Hello All! Sorry for the lack of updates things have been crazy but in the wake of the recent debates and headlines there will be plenty to write about. Coming up for TRA: a creative piece on Zen, video games, our 2 cents about Stephen Colbert's campaign for presidency, a profile on Mitt Romney, and an endangered species bootmaker. Sounds exciting? Oh it is!! For now Happy Halloween everyone! We hope you enjoyed yourselves, we know that we did. Some of us are a little untrusting of Halloween though as Stephen Colbert said, "Costumes are lies that you wear." Oh well, we can't all be Halloween lovers! haha
Also, we are testing out a new column Person of The Week? What do you think?
- Happy Halloween
LOVE: The Riot Act Writers
AMC, BC, FT.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Big Girls Don’t Cry: The Condoleezza Rice Story
It is with mixed feelings that I write this entry. You see I am a feminist; plain and simple. To me being a feminist is very important. I understand the importance of gender equality and women’s issues being brought to the floor. Now that I have stated my position it is with mixed feelings and emotions that I write about Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
“Condi” as the media has nicknamed her is Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs a.k.a the National Security Advisor. She is an inspiration to women everywhere who dream of holding a political office. I will not take the time to sing her accomplishments and awards but if you are interested: http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/ricebio.html
James Brown once said, “It’s a man’s world.” The men in the White House may talk a big game but Condi PLAYS a big game. The game that she is playing right now though might be called, “Oh shit, I hold the key to whether or not we will be invading Iran.” FREEZE this is where my homegirl Condi and I have some issues.
The whole idea for this entry started while I was reading the Sept 07 issue of GQ magazine. Yes, I bought a copy of GQ magazine. (As my friend and contributor Justin stated, “That’s just weird. I don’t go around reading Cosmo.”) Anyway, I bought it because Barack Obama was on the cover and we all know he is my main man.
In the Sept ’07 issue they had a countdown article of the 50 Most Powerful People in DC. And guess who is rocking the # 1 spot? Tada! Condi Rice baby! The issue stated, ‘Whether we (the U.S.) will go to war with Iran before the end of Bush’s term rests largely with her.” So the fate of the free world rests in the hands of a woman who jokingly referred to President George W. Bush as her “husband” in an interview. Interesting.
Dr. Rice please stand up and be better than the administration who currently employs you. As a country we are spending billions of dollars in the Middle East who no resolution in sight. You grew up in Birmingham, Alabama in the midst of the civil rights movement. Please try and adopt a peaceful outlook on our relations with the Middle East and let’s try and solve this with an end date in mind. You have heard it chanted in the streets, you have seen it on tee-shirts and bumper stickers try to heed its words: HANDS OFF IRAN!!!! ..Unless you want your great-grandchildren still paying (literally and emotionally) for this war.
According to many government sources, media sources, interest groups, and student organizations Condi Rice is indeed the most powerful person in Washington, DC. Condi, you have won that number 1 spot. Now what are you going to do with it?
-AMC
*Is anyone else concerned that such a fate rests in Rice’s hands? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Click it and tell us what you think!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Immaturity In Foreign Affairs or “Am I Going To Have To Separate You Two?”
Volume 1. Turkey v. House Foreign Relations Committee
Justin Vossler
Let me start this out with the most painfully obvious statement I can. Turkey, I love you, but your Ottoman Grandfathers really did kill 1.5million ethnic Armenians. That is genocide. I mean lets call a spade a spade, we’re all slightly resembling grown-ups here. Turkey has long had a special law on the books that says if you contradict popular Turkish opinion on cultural and historical heritage (read, whatever the governmentsays is right, is right), you go to jail. Maybe, they’ll kill you. It depends. No “Ataturk, Ata-Jerk” slogans for fundamental Muslims, for two reasons. You really can’t rip off the classic Ayatollah Ass-a-hola,” and two, if you mess with the Turkish George Washington, you're toast.
