela the next day.

I was struck. I actually liked someone in politics. WHAT? How could this be? A REPUBLICAN no less?

In the end, I hope he runs, regardless of election. His dialog about fiscal truth and responsibility is something this nation needs (even if we don't get it at first). Making the social truce and focusing on the monetary (which is directly tied to the social) is the first step in the political process I would like to see in 2012. Unfortunately if Newt or some such person gets the nomination, I fear further division. At least both Obama AND Mitch can talk to both sides of the party line.

Who knows, Mitch just might make this bleeding heart liberal think twice about one or two things. And it certainly would not be from his charm, height, or smooth talking, but sound reason, proof, and logic.

Post-Modern, Deconstructionist, Neo-Colonial, Diverse Approaches to War

Being back in America after a summer of automatic weapons, NATO, and barbed wire really opens you up to the absurdity with which we as Americans, at home, look at war "out there."

For instance. Shopping ("choosing") classes at Yale. I was interested in approaching war through different disciplines and approaches (philosophy, politics, history, literature). What I got instead was the "Post modern, deconstructed, neo-colonial approach" to suffering, security, and war. Now, I can do academic speak with the best of them, but somehow this approach is a little... removed. And not just physically. Is it missing the mark?

Sure, I think its better to see through the fog of war when you are outside of it, when you have fog lights, and when you have the blessing of distance and reason. In war, most people would lose their minds. Search for immediate answers and solutions. Take sides. Play defense. Its a life or Death situation. Therefore, academia and logic come to support these things accordingly. Nationalism becomes an academic institution. Linguistics are part of the national agenda. Therefore, it makes sense in many ways to study war before going into it and outside of it. No one wants a general who has never studied a war before!

Yet outside the wartime environment, I wonder how we imagine (or refuse to imagine) the suffering, strategy, pain, failure, and successes (how and if they exist) in wartime? At some point in the 20th century, the existence and critique of war took a whole new turn. When, finally, in 1928 with the Kellogg-Briand Pact, 15 nations (including France, US, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and Japan) denounced war as an instrument of national policy, it seems like the critique and protest of war took a whole new level. If war was not just "politics by other means" as Clausewitz might have put it, but indeed an instrument (is this fair to say IS friends?), its seems like there are more alternatives to war. Are other instruments there? If warfare changed drastically since Clausewitz's time with modern weaponry and weapons of mass and systematic destruction, then there must be a sort of peacemaking that must also evolve that is mass and systematic. With the new type of peacemaking and new type of war, came a whole new type of criticism of war... mass criticism.

Mass criticism. Think of the intellectuals (Einstein included!) who were dragged into the peacemaking process in 1917-1919 after WWI. Think of the journalists during WW2. What about Rebecca West, the epitome of a "modern woman" critiquing and reporting on Nuremberg. Think of Vietnam and the mass protests. If anti-war protests ever reached a peak, it would probably be surrounding Vietnam. I haven't heard pop anti-war songs against Iraq, but think of those singing about leaving Vietnam (my personal favorite being Country Joe & the Fish's "The 'Fish' Cheer" or "I-feel-like-I'm-fixin-to-die," some lyrics being "put down your books and pick up a gun, we're gonna have a whole lot of fun/And its 1, 2, 3, what are we fighting for?/ Don't ask me I don't give a damn/ Next stop is Vietnam."). Think of the deaths from student uprisings. The mass movements and social protest. For our time, when Iraq costs more than Vietnam. When we are approaching a decade in Afghanistan. Where are the protests?

Or are they even necessary? Should we bother?

As Susan Sontag explains in her book "Regarding the Pain of Others," "The argument that modern life consists of a diet of horrors by which we are corrupted and to which we gradually become habituated is a founding idea of the critique of modernity---the critique being almost as old as modernity itself." I wonder if we just got tired of the fight to even protest it. Are we in an age of Mass Apathy? Did we got too comfortable with Wal-Mart and the war games we buy from their shelves for our Xboxs and PlayStations? Perhaps we don't care enough. Perhaps we don't see the repercussions that war spending has on our economy or on the lives of the families of soldiers.

Perhaps we just got too enthralled with protesting mosques to protest wars.

