In Search of an Alternative…

Iraq is in chaos, with no end to the war in sight. Palestine, or rather what are now called the Palestinian territories, have been divided into Fatah and Hamas controlled areas. Lebanon, a year after last summer’s war, is politically, economically and socially weakened. Syria, accused of supporting terrorists and purchasing Russian made anti-aircraft missiles, is under the threat of a possible attack from Israel and/or America. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia and a number of other Gulf states have signed an arms deal with the US worth twenty billion dollars. A look at the state of affairs across the Middle East necessitates the asking of certain questions, namely how we, as Arab nations, have ended up in this situation and how on earth we are meant to get out of it.

“Write down, I am an Arab!” wrote Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish in 1963…

To view the full article, visit:

http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/history-the-middle-east-in-seach-of-an-alternative/ 

Constructing Reality : The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

A Comparative Analysis of the BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera

The aim of this study is to examine the mainstream media’s[1] representation of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict and to test if the media sources under investigation are subjected to the filters of the Propaganda Model developed by Chomsky and Herman. In order to do this an analysis of Al Jazeera, BBC and CNN was carried out on articles published on their respective news websites for a period of two months [21^st January - 21^st March], a total of 137 articles were analysed. The main findings of this study were that each of the news sources, although similar in story coverage, differed significantly in content, specifically relating to humanitarian issues. The overall content of the articles was a clear indication of the ideological constraints of each of the news sources.

To see the complete study, visit:

http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/constructing-reality/

US & Middle East Relations

The majority of issues that are dominating international politics and international relations relate to the US and the Middle East, therefore it is essential to examine the issues that have influenced the fragile relationship between the world’s super power, the United States and the ever so important Middle East.  This article aims not to give any solutions to the problems that face the world, but rather looks at the reasons for the underlying animosity felt between these parts of the world.

To view the complete article, visit:

http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/us-middle-east-relations/ 

Propaganda and the ‘War on Terror’

Theorists of democratic society postulate that its media is objective and is dedicated to discovering and reporting the truth. From this perspective, we are lead to believe that the democratic society in which we live gives us a sufficient amount of participation in the management of our own affairs and that the means of information are open and free. At least that is what a democratic society is meant to incorporate. However, the democratic society in which we live in reality incorporates the conception that the public need to be relieved of the management of their own affairs and that the means of information needs to be strictly controlled. For their own good, of course.

To view the full article, visit:

http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/propaganda-and-the-war-on-terror/

Self in Sufism, Advaita Vedanta and Psychology

In this paper, I attempt to investigate the irrefutable similarities found between the underlying foundations of many of the world religions, specifically their ontology. In fact, it seems implausible to neglect to also reveal the resemblance these religions have with a significant number of psychologists’ theories. Due to the vastness of this subject, I have paid particular attention to two specific world religions, Hinduism and Islam and again due to the complexity and diversity of each of these religions, I have chosen to examine only one school of thought from each religion, Advaita Vedanta in Hinduism and Sufism in Islam. There are such significant similarities in their ontology that I feel further investigation is fundamental.

To view the full article, visit:

http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/self-in-sufism-advaita-vedanta-and-psychology/

Hindu Fundamentalism: Does it Exist?

It is very difficult to ignore the role religion plays in public affairs in the modern world. Most of the political violence that has and is occurring seems to have some degree of religious undertone, either implicitly or explicitly. It would appear that we live in a world that is plagued by religious violence. Throughout history and in every tradition, wars have been fought on the grounds of religion, for the protection of its codes and ideals.

“It is striking to note that in virtually all of the nearly 500 major wars fought around the world since 1700 ‘each side has imagined itself to be exclusively on the side of God’.”

To view the full article visit:

http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/hindu-fundamentalism-does-it-exist/

A Tribute to Namir Noor Eldeen

I was looking through a sample of work by the photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen on the Reuters website, with no prior knowledge of the tragic events that occurred, to him and Saeed Chmagh.

As I looked through the pictures I had an overwhelming urge to contact Namir and praise him for the heart wrenching and brave work he was doing. With every picture my heart ached for the fact that these atrocities are being faced by too many people in too many places every single day. People.. like me.

As I got nearer the end of the album I saw a picture of Saeed. A wonderful picture. And then I read that he and Namir had been killed under ‘uncertain’ circumstances. A pain surged through me. And I am but a stranger. I could not escape the sadness that overwhelmed me. But at the same time the fear that he was no longer going to be able to take any more photos. The fear that he will no longer be able to show us the reality that is so hard to express and even harder to find.

More people need to see Namir’s pictures. These photos are the REALITY, not the nonsense we hear ‘our’ governments blithering on about. We must do something. If only but ensure more people see his pictures… the reality.

Please have a look at the web link below.

http://photos.reuters.com/Pictures/galleries/showcases/showcase_slide.asp?storyID=633198582678593750&urlStr=/pictures/&directory=/configData/Pictures/&edition=US