Turkey has adopted a rather strange opinion on the Armenian genocide, which President Bush calls a historic mass killing. Turkey says that first of all, that was an Ottoman party, and “we aren’t them.” Secondly, ask any Turkish official and they will very matter-of-factly inform you that the startlingly simultaneous death of 1.5 million Armenians was a “massacre, but not a genocide.” So to the officials of Turkey chilling out in Ankara, I say this: Grow Up. You killed one eighth of what theNazis killed in concentration camps roughly 30 years later, and they were all of the same ethnicity: Armenian. That was not a plague, not a nmassacre, not an ethnicity wide suicide pact, that was your grandfathers and great-grandfathers, picking up rifles and pistols and scimitars and whatever was handy, and they hacked and stabbed and shot people because they were not Turkish. You need, absolutely need, to stand up, stepforward, and say “Yes, 90 years ago our people slaughtered 1.5 million others, in the midst of a World War, because they were not Turks. We have offered many explanations, saying they were buddy-buddy with Russia, and they were guerilla insurrectionists. But we killed them. And we formally apologize.” Then, give the relatives your most heartfelt apologies, maybe money if they want it, construct a memorial, repeal the law, and let your nation heal. You were deeply divided after the Empire collapsed, and still are. This will help bring two groups together. But why is this suddenly such a hot-button issue? Well, Americans stuck their nose into something at the wrong time, as we so frequently want to do. I smell politics afoot.
Turkey has been America’s best Muslim ally. The Jordanians are good people, and the Kuwaitis, the Qataris, the Pakistanis, and the Bahrainians. The Saudis are also very close with us, but because we have money, they have oil, we want oil, we give them guns and money, the latter of which has an odd tendency to show up in the coffers of terrorists. Not all of it, not even the majority of it, but it does. This is not, however an indictment of the Saudi royal family. The Turks are probably our best and main Muslim ally in the war on terror, as previously stated. We have an airbase there, we ship equipment through and over it, they provided a staging area in the beginning. These folks have stuck their neck out for Americans before. And now, we express our gratitude with condemnation? Well, not all of us. The House Committee on Foreign Relations. Why? Well, permit me to share my theory. The Democratic Congress is a paper tiger. All bark, and no bite(not thattigers bark). After a series of triumphant, non-binding resolutions on ending the war in Iraq and bringing the troops home, they figured out a clever way to put some hurt on the American military. They saw that Turkish-American relations have one issue dividing them. Kurds. Kurdistan, a make-believe country that the world’s largest ethnic group without a homeland desperately wishes to create. Lately, the Kurds of Northern Iraq have been mounting obnoxious little raids into Turkey to aid the separatist movement there. Turkey is not a big fan. America protects the Kurds, trying to ignore it. Anyway, by telling Turkey “Shame on you,” the HCFR is trying to chastise the Turks, turning on an international ally. Turkey is not amused. They have threatened to stop letting the military use Incirlik Air Base, a huge cog in the aerial resupply machine. Nancy Pelosi has convinced the HCFR to bring up this issue to separate America and Turkey, put a resupply crunch on the forces in Iraq, and by disrupting the logistics cause America to pull out. Very devious, Madame Speaker.
But issues arise. If we don’t have the Turkish airbases, we would be attempting to extract 130,000 or so troops via less facilities, making it a big transportation snafu. Plus, Sec. Def. Gates says that resupply without using Turkey can be done. So you have just done something you yourself have condemned the President for: Destroying relations with a sovereign country for no reason. Secondly, its like Turkey passing legislation saying Little Big Horn was genocide, that the Indian Wars were genocide, to which you would say ok, thanks, next topic. In conclusion, Turkey needs to grow up, and the HCFR needs to focus on the problems of the present, and not meddle in events of the past it cannot change, for political value or otherwise.
PS: Nice try, Pelosi.
*Contributing author Justin Vossler is a 2007 graduate of Wellsville SHS in Wellsville, NY. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in History at SUNY Geneseo. He hopes to one day pursue his Doctorate and teach.
Justin Vossler
Let me start this out with the most painfully obvious statement I can. Turkey, I love you, but your Ottoman Grandfathers really did kill 1.5million ethnic Armenians. That is genocide. I mean lets call a spade a spade, we’re all slightly resembling grown-ups here. Turkey has long had a special law on the books that says if you contradict popular Turkish opinion on cultural and historical heritage (read, whatever the governmentsays is right, is right), you go to jail. Maybe, they’ll kill you. It depends. No “Ataturk, Ata-Jerk” slogans for fundamental Muslims, for two reasons. You really can’t rip off the classic Ayatollah Ass-a-hola,” and two, if you mess with the Turkish George Washington, you're toast.
