On the American Elections

November 4, 2008 at 11:24 am · Filed under Arabisms, Seriously

Most of the people around me do not really care about who will become the new president of the United States tomorrow (or today, depending on your time zone). Arabs have, after all, discovered a very long time ago that American policy is American policy, regardless of whose face it’s associated with. And of course, as a lot of these people around me are Palestinians, we know damn well that it’s not going to change a thing about the most important issue in our lives.

And so, the American elections are dealt with with a certain level of impersonal apathy. Yeah, it’s brought up every now and then, and it’s all over the newspapers, and we all know that it affects us a lot more here than the parliamentary elections that took place last year… but, whatever.

Personally, I’d like to see Obama win. And not really for any reasons that might influence me, or us as Arabs. I just think he’s more harmless than McCain. At least he won’t start another war. On a much sillier level, and because I know I probably will never see the day when such issues are issues at all in my country, I like that he’s liberal: pro-choice, rather environmentally friendly, a bit against gun-ownership. While the Arab world becomes more and more conservative…

Anyway.

I usually avoid such discussions, especially on my blog, because I would much rather hear what other people have to say about politics than share my own opinions.




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  • Chris

    I think Osama Bin Laden did the greatest disservice to the Palestinian cause.

    But I am optimistic about the Palestinian cause. Countries like India and China have a lot of sympathy towards Palestinians.

    Gandhi opposed the foundation of Israel.

  • Chris

    Now you have to tell us why you think pro-choice is a good thing?

    Are you pro-choice?

    Have you ever had an unplanned pregnancy?

  • Mesh

    ya3ni we can’t discuss it here :P ?

  • ZEITGEIST

    since i watched Zeitgeist, (2007 and 2008 – 2 parts) and i’ve changed my mind about what’s going on in this world, and since then I’ve been alternating about to care or not to care thats the freakin question.

    I watched Jericho Series too, all of it, and it had a discussion forum (conspiracy theory) and i went all down the discussion with with people from the US who watched it too, some who are blinded enough not to read what i wrote and just ignore it or call it bull, it seems US people has used to the Tube and take things as is from it, they said Obama is arab and thus terrorist and believe me, a (me7rez) group of people believed that, anyway sho bedna bel taweeleh,

    The men behind the curtain who moves the puppets are powerful enough to decide who to win, and in case of things went out of control, they can handle it, just remember Algore and Bush in 2000, when all news said that Algore has won, bas be 2odret 2ader, Bush won, keeef ma ebte3raf, just because the Fox news said it, see the documentary movie of Michale Moore 9/11 Fahrenheit for details..

    The lowest peak of the alternating tells me don’t bother, you cant change it, and the highest peak makes me believe that once the string is found and pulled, ebyofrot el curtain wo el masba7a kaman…

    but believe me you should see the movies :

    1.
    “ZEITGEIST: THE MOVIE”
    [ RELEASED 6/25/07 ]

    2.
    “ZEITGEIST: ADDENDUM”
    [ RELEASED 10/02/08 ]

    you WILL know things you’ve never heard of before..
    http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    Chris, I agree that religious zeal was the worst thing to happen to the Palestinian case- when it stopped being about a nation and became about a few shrines. And that disturbs me.
    About being pro-choice, I think any self-respecting woman would believe that women should have the choice of what happens with their lives. To read more about the different implications of being pro-choice, you can read the following Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-choice

    Zeitgiest, sounds interesting. I will try to find them at Hammoudeh or something.

    Mesh, mish fahmeh. What do you want to talk about?

  • Mesh

    Politics ?

    btw Zeitgeist are available through torrent protocol (its for free from the source):

    1. Zeitgeist The movie 2007 :
    http://sector.yweb.sk/Zeitgeist.Final.Edition.DVDRip.XviD.torrent

    2. Zeitgeist 2 or (Addendum ) October 2008:
    http://sector.yweb.sk/Zeitgeist.Addendum.DVDRip.XviD.torrent

    such a documentary movie won’t be available at Hammoudeh as its not an entertaining fruit for most of people. i miss Hammoudeh anyway =’(

    I’ve watched the movie upon a cousin suggestion, you may not like to hear or want to believe, some of what’s in the movie, but i believe its an interesting (both) to watch.

  • Chris

    I am confident that a transformation will happen.

    As the next generation of people are born, I feel that fewer “Dick Cheneys” will be in positions of power.

    I also hope that true democracy comes to the Arab world. For one, it will make them perceived differently – not as bearded mullah’s racing camels with 16343 wives.

    I dont perceive the Arabs that way, but a lot of ignorant people do.

  • http://samimajed.wordpress.com Sami

    I don’t like Obama, but I really abhor and detest John McCain and Sarah Palin, because they’re more of the same as W.

    Chris, I agree with you that Osama Bin Laden did the Palestinians a much unneeded harm, in fact he did harm the Muslim world more than he hurt America, but this has nothing to do with the Palestinians. Have you heard about Al-Qaeda operating in Palestine, No way! as a matter of fact the Grand Attention Bitch of Al-Qaeda, Ayman Dawheri, on many occasions has harshly criticized Hamas and urged them to not adopt any political activities and stick to a large-scale Jihadi movement even against the surrounding Arab regimes. Hamas never adopted Al-Qaeda doctrine and has been critical of some of Al-Qaeda operations in Iraq against the Iraqi civilians. So, there is no tie whatsoever between Palestine and Al-Qaeda, except that the Palestinian cause is a victim of Al-Qaeda just like the 3000 souls lost on 9/11.

