The Blame Game

I feel miserable. Have a hard time falling asleep and a hard time staying asleep. Wake up to bouts of tears. There are traces of anger, confusion, and pain in the rolling drops. The heart is heavy. And of course, it is all my fault! Like I inflicted this upon myself simply by virtue of choice! I had given him all of me. I even prepared him meals- a big deal as I don’t even do this for myself to show him how much I valued him. We had had a good time, mutually. Almost a relationship…oh, wait…except it isn’t. So we engage in every activity that people in a relationship enjoy together, but I am not allowed to call it that. And neither does this give me the right to feel angry when I am being ignored or to ask a few questions. Alas, I am being unreasonably demanding! No pun intended here. But I didn’t sign up for this. And then there is that “you have changed. Can you go back to the Mariam I first met?” And I am left wondering, how I can go back to being who I am when I am already me. He is making me believe that I have become this crazy demanding woman, probably hinting at clinginess. Back up now, as far as I know, I was only expecting the bare minimum. I am not a loose cannon, who has his phone ringing off the hook or setting off his IM notifications on a frenzy. Maybe I should have, and then I would be guilty of the accusations. Why, am I being put on trial for a crime I never committed. It’s all a setup. So I sit here wondering…What is wrong with men these days? They claim you are awesome, one of a kind, lovely. They claim they connect with you and enjoy spending time with you. And yet, they don’t want to commit. WTF?!! If they don’t want to commit to someone “as awesome as you” who also happens to be someone they have a connection with, who do they want to invite into their lives? Please, Quora answer this question. I am sane, I would be stupid to let go of a potential partner who I connect with because a good connection is hard to come by these days, with most men not able to hold my attention even before a date ends. I want to scream. This agitation is brutal. I panic. And the cycle continues. More than anything I wish he was here, calming me. Apologizing for being a prick, and for making all of this my fault. If you know me, you know I have cried for a few men, only when I was young and frail…and when I bid farewell to my soul mate. The rest have come and gone. Not a single tear was wasted. Why then is this man, pulling the reigns? There has been no one quite like him in a long time, So what if I have feelings..it isn’t my fault. And clearly, he did too. He wouldn’t have kissed me the way he did or held me so warmly. He can deny it all he wants, but I know he felt it too, perhaps not as intensely, but he did. So own up to it mister. Be proud of me. Or let me go. Too soon you say, and I say there is never a wrong time for something good. What we have is beyond good, it is what keeps us both happy! Unless you were a very good actor….and u had me fooled… The blame game then, I conclude, is nothing but a game. Let it be just that, and nothing more. You play along, dodge all the traps and emerge, victor, level-by-level.

Retirement, A normal step in the cycle of life

I don’t know how to sugar coat things and will not be apologetic about my bluntness with regard to the truth. So I hope no political party leader will be threatening me to apologize; and if they are on their toes to come my direction, here’s a piece of advice, “if you don’t like what you hear about yourself, there must be something that needs fixing!”

Unfortunately, political participants in India are beyond repair and hence should retire, to make room for the pragmatic youth who are both educated and globally conscious. While they lack the experience factor, they live the problems and are aware of the solutions. Sadly, their voices get filtered through the corrupt government system, leaving them either frustrated or on the hospital bed succumbing to extortion injuries.

India is my country, and I would hate for it to be anything less than a global economic and social power. But, unless we heed to young energy and sound judgment, I do not see us making headway in anything but corruption and a failed government system.

Many citizens deem that the problems inherent are beyond repair; that no one who goes into the system is safe from the vice. Have any of these pessimists given a thought to changing this irrelevant system? This can only happen if the current players are entirely replaced by those who more reasonable and conscious of the current state of affairs. We, the citizens, have been given the power to bring about this much needed alteration.

Not wanting to tackle too many issues in one post, I’d like to draw the readers’ attention to one of the most revered parties in the state of Maharashtra- the Sena. They must obviously be loved, or why in the world would anyone in their right mind elect them? Because save for creating divides between Hindus, Muslims and the west, they have achieved very little!

For one thing, they must love the paparazzi. Sometimes I doubt if the Thackerays even form a political party, or just a group catering to media hype; because, I have not been able to connect their actions with anything that is logically sound. The recent events surrounding the IPL and Shahrukh Khan’s comment are exemplary of their preposterous ways. I recommend they take time off from public life, and catch up on some history reading. Perhaps they have forgotten that Pakistan was once a part of India, and Pakistanis are all essentially Indian and vice versa. So instead of promoting unity with our neighbor, they are clearly sabotaging the future safety of the region. Also, some fact checking on their part would do us all some good- there are more Muslims in India than there are in Pakistan. Can we deem an entire country or religion radical based on the actions of some fanatics? If yes, then how would all Hindus like to be deemed coldblooded based on senior leader Bal Thackrey’s position about Muslims? The actions of the religiously inclined political factions do not scare, but rather disgust me. As a human rights activist who has worked on the issues of ethnic cleansing and genocide, I wonder if what the Thackrey’s are stirring toward is genocide of all Muslims. I am beginning to question my impression of India as a country where tolerance, unity and diversity thrive.

Moreover, the threats to ban a movie based on Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan's stance on including Pakistani players in the IPL are wholly baseless. I salute Khan for not dislodging from his position. The Badshaah of Bollywood can be assured that I will continue to stand by him and I invite every member of society to join me. How much longer can we stomach the Sena's unjustified hatred toward Muslims and the west, and their deficient concern for urgent issues? Fortunately for us normal members of society, and unfortunately for the Sena and their alliances, the present generation of both nations comprehend the unity that is both crucial and inevitable. If the party leaders would do so much as to direct their attention, energy, and resources toward more pressing issues like poverty and unemployment eradication, population control, pedestrian safety, universal health and education, development of civil services, cracking down on corruption, and law- enforcement they would be guaranteed of my support. If they cannot do the needful, I suggest they yield the way for others who will.

This leads to another current topic that is clouding the youth in India- the ban on V-Day celebrations. While I am not a proponent of exhibiting love on any single day, I don’t believe it is anyone’s place to dictate terms for someone else. How is exchanging gifts and roses obscene? If V-day is a negative influence of the west, how would they explain the Kamasutra and the sculptures adorning the Khajuraho temples, both symbols of Indian heritage? It is ironic, that India welcomes international BPOs and their business, but when it comes to adopting the west’s social influence, there is a bold NO ENTRY! This is precisely why the ancient generation should say their farewells and make room for the pragmatically driven younger populace who would attack the real problems, instead of thriving on issues that are the product of their imagination.

