Nashville

Nashville is a changing city—an influx of immigrants beginning in 1990 has begun to upset the traditional black/white ethnic makeup. Ethiopians, Somalis, Kurds and Latinos have settled in, causing native Nashvillians to begin working on a law that encourages the use of English over any other language. It seems that the chemical makeup of America is changing, forcing cities to deal with new social, economic and political issues similar to what southern California has been going through this past decade.

Smith and Drugs...

Inspired by a blog of Travis Conn ...So, even in death it seems Anna Nicole Smith must maintain her status as a tabloid princess. Today, they ruled, after weeks of ridiculous legal hearings and speculation, that, yes, contrary to popular belief, she died of a drug overdose. I must say, upon finding that she was on nine—yes, nine—drugs, I was surprised not that she overdosed, but that she survived as long as she did. But, how can a drug overdose be accidental when someone is taking high doses of painkillers and sleeping pills? How can it be accidental when the world has witnessed her downward spiral for years, and did nothing but take pictures as she drowned in the depths of her own depression.

Poverty in LA?

Today, I read an article in the Los Angeles Times about the poor Coachella Valley. In it, David Kelly outlines the poverty-ridden lifestyle of Latino workers who are forced to live in ‘ramshackle’ mobile home parks with contaminated water. It’s a shame that in such an affluent society as the southern California, such poverty can reign. Its suffering like this, when citizens live in surprising misery, that is the source of real terrorism in this country. It’s the terror of not knowing whether a parent can feed their children at night, of not knowing whether the water they give them is filled with disease or industrial remnants. Perhaps, before spending billions of dollars to maintain the comfortable lifestyle of the middle and upper classes, maybe politicians should consider representing the best interests of his constituents, including the lower class, instead of corporate business interests like Enron and Haliburton.

No on Rudy Giuliani !!!

What business, you may ask, does Rudy Giuliani have running for President? None, I say. His campaign rests only on the fact that he was mayor of New York during September 11^th and not a solid political career with clear objectives. His entire political career rests solely on his mayorship and appointment as a federal prosecutor. He has held no state or federal-level jobs that would give him the diplomatic and political skills needed to be president. As mayor, he made his name being ‘tough on crime,’ but his extremely moderate political stance has alienated him from the conservative Republican base. He claims to be a Republican, but his pro-choice, pro-gay marriage beliefs do not correspond to accepted Republican doctrine. How can he represent his Republican constituents if he doesn’t share their beliefs? How can he assess national political issues if he contradicts his own party?
The only experience he has in the federal government is the fact that he prosecuted corrupt politicians in the 70’s—but his prosecuting career is most memorable for his efforts to weaken organized crime. His legal career aided him in his campaign to become mayor, but is not sufficient enough to carry him through a national presidential election. After surviving the Bush administration, America deserves better than the immoral Giuliani, whose extra-marital affair was made public in 2000. If he is willing to disregard his marriage vow, how do we know he won’t disregard his presidential oath? The fact of the matter is that Rudy Giulini is just not what America needs. Frankly, he cannot back up his popular face and his memorable attachment to 9/11—he has a weak political career and an unclear partisan base.

Sign of War...

Last week, 15 British mariners were taken hostage in Iran. The Iranian government claims that they entered closed Iranian waters and that they therefore had the right to arrest them. The British claim that they were in neighboring Iraqi waters when the Iranian officials scouted and approached them. In times of growing tensions with the Middle East, one can only wonder when the kidnappings and abuses will stop. Will they continue to escalate into war, or will they be the source of fear for years to come? Which sources can we trust, the Iranian government that says they are safe and healthy, despite the fact that they have a history of violence toward westerners? Should the British be trusted—those who for centuries exploited ethnic differences in order to maintain control? When national identities blend during international cultural conflicts, who is right and who is wrong? Those who are desperate to maintain economic prosperity, or those who struggle to maintain political independence despite international efforts to stifle the growth of their own nation?

Happy Noruz!!!

It’s that time of the year again. For over 2,566 years Persians around the world have celebrated “Noruz” (the new year) with their family and friends. As part of this great tradition, all Persians gather around the dinner table with their immediate family to exchanging gifts and stories. This is followed by the young visiting the elder for a period of 13 days as a sign of respect toward them. I personally would like to wish all Persians a Happy New Year and hope that the year (1386) would bring in prosperity and happiness for all.

