Author Archena Posted on November 29, 2023November 29, 2023Categories Current, WednesdayTags , ,

Division, Derision and Devolution: Middle East Version

Growing pains only with guns and insanely over complex cultures. The next fifty years are gonna be way more interesting than anyone in the Middle East is gonna like. America makes it look easy from the outside. We blend cultures, ideas and peoples like a tapestry. What the rest of the world doesn’t see are all the knots in the back. They don’t notice the times we rip out the messed up sections to weave in new ones. On top … Continue reading “Division, Derision and Devolution: Middle East Version”

Author Archena Posted on November 27, 2023November 27, 2023Categories Current, MondayTags , , , ,

Ceasefire: Good for Israel? Good for Biden?

Yes to the first. No to the second. What is it with you people and details?! Can’t a cranky old lady get any peace around here? Well, that’s obviously a no. So, details it is. Y’all are probably wondering if my opinion has changed since a ceasefire doesn’t seem part of the program I anticipated. The answer is no, I haven’t changed my opinion – yet. Look, politics only comes in size people and people only come in size messy. … Continue reading “Ceasefire: Good for Israel? Good for Biden?”

Author Archena Posted on November 21, 2023November 21, 2023Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , ,

What Everyone is Getting Wrong About Israel

Yay, my first clickbaity title! Those of you who have followed me at all know I don’t tend to use exciting titles and that my titles sometimes pay only passing resemblance to the actual content. Well, through no fault of my own, this blog will break both of those trends. Oh, and for listeners and viewers, link in the description! Readers can see the hyperlink below. Wow, I’m breaking all my rules today! Okay, let’s get to work. I was … Continue reading “What Everyone is Getting Wrong About Israel”

Author Archena Posted on November 17, 2023November 17, 2023Categories Current, FridayTags , , , , , ,

Division, Derision and Devolution: What the Heck is Going on in the World Today?

I thought I’d pick a nice, light, simple topic for today. Oops, sorry about dripping sarcasm on your shoes. I hear laughter takes it right out! They say history doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme. The problem is that history is created by people. People who assume they’re smarter than their ancestors because enlightenment, science, technology, the passage of time, et cetera. Pick your poison, we all do this. We assume that the big questions can easily be answered by … Continue reading “Division, Derision and Devolution: What the Heck is Going on in the World Today?”

Author Archena Posted on November 15, 2023November 15, 2023Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , ,

Democratic Republicanism

No, it doesn’t mean being a Democrat Republican. We’ll get back to the Democrat part. Let’s start with republican government. Given the current state of the Republican Party I’m not sure they are republican at all so no, that’s not what I mean. You want a definition, huh? Okey doke! Republican: a system of government in which representatives rule. Note that it just says ‘representatives’. Technically, the senators of Rome were representatives but they represented the Roman citizens which were … Continue reading “Democratic Republicanism”

Author Archena Posted on November 14, 2023November 15, 2023Categories Current, MondayTags , , , ,

Suspicious Protests

It would be nice if we could magically just know how sincere a person was when they say something. Of course, you’d find out that your mom really did have a favorite kid and your boss isn’t going to think about giving you a raise so there are some downsides. But with this magic power we could tell just how legit a given protest was. Well, my superpower ring still hasn’t come in the mail so I guess we’ll just … Continue reading “Suspicious Protests”

Author Archena Posted on November 10, 2023November 20, 2023Categories FridayTags , , , ,

Veteran’s Day: Freedom Ain’t Free

Red poppies. Over one hundred years ago the world went to war. Tomorrow we remember those who died in World War One and all those who served our country on the field of battle. Far too many of those who fought for our freedom never returned. The poem Flander’s Fields speaks poignantly of the red poppies blowing in the breeze between the gravestones of the fallen of World War One. In Europe, they celebrate Remembrance Day on November 11th, the … Continue reading “Veteran’s Day: Freedom Ain’t Free”

Author Archena Posted on November 8, 2023November 10, 2023Categories Current, MondayTags , , ,

Are Protests Effective?

Yes, no, maybe. Depends on the protest and what you’re trying to affect. Numbers matter but organization matters more. Ten thousand people milling around is not going to do much but a thousand folks on the right location with a definite message may get some action. Ideally, you want ten thousand folks with a definite massage in the right place at the right time. Protests are really noisy PR. It’s getting to the point where you need a degree in … Continue reading “Are Protests Effective?”

Author Archena Posted on November 4, 2023November 7, 2023Categories Current, FridayTags , , , ,

Which is More Important, Israel or Ukraine?

To the US? Ukraine, hands down. More details? Seriously? The question wasn’t rhetorical? I define politically important as ‘affects real people’. For the majority of people just wanting to be well informed, good citizens that’s the best possible definition. If an issue or event doesn’t affect people or only affects a few, unless you’re one of the few, that thing isn’t politically important enough to spend bandwidth on learning about it. But it doesn’t serve when talking about most nation … Continue reading “Which is More Important, Israel or Ukraine?”

Author Archena Posted on November 1, 2023November 2, 2023Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , ,

Democracy Doesn’t Exist Without Freedom of Speech

Was that clear enough for you? Of course not. What is with you and wanting details? I don’t care if your teacher thought you should ask more questions. No, I don’t mind you asking questions. I mind you asking for details. Fine, whatever. Let’s get this over with. I’m a cranky old lady in a barbecue apron with stiff wings! What did you expect?! No, expressing crankiness is not the reason we have freedom of speech. It is an added … Continue reading “Democracy Doesn’t Exist Without Freedom of Speech”