Revolutions in Retrospect

The Arab Spring is a Revolution. Sadly, the term revolution is sorely overused. Revolutions can be anything today from a revolution in social media to a revolution in pottery manufacturing. A real revolution is something like the American Revolution or the French Revolution. In that way the Arab Spring should be judged among its peers.

Before we get to the judging let me point out several stories that could depress a man as fast as possible in this dreary world of ours. The first story (click here) is by Glenn Greenwald, a perfectly good columnist at the Guardian who shows the holes in the "perfect victory" we've had in Libya. The second story (click here) is by Max Boot, a neoconservative who accurately points out the administration's failure to act on the Syrian Crisis, the other side of the proverbial coin, which has led to a leader slaughtering his own people. Not a happy start to any event.

It seems that the world has gone to pieces and the rosy colored picture I had of the Arab Spring a few months ago was all roses and daisies. Luckily that's not the case and history shall be our guide. Let's look at a few revolutions in perspective:

American Revolution: while we look back on this one with pride you have to remember that it was a long, bloody, eight year war that was fought in a bitter partisan and conventional manner. After the war local leaders held large amounts of power, the region seemed to be breaking into separate entities. Arab Spring is looking better.

French Revolution: the French, after beheading their king, started a European-wide war that killed thousands. Power was centralized in the hands of a mad, short, brilliant dictator  who crowned himself Emperor for life. Arab Spring looks better.

Bolshevik Revolution: Massive continent-wide civil war. Killed millions and led to several madmen who killed millions more. Arab Spring looks better.

These are a few common examples and all of them seem worse off than the Arab Spring. When one looks more closely at the stories one would find that Assad is not looking stable and the conflict will not last for a decade. Libya, despite recent events has a strong pro-America movement (click here). It seems we are in the midst of one of the most peaceful (historically speaking) revolutions of our age. Hope it goes well for the future.

Bad Luck Brian History Joke

Found a good history joke for all those interested: Click here.

Bill Kristol - The Reason Newspapers Deserve to Live

Fantastic article by Bill Kristol. It details how Romney's 47 gaffe is more than just a gaffe. It's a fundamental belief (I'd make the same argument about Obama's guns gaffe for the partisanminded out there).

Not a Good Sign

Not a good sign for future Asian international relations. China has a long history of grievances that includes literally EVERY country that borders it. China has had or almost had conflicts with Russia, Vietnam, India, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, and the US.

Even the Mighty Fall

Great story on the breakdown of the Mitt Campaign here.

The recent protests in the Middle East are an example of the rest of the world behaving diplomatically like children. Many people cannot understand how a nation's citizens can produce a work without it being authorized by the government. Basic freedom of speech issues are not understood in places such as Egypt or Libya. A half a year of democratic reforms is not enough to create the necessary civilian society to behave like an adult on the world stage. Here are some of the best stories I've read on the issue:


http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2012/09/muslim_world_protests_why_can_t_muslims_remain_calm_when_some_kook_insults_the_prophet_mohammed_.html


http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/human_nature/2012/09/mohammed_movie_embassy_attacks_don_t_let_internet_videos_drive_you_to_violence_.html


http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/09/12/embassy-attack-perpetrators-do-not-represent-islam/


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/world/middleeast/us-envoy-to-libya-is-reported-killed.html?hp


Also, I want to announce that I made a mistake that was very basic. It was the US consulate in Benghazi that was attacked. Embassies are in the capital.

Tragic attack killed American Ambassador

Tragically, the American ambassador to Libya was killed by a mob that attacked the embassy. Best story I read was from NPR here.

Trust, Economics, & Government

Friedman posted a very great piece on trust. Trust, bureaucracies, and institutions are pivotal in the success of a country. Also, you should check out Luigi Zingales's book A Capitalism for the People which features trust quite heavily as an economic determinant for success.

Podcast #32 Information

Sources for most recent podcast. Uses Chicago Citation.

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  BBC, “Dutch far-right leader shot dead” May 6, 2002.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1971423.stmBBC, “Gunman kills Dutch film director” Last modified November 9, 2004.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3974179.stm

BBC, “Profile: Anders Behring Breivik” Last modified April 12, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14259989

BBC, “Profile: Mounir al-Motassadek” Last modified Decembe 4, 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2223152.stm

British National Party, “Immigration,” accessed June 24th, 2012, http://www.bnp.org.uk/policies/immigration.

