What I’ve been wanting to say, but didn’t know how

Someone had to say it, and Paul Krugman did. We can all recognize the sacrifices people made and the lives that were lost on 9/11 without having to agree with the way that this country’s politicians handled the aftermath of the situation. It was shameful. And I know that — just like Paul Krugman — I can say that without it making me unpatriotic.

The truth is — and we hate to hear it but — those who attacked the United States, on our own soil, on that ill-fated day 10 years ago…they won. They accomplished exactly what they set out to: they took the most idealistic nation — a beacon of freedom and opportunity, a bastion of liberty and civil rights — and brought us down to their level. Yes, we’d had our missteps and committed our fair share of wrongs (and more) but to many, both in this country and out, the United States was a symbol — a symbol of what was possible, a symbol of what we could be. That all changed.

In the years following the attacks we methodically hacked away at the rights and privacies of our own citizens – those that we should have, at that time, protected the most. We traded death for death abroad until the innocent casualties of non-Americans multiplied to far greater numbers than our own. We became the worst possible versions of ourselves: a nation of bickering children, increasingly stratified and separated by wealth, class and politics. We neglected the content of a man’s character and, yet again, focused our attention, our prejudice, our judgment on the color of his skin. We condemned other religions and points of view. To protest, to disagree, to hope for more became unpatriotic and patriotism became the rallying cry of those who sought to plunge our great nation into hate, those who would nurture the thirst for revenge, those who would embark on an unyielding quest for vengeance.

New York Firemen fly the American flag in the midst of World Trade Center debris.

We can see clearly the change that has happened. That eleventh day of September only ten years ago exhibited what people can do together. Feats thought impossible were overcome. Lives thought lost were saved. All through the power of love – love for one’s country and love for one’s fellow man. Those who aided in the evacuation and rescue efforts in New York and Washington, officers and civilians alike, are the real-life heroes of today. Those who gave their lives to save someone else’s did what I — and I believe all of us — hope we would have the courage to do were we given the same choice. Even now, as I write, I’m overwhelmed by the compassion and conviction with which those men and women acted, and unflinchingly at that.

Then, just more than four months before this tenth anniversary, we saw the culmination of the hate and lust for blood that had been brewing in this country, despicably fostered by those with their eye on personal gain – be it money, power or otherwise. We all heard somehow: the manhunt was over, Osama Bin Laden had been killed. And while I will not mourn the man, there was a part of me that was lost on that day. The part of me that was unbelievably proud to be an American — the part that had been whittled away at over the last nine or so years through two absurd and unjustified wars, which had been justified to us because of 9/11. That day, May 2, 2011, I witnessed my fellow Americans celebrate death. And even though Bin Laden did orchestrate the attacks, as well as numerous others, for some reason it just didn’t feel right; all we had done was add one more to the death toll. We said: “You killed us, so we’ll kill you,” and we did. And just as Al Qaeda celebrated the “downfall of America,” likewise, we celebrated theirs.

To some, 9/11 was all about how we, as Americans, had been wronged and, no matter what it took, we would set things right. That is an empty quest, my friends. I, instead, see 9/11 as a day where people came together to make the best out of something that was terrible beyond our wildest dreams. There was so much potential to bring hope out of despair and to show love instead of hate. But I fear we were so busy trying to avenge the ones we lost that we forgot to honor them. As the saying goes: actions speak louder than words.

Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon: seeds of democracy blooming in Mid-East

Anti-government protesters take part in a demonstration in Cairo on 25 January. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters, courtesey guardian.co.uk

I’m sure many of you have heard about the recent political strife currently shaking the very foundations of government in the Arab world. However, I’m also aware that many people (mostly Americans) have not heard or know much about the current situation. And, even if they have heard, they most likely do not understand the extent of the current political — I may even call it revolutionary — climate in the Middle East.

