An open letter to the people of Egypt
Your historic vote on a reformed Constitution is a wonder to behold, and we, the people of America, welcome you to a...
Lex Parsimoniae
It is important when discussing competing theories which explain an event or idea to choose that theory which makes the least “new” assumptions. Put plainly, the theory with the least leaps in logic, with the least assumptions taken without proof, is more likely to be true than those which involve complex theories orchestrated in such a way as to produce a later, very precise result.
For example, embattled Libyan ‘leader’ Muamar Qadaffi theorized that the people rebelling against his 41-year-long authoritative rule were “children” who had been slipped hallucinogenic pills — dropped in their milk, their coffee, and their nescafe — by al Qaeda and that the pills themselves were supplied by the United States and distributed through mosques. Furthermore, he rejects the idea that Libyans, inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, could ever reject him because they ‘all love him.’
The false dichotomy
“You are with us, or you are against us.” Yin and Yang. Right and Wrong.
It is easy, and seductive, to view the world as a set of binary decisions, ideas, and events each, mutually opposed and antithetical to each other. Such a simplistic view, however, is detrimental to understanding history in general and the unfolding events in the Middle East specifically. To continue to engage in such a world view is dangerous in the extreme, as history has often highlighted. Instead, what needs to occur is an understanding of the precedents to this week’s uprisings and the reactions which could move democracy, social issues, human rights and freedom forward throughout the Middle East.
IED – Informational explosive d...
Julian Assange and the group at WikiLeaks did the cause of democracy and transparency no favors this week with the timed explosion of information designed to do but one thing: embarrass and hamper the United States’ international image.
Granted, Assange may be of a mind that damaging the United States’ image is a good thing, with the United States being roundly criticized for a variety of abuses ranging from extraordinary rendition to globalization to the evils of Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. But in reality, Assange and Wikileaks have struck a blow AGAINST transparency within the world’s oldest democracy, and there is historical evidence to prove this assertion.
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