Monday, February 22, 2016

Military Expertise

I have none. I am political. I think people should choose not to get violent, and there is much that can be done, like yoga and meditation (being angry is like having bad breath), and when they absolutely can't, lawful authority should step in and get in the way, by use of force if necessary. Inside democratic countries that would be the police. Between countries, it can be an army. In short, war should be absolutely avoided as much as possible. All other options have to be exhausted first. And I believe I am pretty good at thinking of all those other options. In fact, almost no war is necessary, especially today. Because all that is political. But then that threat of force expands those non military options. So you have to appreciate. And once in a while you just have to go in. And that is the domain of military experts. The best ones must be born that way. Training can take you only so far. And so people like me watch Zero Dark Thirty with rapt attention. You know it's not your domain, but you could at least appreciate the craft. It's a craft. People who are good at it are really good at it. You can admire them like you can admire good soccer players, or good pottery markers, or good anybody in anything.

Some day there will be rule of law between nations. But there will still be law enforcement.


ROI

Sunday, February 21, 2016

स्मृति इरानी: उत्तर प्रदेश मुख्य मंत्री उम्मेदवार?

बिहार के तरह मोदी और अमित साह को दौड़ाएंगे तो हार जायेंगे। शादी में दुल्हा दुलहन की जरुरत होती है। उसी तरह विधान सभा चुनाव में मुख मंत्री कैंडिडेट की जरुरत होती है। बिहार में लग रहा था लड़की के माँ बाप तो है लेकिन लड़की का कोई अता पता नहीं है। चुनाव हो मुख मंत्री का और कोई कैंडिडेट का ना होना। सामुहिक नेतृत्व करो। लेकिन फिर एक तो चाहिए। राज्य का पार्टी प्रेजिडेंट दलित हो बीजेपी का और कैंडिडेट स्मृति तो अच्छा निर्णय है। जो होगा होगा। वैसे मायावती और अखिलेश भी कमजोर नहीं दिख रहे। माया और मजलिस एक जगह आ जाते हैं तो भारी पड़ेंगे।

Asaduddin Owaisi Speech In Nagpur

The Year Long US Presidential Campaign

English: Oval Office ceiling medallion. França...
English: Oval Office ceiling medallion. Français : Le médaillon représentant le sceau présidentiel sur le plafond du bureau ovale. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The year long US presidential campaign is not just about electing a man or woman for the Oval Office. That it is. But it is primarily about moving the conversation along on various issues. America is a democracy. The people have to want it before change can happen. And the conversation moves much faster during an election year than during regular congressional years. Except when there is a major event, the year long campaign is when the American people thrash it out. Eventually there is a winner, but everybody who wants to speak is heard along the way.

It is quite a spectacle. And for America being what is it, for good or ill the number one country right now, I think mostly for good, I'd compare the presidential election to World Cup Soccer. Well, not quite. World Cup is World Cup. But you know what I mean.

The handover of power to the most powerful political office on the planet is so peaceful, it is mind blowing.

You see colorful characters. But every candidate is trying to resonate with somebody, with this or that group. The talk is not in a vacuum.

There is a robust debate going on in the Democratic Party. The Republicans tend to be more obedient. They collect around a leader pretty fast. On the Republican side I can't think of one earth shaking idea that has been proposed. It is more about this vague feeling.

Bernie, on the other hand, is looking at some major proposals. And Hillary is a policy wonk. To Donald's credit though, he did challenge the Pope and George W Bush. The guy is a bull in a china shop.

The Intolerance Index

The global warming icon for the ubx.
The global warming icon for the ubx. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I don't know if it is overpopulation, or global warming, or maybe we were all this ugly all along, and now we have media saturation to show it all, or maybe the global recession is not fully over and there is too much anxiety, but this intolerance index is up in many countries. Does globalization make people culturally dizzy? Situations keep escalating. In democracies it is rhetoric, in many countries there are outright civil wars. Protracted civil wars.

Diversity issues are out of the Pandora's box. And we need to rise up and appreciate the wealth that diversity is. The old white male dominion is over. We have to move towards a meritocracy. Cultural and gender diversity. 

The Intolerance Rhetoric