Is the Freedom Agenda back in Fashion?

Here are some quotes from Obama's speech at the UN this week, he seems to again be advocating democracy and human rights promotion as American policy, something that has fallen off the radar in the first nine months of his administration. See highlights below

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We've also re-engaged the United Nations. We have paid our bills. We have joined the Human Rights Council. (Applause.) We have signed the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We have fully embraced the Millennium Development Goals. And we address our priorities here, in this institution -- for instance, through the Security Council meeting that I will chair tomorrow on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and through the issues that I will discuss today.........



I believe that the people of the world want this future for their children. And that is why we must champion those principles which ensure that governments reflect the will of the people. These principles cannot be afterthoughts -- democracy and human rights are essential to achieving each of the goals that I've discussed today, because governments of the people and by the people are more likely to act in the broader interests of their own people, rather than narrow interests of those in power.

The test of our leadership will not be the degree to which we feed the fears and old hatreds of our people. True leadership will not be measured by the ability to muzzle dissent, or to intimidate and harass political opponents at home. The people of the world want change. They will not long tolerate those who are on the wrong side of history.

This Assembly's Charter commits each of us -- and I quote -- "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women." Among those rights is the freedom to speak your mind and worship as you please; the promise of equality of the races, and the opportunity for women and girls to pursue their own potential; the ability of citizens to have a say in how you are governed, and to have confidence in the administration of justice. For just as no nation should be forced to accept the tyranny of another nation, no individual should be forced to accept the tyranny of their own people. (Applause.)
As an African American, I will never forget that I would not be here today without the steady pursuit of a more perfect union in my country. And that guides my belief that no matter how dark the day may seem, transformative change can be forged by those who choose to side with justice. And I pledge that America will always stand with those who stand up for their dignity and their rights -- for the student who seeks to learn; the voter who demands to be heard; the innocent who longs to be free; the oppressed who yearns to be equal.

Democracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside. Each society must search for its own path, and no path is perfect. Each country will pursue a path rooted in the culture of its people and in its past traditions. And I admit that America has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy. But that does not weaken our commitment; it only reinforces it. There are basic principles that are universal; there are certain truths which are self-evident -- and the United States of America will never waver in our efforts to stand up for the right of people everywhere to determine their own destiny. (Applause.)

Sixty-five years ago, a weary Franklin Roosevelt spoke to the American people in his fourth and final inaugural address. After years of war, he sought to sum up the lessons that could be drawn from the terrible suffering, the enormous sacrifice that had taken place. "We have learned," he said, "to be citizens of the world, members of the human community."


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/us/politics/24prexy.text.html?pagewanted=7&_r=1

The rise and fall of European Empires

The last 200 years as told through four blobs: The British, Portuguese, French, and Spanish empires. I have to say I learned the most about Portugal which by the late 19th century was bigger than Spain and by 1967 larger than France.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwOA8AfeHM4&feature=player_embedded

Reminded me of the above map from the Strange Maps Blog 

Iraq: A Changing of the Guard, as the Guards depart

The last full U.S combat brigade left Iraq today  and at the same time the new U.S Ambassador, James Jefferies has arrived in Bagdhad. I met him at the 4th of July party at the U.S Embassy in Ankara this year. He is a solid Bostonian with pride for his old High School sports team decades after he left and he even speaks Turkish with a strong Bostonian accent. The two moves symbolize a signifigant shift in emphasis in Iraq.

However, the question remains about who will control the skies in Iraq?

While, it's true that this is the last full combat brigade in Iraq, the U.S is as I understand it still running airpatrols in Iraq. As the Iraqi airforce at the momment is totally non-existent and the situation is ofcourse a tricky one.

McArdle on entrepreneurship in Africa

 I had the distinct pleasure of meeting prolific blogger and writer Megan McArdle in June 2009.
McArdle has forgotten more about finance and economics than I'll ever know. Here is a recent post from her on entrepreneurship in Africa.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/08/are-ngos-killing-african-entrepreneurship/61045/
And also a resposne to it from an African entrepreneur...

http://appfrica.net/blog/2010/08/15/whos-killing-african-entrepreneurship/

Also I want to congradulate her again on her marriage...all the best to you two!

Does language influence culture?

Do the languages we speak alter how we interpret and see the world?

 "The more languages you speak, the more people you are."
Eastern European Proverb

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703467304575383131592767868.html?mod=WSJEUROPE_hpp_MIDDLETopNews#printMode

The Boogeyman Snatched the Breast

As always I'm interested in how language relates to international relations.  This story discusses the crude language used by Iran's Ahmadinejad in his speeches. Really gutter stuff apparently, which has ofcourse long hbeen his appeal. He is the first leader of the Islamic Republic to talk in informal Persian rather than formalized language.

example of message that is displayed when accessing a censored site in Iran

My one criticism of this story is that they did not include any Farsi words except "mameh" which means breast apparently. Is there a tie in with "mammary" in English?

Pakistan: Founded as a secular state

                                  

Really good post on the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah's vision of Pakistan at independence as a secular state. The post is from a Pakistani blogger. Jinnah was a one of kind a Twelver Shia who drank alcohol until his later years and in many ways regretted creating Pakistan. Until the end of his life he casually dreamed of returning to his beautiful home in Bombay.