Yet, when I ask most people from my generation, they don't really think about the war. There isn't a forced conscription. They have never seen or held an automatic weapon. More interestingly, they think protests and social unrest have no place or point in American society. There are other ways. Get power. Get jobs. Get sex. Get money. Get it all, but don't lose your sense of morals! Get beyond that "european" social unrest. Protests and "social movements" are for anarchists and hippies... not hipsters or preps. To many in my generation, we think our parents were just smoking pot, holding signs, and screaming at "the man" because it was cool. Just like wearing American Apparel and dancing in dingy basements is cool now. Friends have told me, "If we want to make social change, its not through a perpetual party, so why protest? Protests are irrational." I'm not disagreeing.

So, "What to do." as they say in the Balkans.

At Yale, when we are sitting next to advisors to Presidents and former world leaders, we are too worshipful of the fact they are there to even ask meaningful questions. Students want to be friends with these guys and impress them with their quotations and Washington Post knowledge. We of all people could actually say something, probe, and maybe practice asking questions that still let us sit next to them the next class without losing our integrity and respect. If anything, we should be practicing this skill of asking those questions before we really screw up in the "real world." If I ask someone why they didn't ask a probing question, they respond: "Well, (fill in the blank topic: security, IS, history, lit) is just so complicated and I didn't want to seem stupid."

Is my generation habituated to apathy? Are we too comfortable?

or are we just restless and blow off steam in other ways....

A Woman of ALL Nations (or no nation)

In the West, we hypothesize about why the conflict in the Balkans happened: the rise of Nationalism, the strive or ethnic independence, ethnic supremacy, da da da (as they say here), but talking to locals who have been displaced by the war gives you a different insight, naturally.

The first was my hostel/homestay host in Mostar, Bosnia. She was a Catholic, married to a Muslim, displaced to Croatia and then Norway (because a Muslim last name just did not work out in Croatia). She was explaining the war to me in terms of sides. She however could not explain to me how or why these sides developed. As she said, "It was confusing. No one knew what was going on. I just knew to leave .

Here in Kotor, Montenegro, I met a Bosnian woman from Banja Luka (she was the hostel manager). We got to talking. When I asked her what nationality she was, she said, "Nationality? I am a woman of the world. I just happened to be in Montenegro, but I'm from Bosnia. If I felt like living in Spain I would. You need to stop thinking of nationality. People who thought of that were stupid. "

I asked her how she got here, she said she was on holiday here then the NATO airstrikes began and should could not get back to Banja Luka, so she opened up shop as a hairdresser and a clothing maker. As she said, "Forget what you know. Nationalism or politics. All that matters, just in case is what you can do with your hands."

I asked her what she thought had happened and why it happened (a broad question I know, but I wanted to keep her talking. She was very bright and enthusiastic to talk about this, unlike others I have met here). As she said, "Yugolavia was a beautiful thing, but then this whole WW2 fright got in the way. The Croatians started wearing symbols that scared others. If they had not been allowed to remind us (the children of a scarred generation) of this suffering, then we would have been okay. But no, the get Milosevic in and they ordered a war. Who? I don't know. Its not Nationalism its MONEY. We did not cause this war. Someone else did. Someone said, "Okay, 60,000 people will die, we will focus on the Bosniaks, go!" and that is what happened. It was money. Why else is Russia invested in Montenegro, or Italy in Croatia, or the US in Kosovo? Others dividied it up. Someone ordered a war. Yugoslavia was strong."

She continued her distaste for nationalism, humanitarianism, etc. "Humanitarian workers were all young, like you, and had money. They all just sat in fancy houses with electricity, when we had none. They could not help except with a bottle of water. That is all."

As she said, "Memory is a scary thing. Nationalism was dangerous, but people are stupid. We were beautiful united. It is not stopping me. I am a woman of this planet."

Whether I agree or not, I do agree with her last statement.

BoTax-- Politicians Get Bored, So Make Creative Tax Names

BoTax.

Yep. Pretty soon, there may be a 5% tax on plastic surgery (that is not due to congenital abnormalities, injuries from trauma, or disfiguring disease). The senate is proposing it in the latest Health Care bill.