Hopeless Gate...

Last weekend, I was led to San Francisco for a fraternity event. While running half naked down the Golden Gate Bridge, we were encouraged by crowds of clapping and amused attention. Terrifyingly enough however, only thirty feet away someone committed suicide by jumping off the bridge. It was striking how some people can enjoy themselves so much in one place, but someone else could be so despairing that they give up on life altogether. This person had given into a temporary solution for a long-term problem. Upon discussing this with a friend of mine who had lived for some time in San Francisco, it turns out that suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge is extremely common, perhaps as frequent as “once or twice a week.” This issue is discussed in a recent documentary entitled, The Bridge; the filmmaker originally set out to glorify the Bridge, but upon finding out about the frequency of suicides, he re dedicated the film to explore this controversial issue within the city itself. Only in America would men like Dr. Kevorkian be persecuted for assisting suicide while nothing is being done to prevent the large number of suicides that happen on that monument in San Francisco.

My Hall of Shame...

Hello all, I am here in Beautiful San Francisco enjoying my spring break and have finally got access to the internet. So the topic of discussion is once again going to be about politics. We all know that politics is dirty and that there isn’t much we can do to change that. Over the years I have been really frustrated by all the dirty politics that have played out on the national stage. But I have finally found who I believe to be the dirtiest and most sickening politician of them all… that’s right Ladies and Gents his name is Newt Gingrich!!! I am sure most of you have heard by now about him cheating on his wife while trying to impeach President Clinton for messing around with Monica. What a hypocrite… for someone to have the audacity to do that is unbelievable. Again I know politics are dirty and that we have “bad guys” on both sides, but Gingrich has earned the top spot on my Hall of Shame.

Guilty!!!

On Tuesday, Libby was found guilty of four out of five counts that he was charged with. As his punishment he could face up to 25 years in prison; but I have a feeling that he is only going to get the very minimum which is about two years. And even with that, his lawyers are going to drag the appeal process for another two years so that he could easily avoid prison time when President Bush pardons him before leaving office. I have to say that I am happy that somebody from the administration was finally found guilty and at the same time I feel bad for Libby because I think we all know that he was the scapegoat of this administration. I can’t imagine how he feels… lets face it… he is targeted and hated by all sides.

Charisma and Nuclear power (UPDATED) !!!

Charisma and Nuclear Power

One of the greatest threats to American power is Iranian dissention in the Middle East. Due to its dependence on foreign oil, the United States has imposed itself in the politics of the entire Middle East. One of the only countries that has stood against American imperialism has been Iran. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has the primary characteristics of a ‘charismatic leader,’ according to Weber’s Theory of Social and Economic Organization. This means the power of his personality has given him control over an economically influential country with the means to directly impact the entire world through its control of oil. Thus, the only way to eliminate the threat that Iran poses to American influence in the Middle East is to undercut the appeal of his ‘charismatic leadership,’ which would end Iran’s staunch independence in the region regarding the development of nuclear technology in Iran.

Charismatic leaders have often made a huge impact on the politics of the world: Hitler in Germany, Stalin in the USSR, and Fidel Castro in Cuba. These dictators maintain control over the masses through construction of a dominant yet appealing personality. Weber defines charisma as, “a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural qualities” (Kellerman, pg. 239). This ‘supernatural’ quality is a relational construct that exists when a leader’s visions and hopes are reflected by their followers (Gemeinde). Ahmadinejad uses his charismatic leadership in order to take a stand against American political power in the Middle East. Thus. the only way to displace the threat that Iran represents is to eradicate his popularity and undercut the power his personality has given him.