On a concluding note, I’d like to reiterate, that respect by force is disrespect, whereas respect by deeds is embraced. Hope this wakes some of our snoring officials to the realization that old people need to rest, in their homes!

The Brain that Killed a Mind

This is my account of the Feb 13th Terrorist Blast in Pune. I tried to get it published but in vain. The city papers apparently only publish spam!

My phone buzzed with calls from friends and family. This was the first that this had happened in a span of thirty minutes. The screams of the crowd and the loud music blaring from the speakers were making it hard for me to hear their words. All I could indistinctly hear was, “blast…you ok?”

Then the texts came pouring in, and I was able to piece the puzzle; there had been a cylinder blast at a joint I frequented in Koregoan Park.

Despite the fact that the band was phenomenal, I was distracted by thoughts of the bakery staff; I knew them. Their faces and smiles flashing before my eyes, “I just hope they are not injured.”

Soon, my friends sent word of media reports announcing that there has been a bomb blast. Let me confess that I wasn’t ruling out the hand of a local faction of the political group that has been behind the banning of Shahrukh’s movie. Neither was I ruling out a terrorist attack by a radical Muslim group. It all seemed unreal and the only thing that mattered was that innocent lives had been lost, and I couldn’t contain my tears and disgust at what had happened. It couldn’t be a terrorist attack, I tried to compose myself and called whomever I knew that frequented the joint or resided in the vicinity.

It was quite a task trying to put these horrifying thoughts out of my mind and to enjoy Parikrama. Following the concert, my friend and I rushed to the sight dodging the road barricades. We noticed the mob that had amassed the area with a curiosity akin to ours.

And there it was, or wasn’t; the German Bakery that served as my hang out for the fresh spread of fruit juices and burgers, and the structure that enveloped a friendly ambience, had come crumbling down.

An onlooker then pointed to us a brain that lay partially exposed under a pile of plastic sheets. While I wasn’t carrying a camera, the sight is engraved in my mind.

This brain, once part of a living body, was now left to be exhibited to the press and curious onlookers. While I was sickened by the pool of blood soaking the brain, I was more disturbed about the brain that dissected this one from its body. This creature’s brain clearly had to have been disconnected from his heart, to have not had any remorse for what he is about engage in.

Lives have been lost; at the end of it all, it is not a matter of knowing the victims or not, it is about humanity- a phrase referred to as “insaniyat” in our national language, which binds us all together. But truly speaking, we are all disfranchised from one another.

The culprits may or may not be identified, but the damage has been done and until we resort to addressing the origins of the problem, let us accept that such events will continue to be a part of the fabric of life. Now, it is for us to decide if we will stand by such deep stains, or work together toward a maintaining a spot-free textile.

There is evidently no logic to hatred, to crime, or to violence. Yet, we have grown to accept them as inevitable. But this need not be the case. Violence leads to more violence and peace is never guaranteed with arms. I fear for the aftermath of the event; my gut feeling tells me that we should be prepared for increased animosity between Hindus and Muslims, considering the unfolding of recent events and both groups playing the blame game. This is not to say that we should overlook the deeply rooted animosity between the two, once united lands.

Instead, a dialogue forum is long overdue. I propose one that would offer all political groups and smaller factions the opportunity to chalk out their differences, and this can be done successfully by first bringing to the table, their commonalities. Clearly, this is not going to be an easy task, but let us not forget that no successful peace accord has been a cat walk. Rome was to take longer than a day to be built, but this didn’t keep the Romans from building their empire!

If only the perpetrator of the blast would have stopped and pictured the consequences of such loathing, the brain that lay in cold blood would have been performing wonders.

Motivation

Saturday Afternoon at the Connecting office

Having had a prolonged break from my blog, I am back. I was struggling to find words to pen, because for the longest time nothing interested me. Now that I am back in Pune, after almost 5 years, I miss Thailand and wish that I was with my students. But due to financial constraints I am compelled to chose my living over happiness. Since my arrival, I was sinking into a silent depression, because everything about being back was frustrating. On the roads, at home, at work- there was nothing exciting and pleasing. I cannot say for sure if this was because I felt that I had betrayed my Burmese students and colleagues in Thailand. What I can attest to was that I was unhappy and I couldn't wait to get away.

Gradually, I began to wake up to a reality, that the selfish nature of people, the corruption, the rusted system, and lack of motivation prevalent in India's youth were the culprits- the cause of my frustration. I couldn't comprehend how people could lead such discouraged lives, where the youth are only considered to serve as a support for their old relatives; the rationale behind India's population growth- More Children = more support for family. But adults who spit out this justification do not give a thought to some other logic that seems to make more sense;

More children = increased financial burdens = poor standard of living and education for the family = unemployment= NO Support System!

And herewith I found my motivation- to empower youth in India so that they can dictate terms for their own future. Witnessing the plight of students in a morbid educational system, there was a need to encourage and enlighten them. This is a huge undertaking, but one that is long overdue. From this desire to shape India's future, YEP- The Youth Empowerment Project was born, and I call on India's youth to join in and shake things from the grassroots level.

I have been part of student organizations and know how exciting it is to be part of change, and I am confident that India's children are no different. So without further delay, I, an offspring of India summon the current generation to assemble with me before the system is left completely dysfunctional.

Burma- An Alternative View

Two months since my last post, and after considering all the consequences of having my name associated with writings about Burma, I have come to the conclusion that the benefits far out number the consequences. There is an urgent need to rebut or support the one-sided, poorly researched and exaggerated media reports about this failed military state and the claims by organizations that have been set up to help the people of this country as a whole or a selected few who in their eyes are more important than the scores of people who are facing the wrath of the government in camps, tucked away from the world view.

I was part of such an organization myself, and honestly it wasn’t until my visit to Burma and interaction with its people that I learnt that no matter how highly we regard human rights, ultimately we are forced to bow down to tainted bureaucracy and politics, and that the world was too wrapped up in the trial of a lady who was only one of millions being tormented each day. I respect Daw Suu Kyi, don’t get me wrong, but not enough to distance myself from her people and their suffering.