Turkey has adopted a rather strange opinion on the Armenian genocide, which President Bush calls a historic mass killing. Turkey says that first of all, that was an Ottoman party, and “we aren’t them.” Secondly, ask any Turkish official and they will very matter-of-factly inform you that the startlingly simultaneous death of 1.5 million Armenians was a “massacre, but not a genocide.” So to the officials of Turkey chilling out in Ankara, I say this: Grow Up. You killed one eighth of what theNazis killed in concentration camps roughly 30 years later, and they were all of the same ethnicity: Armenian. That was not a plague, not a nmassacre, not an ethnicity wide suicide pact, that was your grandfathers and great-grandfathers, picking up rifles and pistols and scimitars and whatever was handy, and they hacked and stabbed and shot people because they were not Turkish. You need, absolutely need, to stand up, stepforward, and say “Yes, 90 years ago our people slaughtered 1.5 million others, in the midst of a World War, because they were not Turks. We have offered many explanations, saying they were buddy-buddy with Russia, and they were guerilla insurrectionists. But we killed them. And we formally apologize.” Then, give the relatives your most heartfelt apologies, maybe money if they want it, construct a memorial, repeal the law, and let your nation heal. You were deeply divided after the Empire collapsed, and still are. This will help bring two groups together. But why is this suddenly such a hot-button issue? Well, Americans stuck their nose into something at the wrong time, as we so frequently want to do. I smell politics afoot.
Turkey has been America’s best Muslim ally. The Jordanians are good people, and the Kuwaitis, the Qataris, the Pakistanis, and the Bahrainians. The Saudis are also very close with us, but because we have money, they have oil, we want oil, we give them guns and money, the latter of which has an odd tendency to show up in the coffers of terrorists. Not all of it, not even the majority of it, but it does. This is not, however an indictment of the Saudi royal family. The Turks are probably our best and main Muslim ally in the war on terror, as previously stated. We have an airbase there, we ship equipment through and over it, they provided a staging area in the beginning. These folks have stuck their neck out for Americans before. And now, we express our gratitude with condemnation? Well, not all of us. The House Committee on Foreign Relations. Why? Well, permit me to share my theory. The Democratic Congress is a paper tiger. All bark, and no bite(not thattigers bark). After a series of triumphant, non-binding resolutions on ending the war in Iraq and bringing the troops home, they figured out a clever way to put some hurt on the American military. They saw that Turkish-American relations have one issue dividing them. Kurds. Kurdistan, a make-believe country that the world’s largest ethnic group without a homeland desperately wishes to create. Lately, the Kurds of Northern Iraq have been mounting obnoxious little raids into Turkey to aid the separatist movement there. Turkey is not a big fan. America protects the Kurds, trying to ignore it. Anyway, by telling Turkey “Shame on you,” the HCFR is trying to chastise the Turks, turning on an international ally. Turkey is not amused. They have threatened to stop letting the military use Incirlik Air Base, a huge cog in the aerial resupply machine. Nancy Pelosi has convinced the HCFR to bring up this issue to separate America and Turkey, put a resupply crunch on the forces in Iraq, and by disrupting the logistics cause America to pull out. Very devious, Madame Speaker.
But issues arise. If we don’t have the Turkish airbases, we would be attempting to extract 130,000 or so troops via less facilities, making it a big transportation snafu. Plus, Sec. Def. Gates says that resupply without using Turkey can be done. So you have just done something you yourself have condemned the President for: Destroying relations with a sovereign country for no reason. Secondly, its like Turkey passing legislation saying Little Big Horn was genocide, that the Indian Wars were genocide, to which you would say ok, thanks, next topic. In conclusion, Turkey needs to grow up, and the HCFR needs to focus on the problems of the present, and not meddle in events of the past it cannot change, for political value or otherwise.
PS: Nice try, Pelosi.
*Contributing author Justin Vossler is a 2007 graduate of Wellsville SHS in Wellsville, NY. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in History at SUNY Geneseo. He hopes to one day pursue his Doctorate and teach.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
A Convenient Truth
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! The Riot Act is extending congratulations to Al Gore who was awarded the Nobel Prize for 2007.
