Is This Really The 21st Century?!

First and foremost, I would like to take a moment and send prayers to the victims of the Boston attacks. Absolutely nothing can justify the heinous attack that has put so many innocent lives in jeopardy; things like this make me sick. 

As many of you know, the Boston Marathon was the latest target of an attack from an unknown source. The bombs were set off at the finish line before the eyes of spectators waiting for their loved ones to cross the finish line. It's sad to say but, since the turn of the century, there have been quite a few attacks like this and so the reactions have also come be very predictable. The basic White House address stating that the perpetrators will be tried to the fullest extent of the law, the videos posted on youtube allowing you to relive the moment of the explosion, the slow announcement of the victims and their status and of course the common conversations and reactions across the globe on the internet. 

Take a moment and thank Facebook and Twitter for all the news reporters that have subtlety replaced the close friends on your list. 

Among the many reactions are one that I cannot quite understand, and this is no direct hit towards anyone as I will sadly be discussing my own culture in this post. Many people that are from war torn countries react by saying "yes but what about the war in so and so country?". I understand where they're coming from saying this; many people have had to create a "normal" life in dodging bullets and bombs on a daily basis. Some even risk their lives to do the things we do on a "boring" day such as go to school and work. They look to the West when a tragedy takes place only to say "that's what I go through every day of my life!". So I can understand the reaction but the loss of innocent life is wrong no matter what country or ethnic background you're from. The loss of life shouldn't be justified by revenge. I can guarantee that these victims and their families will feel even less remorse for tragedies around the world simply because, as we teach our children every day, two wrongs never make a right. 

Another reaction is directed towards the media for covering this story to such an extent that it suffocates viewers while giving tragedies across the world mere seconds of air time. I admit this is frustrating for people wanting to the world to understand the suffering that is taking place across the globe, but bear in mind that this is their home. Just like our news agencies air constant reports about our local streets and only skim through things happening in the West, they will do the same here because an attack such as the one that took place yesterday touches them directly just like it does when it happens in our streets back home. 

The point is that feeling contempt or trying to turn a tragedy into a lesson for the rest of the world will not get us anywhere. People will not feel our struggle when instead of lending a hand and helping them through theirs, we smile and cheer and feel that they deserve to go through it because of what's happening in our countries. It's sad to see how far we've come in terms of technological advancements, medical discoveries and ultimate connectedness and yet are incapable of putting our guards down and helping one another out in times of need. 

Bow Down in the Presence of Greatest....?

During his recent, and I would like to mention first trip to Israel as President, Obama seems to be playing both sides against each other. During his speech, he made sure to please both parties, but mostly Israel, through statements such as Israel has our unshakable support but the palestinians need a country of their own. Israel is the strongest country in the region but please try to see the palestinian struggle through their eyes. In show of what I view as cowardice, Obama was attempting to ease the tensions but merely infuriated both sides by going all the way across the globe to say what has been said a million times before, discuss the two state solution, draw clear borders and stop bothering each other man!!! Now although his speech was met with applause at intervals of each period or comma, I doubt there was much to take away from this other than the US attempting to flex its muscles to show the world that Captain America's powers did in fact reach the Middle East, in case you were curious about that fact.

Now president Obama can go home to the White House, pat himself on the shoulder for a job well done and twiddle his thumbs while the crazy people in the Middle East come running to him to solve their problems. My question to you Mr. President is, who died and made you king of the world? Yes, the US is a major superpower in the world with military presence in every country including, I would suspect, the Maldives. However, what knowledge do you have of the cultures, the beliefs and the history of the region to be able to put the leader's hat on your head and decide that you can fight our battles for us? I mean, you grace us with your presence in our countries every once in a while, or when the political analyst realizes that your ratings are bad in the region, go on and on in a speech that is basically saying absolutely nothing of value, smile, kiss a baby's forehead and then go home after a job well done wondering why there's a problem in the first place.

Thank you for your gracious help and kindhearted appearance but I think we can figure out our own problems without the help of the bald eagle. If anything, the only thing you created was a massive cleanup of streets which you will walk through and buildings that your eyes will gaze at and major traffic during your stay. Thank you, really from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for changing my life.

A Tale of Two Cities

In the heart of the Middle East lies a country with two very different identities, a country split in two, both literally and theoretically. The rift within the borders of this beautiful and historical territory is so great that even when referenced, one may either call it Israel or Palestine, depending on which side of the split your on. Historically speaking, Jerusalem houses the history of the three major religions of the world; namely Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In this city, you will find pilgrims of the Christian faith looking to find a cure for ailments in the springs, Muslims hoping to fulfill a duty done by the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) by praying in the Masjid Al Aqsa and the Jews refer to Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel as King David established it in 1000BCE. They also believe that King Solomon commissioned the building of The First Temple in the city. So as anyone can see, Jerusalem housed a great conundrum in the past and still well into the twenty first century.

In recent news, President Obama declared that he would visit Israel in hopes that he may find a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Palestinian Question and the Israeli Occupation problem. The name of the issue depends on which political faction you wish to associate with. President Obama was criticized for having given a speech in Cairo during his first term and not visiting Israeli/Palestine while he was in the area and so now he is attempting to rekindle ties he does not wish to sever and most probably apologize for such a disastrous oversight on his part.

After following the conflict closely and reading a multitude of articles on it, this recent one struck me a great deal. Posted today on the BBC website, a journalist interviewed both Palestinians and Israelis to get some insight on how they felt about the upcoming presidential song and dance. The difference in opinion only causes one to feel that the peace agreements are further than ever but what is truly ironic is the fact that both sides are preaching to the same choir. Israelis and Palestinians both feel that the US is favouring one side over the other and is not giving enough support to their respective group. That also causes their opinion on the American president to be biased, as it is based on whether he supports their side against the other or vice versa.

In the end, peace would be very possible for this region if only people were to stop and listen to one another. One cannot imagine that in this day and age, we have technologies that help us go to the moon and back but are ultimately incapable of exercising the simple act of listening to one another and working together. We have major organizations such as the UN at our disposal that will set the stage for talks and ensure that the mediation process goes smoothly but instead choose to attack one another and cause meaningless casualties on the population thus breeding feelings of anger, hate, animosity and hopelessness all of which create a need for revenge on either side. When these are the common factors among people in a region, peace will never be achieved.

Link to BBC article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21831396