A number of my peers in the human rights field will probably disagree with me on this, but I have to pose a question that I frequently ask myself when I feel like I am being carried away by Daw Suu Kyi’s touching story, “are you willing to turn a deaf ear to the thousands of people who face murder, rape, separation, displacement and other forms of torture each passing moment?” Because, by narrowly focusing on her, we are doing exactly this.

Members of organizations that have been striving to secure her release argue that they believe that she is the country’s only hope to cease the oppression. Only hope? Have these claimants made the effort to visit the country recently to speak to the youth and all the things they have been doing as part of their plan to help the people of their country? Do these activists have even the slightest idea of the real problems in this country where majority of the people live in poverty? The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate while well respected and influential, is not the only hope this country has, in fact it is best if she be regarded as a hero and left at that. She has been out of the loop for more than 14 years. How can we expect her to be the answer to this complicated problem called the military junta?

This is why I have no reservations in saying that the answer to the problems of Burma, is not Aung San Suu Kyi but the new generation of politically conscious youth who are working on their plans to create a sustainable society. I am not afraid to make this controversial declaration, but it is not until you visit the country and speak to her people that you will understand this.

Then there are organizations that lobby Congress to impose sanctions on Burma. I have been inside the country and would like to challenge these sanctions, because unless sanctions are targeted, the effects are felt by civilian population who are sinking deeper and deeper into poverty. In the defense of my claim, I would like to invite you to take a tour of Shan State where villagers including the village heads are unaware of the sanctions and claim that their situation has remained unchanged. This goes to show that sanctions are ineffective and unless India and China do more than just utter words, unless we target the hidden bank accounts of all the generals, impose blocks on their lucrative money, including imposing sanctions on India China, and Singapore we will be fighting a lost battle. As you can tell, I am with Sen. John Webb on this (mind you, I am bewildered at his decision to secure the release of John Yettaw, an American who was clearly bought out by the junta to keep Suu Kyi from participating in the upcoming election.

But, I do realize that this is easier said than done. The U.S. government cannot afford to and will not jeopardize their relation with either of the countries and we have to comprehend, and history should be a lesson, that governments are concerned mainly with a re-election, increasing their country’s GDP and also to attain the trust of rich and powerful states.

We would be lucky if “ensuring that the rights of every human being are protected,” does make it to their priority list during their term in office. We have some hope with Obama, but he too has limitations on how he can use his power. He cannot, and Republicans will ensure that they keep him from, meeting all our demands. One, he is accountable to his constituents, many of them concerned with his domestic policy and second, he cannot risk being seen to favor foreign policy over domestic issues especially towards a country that has very little to offer the U.S.

So does this mean that we opt for a concessional option and take whatever we can get? I leave this open for discussion. Be sure to support your arguments with viable explanations.

World leader demonstrates hypocrisy on Iran Issue

"Obviously, you see a regime that represses its own people and spreads terror far and wide. It is a regime whose real nature has been unmasked, and it's been unmasked by incredible acts of courage by Iran citizens. They go into the streets, they face bullets and, I tell you, as somebody who believes deeply in democracy, that you see the Iranian lack of democracy at work, and I think this better explains and best explains to the entire world what this regime is truly about." These were Netanyahu's words on Sunday's Meet the Press. I can't help but scorn at his belief in democracy because we all know that this is not true. How can someone who "believes deeply in democracy" kill others over religion and land. Isn’t democracy supposed to guarantee universal rights to all human beings? I think it is ironic that someone who has stolen this right from people, is being given the platform to condemn another country’s actions.

Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. Furthermore, no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. Clearly, Mr. Netanyahu has yet to be informed of this right and perhaps I could do him a favor and send him a copy of the document. Until he gets his shipment and for starters, here’s what he could do: before pointing fingers at Iran, he should take a quick look and examine his own actions, because it is embarrassing for anyone to speak on an issue over which they’ve lost credibility. He doesn’t want Iran to develop nuclear weapons, but what about the development of nukes in Israel? He comments on the Iranian crackdown of the protesters, but what does his government do to the Palestinians? I am a strong critic of religion, but from my understanding of the Quran and Old Testament, I feel Iran is governing its people as per Islamic teachings. Israel too justifies snatching land from the Palestinians and attributing it as a land that was promised to Jews in the Old Testament. So I see both regimes as akin. They both have violated the rights guaranteed by UDHR and they are both hypocrites; they both disgust me.

“I'll tell you what I did -- I called in these demonstrators. They happen to be representatives of a non-Jewish minority in Israel, the Druze community. They have certain protests about the financing of their municipalities. I call their leaders in, I talk to them. I said, "How can I help you?" That's what democratic leaders do, that's what democratic countries do.” I don’t think this is how Netanyahu treated the Palestinian cause.

Maybe if he had, he would have more credibility to speak on the Iran issue. But for now I see this nothing more that a hypocrite condemning what he stands for, and ridiculing himself.


*Political cartoon obtained from google search

Mainstream media biased on Iran elections

If you are switching between channels to find reports about the Iranian riots in other cities in the country hope you are ready to get disappointed. I have been monitoring news stations since the days leading to the elections, to perhaps hear something about riots in places other than Tehran, to hear of and from supporters of incumbent Ahmadinejad; I found nothing. So why do we act surprised when the Iranian government cracks down on international media in the country as also social networking sites?

As a journalist and as someone who has family scattered all over Iran, I feel that western media has let me down. I have no issues declaring publicly that I am not a Ahmadinejad supporter, and that I would would not vote for him if I could even cast my ballot, but I would also like to clarify my reasons for supporting Mousavi. He does not have my support because of his alleged western values, as several news analysts claim he does, but because he is someone who will uphold the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There is a wide difference between labeling him a pro-western candidate and calling him a reformist. He is not a confirmed democracy torch-bearer and all speculations that he is,are not backed by evidence. Their reliance on Iranians in the United States and in Iran who are Mousavi supporters is an insult to the field of journalism.

Journalists today need to be reminded that journalism requires that reports be unbiased and that all sides of an issue should be reported, a lesson that is learnt in journalism 101. How can a report that is slanted be believable? The western media has chosen to elevate their favourite candidate Mousavi on a pedestal but chose to ignore the hardliner Ahmadinejad, who in fact does have a large fan following. But, you cannot know this from watching the news and probably won’t know this at all unless you are one of his supporters. The closest report to coverage about Ahmadinejad’s influence was Christaine Amanpour’s special “From the Streets of Iran”, where she fairly claims that the president does in fact have strong support in the country.