This first thing that many Americans do not understand, or grasp, about the people who live in the many countries that lay along the Eastern bank of the Mediterranean is that — religion (and it’s a big one), culture and location aside — they’re just like us. People everywhere, no matter how you were raised, where you were born or what you were told you couldn’t do, have, or through certain experiences, find one concept in common: that of freedom and self-determination. It is something that all men (and women, of course) yearn for. It is the same motivation that caused a group of emigrants to leave England more than 250 years ago and start a new way of life in a faraway land. It is the same ideal that caused French peasants to demand of their corrupt aristocracy that they, yes, even peasants, be treated as equals. And it is the same seed of an idea that, after those emigrants had lost sight of their own beginnings, caused a slave to run away from his master in search of a — in most cases harder yet — better life. Because most Americans were born and have grown up with what most of the people of the world lack, we (yes, even myself) take that incredible gift for granted as a God-given right. And, though it may be given by God, that certainly does not stop men from constantly and consistently taking it away.

Another thing that many people do not understand is the area itself. Many see the place we now almost refer to with disdain as the Middle East as an ancient land with a repressive native religion, contempt for technology and progress and a history of suppression and subjugation of women. However, many people (and I largely put Americans in this group again largely because our government/education system has sheltered us from much of the truth) don’t realize that the early Muslim empires dominated the Levant for more than five centuries and were seen as a center of culture and science because of technological advances in chemistry, engineering and more. What people don’t realize is that during the 1950s and on many Middle Eastern countries were becoming more and more accepting of women as full citizens and the idea of social progress. What people don’t know is that, despite many Middle Eastern countries only gaining full independence from British or U.S. influence during the 40s, there were a couple countries (Iran being one of them) that seemed on the brink of Democracy. Of course all progress ended when, unable to watch the Arab countries move towards self-determination because of Western oil interests in the area, the United States and Britain stepped in and set up puppet governments, which inevitably had to resort to violence and suppression to maintain power. All of these events would lead to later events such as the Islamic revolution in Iran that ended with a decidedly and vehement anti-Western sentiment in the region.

Egyptian demonstrators protest near Egyptian police (R) to demand the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak and calling for reforms on January 25, 2011. The protesters, carrying flags and chanting slogans against the government, rallied in a protest inspired by the uprising in Tunisia which led to the ouster of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Courtesy: Washington Post

So, the running-out of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the anti-Mubarak protests in Egypt and unrest in Yemen, Jordan and Lebanon could be the start to a very exciting chain events that could see — for the first time in the last 50 years — truly democratic government in the region. And, yes, they might be slightly, if not more, Nationalistic and anti-U.S. at least at the outset. But, to tell you the truth, they deserve to be because the United States has — contrary to our pro-democracy talk and our idealistic fervor — been the enemy of true democracy in the Mid-East since we’ve had the ability to exert influence in the area. And why might you ask yourself? It’s obvious: because like everyone else out there, we’re looking out for number one. But if we would let go for a change (and we have, so far), I think we could see the start of something very beautiful.

It just seems that in all of these countries conditions kept getting worse and worse for the largest parts of the population. On Friday, Talal Salman, the editor of Al Safir, an Arabic newspaper was quoted as saying: “The experience of Tunisia will remain the guiding light for Egypt and may be so for people in Yemen, Sudan and the rest of the Arab world looking for change, with a readiness to accept risk, especially given that even the worst possibilities are better than the status quo.” And Fadel Shallak, a Lebanese writer and a former government minister was quoted in the same New York Times article: “After so many years of political stagnation, we were left with choices between the bad and the worse,” he said. “Now there’s something happening in the Arab world. A collective voice is being heard again.”

And this same attitude of desperation has been echoed by the people of Tunisia and Egypt in their protests. They are standing up to say, “We won’t take it any more!” And while desperation is sometimes quite unpredictable, it is also a necessary ingredient of a true revolution, a true “turning of views.” Laith Shbillat, a resident of Jordan and supporter of change may have said it best when referencing poet Abu Al-Qasim Al-Shabi. He said, “If one day, a people desires to live, then fate will answer their call,” quoting the famous poet. “And their night will then begin to fade, and their chains break and fall.” Call it revolution, call it whatever you want but the Arabic people desire to live, and their call will be answered.