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Blair, Tony, The Guardian, “Tony Blair's speech: Speech given by the prime minister in Sedgefield, justifying military action in Iraq and warning of the continued threat of global terrorism” March 5, 2004. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/mar/05/iraq.iraq

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Eugenia Dumitriu, “The E.U.’s Definition of Terrorism: The Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism”. PhD diss., College of Europe Bruges, 2004. http://www.germanlawjournal.com/pdfs/Vol05No05/PDF_Vol_05_No_05_585-602_special_issue_Dumitriu.pdf

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FriendofMuslim, “Muslim Demographics” March 30, 2009.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU&feature=plcp

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Howard, Oliver, BBC, “Disproving the Muslim Demographic Sums” August 7, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/more_or_less/8189434.stm

International Peace Institute Meeting Notes, “A New Approach? Deradicalization Programs and Counterterrorism” March 16-17, 2010. http://www.ipinst.org/index.php/publication/meeting-notes/detail/296-a-new-approach-deradicalization-programs-and-counterterrorism.html

Kurlantzick, Josh, Los Angeles Times “Fighting Terrorism With Terrorists: Using former radicals to turn around militants in the making is showing remarkable success” January 6, 2008. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/2008/01/06/fighting-terrorism-with-terrorists/zq8

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Beyond Cavemen

Evolutionary Science Article:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/09/06/sex_differences_in_mate_preferences_equality_of_society_influences_what_qualities_you_want_in_a_partner_.html


Above is a very good article on something that has recently been inserted into the historian's tool kit. That thing is gender history. While I am not too big of a fan of gender history, as it is easy to write your way for some social/cultural purpose, I do accept that it is important and fascinating stuff. Everyone knows that there are differences between men and women including physical, social, and mental characteristics. The physical is something that kicks up no argument, but how women and men interact with others and solve problems has created a fundamental divide in today's society.

Ultimately, there is no way to tell who is right and who is wrong. This article does show that society clearly has some impact on the developments between genders, but where does nurture stop and nature kick in? Yes, it's that old debate of nurture vs. nature. Just like history these debates are not repeated, but they do rhyme.

Obama Getting Bearhugged

There are some things that allows one to see through the speeches, the conventions, and the political nastiness/grandeur. This is one of those moments where Obama is being bearhugged by a pizzeria owner. Good stuff.

Good Quote by Zakaria

Fareed Zakaria had a very good quote on Facebook. It really does raise questions about how different parties view the past and the present.

"In the '70s and '80s, to many Americans the Democratic Party seemed more concerned with America's shortcomings than its strengths. Many of its leaders criticized the country relentlessly for its behavior at home and abroad, for its inequities and injustices. The Democrats, Jeane Kirkpatrick said at the Republican Convention in 1984, "always blame America first."

Today it is the Republican Party that often seems angry with America. Read the best-selling books by conservatives these days, watch Fox News or attend a Tea Party rally. They are filled with rage, often combined with a powerful nostalgia for an America that has gone away."

Click here for the link.

Obama's Report Card

Nicholas Kristof has always been one of my favorite editorial writers. Not overtly political in nature, but rather a defender of rational thought and the untold story. He draws attention to issues that the mainstream media often glances over or ignores. However, this is an example of a more traditional piece that he writes. I am an Obama fan. I'll give that away, but someone who can't criticize their political figure will tend to go toward extremes saying, "he's a complete and total failure" and, "he's a GOD!!!". Neither is healthy. Kristof gives a very good bit here in his report card for Barack Obama.

Justice Vs. Humanitarianism

For those who love trying to draw lessons from history there are few men you can read than Max Boot. Boot is a neoconservative who promotes involvement by the United States in the world much more broadly than many (including me) might advocate. Despite this, he is an eminent historian and a interesting political and foreign policy commentator.

Check out his article here.

Ryan & The Truth

Great article on the reasons why Paul Ryan thought he could throw a few fibs in with his speech.


PS - Paul Ryan and the Truths would make a great name for a band.

Gold Standard Nonsense

Just read perhaps one of the best reasons that the Gold Standard doesn't work. As economies grow and the money supply is fixed you would have to see a deflation in wages. From 2000 to 2012 wages would have had to drop from 13.75 an hour to 3.45 an hour. Can you imagine any sort of worker taking a 10 dollar per hour pay cut?

Click here for the link.

Romney Fail

Paul Krugman does a good job showing the hypocrisy of the Romney/Paul ticket. I thought this would be an interesting intellectually stimulating campaign where the lines of government would be honestly redrawn to optimize government, but instead Mitt Romney has given up any attempt to stand on firm ground. Check out the Krugman piece here.

Daily Show Does the Convention Proud

My opinion was that The Daily Show hasn't done too much great work over the past week, but last night's episode really blew me away. Check it out here.