Having said this, I am not surprised that the supreme leader Ayatullah Khamenei has blocked western news media from having access to the situation. I would too, if I were him. Networks could have had a better shot at uncontrolled access if they chose to strike a balance between interviewing and broadcasting tweets from supporters of both candidates and bringing in analysts who evaluate both candidates.

Anyone watching the coverage of post-elections and who knows very little about Iran, would perhaps believe that Tehran is the only city in the country. This is due to the lack of coverage of riots, protests or support rallies in other parts of the country. Since I haven’t been fed with that information, it wouldn’t be outrageous if I declared that Ahmadinejad has immense support in these cities, right? Kerman, Yazd, Mashad, Esfahan, and Tabriz house large populations, as does Tehran, where only about 11 percent of the population lives. So it is quite possible that Ahmadinejad won a sweeping majority in these other cities. However, news media has become a puppet of the governments that they serve and have chosen to rely on unconfirmed tips. They will not disclose that millions showed up at Ahmadinejad’s victory rally neither will they speak positively about the candidate. Most of their energy is focused on their own ethnocentric belief that Mousavi is a pro-democracy leader, but they haven’t yet understood that he isn’t much different from Ahmadinejad in terms of his foreign policy.

This is a revolution of the Iranian people,for certain freedoms, not for democracy. To comprehend this, America needs to first realize that their ways will not work for everyone. And Iranians who think that the west really cares about their plight need to realize that they are only getting the attention of the international media because they want Ahmadinejad out,so that they can begin negotiations over the nuclear weapon issue,not because they are sympathetic towards Iran’s domestic causes.

I was at first skeptical, but am now convinced that media has the power to shape and manipulate public opinion as well as political causes.

Eric Clapton, U2, Sting, Mana and Coldplay come together for Burma

Hope everyone is enjoying the break. I am having a phenomenal time interning with Human Rights Action Center and Nonviolence International in Washington D.C. I have learnt so much about human rights advocacy that it feels as though I have been doing this for years!

As part of a fundraiser for the Human Rights Action Center I am selling copies of the "For the Lady" 2- disc set dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi and the courageous people of Burma. Album includes numbers from Sting, Eric Clapton, Coldplay, Mana, Indigo Girls, Paul McCartney and U2. E-mail me at mabuhaideri@yahoo.com or leave me a comment if you'd like a copy/ copies. These make excellent gifts while supporting the cause of democracy in Burma.

Copies are available for $12. I can ship them (shipping charges will apply) or can deliver them to you if you are in D.C. or Virginia . Just let me know!

Thanks,
Peace Advocate

Republican Senator: We should look beyond Sotomayor's race and ethnicity

So can we focus on Sotomayor's real judicial attributes?

Employers stop firing your employees NOW!

The global economy is plummeting and thousands of people have been laid off. How unfortunate, but not surprising, that America, one of the world’s most powerful country is going out of business! Overnight people have lost their means of livelihood and all this while there is a way to save the economy? What a shame that the higher ups in the administration have opted for the easy way out. They willingly bailed out large corporations, but ignored the most transparent of the solutions, and they don’t have to look too far; all they need to do is walk into a grocery store and witness the problem and solution for themselves.

The problem is the huge consumerism that has eaten into the wallets of working class Americans taking away huge chunks of their savings.The solution is to cut down on this wastage. After all how many brands of tea is a consumer going to buy during a single trip to the grocery store? And what is the likelihood that this shopper will try half the brands of a particular product that are shelved during his or her lifetime?

I would like to wake American consumers to a reality; all you executives, stop reconsider the termination of your employees, because if the rest of the world can live with a few choices, so can Americans; and this serves the best interest of none other than the American public. You heard me, stop consumer wastage and you will have solved a significant percentage of the problem!

A Student’s Predicament:

A senior in college, I have been waking up to the same dilemma for four years; what am I going to wear today? This is obviously an issue for a majority of high school and college students around the world; in America especially, this has become a major issue for students justified by the emphasis on impressions and an “expected standard.” In India however, that was the least of my concerns, I had a uniform through twelfth grade (junior college according to Indian educational standards) and even on free days, I didn’t pay too much attention on my appearance, it was my deeds and grades that mattered most.

Today, I can’t quit shopping for outfits, and although mandating uniforms in university is an unconceivable goal, I think that having uniforms in schools is imperative towards future discipline and helps avert potential wastage. The wealthy can afford to discard outfits after the first use, but those less fortunate, cannot. Yet, they try to get at par with their wealthy peers. These funds could be put to use elsewhere needed and would eventually shift to ensure that everyone can have equal access to resources.

Salaries of Faculty and Staff cannot be compromised!

300 employees of Georgia State University will be rendered jobless. This step is believed to save $9 million in state funds. Outrageous, bearing in mind that this could have been done by simply reevaluating the school’s energy conservation and hidden wastages! I am not targeting GSU, but also the thousands of schools and colleges in America including my alma mater, the University of West Georgia. If only universities ensured that electricity and air condition unites in buildings were turned off when not in use, they could save $80 per 100-watt bulb at 9 cents per 24 hour day hours. Turning AC units off overnight could save a huge portion on utility bills. This alone would help the institution cut costs and they would not have to terminate any of their employees who have families to feed.

Many universities have taken to cutting pays of their professors and invested their funds elsewhere like in athletic programs. This is not fair considering that many students pursue higher education, and not higher athletics. If this energy wastage is prevented, faculty would not have to pay for the recession. The University of West Georgia’s motto is “Educational Excellence in a Personal Environment,” but somehow I think the administration has voted on replacing the “Educational” with “Athletic”. West Georgia is what it is because of its students and professors, and unfortunately, UWG’s real wealth is being abused.

Athletic coaches receive a higher pay than professors who are most deserving because without their expertise, knowledge, and commitment to their students, West Georgia would not have harbored such shining alumni and programs. They have the state’s only Honors College and an excellent debate program; how can these and other phenomenal programs be compromised for athletics or to meet budget cuts? Athletics are essential no doubt, but so are academics; and if America would like to see their students get at par with their peers from other countries, she should act upon that goal and not compromise this for revenue. The world is shrinking and universities need to evaluate their most important assets, revealed in the quality of faculty and staff.

My search of the keyterm "cutting jobs" generated 45,900,000 entries, many of these from the current recession period. If Ford, GM and Chrysler are closing down dealerhips and manufacturing firms, then why did they have to manufacture so many cars in the first place? Did they expect all these cars to sell? What a wastage of resources that could have prevented the thousands of employees from loosing their jobs?