But seriously. Plastic surgeons and their patients are outraged. From the NYT, "'A lot of people think of this as a tax on rich Republican housewives; rich nonworking Republican housewives,' said Dr. Phile Haeck, 'This is not the case.'" According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 60% of plastic surgery patients earn less than $90,000.

This might just mean outsourcing of plastic surgery (say hello to India and Mexico! Invest in expedia.com! in Kingfisher Airlines! in Air Mexico! haha)

Yet how much is 5% on plastic surgery? Its expensive enough as it is, why not take on another 5%?

While that seems *ahem* "logical," WHY THE HELL DO WE NEED TO TAX EVERYTHING?

Take Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of my own hometown, Pittsburgh. He wants to impose a 1% tax on students (Think University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, Carlow, Chatham, Robert Morris, the list goes on). He claims they aren't paying a dime for the services they receive and they should pitch in. According to USA today, only 6% of Carlow students can pay the full $20,000 tuition. What makes Lukie think they can afford more? 100,000 students make up a significant portion of the city. They are the reason Pittsburgh is one of the top ten tech cities in America. Why scare them away?

Perhaps if he came up with a more creative name for the tax, like "Stud-tax" I would be persuaded.

PoliSci: WHY? or rather, Why not?

Last night, I conversed with Misha (the Physics/Russian Lit wonder in my life) about why the hell I bother studying Political Science-- I myself sometimes question and doubt the value of my discipline. What am I creating? What can I TRULY know if I am outside of the process/work? How am I an asset to humanity by versing myself in this discipline? I'm certainly not inventing, creating or researching a cure for cancer. ..... Naturally I sound cynical and this is a cynical take. But one has to stop and question these things in order to get maximum efficiency and happiness out of a field.

So, the New York Times prints this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/books/20poli.html?_r=1&em

Basically, a journalist (who probably graduated in Political science) questioning what the hell Political science is and why it is useful to humanity. Rather, the Journalist was following a certain Senator Coburn, who has recently attacked the National Science Foundation for giving $91.3 million to Poli sci field projects and research--money that could have been used in Biology, Physics, or Pharmacology.

Yet, the article quotes:

"Senator Coburn has maintained that commentators on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other news media outlets 'provide a myriad of viewpoints to answer the same questions.'"

If this is where Senators get their Political Science Advice, then I'm a little worried for America.

Political Science does have a duty to inform, but the right people in the right places need to do it. Let's not be frivolous with our money now. Science needs politics just as much as politics (government) needs science. If science wants to see its work deployed on a large scale, its needs politics to help survey that field and that strategy.

Maybe I'll be a Sociology Major.

What Happened in My Home? : Police and Protest in Pittsburgh

http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/09270/1001203-482.stm

I am a skeptic. I tend to shy away from protests--I guess I don't find the efficacy in them, often wary of their purpose.

But I know that feeling. People want a cause to fight for. They want to be part of a group, a collective. This applies to both a police force and a protest group. Behavior quickly imitates itself and spreads like wildfire. The collective is an imitation of itself.

So it begins. You get students gathering, for instance, do these girls below even know what they are doing? This isn't a Steelers game girls. This is the G-20.

These sights of SWAT officers 4 blocks from my High School KILLS me. It pains me to see this force come out from seemingly no where and run the streets like an insurgent brigade. Like an insurgent power.

Its easy for a police officer to fall back on coercion, on power, so tediously balanced on the scrim of governance behind it. It feels like at any moment it could fall through, but can it really now? Is that even possible? You protestors, you think the state is afraid of you?

Perhaps you do. You have Twitter revolutions, Facebook revolutions, and a global community of supporters, looking for a way to connect themselves to a cause. And this is powerful. Lucrative (in some cases that you may not realize--think of all those Urban Outfitters T-Shirts). Frightening. Exciting.

While I remain a skeptic about your intentions and your cause, you drive an industry and for that I applaud you. I applaud you for creating a culture that could rival any large business. You are connected. You are young. You are fighters. You are what everyone at one point wishes they were. You want to stick it to the man and you don't even know who the man is. But that fact that you want to stick it, matters somehow.

Look, the G-20 issues will drag on. People in the Man are going to fight Climate Change. They are also going to fight recession. They are going to investigate these things and change them in policy or hard work within (hopefully, if the right people win anyways). I don't know the issues in and out, I don't know if even you know the issues. But props to you for thinking you can change the world. Because someday, you actually may.

