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  • Why Iran is Afraid (or why they sometimes act crazy)

    What is the deal with Iran? They imprison American Journalists, photoshop images, are trying to build nuclear weapons, and call America “The Great Satan”. Why can’t they just be nice like Egypt, Jordan, or Saudi Arabia?

    The truth is, they are afraid of the United States. The US is like the bully on the playground: they do whatever they want. We took out Iraq in a few weeks, we can take out Iran if we want to.

    The US would never do that, right? If Iran didn’t threaten us, we would have no reason to attack them, right?

    Well sir, it’s time for a history lesson. Lets see what the country has REALLY been up to. In 1941, Britain and and Russia conquered Iran, and set up a new ruler of the country, so they could use the railroads.

    OK, that was western governments, but it wasn’t the US. So, after that, Iran had elections, and Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh became prime minister. He was extremely popular. Awesome! Democracy is great, right? Apparently not, because shortly after that, the United States had him arrested and installed a dictator. But it was all good because the new dictator, while suppressing freedom of speech and anyone who opposed him, sold his oil to America and Europe, not to Russia. Excellent. We destroyed a young democracy because we wanted their oil (and because of our own fear of Russia. Fear can be dangerous). In fairness, Madelin Albright did apologize nearly 50 years later. I’m sure Dr Mossadegh appreciated it. Or would have if he had been alive.

    In the late 70s, the Iranians had a revolution, and now have a weak form of democracy. One of the first things they did was close the American Embassy. Do I need to explain why? Do I have to explain why Iran wants nuclear weapons? Is it hard to see why they don’t trust when Obama says he wants to have negotiations? They are afraid, because at any sign of weakness, the United States could depose their government again. They’ve done it before.

    As an American, I don’t want Iran to have nuclear weapons. This is purely for selfish reasons: I don’t want Iran to use them, as they’ve threatened to do. Pakistan has nuclear weapons, which is kind of scary, but they’ve promised not to use them. Iran has not: they have threatened to use them if they get them.

    But if you want to understand the situation, you need to understand how Iran feels, and realistically, they have some good reasons for feeling this way. If Obama wants to make progress in Iran, he will have to help them work through their fears, and build trust between the two countries. Can you see why Bush calling Iran “The Axis of Evil” didn’t help things much?

  • The Meaning of the US Constitution

    It is clear that the founding fathers of the US could not possibly have anticipated every problem that would come up. Thus the constitution is a flexible document, to be applied with common sense and compassion. I read an insightful entry about it on blogspot. Here is an interesting bit:

    “I hope that, when my students put the Constitution into their own hands and start tinkering, they see that we are most like the founders when we do not try to imitate them at all. We are most American when we all look at the problems of the world and try to come up with solutions — and when we effect those solutions — instead of depending upon tradition and the assumptions of the past.”

    Traditionally, the supreme court has taken practical reality into account when interpreting the constitution. Thus, in wartime, they have allowed the limits of free speech to be tightened, to avoid endangering the country. Other times they have allowed the federal government to meddle in the voting processes of the states, in order to prevent them from discriminating against blacks. It wasn’t strictly constitutional, but it was a good thing to do. Now that there isn’t as much desire to discriminate against people, the court is pushing back against that overstepping. Which is good, too.

  • Falling in Love: Why do we do it?

    I ran across this article, which has some interesting things to say about why we fall in love.

    I’m pretty sure the article was written by a girl, because I don’t think many men would come up with this answer. What answer, ok, if you don’t want to read it, I’ll tell you. “Our primary motivation as human beings is to expand the self and to increase our abilities and our effectiveness.” Are there other reasons for falling in love? According to this article, yes, but you won’t like them.

    Also, a quote from the end was quite interesting: “We have found that two important characteristics, kindness and intelligence, are extremely important in the process of falling in love. And attractiveness is not connected to these things….” If you’re super-ugly, that can hurt you, but being attractive doesn’t help all that much. Kindness is the most important thing, according to this article.

    Why do you fall in love? Because it feels good? Because it’s fun? Because anything else is boring? Is the article right? Why?

  • ‘Tis a Rare Woman

    ‘Tis a rare woman that truly loves.

  • Ode to Microsoft

    Crash! Goes my computer again
    if it weren’t for the cash, I’d leave you by now.
    It’s an abusive relationship, me and Microsoft,
    the ugly blue bar and the bright green Start.
    As I daily read your blocky chunk fonts,
    I think often of the day we’ll part.
    The command line fails,
    ‘Paint’ is so old,
    buffer overflows,
    viruses,
    I’d leave now if it weren’t for cold cash.

    ——-
    Poem inspired specifically by the miserable HTML indentation strategy in Microsoft Visual Studio, that I’m currently using for my job, although I do consider any occasion for an anti-Microsoft poem acceptable.

  • The Interview

    Northernskylights was kind enough to ask me some questions, which I now shall answer.

    There are rules: but I’ll wait to the end to explain them.

    1. If you have your own factory, what would it make?
    It would make machines that dig wells, because having a well in your backyard can make a huge quality of life difference for someone who has to walk down the road to get water (then carry it back). Either that or carpet.

    2.If you could invite one special guest of honor to your birthday party, who would it be?
    Paulo Coelho. I’ve been wanting to talk to him anyway, so it would be a convenient time to do it. He is a Brazilian author who wrote The Alchemist and some other books; I consider him to be the world’s greatest modern Romantic (in a philosophical sense): he has brought mysticism into the modern age. Speaking seriously, shouldn’t I be the guest of honor at my birthday party?