The roots of his attractiveness lie in his lower-class background, patriotic background and modest lifestyle. He was born in 1956 in the city of Garmsar, Iran. As a son of a blacksmith, but at a young age, his family moved to Tehran, where he has spent most of his adult life. As a student at Tehran University, he attended religious and political meetings before the Islamic revolution; afterwards, he became a founder of the Islamic Association of Students at his university. He also helped fight the Iraqis during the Iran-Iraq war, which encourages his patriotism. He eventually gained even more support through his key involvement in the Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran, where right-wing conservatives, who controlled the government, noticed his potential. They helped him get elected as the Mayor of Tehran, where he continued his modest lifestyle by refusing to live in the mayor’s palace. Instead, he chose to stay at his old apartment where he thought was more convenient for him to interact with average Iranians. Thus, the image of a homely, conservative leader was cultivated—giving him the power needed to become elected president in 2005.

Regardless of his popularity amongst the lower class and the conservative sect, his appeal did not reach the young-educated and middle-upper class voters. Thus, in order to further consolidate his power, he used the conflict with the U.S. as a means to create a common enemy. Ahmadinejad exploited cultural divisions in order to gain control of the government: “that an Islamic hard-liner has inspired such pride among even secular, Westernized Iranians says everything about the political climate in Iran today and shows how Ahmadinejad has transformed himself from a lightly regarded ideologue to a national hero” (Moaveni, 2006). It was at this time that Ahmadinejad realized that the United States had full control of the Middle East. Americans influenced leaders in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Israel and all the Arab nations to the south. The new president realized that it was only a matter of time before the Islamic regime was faced with American imperialism.

This new style of leadership has provided Mr. Ahmadinejad with a unique chance to reduce the population’s hatred toward the conservative government. With the nuclear discussion, he has managed to reduce tensions in Iran. According to an interview done in ski slopes of Tehran, most young Iranians “couldn’t be happier with him.” They believe that he was simply defending their God-given rights. Many, in fact, had changed their minds about him, arguing that “he stood behind his word like a man” by refusing to abandon the country’s nuclear-energy program (Moaveni, pg.78). However his faith is entirely dependant on the result of this “battle” between Iran and the U.S. The consequences of this “battle” can be extremely crucial for him and his conservative regime; this battle can lead to both destruction and/or many more years of power for this conservative government.

Today, he continues to solidify his support; one of the most recent examples of his support for his base was announced on April 16, 2006— were he pledged to give fifty million dollars to the then newly elected Palestinian Authorities who are members of the Hamas “terrorist” group. This came weeks after the United States decided to cut all aid to the Palestinians because they didn’t like the results of the newly democratic elections that were held there for the first time (CNN). Furthermore, it is important to note that Ahmadinejad claims to not only be acting on behalf of his country, but the entire Muslim world. By addressing issues that affect an international group like religion, his charismatic personality (and resulting political/religious power) begins to appeal to an entirely larger group of people. Thus, his power becomes an even bigger threat to the U.S., especially with its mounting antagonism in the Middle East from the War in Iraq and the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Then, the Iranian revolution was not only important for Iran, but also for the entire Muslim world, “the Iranian revolution was the first milestone in forging a strong Islamic militancy” (Hoodbhoy, pg. 873) The Islamic revolution by Shiites in Iran gave hope to the majority of Muslim nations (Sonnies) that they too could defeat the “evil” U.S. by uniting and fighting for Islam. Once again Ahmadinejad is sending the same type of message to the Islamic nations; that by uniting against a common enemy, the U.S., they may find a commonality beyond geopolitical boundaries. These conflicts have divided the world, so by appealing to the marginalized Middle East population that opposes American imperialism; he is extending his power internationally, drawing strength from the growing dissatisfaction with Western control.

He decided to get the upper hand: by bringing up a new issue like weapons of mass destruction, he managed to stand up to the West and while creating a stronger support network for himself at the same time. This issue consolidated his influence among the upper, educated classes in Iran. The majority of Iranians believe that the U.S. is being hypocritical when it comes to this issue—they point out that the only nation in the history of the world to use nuclear weapons against another nation has been the United States, "before, you had people vs. the regime," says a Western diplomat in Tehran, "now you have Iran vs. the West" (Moaveni). It is important to note that his decision to stand up against the West was a calculated one; Ahmadinejad realizes that two of the key members of the United Nations Security Council are China and Russia. These two nations are dependent on Iranian oil and are therefore good allies; at the same time, both of these nations have had their own share of problems with the United States. Ahmadinejad is also well aware that the problems the U.S. is having in Iraq—he knows that the U.S. is focused on the War in Iraq and that chances of them wanting to engage in a battle with Iran is slim to none. Ahmadinejad therefore is fully aware of this “political game theory” and is using it toward his advantage, exploiting cultural divisions and perceptions in order to create a common enemy.