Living a "Domestic" Life: Life at home for an Ex-pat at heart

In a foreign country, when there is something that potentially rubs you, say, construction, healthcare, pollution, marriage practices, you can shrug it off and say, "Well, how peculiar. This country is not like mine." Of course, I can look at them as potential business opportunities or something--like opening a recycling facility in Istanbul or something. However, for the most part, the ex-pat cannot be expected to solve the problem of the foreigner.

Flash to my town of origin in rural Pennsylvania. Route 28 is STILL under construction. One medication that I could have gotten in Turkey for $10 is $42 here. There are shootings at LA Fitness nearby. I see trash on the roads. Public Education nearby has turned into more like a juvenile detention center.

Basically, the problems that the ex-pat may click their tongue to are in their own country. And by I mean that ex-pat, I mean me. I can't shrug it off because this system directly affects me. Regardless of what country I am in, the fact that my state's education system is not doing so hot, or that my healthcare costs are through the roof (and no comment on the Obama plan...)--all of this has some impact on me, the Passport that I hold, the life I lead, and where I go.

So though my life is far from Domestic yet (even though I'm cooking Creme Brulee and Baklava like Julia--great movie), looking at the stagnation (and death?) of the area I came from can fill any ex-pat's conscience with a little bit of sadness, or even guilt!

I can't even vote to change it here. I'm a Connecticut voter.

How Facebook Ushered Me into the World of Diplomacy

Why did I get a Facebook initially? To easily contact old friends. To socialize. To share the party photos from the night before. To take all of those ridiculous quizzes like, "Which State Are You?" or "What type of Kisser are you?" To "find myself" in those years of teenage identity crisis. 

Yet in the news, I see people using Facebook to start revolutions.  

This is clearly not the Facebook that I, as an American, know. In other parts of the world, Facebook is a political, diplomatic, business and social hub. The politics can get so intense that my sister's Turkish host father will not let his 17 year old use Facebook yet.  Revolutions in Iran start as a result of Facebook. China has recently banned Facebook. The power is so huge; it is beyond seeing the drunken picture of your friends the day after a party. 

As you well know, recently I visited Kosovo for a JADE Junior Enterprises Conference. I was the only American to attend this conference and I did not meet any other American students in the area (some lovely Canadians...). As a result of this conference, I may venture to say that a decent percentage of Kosovar Youth are now my friends on Facebook—for a country isolated for so long, young people are eager to use their IT and English skills to reach out to the world.

You also know that I recently went to a part of Turkey heavily populated by Kurdish people. As a result of being in Kurdish Turkey and Kosovo within three days of each other, I created a Facebook Photo Album called, “Kurds and Kosovo,” probably just because it had catchy alliteration, but I didn’t think much more into it than that.

Then it began….slowly. The Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had mentioned something in his response to a Facebook message I had sent, inquiring why I put Kurds and Kosovars in the same album. My Turkish friend asked why they were put in the same album. 

Call me ignorant of ethnic pride (I’m about as mixed ethnically as a mutt!), but I soon woke up the next morning to comments from a Kosovar detailing—on EVERY Kosovar photo in the album—the difference between Albanians and Kurds, historically, ethnically, linguistically, and geographically. The tone was a little unsettling and after realizing that I had accidentally friended this person without knowing them (in the long line of friend requests from Kosovar students I had met), I deleted all of the comments and removed the culprit from my friends. 

The man then sent me an e-mail, saying that as a Yale student, I would never have titled an album “Kurds and Kosovo” without more “profound intentions” and that he took it that I was claiming Kurds and Albanians were of the same ethnic group. He went on to give me a history of how the Albanians were there for a longer period of time and were their own distinct ethnic group. In short, he was offended.

In my manner, I felt guilty. I sent him a very thought out response, explaining to him that, as a Yale Student, my intentions were no more profound than alliteration and the fact that I had been in the two places within each other. We aren't super humans! I changed the name of the album at his request and apologized for the misunderstanding, explaining to him how I would be returning to Kosovo in the future for study and work hopefully because of the good impression I had. I mentioned that, as the ethnic mutt of an American I am, I apparently didn’t fully grasp the ethnic conflicts he had experienced. I did write a note about how I thought he should have messaged me to clarify the situation before posting his comments all over my album though!  

