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Links 11/26: The Sides of Peace Talks, Youth Riots in France, Let Me See Yo’ Tongue Ring |
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The world is divided concerning the success of the Middle East Peace talks taking place tomorrow in Annapolis, Maryland. While the President is jumping ahead optimistically, Arab states and populations remain skeptical on any progress. We barely even have a definition of progress, a sobering reality Ish pointed out earlier this week.
In what is starting to look oddly like a repeat of the 2005 youth riots in Paris, French youths have been battling police and burning cars and buildings in a suburb of Paris after two teens died in a motorcycle wreck while being chased by police. Keep your eye on this one.
The Politico picks up on youths using Facebook to organize around the lack of health care, citing the huge spurt of Facebook groups concerned with the issue. Facebook and social networking are amazing organizing tools; it’s good to see bigger news outlets picking up on this.
Dennis Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth are featured on CBS’s Early Show. When confronted with the eventual mainstream media “OMG UR WIFE IZ SO HOT” statement by the (female, oddly enough) interviewer, Dennis masterfully redirects attention away from her tongue ring and back to real issues, most importantly Elizabeth’s own social and peace work. Thank you, CBS, for having about as much class as the Three Six Mafia. At least they have gold teeth.
Hey, I’m pissed at CBS and thus I declare this thread to be OPEN!
Just imagine if what happened in France after police brutality happened here…shit would be absolutely nuts! I mean, I read stories every day about the police tasering someone or shooting someone or whatnot. There are no riots…
Well, a lot of the riots in 2005 had racist and anti-immigrant undertones. When that happens in the US, it is possible for people to mobilize, like with Jena 6. There’s also a tradition of nonviolent protest in the US, while in France there’s a rich history of storming buildings and destroying edifices of power.