    On another note, true democracy came to the Arab world for the first time, that was in Palestine and the whole world attested to its genuineness and credibility. But the American government and many Arab governments did not like that! Having said that, I am not a big fan of Hamas, but hey they won an honest election and the world should have listened to what they have to offer!

    I too hope Obama will win, because as many others said, I don’t like to see another war erupt under the presidency of the warmonger and his bitch.

    Many who live outside the U.S. think that Obama will win easily because they think ALL the American people are educated and reads 100 book/year! This country is full of trash just like any other country, so let’s embrace ourselves and wait for the upcoming 10 hours or so!

  • Suzi J. Schaum

    This American (living in a pin point town in southern Pennsylvania) stood in line for 50 minutes to vote. Never, has that happened. This is not a cultured part of the nation, nor is it rich but my fellow citizens boned up for this election big time. One person in the long line brought up the issue of Palestine and Israel and speculated that Obama, while not departing sharply from present policy, would undoubtedly try to nudge the hardliners.
    Most Americans do not see Israel as always right, always deserving our unquestioned support; the same applies to Cuba; most of us want the doors to Cuba opened. We want to visit there, sell them stuff and buy stuff from them.
    We mere citizens don’t know who the power brokers are, who has the influence and why? Not too many years ago, many Americans were terrified of John F. Kennedy’s Catholicism; now it’s Islam and all its sects. It’s a long learning curve.

  • Chris

    Sami,

    The world is full of people that are less fortunate than others.

    By less fortunate, I mean less emancipated and less educated.

    The greatest disparity in humanity is not the economic poverty in some parts of the world, but the lack of knowledge and education to help them lead a fruitful and respectable life.

    Israel does not have a lot of natural resources, yet they are a great success – Economically. This is because they have created an environment where people with knowledge are rewarded by society. This is a cyclical process. When more people with knowledge are able to

    Ignore the US for a moment, why should a soccer player be paid more than a college Professor? This disparity exists everywhere.

    Slowly, but certainly, the people of China and India will voice their concern about the treatment of the people of Palestine. I suspect that these two countries will play a bigger role in International politics in the future. China will at least be as powerful as Europe, if not more.

    I doubt that Russia will do anything. They have their own problems.

  • Mesh

    The whole 9/11 thingy .., how many times did Osama Bin Laden admitted doing 9/11 ? (Except that grainy low-quality video that can be faked) , who knows ! maybe osama bin laden is an Agent , the same way Saddam Hussien was an Agent before 1990 ..

    i really love to deal with facts, the facts that the WTC has falled in the speed of free fall ( avg 11 sec, and if you dropped a billiard ball from that hight it will reach the ground with 11 sec too) , then this collapse is suspicious , all the people who were there at that day confirmed to hear an explosions coming down from the basement, falling of Building 7 and all other pentagon related evidences that some people of the US dont want to discuss it (they having difficulties believing anything that doesnt come out of a tube) should be considered.

    The moving from 9/11 to Afghanistan was acceptable, then what moved the war to Iraq ? Weapons of mass Destruction ? they found NONE . Then why the heck they are still there ? at least say sorry and get the @#$% out of there, you know what they will say ? WE WANT TO HELP SPREADING THE DEMOCRACY .

    *once my relative was traveling from Europe to Kuwait, in the airplane he sat next to the a recently retired Military Officer, during they discussion, my relative wanted to test the knowledge of the american officer, he asked him : Do you know history well, Officer said yes, my relative asked: Do you Mongols ? , officer said yes, my relative said: They are Better Than you ! Officer Said Shocking Said : Why ?, My relative said : because when they came to the Middle east and specially Bagdad when they occupied it in 13th Century, They Had Threaten us and showed all the previous occupied nations no mercy, so they did the same to us, Mongols and You Americans what you did in Iraq is the same, at least they’ve said the truth ! you didnt.

    Yesterday i was watching a report about the american elections procedure and how they choose the winner, depending on the importance of the state not the people in there, depending on the resources of that state , Texas and California is the most important , that is NOT Democracy their election system is freak comparing to what happened between Hamas and Fateh then, an honest – people choice election who has later been been perverted because the winner was not what the US & Israel wanted.

    an about Russia , i also love to talk about facts too , Russia has MUCH Resources (OIL) , and MANY Professors , they are the Best in Building an EMP Bomb (Electro Magnetic Pulse), which if used against the US in case of WWIII , after using it (Remember the Matrix ? EMP Damages every Electronic Based Devices, i.e combat aircraft), the AK-47 is the winner of all battles.

    I can talk about this for till the judgment day,some american asked me: as you have a good political knowledge – yea at least better than most of the US ppl- then whom would you choose for the american elections, obama or maccain ? but i personally believe that, its not Politicians who solves problems, Technicians and Engineers do, you want to tell me what about LAW ? LAW is a solution for problems that Politicians cannot solve..LOL

    guess what makes me angry ? they still till now monitor the internet and posts for the words (Osama bin Laden , Al-Qaeda, Saddam Hussien) they live in an illusion ,they are fighting a virtual enemy, bekazbo el kezbeh wo besad2ooha..

    They Sell the Ice cream Barrel for 1600$ and they want to buy a Cheap Arab Oil Barrel !, thats what they want.

  • Mesh

    shekelna en7abasna el leeleh lol

  • Chris

    Mesh,

    You watch too many movies.

  • Mesh

    I just Gather Data and analyze it, i don’t just take things ‘as is’.

    and all what I’ve said above are facts, yes even EMP is real and can bring a whole damn country down to the 19th century.