Ahmadinejad’s quest to obtain weapons of mass destruction is perhaps one of the most important issues facing the Islamic Republic of Iran. There is disagreement not only internationally, but domestically, amongst his own people. The number of dissatisfied Iranians has also reached its highest peak. Most Iranians are getting tired of being told what to do by these radical leaders. Ahmadinejad however, has managed to create a new legal-rationalist type of government. According to Mr. Laylaz a political analyst, the new government has a different conservative outlook on the way the country should run. “The radicals don’t see eye to eye with the traditional right. Ahmadinejad’s radicals put revolution first, the traditionalists put Islam first” (Amuzegar, 2006). This change is something that the Iranian population is not used to; previously, Iranians viewed radicals and traditionalists as one. The main difference between the two is that the revolution had more to do with Iran’s political independence and freedom from outside influence than it did with Islamic fundamentalism. Thus, after consolidating his power among the religious conservatives, he has adapted his government in order to appeal to political claims as well.

The roots of the quest for nuclear technology lie in the overthrow of the democratically elected president and the planting of the Shah in the leadership position in the 1950’s. The CIA decided that the Shah’s reign posed no threat to the international community and allowed him to begin developing nuclear technology. Since then, as tensions have grown once again between Iran and the United States, the Iranians have continued to pursue the nuclear program. The United States has accused Iran of developing nuclear technology to build weapons of mass destruction despite their continual refusal. They say that they are only developing a nuclear power structure. Ahmadinejad’s administration has used this political issue to propagate nationalism, which is necessary to maintain his power within Iran. By going against Europe and America, Ahmadinejad has cultivated a sense of nationalism and pride in not only the nuclear program, but his entire government as well. He has essentially absorbed this nuclear stance, then, into his charismatic personality, making it difficult for the Iranian population to recognize the difference between the two.

Ahmadinejad has shown great talent for leadership through the spread of his personality throughout conservative religious and political circles, and then through the creation of a common enemy. By creating a persona that appeals to various social groups, he has solidified his power and his influence throughout the Middle East and the rest of the Muslim world. By cultivating a nuclear program, he has revealed the so-called hypocrisy of the U.S. and appealed to those who are dissatisfied with the political influence the Americans have consolidated. Furthermore, his personality has become appealing to other Islamic countries, many of which have allied themselves against the U.S. Ahmadinejad has become a world-wide phenomenon that could prove to be potentially harmful to America’s political influence in the Middle East. The only way to battle him would be through the destruction of this image that he has instilled in his followers. The bond between them must be destroyed; otherwise the U.S. may be facing another staunch opponent like Chavez, Castro or Stalin.

Bibliography

Amuzegar, Jahangir. “Khatami’s Legacy: Dashed Hopes” The Middle East Journal. Vol.60 pg. 57, Winter 2006.

Cirincione, Joseph. “Controlling Iran’s Nuclear Program” Washington: Vol. 22 pg.8, Spring 2006.

CNN.com. “Iran Pledges $50 Million to Palestinians” Retrieved 17th February, 2006.

< www.CNN.com/2006/WORLD/meast/04/16/mideast/index.html>

Hoodbhoy, Pervez. Afghanistan and the Genesis of Global Jihad. Halifax and Pugwash, Quaid-e-Azam University, Canada, 2003 pg 87.

Kellerman, Barbara. Political Leadership (Reader). Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh press, 1976.

Moaveni, Azadeh. “How to Love a Hard-liner” New York: Vol. 167, pg. 78, February, 2006.

Official Presidential Home Page. “ Biography of H.E. Dr. Ahmadi Nejad, Honorable President of Islamic Republic of Iran” Retrieved 20, February, 2007

< http://www.president.ir/eng/ >

Weber, Max. The Theory of Social and Economic Organization. Translated A.M. Henderson Parsons. New York: Free Press, 1968.