The world watches rescue efforts in Chile

 

 

Courtesy of AP/Hugo Infante, Chilean Government

For the past 69 days people all around the globe have watched, hoped, tweeted and emailed about and prayed for the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped by an August 5th collapse at the mine they were working in. As of today, the rescue efforts have come to fruition with more than half (21 of the 33) of the miners already above ground and back with their families and loved ones. And this is truly something to be celebrated.

But what impresses and intrigues me the most is not the miners’ determination — though unwavering — or the steadfast efforts of the rescuers — though commendable — but the fact that the entire planet has, in fact, watched this tragedy from start to finish and has taken part in the ebb and flow of emotions that are associated with a situation like this. Twenty years ago, maybe even 10, there would not and could not have been such extensive and ongoing coverage of an overseas event that, in spite of its draw, is not as big as many stories that have been followed as closely in the past. Yes, Americans closely watched the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Iranian Hostage Crisis in ’79 but I don’t remember seeing something that so affected people not either directly or, necessarily, event indirectly involved in it.

It is a fact that, with the evolution of technology, every day it is easier for people to be connected with other people or events far away from wherever they are at that moment. And I believe that — as this crisis showed — people, regardless or nationality or allegiance will be more able and inclined to cheer for humanity as a race; to rejoice in our achievements, learn from our short-comings and sympathize with those affected by tragedy. I’m cheering for everybody but, at this point, I guess all we can do is hope.

LinkedIn: the best new resource on the Internet

I have had an account on LinkedIn for some time now. However, it was just recently that I attended a workshop given by a good friend who owns and operates an office furniture company but also teaches these seminars in order to educate business professionals, job seekers, etc. on how to utilize this power they have right at the tips of their fingers.

His main point — and something that seemed to me as very obvious, but only after he had said it — was that LinkedIn’s power comes not from who you are connected directly to (though it starts there) but from your second and third degree connections through those people. The fact is that these connections have always been there but now you can see all of them so easily!

And it really is quite amazing when you think about the possibilities associated with a tool like this. For my friend, LinkedIn constantly generates business, via his more-than-15,000-connections and ever-expanding network of second and third degree connections. It even allows him to find a summer job for his daughter who just graduated high school. For someone like myself who is searching for work, it gives me the added resource of a job-search website but also allows me to follow certain companies (showing me when they have new opportunities, etc.) and even which of my first, second or third degree connections work at that certain company. And you will be amazed at the reach your connections have (LinkedIn even tells me that 1,945 people have joined my overall network just since October 4th!).

The bottom line is that most people have not yet figured out just how to make this amazing tool work for them. Some see the time investment or the ability for people to actually find you and it scares them away. But let me say that the time commitment will be worth it (in fact, those who have a considerable amount of work experience can build formidable networks over just a weekend) and you really do want to be found! Whether you’re already employed or looking, LinkedIn will drive business or attention (you fellow job-seekers) your way like never before.

So, my recommendation would be to find a seminar or something similar that you can attend on how to use LinkedIn. Even a two-and-a-half hour beginner class will help immensely and then you can get right to using this great tool to change the way you do business.

Skiing Interactive: a new way to experience magazines

I wrote an article this week on Skiing magazine’s new digital edition, which will be going interactive some time this fall. Skiing Interactive looks like it will be one of the most exciting products to date.

As I mentioned in the article, Bonnier Corporation, Skiing’s publisher, aimed to provide a “highly engaged user experience” with their interactive magazine and I truly believe they have delivered.  The experience of Skiing Interactive, as demonstrated in their demo video, seems out-of-this-world. With Hi-Def video, loads of photos, an amazing ability to showcase equipment and even the ability to tell you if you would like a certain mountain, Skiing Interactive has everything a skier would want. Absolutely everything.

Something I also touched on before was the fact that, as exciting as this product is, it may very well spell the beginning of the end for print publications (or at least magazines of the same genre). This true because of the richness of the interactivity and the fact that if I were to pick up Skiing Interactive I would never want to simply read Skiing magazine again because when I call Skiing Interactive an experience I mean it; and it is honestly one that you won’t believe.