So as I've mentioned before, I have been reading up quite a bit on Middle Eastern politics, and at the same time as reading Thomas Friedman's book "From Beirut to Jerusalem. And then today, while continuing my monthly addiction to "The Atlantic", I read an interesting article written by a writer for "Slate" entitled "Hunkering Down". Then to top if off, while I was on an anti-US sentiment feeling regarding Bush's numerous failed policies, but lo and behold, this political cartoon gets published in the Korean Herald. It should be noted that in Korea, they are generally pro-US foreign policy regarding the Middle East (South Korea has currently 3277 Military Personal stationed in Iraq under Alliance command). It got me to thinking about how Canada's future in Afghanistan is being put on display in Parliament, and general public sentiment is showing to be against Canada's involvement. Strange too that the general sentiment in the US also shows a solid distaste for the ongoing struggles in Iraq....Its worthwhile to note that Canada and the US are starting to mirror each other more and more, not only in politics but also in public opinion polls. What scares me most is my own lack of Canadian history - before I go bashing the US over their failed policies, I better make sure that my own backyard is "clean", so to speak. Don't get me wrong - the US is doing a good job in "eliminating" targets (and everything else in a two-mile radius of that "target") - my own problem is whether those targets are as bad as the US makes them out to be....
And what does this have to do with me? The more I read about all of this stuff, the more I want to go over there and experience it for myself. Anyone know if they need foreign journalists in the Middle East?...Someone has already anonymously suggested to look into "the Kite Runner", are there any other book suggestions anyone might have on Middle Eastern topics?
Okay, enough of making this blog a political and health related rant - I'll get back to teaching related rants next week....