He e-mailed back, apologizing whole-heartedly, explaining that after years of Balkans ethnic wars, he had taken me as an enemy of Albania. He explained how grateful he was that I wanted to come back and that he was very sorry for acting on such a strong instinct instead of using his reason. I could see where he was coming from. He explained that he too was a naturalized US citizen (though not the ethnic mutt like me!) and his brother had served in Iraq. He was very grateful to America and had studied at CUNY. He also stated that Yale students "weren't super humans, but close to it! ;)" 

I e-mailed him back and thanked him for his honest response. I was amazed at what just happened and I told him. What a soft diplomacy experience we had together! I couldn’t believe it! I asked him if I could tell our story on the blog and he said he would be honored.

The experience helped me realize the tremendous political potential of Facebook. The next day, I told my friend that I solved a soft diplomacy crisis on Facebook. She said, “Why Facebook?” Exactly.

Wake up world! If you thought your Facebook relationship status started heated conflict, imagine what it does in Iran. But also realize how powerful it is in cultural understanding, exchange, and creating even stronger ties after wording mishaps.

My status later stated "Danielle Tomson: has been enlightened on the diplomatic powers of Facebook. Welcome to the rest of the world...." I don’t think I got so many “Likes” from internationals on that status than any other I had before…

 

 

A Snapshot of Kosovo on 12 hours of Sleep... in 4 days

I am broken. The struggle bus has a flat tire. I am officially going to my bed and praying the sheets are not going to make me break out in a rash. 

But all this aside. I am more excited and inspired than I have been since.... well maybe ever. 

Why? My experience in Kosovo. 

I will go into this later, but I wanted to leave my community with a glimpse of the people, the nation, the spirit, and the nature of this self proclaimed "Newborn" country. 

Flying back on a delayed jet, with no working camera, and little sleep, with a pilot who was probably a fighter jet pilot at some point by the barrel turns we made, I was seated next to a Turkish/ Albanian looking guy. He did not have the typical "Former Republic of Yugoslavia" look about him. He grabbed a Turkish newspaper and politely sat a seat away from me. He offered me chewing gum after our meal and that broke the ice (this is a trick I always use!) Turns out his father was Turkish but his mother was Albanian. He was living in Prishtina with his family. His wife is Bulgarian and their son's name is Edward. He owns two toystores. One in Prishtina and one in Istanbul. He traded in Istanbul and Hong Kong. His dream is to open a Toys "Rooys" or Toys 'R Us in Kosovo. He worked for 10 years without much money but the past 3 years have made it up. He is fluent in Albanian and Turkish, with decent English. He may have a Turkish passport, but he loves Kosovo as his own country and loves American for what it has done there and what it represents: multicultural, multifaith, strong democracy, entrepreneurial values. 

After four days of meeting with the ministers of this country (most under 30, as 70% of the pop is under 30), young business people from all over Europe with JADE Junior Enterprise Network, and witnessing Kosovo, this story is a great picture of what Kosovo is becoming and is: multicultural, multifaith, a recent democracy, with stronger entrepreneurial instincts than what most American have. Plus they love American--Bill Clinton street intersects with Mother Teresa Street in the center of town. 

Welcome to the best kept secret in political science, business, and the developing, post-conflict world. That no one knows about. 

Now we do.

Ivy Istanbul Recap (FINALLY)

What you have all been waiting for. A recap on the EPIC Ivy EME Istanbul leg. Instead of doing this chronologically, I have decided to break it up into categories for you: Food, Sights, Universities, and Politics.

One shout out: Thanks to Murat, the Political Advisor to Nursuna Memecan and our BFF who put together this fabulous intro to Istanbul! Big thanks to Nursuna Memecan and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey!!!!

Food

Like every good Ellis girl, I start with food. The Metropolitan Municipality owns everything, even restaurants--which is where we (not) wined but dined at some of the most historic and chic sights. Take the Ottoman Ambassador to Egypt's house where we ate one night--one of the most luxurious sights to get a 15 lire dinner! The prices are affordable and dining in these mansions are amazing! 