Dear Presidents, CEOs and Directors firing people, is not the solution, but could be the source of another major problem; people who have lost their jobs, add fewer and fewer dollars in the market and this could adversely affect the economy. So why not work towards preventing the problem, rather than curing the illness?

Rabbis Know Best

It seemed like yesterday was a day of protests at the White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House to open dialogue about the Palestinian-Isreali conflict and rabbis came by to have their say. We were obviously amused by this group of anti-Israel rabbis.


The Wise


The Opposition


They must know best-Peace for all!

D.C. Rally for Democracy in Burma

More photographs from the rallies in D.C. in support of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners in Burma (Myanmar)

A Sensible Protest for a Senseless Sentence

May 19, 2009

While Aung San Suu Kyi was being tried in Insein prison in Rangoon yesterday, her supporters from around the world led rallies on her behalf. The junta, Burma’s oppressive military regime via torture and rape have silenced the Burmese within Myanmar, but they cannot silence those outside their jurisdiction- Burmese immigrants and others living beyond Burma’s borders.

The U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) organized one of the many rallies held yesterday to demand the immediate release of Suu Kyi, unconditionally. “Free Free Free Burma, Free Free Aung San Suu Kyi,” cheered the group that gathered outside the Burmese Embassy in Washington D.C. About 50 Burmese Americans and activists were present to display their support for the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Several attendees took turns at the bullhorn, screaming for those in the Burmese embassy to convey their demands to those in power in Burma. Suu Kyi is the world’s most famous political prisoner. More than 2000 of her peers remain behind bars in the Burmese capital.

“We hope to get the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s only hope to democracy. Her house arrest term ends in two weeks and the junta is only looking for ways to keep her away,” said Co-chair of USCB Tin Maung Thaw. His views are not isolated but are shared by many around the world. “There are other issues too that need to be addressed, like her physician being accused of smuggling letters to her, but how can they accuse him when the guards thoroughly checked him?”

The trial took place behind closed doors, and several western diplomats including German, Italian and French ambassadors were refused entry, but according to BBC reports, the U.S. consul was allowed access, it is believed to meet with the 53-year- old American intruder, who is blamed for the current situation, that is nothing less of a crisis for the many National League for Democracy supporters. There is little doubt however that his visit is being used as an excuse, and that the ruling junta government would have fabricated another excuse to exclude her from the elections next year. This past weekend the government revoked licenses of two of Suu Kyi’s lawyers and she was represented by two others at today’s trial, “sooner or later they will get to them as well,” said Thaw.

Insein prison is infamous for its living conditions and the prisoners are fed in lead containers. Lead is known to be a slow poison; prisoners are also tortured and beaten. I tried to go into the Burmese (Myanmar) Embassy on 2300 S St NW to get their comments, but was denied entry and asked to leave after they threatened to call the law on me.

While the international community has witnessed a harder push from the western world, ASEAN and other Asian countries have stayed aloof, primarily because of their trade interests in Burma. Perhaps the countries vast natural resources are the source of this conflict between the military dictatorship of Sr. Gen. Than Shwe and the Suu Kyi’s opposition party. Burma’s crisis is another prominent paradigm of the curse of natural resources in a weak state. ASEAN countries possess a level of leverage that western countries lack and economic sanctions are key to Burma achieving democracy. Considering China’s history of gross human rights violations, it is difficult to judge how cooperative the neighbor’s leadership will be in demanding justice for Suu Kyi and her nation. India, however, has no excuses.
The Burmese uprising against the junta has so far been non-violent, but many are growing impatient. “If the government does not heed to our requests, we will drive them away from power, by ‘all means possible’,” said rally attendee George Heine. “To put her down for further detention is a very low down scheme.”

With over 82 percent of the population in support of the NLD, the ruling junta clearly considers Suu Kyi as a threat to their regime and would do anything to keep her away from the polls. Heine, believes that things can be changed, referring to President Obama’s massive victory over his competitor. This is the new world order, he said as sounds of “Burma Burma must be free- Freedom, Justice and Democracy” flooded the embassy area.

Others however have a contrasting outlook and believe in Suu Kyi’s philosophy. Shwe Htee lost his mother and brother to this political war in the past year, but says that there is room for negotiation. “Just because I lost members of my family is not a reason for me to hate them. You cannot solve hate with hate,” he said enjoying his lunch sandwich.

Unlike with other conflicts of similar nature, the Burmese top generals cannot alone be held accountable for the situation on the ground in Burma. They are living in a bubble and could care less about who has power. It is their officials on the ground that are significant stakeholders and misinform the higher ups with false and inaccurate accounts of situation on the ground. “It is like this,” Htee explains, “the generals believe what they are told. If a stakeholder fears that his position and wealth will be jeopardized by the NLD coming into power, he will make up any story to coerce the generals into believing that this group of people want to kill the junta. The generals then order him to do anything he pleases, to stop this from happening. This on-the ground person goes on a killing spree.”

Htee believes that we need to petition and target those on the ground rather than their bosses if we wish to see any significant change in the policy in Burma.

The group later protested outside the White House, and were greeted by a group of over 200 Tamil Sri Lankans, who were there protesting the killing of Tamils by the hands of the Sri Lankan government.

Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi detained in Burma

May 14, 2009

The world's most famous political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi has been transferred from her Rangoon residence, where she has been under house arrest since 2003 totaling 13 years of home confinement,to Burma’s most notorious Insein prison today. Her crime is of a bizarre nature and many human rights advocates and her lawyer believe that the Burmese junta is using this as an excuse to keep the popular pro-democracy leader away from the Burmese population until their puppet candidates are elected to office in the upcoming 2010 Burmese election.

Last December a 53 yr old John Yettaw,reportedly swam to her house but left after Suu Kyi convinced him to leave. He re-visited her last week but stayed with her at her residence for two days before being discovered and arrested on May 5 as he was swimming away across Inya Lake; this visit, the junta said is a breach of her sentence which was slated to end later this month. Her trial is set for next week and if found guilty she can be sentenced to about five years imprisonment in Insein, Burma's colonial era jail, where only a few prisoners have known to survive, according to a Burmese national.

