Democracy in Tunisia! Dream on...

I am a cynic, so when I learned that the president of Tunisia had fled amid heavy protests from the people of Tunisia I felt elated... only for a while though. I started to ponder the consequences for Tunisia. Let me set up the background. Tunisia has been a semi-secular state for one generation. The youth coming to power and forming the biggest populace of that country were born into a secular state, however the probably are not completely aware of the religious unrest in which the ex-president had taken over the country. I fear that with democracy will come the political unrest, indeciciveness and last but not least religious unrest. That is what I see in the future of Tunisia. I hope and pray that I am wrong, that a nation full of Tunisian youth will actually follow the ideals on which the overthrew their government, but human greed is too powerful a factor to overlook. Tourism will suffer, prices will rise along with inflation and last but not least greedy powerbrokers within the country will take over and spell doom for the political idealistic society the youth once imagined. I cringe at the very thought of political bondage that the people of Tunisia were under, but let me ask you a question. Will democracy solve the very problems that created the unrest to begin with or will they elaborate and increase them. The Western powers will no doubt laude the Tunisian nation for overthrowing the oppressive regime of the president, but at the same time when things go from bad to worse economically these are the very powers that will indebt the Tunisian nation through IMF aid and then shackle the "democratic" government in so many bonds that they will always be paying their "democratic" debt to the western powers. I lament the bondage that the Tunisian people were under, but I hope for their sake that they haven't just traded one bondage for another.

World Cup 2018 and 2022

Just saw live, FIFA's decision regarding the 2018 and 2022 world cups. To say that I am astonished would be an understatement. My guess would have been England and USA. However, I will say that inclusion of smaller countries and relatively newcomers to the game can only prove to be a boon to the FIFA body. I can understand and appreciate the fact that USA would have been a profitable world cup, and the fact that it may have further raised awareness regarding the sport in the US, however on a long term basis I feel that Qatar (and in general the Middle East) would prove a wonderful place to host the world cup for its continued growth in the region. Go Russia and Qatar!!!

Catch-22 of the Clairvoyance

Catch-22 and clairvoyance
After reading Jeffery Toobin’s book “The Nine…” one can’t help but feel the irony of the decisions that went into the decision by the Supreme Court of suspending the recount in Florida. Albeit the fact that the outcome of the elections after that recount could have gone in either Bush’s or Gore’s favor, but what I am outraged by is the severe partisanship shown by the justices that are planted in the court to uphold the law of the land rather than take sides (which obviously all nine did). The arguments and subsequently the decision by the court (and the majority opinion ruling made by justice Kennedy) were all baffling but more than anything they showed how much the court at the highest levels of the land is biased. I am probably not as much concerned about the decision, but what bothered me is that the nation feels that the guardians of justice are impartial and they uphold the letter or spirit of the law rather than the personal and party opinions that have come to corrupt the annals of political history. I am not a pundit and neither am I a judicial liberal or conservative, but at the same time when I feel that the decorum of the court has been held hostage by the mere exigencies of policy and politics I feel dejected. The election of Samuel Alito Jr. and John Roberts has further sullied the reputation of the court whose beginnings were in the form of John Jay. I am confounded and amazed at the last 20-30 year history of the court. Hoe politicking has had a much major impact on the decisions of the court rather than the spirit which we all look forward to. Alas, I am a lone voice in a sea of millions. I do feel that public opinion is important, but that is exactly what the founders did not want to begin with, a sway of public opinion justifying decisions made by the court. Although I have used strong language, I cannot help but notice whether there would ever be better way to choose justices other than nominations. The only other way would be election which everyone knows has become even less of an institution then when it began. To me it would almost be a catch-22 to change the selection or election of judges. This whole episode almost reminds of a feeling of clairvoyance where people can see the effects of their decisions and even the effects of their actions but far from being the results of clairvoyance they are unable to deal with them. A shame I say a shame.

Trip to MFAH

If frequency of things was the hallmark of how much you care about something or someone, then I would venture a guess that most of the things that we love today would not be present; just a guess. So with trepidation looming large of the rest of my Sunday, I went out to Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH). Now granted that I have been there and seen most of the items on display there, there is always the chance that you will catch something that you might have missed in your earlier visits or maybe even catch a new exhibit.