    3. Name one person who had a profound influence in your life. State his/her influence.
    I want to put myself, since I somehow realized at a young age that I a person has to make their own way in life. On the other hand, I do learn from almost everyone I meet. Since you did not ask the person who influenced me the most, I will put down Thomas Huxley, a 19th century scientist who realized the connection between Christian, childlike humility and science. He said you must face truth and “sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever or whatever abysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing.”
    That sort of intellectual honesty is an essential part of science and knowledge. There was a time I really related to that strongly, and reading him saying that encouraged me.

    4.What is your favorite book? Why?
    Les Miserables. I perhaps could have put Jean Valjean as someone who had a profound influence on my life. He was true to himself, he did what he knew was right, even though it meant giving up his own life. Watching how hard he tried, against every setback to go take the place of the condemned man gave me courage. I used to tell myself things like, “if he can do that, surely I can follow him and do my homework!”
    Also it taught me to have compassion, and came back to me later when someone was telling me “criminals must be punished!” NO, the whole story is about people who were criminals, and wretched miserables, because they saw no other way. Once they saw another way, they changed. I think this book should be required reading for every lawyer and politician.

    5.If could go back and live in another era, what era would that be? And why?
    No, I wouldn’t. Sure it would be fun to be a knight in shining armor fighting dragons or a vaquero on the Argentine steppes, but I’d probably just die of dysentery or a toe infection. Romantic stories of the past are fine, but I’ll live my own exciting adventure in our modern day with penicillin and carpet, thankyou. :)

    Thankyou to NorthernSkyLights, visit her blog to learn about anthropology, society, and other interesting social issues!

    And if you would like to be interviewed by me, leave a comment! Do!

    Here are the rules:
    Rules:
    1 — Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
    2 — I will respond – I’ll ask you five questions.
    3 — You’ll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
    Remember to tag me so I can read it. (Actually, tag me or message me.)
    4 — You’ll include this explanation.
    5 — You’ll ask other people who want to be interviewed 5 questions.

  • How Not to Set an Example

    In his recent trip to Iraq, President Obama said to the Iraqi president, “Dialogue should be the only way to resolve any issue, whether it was between the Iraqi society components or in the region.” Unfortunately the United States is a clear example of how not to do this. I agree with Obama on his point, but did the US follow the idea that dialogue is the only way to resolve any issue in Iraq? Was the example we set to not attack someone until there was no alternative? Not exactly.

    Can we do better in the future?
    I hope so.

  • Power and Senseless Killings

    Why do people kill each other, especially random strangers, and then themselves?

    Herb Cohen had this to say:

    When people in our society believe they can’t as individuals, make a difference, it’s bad for all of us.  ”Powerless” people become apathetic and toss in the towel, which means others have to carry them on their backs, or they become hostile and try to tear down a system they can’t understand and don’t believe they can control.  This attitude pervades our world.  Some of its symptoms are declining productivity and senseless violence.

    Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme was one of those who became hostile.  She attempted to gun down President Gerald Ford.  After her arrest, she explained, “When people around you treat you like a child and pay no attention to the things you say, you have to do something!“

    The “something” Squeaky did was psychopathic and self-destructive.  Her self-perception was miles off base.  She didn’t realize that she had other alternatives that were socially acceptable and legal.  She didn’t realize that a criminal act, regardless of its goal, is almost always an abuse of power.

    It’s something to think about.

  • Conflicker Virus Fallout (UPDATE 2)

    As the Washington Post reports (and of course, as was expected), the Conflicker virus has activated . Issues have been seen in Iceland, Alaska, England, and Washington. Interesting story.

    Have you noticed any fallout from the Conflicker Virus?

    PS. If you want to know if you are currently infected, you can try going to http://microsoft.com , since the virus apparently blocks access to that website. To avoid getting viruses in the future, avoid going to questionable websites, make sure your windows has all the security updates, and don’t open strange attachments in emails, even if they are from your friends.

    UPDATE: The article mentions that a military base was taken over, as well as Icelandic ATM machines.
    UPDATE 2: The article in the Washington Post was an April Fool’s day joke. I guess the lesson is never trust the Washington Post, at least on April Fool’s day. As far as I know there’s been no effect from the conflicker virus.

  • Love is the Greatest Power

    Love is the only power that has no way to be countered. For an example of another type of power, suppose I want to hurt you by gossiping about you. Then you can counter it by talking to all your friends, or you can start another rumor against me. Lots of options, because gossiping is so weak.

    You can’t do anything against love though, because all I want is your happiness. If you are happy, it will make me happy too. If you want you can try hurting yourself, and that will make me sad, but it will hurt you more than it hurts me. All love wants is you to be happy, and so the only way to hide from it is to pretend it doesn’t exist, pretend it’s fake, or run away.

    You can do nothing against love, there’s no way to control it, manipulate it. What will you do, withhold sex from me? That’s ok, I don’t want to do it with someone who doesn’t want to. Will you gossip about me? You can if you want, but it won’t make you happy, so it’s strange that you’d want to. Besides, I know how to defend myself against it.

    The only thing you can do at all is love me back, want my happiness unconditionally. That is something I have no defense against. Not unfortunately.

phantomFive

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