Jared Gensher, a lawyer for Ms Suu Kyi who is based in the US, condemned the upcoming trial. "The charge is going to be violating the conditions of her house arrest, and what her lawyer is going to argue is that of course that's ridiculous," he told the BBC. "Under the terms of her arrest she cannot invite people to visit her, but she of course did not invite this person to visit her. If somebody shows up at her door step in violation of Burmese law she cannot be held responsible."

Even the walls of her home could not prevent her popularity from spreading and clearly, the junta government is skeptical of her influence, and is looking for ways to silence Suu Kyi (pronounced Suu Chi), the popular democratic leader of Burma. She is the only living Nobel Peace Prize recipient to be behind bars, bestowed with the honor in 1991 for her work with the Burmese National League for Democracy; her sons accepted the award on her behalf. The United States and other governments including several human rights groups have called for her immediate release and condemed the junta government.

Suu Kyi, 63 is said to be frail and despite her deteriorating health continues to be abused by the ruling junta party according to a report by the BBC. She is considered the to be the living international symbol of peace via non-violent means and justice, and many in Burma and around the world regard the story of her struggle as an inspiration. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, another Nobel Peace Prize recipient has said this about her, “In physical stature she is petite and elegant, but in moral stature she is a giant.”

The story of her arrest may be unusual, but the arrest is typical of Suu Kyi’s story. She has been arrested several times during her struggle for Burmese democracy. Her gaze is powerful and can speak a million words and many journalists and activists have tried to tell her story. But no matter how skilled their writing, no one would ever be able to express in words the extent and impact of her struggle in a comprehensive way; perhaps, some things are better left to the protagonist.

While the war in Iraq and elsewhere make the rounds of the news regularly, very little is known about the oppression that has been part of Burma’s (a.k.a.Myanmar) history. This is because the government controls the press and foreign journalist are strictly unwelcome and if found reporting on the junta’s policies are expelled and their camera and other media equipment confiscated. But human rights and aid organizations have taken to a more valiant stance on her case and are not deterred by the junta’s control and continue to fight for her release. The Human Rights Action Center and the U.S. Campaign for Burma have ongoing campaigns that advocate for her release and the liberation for the Burmese people from the oppressive regime of the junta and are currently promoting the “Arrest yourself” campaign to raise significant awareness and call for signatures before her nineteenth birthday on June 19.

The results of her trial are uncertain, but we can be assured that her story will be the center of discussion on news channels, in rallies, and human rights seminars. Fingers are being crossed, vigils are being held and events are being organized in the hope that she can be saved from the atrocities experienced by other Insein prisoners. The junta can no longer afford to ignore the calls of the international community.

For a developing report on Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial and the Burmese struggle, watch this space.

Internship Diaries

It is day two of my internship with Non-Violence International in the heart of the nation's capital. Today a fellow intern Olivia and I attended the "Peace and Social Issues" class at a local high school, which I later learnt and to my astonishment, is the best public school in the state, and so I gather that public schools in D.C. are not at par with schools from the rest of the nation. I was hoping that the class would be oriented more towards peace, but I was dissapointed that the guest speaker Brian McTigue,Esquire was addressing pension law. Nonetheless, I am glad I got to go because Dr.Colman McCarthy, the professor conducting the class opened the floor and allowed me to speak about my work as Student Activist Corp for AI. Students questioned me about my stance on the Death Penalty and amidst their comments I managed to put my justification across, "I am against the Death Penalty because it is harsh on the innocent and is an easy way out for those guilty of murder."

It wasn't after the class ended that I learnt of McCarthy's interesting background. He is a close acquaintance of Jack Healey,the former director of AI and was delighted to learn of my internship with his Human Rights Action Center(I am pursuing a dual internship this summer). He invited me to speak to his group at the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars this summer! Wow I would be speaking to a group of highly informed college students about human rights and my research on the coltan conflict in the DRC, something I didn't think I would be sucked into doing. But in all honesty I am looking forward to it. I hope this makes Dr. MacKinnon proud of his global studies graduate.




Yesterday, I was oriented into the organization and all their wonderful projects. Non-violence is not small by any means, their branches are far reached and there is plenty to do here. They could use my help with the Iran program translating movies, making PSA's, researching the news and updating websites. Sam Sedaei, a full time employee of the organization is a phenomenal advocate and has surpassed my impressions of an Iranian man. He keeps a blog with the Huffington Post, has translated an entire non-violence curriculum and websites into Farsi. He is exactly as he describes himself,more American than Iranian. Their Youth Advocate Program International is another of program that interests me.

With so much to do, I believe I will be putting in more than the 20-hours they had me scheduled to work. For now I am headed to finish my research paper that is due tomorrow. Stay tuned for more entries of my Internship Diaries.

Is Twitter the new platform for Human Rights Education?

Early this year, a close friend a.k.a my sister from another mother introduced me to this new networking website that had this expanding network of human rights actvists.It took some convincing on her part, but she assured me that this is a great way to network with people who have similar interests; I wasn't sure if this was for me, it seemed quite pointless to express one's thoughts in 140 characters.
But a great sales person that she is, she managed to sell the idea and I registered, although I wasn't too keen on it. Prior to this I had no clue about its existence and was quite content with facebook. But vola, three months into it and I can't stop tweeting!

Like Facebook, Twitter is an online networking site, with its distinctive features and subscribers. The former is more social, while the latter is designed, I believe to cater towards a more professional crowd; although some of my university friends are registered Twitter users. Its simple concept makes it accessible to working people who are pressed for time to post quick tweets, and there are some users who post ten tweets every couple of hours.

The primary reason I tweet more than I facebook now, is because there is this network of human rights organizations and activists that post updates about human rights and politics as they happen. Its almost like a live coverage of an event! With a total of 45 followers, I couldn't be more informed!

I woke up this morning to a tweet about Roxana Saberi that overjoyed me! Yes he sentence has been reduced and she has been freed. There are constant updates about Darfur, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Burma; everything under the sun.

While I am sure there are other topics and groups, my world on twitter revolves around human rights issues and I feel like twitter has been extremely rewarding for the human rights and news networks!

Mamnoon Doneen for expanding my network!