Murat also took us out for Mussels and "intestine," equally delicious. My favorite however is the Iskander kebab--a lamb, pita, tomato and yogurt dish that rocks my socks. The rice puddings and baklava pastries (which the Mayor of Istanbul also has a bakery for, both in Istanbul and NYC!) 

Sights

Topkapi palace, a weird mix of Ottoman, French Rococo, and Italian Fresco provided a sort of architectural spaz for me. I loved the fountains by the window--antique anti-spi security systems much? The curator apparently speaks 7 languages or something and refuses to date women who don't speak Persian. Hot. 

Of course the Hagia Sophia made me cry. The zebra like walls, the pendentives, the "ink blot" marble, and the mix of Christian and Muslim motifs just are awe inspiring. And yes, Isodoros and Anthemios knew what they were doing with the "ring of fire" on the dome... I just about passed out. The blue mosque was also brilliant--where Krystal and I got into a deep discussion about the role of headscarves and gender relations in Islam--for another post!! 

The Grand Bazaar provided ample entertainment--with gold bathroom shoes and Templar pins/antiques. Oh free masonry and templar knights. My father will never cease to be entertained. Plus, shopping for military pins with Taimur and Murat was fabulous. (My bartering skills here are not too shabby, mwah ha ha) 

Lastly, the Military Museum proved to be a favorite. The rich history of Ottoman military tradition adds an interesting element to the Nationalist tradition that later developed. Apparently Turkey and Pakistan also have a fascinating relationship as far as military training goes. 

Let us not forget Santral Istanbul--for a tour of the first major electricity plant and new modern art museum (with a Moleskin exhibition with Sigur Ros!) and the MiniaTurk park--where I got an entire tour of Turkey---in Miniature. 

Universities

We visited Bogazici, Bilgi, and Sabanci Universities. Oh my intellectual havens. I loved Bogazici--an old "Yale of Turkey" this university has a view of the Bosporus that rivals any Oxford, Yale, or Stanford environment. Plus, the vice rector was from Yale. 

Sabanci is only about 10 years old, but already in partnership with Harvard, Columbia etc. The Sabanci family is one of those "business groups" that are family owned, like the Mellon's or the Carnegie's back in the day. This is a fascinating time in Turkey for Philanthropy. The university was built from the ground up, sticking it to the man by providing a sort of liberal arts core curriculum that the national government does not approve of (mostly Engineers and economists here...). They are truly progressive. Thanks to a Saybrugian, class of 1968 in the History department, I got some great lessons in Ottoman and Turkish history--plus a connection to pursue more of my Islamic studies while here. 

Naturally, these universities have opened up a world of learning for me. And don't you worry, we've been in contact. I'm already studying some Tajwid (Qu'ran reading) and will be exploring more of the Ottoman history. There is so much to say about the university system here, but I will leave this too for another post. 

Politics 

Let us not forget about our visit with the Deputy Mayor of Istanbul. In our very official meeting--a true honor!--, we discussed the traffic, the corporations, and the governing body of (arguably) the most powerful city in Turkey. The Mayor of Turkey is like a shoe-in for PM, but lets just say local politics can be very... interesting. 

Next, the Young Civilians, as reactionary group here in Turkey to promote democracy. While we may not agree on everything (as I am more of an advocate/practitioner and less of an activist), I found their social and civil work quite important. Every country needs a thesis and antithesis for a synthesis I suppose. 

We also met at the Istanbul Chamber of commerce. Turns out the presenter did his undergrad at UVA and worked in the steel industry in VA for a while--small world. Oh steel. How you unite the world! :) This coming from a steel broker's daughter. 

Naturally this was a very brief overview, but I learned a lot and made a lot of great connections. Having dinner, tea, and e-mail exchanges is proving to be very helpful to me and my work in entrepreneurship, NGO's, Islamic studies, Youth advocacy, and more! I love Istanbul for this.... 

This was honestly one of the best and most informative experiences I have had, which will inform much of what you will read in the future. You just wait.... 

Going to bed after a long day at the office, Istanbul Modern (saw some Yoko Ono work there), and finally a real meal. Eating rice can get old after a while... ;)