Israel’s Troika: Barak is no Barack
In Israel, the peace process rests in the hand of the “troika”. With the first meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama looming (May 18th, saves the...
Year: 2009
The monarchical democracy of Lebanon: excerpt
For those Arabs who believe in liberal democracy, the Lebanese election is a source of both inspiration and despair. For where else in the Arab world is there an election that will actually produce...
Speeding through Montreal
I’m a quarter Canadian and have some wonderful cousins in Canada. I remembered my cousins when I found a bargain flight going to Montreal from L.A. - it turned into a a perfect excuse to see them....
Silly immigrants, Canada is for white people
Racism strikes again here in the Great White North, otherwise known as Canada. It seems that when you are backed into a corner, punched and have a racial slur thrown at you, acting in your own...
The invisible rule of whiteness
Writing critically about race is not an easy thing to do. We have tendency to avoid discussing race as it has been determined to be one of those “hot button” subjects. This silence about race...
Inside Chernobyl: those who stayed
"Inside Chernobyl," an exhibition by photographer and Fulbright scholar Michael Forster Rothbart, recently made its debut in Kyiv, and will be making its way to such places as Moscow and Washington...
What’s it all about, Arlen?
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, one of the three Republicans who compromised on Obama's stimulus bill, has decided that he's no longer a Republican. When Minnesota finally gets Al Franken seated,...
More Than Just Race: a review
Some people describe 2008 as "the year of African-Americans," due to Barack Obama's successful bid to become the first black American President. However, could his success be used as an example of...
The Purity Myth: a review
The Purity Myth (Avalon, 2009) was written by Jessica Valenti of the feminist blog Feministing. It seeks to explore the issue of virginity as obsession and comment on how said obsession is ultimately...
Torture – debated
They call it a “debate” like there's anything to debate. As if international law and Dick Cheney's snarling are both equally valid. As if torture “working” makes it defensible. Despite the...