Mothers Day goes deeper than cards and roses

It is Sunday Morning; No, I am not referring to the Maroon 5 song "Sunday Morning", but it is literary Sunday Morning and a very special one indeed! When Anna Javis created the modern Mother's Day holiday, she intended it to become a day where families can honour their mother. But today it is not so much Javis’ holiday, but a Hallmark, Kroger, and Publix holiday! There is nothing wrong with that, however many of us seem to have forgotten the very essence of today and seem to confuse it with a day to shower our mother with lavish gifts; I have been guilty of this charge as well. However, as I have become more mature I realize that there is more meaning in a handmade card, a hug, and the gift of time. This is what many children around the world do, especially those that cannot afford gifts. There is a secret that I would like to share with my readers: If even one person can refrain from giving into their temptation of buying lavish gifts, so can you; no matter what the reason is behind that choice. This applies to other occassions as well. Every time I am in a store battling the choice of gift to buy for my parents and friends on their special occasions, I am reminded of those more unfortunate than myself. There are several billion mothers in the world today, and so many of them are victims of atrocities and abuse. Earlier this morning I was reading an article in the AJC that resonated with my frame of thought. While it is true that I miss my mother terribly and would like more than anything to hug her at this moment, I think she would be more honoured to see me honouring other women like her who are mothers in midst of a conflict; those mothers who aren’t even aware of the existence of such a day and those whose only wish is to see peace be returned to their families. So today, please take a moment and think of those women who are battling for their lives, in some faraway land. Lets bring them home to our families today. Here's wishing all the world's mothers a Happy Mothers Day. Dear children of these strong mothers, there is no strength in the sword or gun, but in the courage of your mother. To Mom:I love you.

But things just get so crazy living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning rain is falling and I'm calling out to you
Singing someday it'll bring me back to you
Find a way to bring myself home to you

Iran has shamed Justice: Abuse of the Death Penalty

I have been busy with finals week and could not devote the time to write, but I did keep abreast of the news.Now that I have completed all my finals, I am back in action.


If the scales of justice were human, they would hide away in shame when a 20-year old artist, Delara Darabi was secretly executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran early Friday morning at the Rasht prison in the nation's capital. Her crime? One, being mislead into taking the blame for her boyfriend under the assumption that she wouldn't receive a harsh punishment; two, her paintings were too dark for the Islamic fundamentalists; or, her feminity? We can go on ranting and raving about the rationale behind the court's decision, but we all know within, that there is no justification for it. The executioners have violated Iranian law by not informing Delara's lawyer about the execution and also for not abiding by the stay of execution. But do they care? Nada, their only concern was to avoid having her become an international media sensation, to prevent human rights organizations from taking notice of her like they had of US- Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi and the last thing they wanted was a protest of international proportions.Today as I sit at my computer investigating Delara's case, I am baffled at the way this was handled by everyone- the media, the Iranian justice system, the government, her evil boyfriend, and at those in support of the death penalty. The Iranian government is notorious for falsely or inaccurately charging people with crimes they haven't commited,for reasons that there is something about the defendant they do not approve, but the media could have done a better job at conveying her story to their viewers, because I believe that had the public been informed, Delara would be alive today. The Iranian government too sat glued to its power throne and watched her transform from a "Prisoner of color" to a "Martyr of color." Pointing fingers at others is easy; the west has always condemned Iran for her conservative beliefs and actions, but they should know better than that. They should know that while they are busy pointing fingers at Iran, three fingers are poiting right back at them. What happened to Delara and others like here is unacceptable and wrong in the highest sense, but what about death penalty in the US? What about Troy Davis?

Delara is gone, but there are lessons we can learn. My heart grieves for her and her family, and the family of those that have loved ones on death row around the world. The Iranian justice system has shamed international law and themselves, lets hope that Roxana will get the justice she deserves. Lets not sit in wake of a miracle, those don't exist but in fairy tales and in bollywood movies. We as citizens have the opportunity and responsibility to take steps to ensure that what happened with this innocent victim doesn't repeated itself. Put yourself in her paintings, wouldn't you want to be saved if you were her? The "yes" is apparent- so why wait sign petitions to save others on death row in Iran and elsewhere.

Guwahati Residents start the New Year with a REAL BANG!

Calls of “Chai, cold drink, paani bottle,” echoed as poorly uniformed salespersons frequented the overcrowded second- class compartment of the Howrah- Guwahati train. These constant sales pitches did not bother me as much as a rat I spotted under the berth of the passengers seated opposite me did; I screeched and tried to draw attention to the little rodent; clearly, this was not a novelty for the other travelers as they paid little attention to what I was saying. I had insisted that my cousin book a second-class ticket, “… to get the whole experience,” and despite his and my aunt’s constant “buts”, I refused to give in, and now, there was only regret. Tightening the grip on all three of my bags, I prayed to Allah, Bhagwan, Lord, and God as if they weren’t just different names for the same supreme beings, and I was in the midst of the second Battle of Panipat, as was fought by the Mughal Emperor Akbar against Adil Shah Suri and his minister Hemu in 1556. “Never again, never again will I travel via second class…if only I had listened,” were thoughts that shadowed my mind. It had only been a few years since I had moved to America, but the comfortable life had begun to sink in, making it difficult to re-adjust to the life in India.

Fortunately, for me there were two university students traveling in the same compartment. They were returning home for the break and seemed sympathetic to my situation. One of them, studying tourism helped me compile a list of places to visit in the northeast and suggested I stay at Hotel Raj Mahal in Guwahati. She pulled out some brochures from her project file carefully packed between clothes in her suitcase, which she had fastened to the seat handle with a metal chain. The girls offered to help store my bags under the seat as well, but I declined the offer; the rat had ruined it for me. I was glad for their company for I wouldn’t know how else to spend the long hours. A couple of the salesmen were selling 40 and 80 GB flash drives, and I was dumbfounded as I knew that Staples, a major office supply store in America did not sell flash drives with half as much memory space. Yet, I was here in a second-class train compartment and had the opportunity to purchase one for Rs. 1000 (approximately 20 USD). The salespersons somehow seemed unwavering to my requests, and would not allow me to snap a picture of the flash drives. After an uncomfortable and sleepless over night journey, (I had my leg elevated on my suitcase, my back pack as a pillow, and the bag containing home cooked meals, fruits and snacks on my side) we had finally arrived at our destination.