--www.nobelprize.org
Al Gore is a great human being, husband, humanitarian, and author. In case you didn't know he also won the 2000 election. Anyway... to the man who "warms" our heart: congrats Al you deserve it! Even though I am still a little mad at you for not running in the 2008 election there is always 2012. Do it for me Al! Do it for all us! Do it for the democrats, the penguins, and most importantly...LEONARDO DICAPRIO!! I mean come on we watched the 2007 Oscars. He would really appreciate a presidential bid and to tell you the TRUTH so would we.
-AMC
Al Gore is a great human being, husband, humanitarian, and author. In case you didn't know he also won the 2000 election. Anyway... to the man who "warms" our heart: congrats Al you deserve it! Even though I am still a little mad at you for not running in the 2008 election there is always 2012. Do it for me Al! Do it for all us! Do it for the democrats, the penguins, and most importantly...LEONARDO DICAPRIO!! I mean come on we watched the 2007 Oscars. He would really appreciate a presidential bid and to tell you the TRUTH so would we.
-AMC
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Revolution Will Be Computerized
"I have always relied on the kindness of strangers." T. Williams
So, its on ladies and gents. This is The Riot Act. I have been discussing it and discussing it with friends, professors, and mentors for a while and it is actually happening. But be warned this is not your typical blog! If you are looking for cheap G.W. Bush jokes, who Paris Hilton is banging this week, or what drug Brit Brit is currently on then you should probably leave. But if what you are looking for is smart political banter, witty commentary, pop culture/media dealings, keen social observations, and some clever prose – look no farther. It won’t just be me though, I am really lucky to have some amazingly intelligent friends who are gearing up to write for TRA. I am hoping to have other people writing this so its not all my nonsense filling up this blog. So please if you have suggestions, tell me them. If you want to write for this, contact me. And for the love of God comment. In an era of celebrity obsession, stereotyping, conformity, and political witch-hunting let us have healthy debate, and informed conversation. No one is “safe” in this blog so liberals, conservatives, socialists, communists, cynics, optimists, divas, athletes and celebrities alike…beware. Lets break down party lines, perceptions, and have some real discussion. We only fear what we do not understand.
Who is behind all this “rioting” business you ask? I’m just a lady who likes History, Music, Politics, Education, Pop Culture, and intelligent humor (i.e. Keith Olbermann, Hannity, Jon Stewart, etc.). I want to be a professor and a historian. I’d like to one day publish books about historical events (1865-present), and write books about pop culture and how it has changed through the years. Right now my biggest commitment is finishing my degree. I am currently writing a huge paper including charts, documents, and interviews with songwriters (1960s-present) about how history, politics, and social environment has changed them and inspired their art. I also hope to one day publish a book about my family and hold a political office. Hi, I’m Ashley Chameides and I want to change the world.
So, its on ladies and gents. This is The Riot Act. I have been discussing it and discussing it with friends, professors, and mentors for a while and it is actually happening. But be warned this is not your typical blog! If you are looking for cheap G.W. Bush jokes, who Paris Hilton is banging this week, or what drug Brit Brit is currently on then you should probably leave. But if what you are looking for is smart political banter, witty commentary, pop culture/media dealings, keen social observations, and some clever prose – look no farther. It won’t just be me though, I am really lucky to have some amazingly intelligent friends who are gearing up to write for TRA. I am hoping to have other people writing this so its not all my nonsense filling up this blog. So please if you have suggestions, tell me them. If you want to write for this, contact me. And for the love of God comment. In an era of celebrity obsession, stereotyping, conformity, and political witch-hunting let us have healthy debate, and informed conversation. No one is “safe” in this blog so liberals, conservatives, socialists, communists, cynics, optimists, divas, athletes and celebrities alike…beware. Lets break down party lines, perceptions, and have some real discussion. We only fear what we do not understand.
Who is behind all this “rioting” business you ask? I’m just a lady who likes History, Music, Politics, Education, Pop Culture, and intelligent humor (i.e. Keith Olbermann, Hannity, Jon Stewart, etc.). I want to be a professor and a historian. I’d like to one day publish books about historical events (1865-present), and write books about pop culture and how it has changed through the years. Right now my biggest commitment is finishing my degree. I am currently writing a huge paper including charts, documents, and interviews with songwriters (1960s-present) about how history, politics, and social environment has changed them and inspired their art. I also hope to one day publish a book about my family and hold a political office. Hi, I’m Ashley Chameides and I want to change the world.
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