What I found out there today was more than what I was expecting out of this trip. Not only did I get to see my favorite artists and their creations, but also some absolutely brilliant pieces by one of my favorite artists, Mark Rothko.
For some reason I have always been interested in movements that have been either on the cusp of greatness (but never were) or movements which are so unique that no one really has heard of them, and yet I have never been disappointed at the MFAH. They have something for everyone (this is not a shameless plug for the MFAH but rather a resounding iteration of the wonderful work that they have done here). I have found artists from Georges Braque to Georges Rouault, Cezanne to Pissarro, Manet, Monet and the likes. So it was no surprise to me to find some great new paintings and assemblages (Damian Hearst's morbid assemblage about death comes to mind) to the always entertaining tunnel from the Caroline Weiss Law building to the Audrey Jones building. In the meantime I found "Rhombus 1-6" by Gerhard Richter an absolutely absorbing welcome installation. The modern part (consistent of the second floor of the Caroline Weiss Law building) was something that I could only dream about, absolutely marvelous collections of paintings, and sculptures.
I saw my usual Jackson Pollocks, Mondrians, impressionists, Fauvists, Pointillists etc in the Jones building. I feel that I should interject a bit here. I would put up MFAH against the big cities any day, but I truly feel a lack of modern sculpture here. Maybe the Rothko chapel provides a living, breathing installation outside the Museum which covers up for it in small ways. I feel that other than the classical figures of the Greco-Roman era, we should have more sculpture like the "Soft Fan" or for that matter something my Modigliani, or if possible something from the dynamism movement (it would be a coup de grace if we could land an Umberto Boccioni as they say Hope springs eternal). Maybe I will post some images some other time, but right now I feel I am too busy enjoying Houston and getting reacquainted :-)

Book Reviews

I feel that I should start reviewing books on this blog, as more and more my time is consumed by reading books that are more series rather than stand alone master-pieces (of which I have read a few recently). I know that a review of a book in this universe of books and reviews won't make much of a difference, and yet, I feel that as unique as every human being is, the ideas and emotions involved with books are also pretty unique.
Recently I started and finished reading all the books in the W.E.B. Griffin series related to the Army. The series literally follows the lives of two main antagonists through to its end, with new characters being brought in after the first generation is taken out. I feel that I should warn at this point, that with the very brief background (and even that in the Air Force) my views towards these books (and series, and author to a larger degree) are very much biased. Living in the armed forces atmosphere, gives you a very unique perspective to look at things during your life (even if you are not active in the forces). I loved these books, and without going into too many details, I would say that anyone, who loves to see how the armed forces work, should read these books. They provide probably as approximate a picture as I have seen about what really goes on in the bases, and during training.
The second series that I started reading is also very near and dear to my heart. Alexander McCall Smith may not be categorized as a genius, but damn if I can tell the difference. This whole idea about a "Traditional Built Lady" from Botswana opening up a detective agency was something that initially caught my eye, approximately 2 year ago, and now approximately 6 books into the series later (and counting) I am almost addicted to get my hands on the new installment. The books are pretty simple, I would say the reading and comprehension are at approximately 8-10 grade and the prose is easy to follow with no complex plot twists which are almost like Pho noodles (ah, the exigencies of including a foodie reference in a novel review is priceless). What catches one's eye is that despite this simple prose, the author has intricately woven before us not only the culture of another country but another continent altogether (maybe Sarah Palin should start reading this). The books also explain human relationships and their impact on lives of the people with such efficacy that one can only imagine in one's mind what if the imagination becomes the reality? The characters are lively, and their connections with each other, are something that are the meat and potatoes of the books.
Obviously if you haven't already heard of this No. 1 Ladies detective agency series, then it's time you should. Pick up a copy from your nearest public library (and actually get some use out of your public library funding tax dollars) or if you like, buy the series. I have a pretty good feeling that you will like what you read.

World, Here I come!

Recently I was browsing the Continental website and came across their special offers. I was so happy that they are offering $249 trips from Houston to the Scandanavian countries. The trip that really caught my eye was the one to Oslo. As I researched Oslo and other cities of Norway I was so amazed by the beauty of it. I guess I have decided starting now that whenever I get a chance I will try to visit other countries and in order to remind me of this I have decided to make a list that will keep bugging me until I actually visit the country. Although I have the desire to visit all the countries in the world, remote or not, I know that will only be possible if I have a million bucks with my own personal Jet. So in order to save time (and money) the following places are on my list first.

1. Norway
2. Swededn
3. Denmark
4. Finland
5. Argentina
6. Chile
7. Germany
8. Slovenia
9. Hungary
10. Romania
11. Uzbekistan
12. Australia
13. Mongolia
14. Belarus
15. Lithuania


I guess the order of the countries can change but it would be something if I can visit all of these countries. I am so happy that finally after a long time I will be able to go to these places because I wouldn't need a visa (for most of these) because I am getting my American Citizenship. Nice!

The Earth Seems a little less Green!

As I heard the news of Steve Irwin's death, I felt sad but at the same time I also had this feeling of contentment. I am sure that at any person's death people do feel sad but at the same time why contentment? I could just see Steve looking from above and saying to himslef, "Crikey! that was the way I probably would have wanted to go (not in a freakish accident) but death amongst the creatures that I helped save all over the world. He was probably one of the most recognizable faces, and more than anything I always felt as if he was a great human being. A person who if given a chance I probably would have liked to know better. Alas, that can't be achieved now but I think more than anything I would like to extend my condolences to his wife Terri.

Steve! where ever you are right now know that the Earth has lost one of her sons today, and this earth will be a little less green without your amazing personality, your hard work to save not only the animals but the planet and more than anything your efforts to let the human beings know that there is something precious in this world that they have to look after. Thanks for bringing smiles and happiness to a lot of people and places. We shall miss you Steve.