While I had survived the bloodshed at the second battle, little did I know that another army was anticipating my coming, the force of this one was nothing short of the army at the third Battle of Panipat in 1776; well, close enough. Did I mention that I had survived the first battle when I managed to arrive safely in Kolkatta (formerly Calcutta) from Pune, followed by my narrow escape from my bizarre experience with a pundit at ‘Goddess Kali Ghat’ at 5 a.m.? He was trying to sell me Rs.200 worth of prasad (holy sweets). Fortunately, I spotted a police station and took refuge there until shops opened three hours later. It was not my cup of tea trying to squeeze my way through a mob which was trying to leave, and one that was trying to enter the station. I heaved a sigh of relief as I stepped out; I had miraculously endured all the three Panipats and I was not terrified to say the least. I boarded a cycle-rickshaw, enjoying the view as the rickshaw wallah peddled to Hotel Raj Mahal. Soon however, I realized that this trip had lasted longer than five minutes, the time I was told it would take to arrive at the hotel; of course, the driver had peddled the rickshaw via the longer route, to demand a higher wage. We argued and he settled for Rs. 100, which I would later learn was too high a price for the distance I had traveled.

I checked into the hotel, took a warm shower and a short but refreshing nap, waking to a knock on the door. A server was delivering my order of masala (spiced) chai. That evening I took a little stroll exploring the busy city area surrounding the hotel, stopping only briefly to speak with the locals about the bomb blasts, one of which had exploded the day I boarded the train for Howrah. “It is difficult at this point to say who is responsible, but whoever did this was trying to send a message to Chidambaram,” said a hardware store owner who refused to be identified. His employees stood behind him nodding. Three bombs had exploded in crowded market places hours before Home Minister P. Chidambaram was to visit the state. The first of the January 1 blasts took place at Birubari around 2.35 p.m. It was followed by blasts at Bhootnath at 4.15 p.m. and at Bhangagarh an hour later. It wouldn’t be suitable to say this, but I thought it was ironic that the names of all three affected areas started with a “B”. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were used, according to reports in major national and local newspapers.

While investigations were on going, it was believed that banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) militants were responsible for five fatalities and 35 injuries as a result of the blasts. G.M. Srivastava took over as Assam’s chief of police after the October 2008 blasts. He was quoted in the Indian Express saying, “We believe the blasts are the handiwork of ULFA. We had inputs that some members of ULFA’s 709 Battalion have sneaked into the city over the past few days. We have been on their trail for quite some time.” From newspaper reports and from speaking with the hotel staff, I learnt that the government was aware that the militant group was planning the attacks. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in an interview to the press had said, “It is not that we did not have prior information. We had inputs, and it was because of steps taken that the impact was less.” It was a shame that despite these precise tips the government had failed to prevent the blasts. The bombs were planted in a trashcan, on a bicycle and in a busy vegetable market. As a result of such negligence on the part of the police and the government, I was not surprised when while attending a prayer meeting, I witnessed a protest led by the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) political group carrying signs that read, “Our government has failed to protect us,” three days after the second set of blasts in a crowded marketplace near the Maligaon railway crossing market in Guwahati. Three people were killed and ten injured when a bomb believed to have been strapped to a bicycle, parked between two scooters, exploded. This brought the total death toll to nine.

“Cars were damaged and the wounded were rushed to local hospitals,” said Bakul Ghose, leader of Indian National Trade Union Congress, also a well-known social worker in the community. Considering that the police and army had gunned down 20-year-old Pranjal Deka, believed to be the main suspect in the prior bombings, the day before, it was unclear who would claim responsibility for the explosion on Friday. “We don’t know who is responsible; it is the police’s job to find out. We are only community members who are concerned with the human side of things,” said Ghose as she and her friends scanned the area for potential stationary vehicles. Police security while scarce was scattered around the area, and several community members were preparing for a Nam- a prayer ritual for the victims and their families. I was surprised at their hospitality and enthusiasm. As a journalist, I had traveled from Atlanta, Georgia to cover the story and this meant a great deal to them. Because of this they did all they could, despite my urges for them not to, to see to my comfort. Market committee members Moon Moon Sarnah, Bakul, and their secretary Budu Das were extremely patient as I learnt the names and significnace of various motifs, instruments including the nagara, and bhajans as part of the ritual. The local media, Das said, had chosen not to show up, despite them being aware of the event; I was surprised.

Following the pooja, the guru invited me to come to the microphone and address the public. I hadn’t expected this and didn’t know what to say. Bakul, Sarnah, and others gathered around as the main pundit put a white scarf around my neck. I was being honored as a journalist by the local community and this gesture brought tears to my eyes. “Please accept my condolences, I am not sure why and who did this, but know that you have at least one person, me, who pledges to bring an end to the hatred that reigns the world today and I am not alone in this fight.” Loud cheers and claps followed my Namaste; I held back my tears.Ghose, Surnah, two of their friends and their sons treated me to a cup of chai and mithai (sweets) in a local dhaba. While I enjoyed my conversation with the ladies about Bhogali Bihu, a festival that is celebrated at the end of the harvesting season in Assam and in many parts of the northeast, their sons were more interested in American pop culture. We exchanged our contact information, following which they insisted that I let their driver drive me home; I accepted and continued chatting with the ladies, who only a few moments ago had conferred upon me such honor. Today, I continue to stay in contact with these wonderful individuals, to strengthen a relationship that started quite unexpectantly.

Is Saberi being used as a scapegoat to hamper Iran-US peace?

Everyone, I hope has heard of Roxana Saberi, a US born, Iranian journalist who was charged with Espionage in Iran and has been sentenced to eight-years in prison on Saturday. Read NPR's weekend edition report here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103246067. The verdict of the Iranian revoluntionary court is clearly not based upon evidence, but false accusations that are intended to hamper the new hope of peace between the United States and Iran's leadership. As a journalist and human rights activist I have a special interest in this case, that is clearly a big blow to the human rights movement. I am an aspiring foreign correspondent and am currently pursuing research about the treatment of news media in different countries including democratic, non-democratic and autocratic nations. According to my family many of whom live in Iran, Saberi has become victim to the animosity between the two nations. But why her, many ask and I have just the answer. She is a women, and was arrested purchasing wine (this is a breach of Islamic laws in the first place) and freelances for American media. The revolutionary government of Iran is making a point here, we do not welcome US- Iranian relationship in any form or fashion. An Iranian born in the US, she was a perfect scapegoat. Of course this isn't fair, and don't be surprised but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is on her side. Although a great thing, I don't know how much of power he can exert to ensure her safety and release, considering that elections are about 2 months away and he is running for re-election.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I urge you to sign the petition on the following facebook group: Release and return journalist Roxana Saberi from IR custody.