Arab Demands for Democracy and Choice Echo Through Moscow

A global revolt would not be complete without another Russian Revolution.  1917 brought the first modern revolution, the late '80's and early '90's saw even more sweeping reforms and the fall of communism virtually everywhere (except in China and North Korea).  Now a new age of Russians have voiced their national discontent.  Born during the dawn of Russian capitalism, and the twilight of the Soviet Union, this new generation seeks political reform, more options in candidates, and a fresh start.  The list of demands is only likely to grow as reform is resisted by Putin and Medvedev.  What the protesters want may not be as revolutionary as what their parents demanded, but it's no less a revolution that could have sweeping implications for the future.  As every succeeding generation has realized, more democracy is always better than less.  

For Christian Extremists, Family=Fascism

By now, the decision by Lowe's and Kayak.com to pull their ads from the TLC show "All-American Muslim" is well-known.  Their decision was the result of a threatened boycott from an extremist religious group called the Florida Family Association (FFA).  Other notable shows on TLC include D.U.I. and Cellblock 6.  No such boycott of these shows, which highlight and sensationalize criminal behavior, has been undertaken.  To religious extremists (read fascists) like the FFA (and apparently Lowe's and Kayak.com), hatred and xenophobia are "family values".  Such groups could find their values are shared, ironically, by members of extremist Muslim sects.

Never mind that if you remove the traditional dress from the women, no one would be able to tell they're Muslim.  Never mind that one of the main participants is a football coach and federal agent who has dedicated his life to serving the people of the United States.  Nowhere in the show do Muslims advocate for any of the traditional hot-button topics typically opposed by Christians (much less Christian extremists).  To wit, no one on the show proposes: to make abortions easier, for gay marriage to be recognized, making The Origin of the Species mandatory reading for high-schoolers, etc.   

Regardless of the official corporate stance,  the only reason the companies and the hate-group (hiding behind the bible) boycotted was because the show was about Muslims.  As unjustifiable, murderous, and cowardly as the attacks on 9/11, 7/7, and the countless other dates were, at least the perpetrators managed to point to some justification other than "they're not us".

Syria and Iran Eye to Eye Even as Arab League Turns its Back

The differences between Syria and Libya are too numerous to be properly examined in this (or any) blog.  Some similarities, however, are striking.  Until Qaddafi's fall, both countries were led by relatively unpopular despots much more paranoid about losing power than interested in providing for their respective populaces.  Both were economically stagnant and would be totally irrelevant if not for their oil wealth.  

Their unemployment rates (especially of young males) and their propensity towards using violence against their own people, made these countries ripe for armed revolution.  While the UN may not be ready to invade Syria a'la Libya, rest assured that plans are in the works.  

The reason the UN has not intervened yet is due to the one striking difference between Syria and Libya: Libya did not have Iran.  Any UN intervention will involve (at least covertly) clashes between the West and Iran.  Iran's attempts at obtaining nuclear weapons are nearly as much of a deterrent as actually having them.  If the UN is going to go after al-Assad, it would be well-advised to do so before Iran can destroy Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc.  Such is the new calculus of Mid-east diplomacy.