Ending the War on Terrorism

Below are some interesting thoughts from Thomas Friedman at the NYT. He proposes a headline of "Bush Administration Calls an End to the 'War on Terrorism'" as one he'd like to see during his 3-month sabbatical to write a book. What he has to say here is sage..... [parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme...I *LOVE* Simon & Garfunkel...When's their next concert?....*end tangent*] Here's the quote:

Bush Administration Calls an End to the "War on Terrorism." No, I haven't taken leave of my senses on the way out the door. I realize that we have enemies and they need to be confronted. But I do not want this to be all that America is about in the world anymore, and that is what has happened under this administration. I don't want the rest of my career to be about an America that exports fear, not hope, and ends up importing everyone else's fears as a result. I don't want it to be about explaining to young Chinese why my government can't give them student visas anymore. I don't want it to be about visiting U.S. Embassies around the world and finding them so isolated behind barbed wire, they might as well not be there at all. Defeating "them" has begun to define "us" in too many ways.

America is so much more than just "Anti-Al-Qaeda Inc." — but our whole identity in the world, and too many aspects of our way of life, are getting contorted around that mission. If we're really having a relevant presidential campaign, I'll come back and find the candidates debating, not who is the "toughest" guy — the jungle is full of them — but who can be the toughest guy while preserving the best of what we had and the best of who we are.

Friedman is correct about this Administration's obsession with defeating terror. Perhaps the obsession is interfering with the ability to implement anti-terrorist measures effectively. I don't think a "war on terror" is the answer, but the U.S. certainly has a great deal of catch-up to play in terms of intelligence (e.g. far too few Arabic speakers and Middle East experts) and security for all its citizens. Could someone possibly identify the goals which the war in Iraq has successfully (or even semi-successfully) met?

Israel prevented 12 suicide bombings in the month of June. There has not been a suicide bombing in 3 months. Security for citizens (Jews and Arabs alike) is paramount and difficult though it may be, executing proper security measures necessitates stripping people of some of their freedoms. Ethnic background is inevitably a factor in how highly someone is suspected, simply based on experience, not racism.

I was in Israel on September 11, 2001. My family and friends were terrified for me. I was *GLAD* I was there and not in the States. I felt *SAFER* there and still *DO* feel safer there. After all, I now live in the place where utter chaos erupted three years ago... And I am quite pessimistic about what the future holds and what are enemies are no doubt planning... Maybe I will make aliyah. There is no place like home...

Dial 911 for Fahrenheit 9/11?

Yesterday was the NYC premiere of Michael Moore's most recent controversial soapbox hit, Fahrenheit 9/11. I stopped by Lincoln Square Cinemas to discover that the 6 evening performances (playing in 3 theaters) for last night were all sold out. Any bets on how high it will place on the "Box Office Hits" list?

I'm not a particularly "political" person, but it will be interesting to see how this film alters the public discourse and even potentially affects the upcoming presidential election. I'm definitely planning on seeing it soon, but I don't expect to endorse it wholeheartedly. I plan to take everything with a grain of salt, and hopefully with further motivation to read up on IR and US public policy. (How I miss the intellectually stimulating college days...)

Speaking of which, Michael Moore admonishes Congressmen for not having read the text of the USA PATRIOT ACT. Have you? Here it is in pdf or html. By the way, PATRIOT is an acronym for:

P roviding
A ppropriate
T ools
R equired to
I ntercept and
O bstruct
T errorism

The New York Times astutely points out that "...while Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' will be properly debated on the basis of its factual claims and cinematic techniques, it should first of all be appreciated as a high-spirited and unruly exercise in democratic self-expression." (emphasis mine) Click here to read the entire article. For a more comprehensive review, visit New York Metro

While it irks me that the title of this film is a rip-off of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, I now have a newfound interest in reading this 1953 classic that addresses issues of censorship and freedom, and is considered a peer of George Orwell's 1984. I'm considering tackling the book before I see the movie, just for purposes of comparison. My unsubstantiated theory is that the parallels between the book and the film will be barely perceptible save for general thematic undertones.

UPDATE: Here's a link to an interesting article about Bradbury's reaction to Moore's film title. Bradbury seems quite peeved, though the film will no doubt inject some life into his book sales. Also, a quick web search results in a number of anti-Moore sites. I can't believe some people devote so much time to slandering someone else.. There is also an anti-Moore documentary you can read more about here.

Who'd Have Thunk It?

The New York Daily News conducted a somewhat unscientific study of how nice New Yorkers really are. The results are mystifying. Notably, 84% of NYers (ie Manhattanites; apologies if I'm being presumptuous) gladly provided directions for the directionless and in the Bronx, 76% loaned their cellphones to the cellphone-less.

Maybe I'm too cynical, but the reporters who were sent out on these "act like clueless tourists and see how nice the New Yorkers are to us" missions must have been pretty damn hot!

I'm sick of the B.S. that 9/11 made New Yorkers nicer people. Puh-lease, it's simply not true. New Yorkers are driven by self-interest, and that's all there is to it. The opportunity to talk with a hottie or land a new hook-up buddy (depending on the level of cockiness) must have prevailed in the reporters' execution of this optimistic study.

And so the story unfolds...

City passes our 'friendly test' -- June 20, 2004

We asked for directions. We asked to share your umbrella.
We even asked to use your (gasp!) cell phone.
Again and again, you answered, 'No problem.'

Out-of-towners come to New York expecting every native they meet will be a cross between Archie Bunker, Andy Sipowicz and Attila the Hun.

But a Daily News survey of hundreds of people in the five boroughs found exactly the opposite: City residents are shockingly friendly, helpful and polite.

Reporters were dispatched to every corner of the big, bad metropolis with orders to pose as tourists, stop passersby for help and be as pesky and clueless as possible...[click here for more!]

Clever Copywriting

I've often thought it would be fun to be a copywriter and come up with ads like the following (in the NYC subway):

"If you're feeling claustrophobic, think of wide-open spaces full of indigenous people selling crafts. Perhaps I can show you travel agents and airline reservations."

(for Verizon SuperPages)

It's creative and resonates with subway riders who are packed in like sardines!

Even the MTA itself (Metropolitan Transit Authority, for you non-NY-ers) had some cool ads telling riders to move their backpacks and turn down their walkmen (or do you prefer walkmans?) However, I doubt that the offending parties paid any heed to them...

The Trials & Tribulations of NYC Dating

Gawker reports on a woman being invoiced for 50% of the cost of her date with a man. Gotta love Manhattan. Check it out at:

Dating In Manhattan: An Exercise In Contract Law

All I can say is "Oy vey!"

The Curse of Being Ordinary...and Other Ramblings

As I meet more and more people in this crazy city, I keep wondering, what is it that differentiates me from being just another 20-something female living in Manhattan???

A corollary of this is the challenge of identifying myself. I remember when I was in college, it was quite easy to describe myself to new people I met. I go to X University where I am majoring in Y and Z. (I wonder if I'll always have the need to maintain such extreme anonymity!) These days though, it seems that the first question out of a new acquaintance's mouth is: So, what do you do?

What DO I do? Well, it's a complicated answer. I've ended up in an industry that has nothing to do with what I studied in college, and am now working independently for a very small company... ie no office, no benefits... also, no strings attached, which I like! (Sketchy men reading, do not take this as an offer!) But, alas, it does not provide me with a satisfactory "identity" to appease those "so-what-do-you-do?"-ers.

Anyway, I doubt that it's my "calling," but only time will tell. It is unfortunate that books like What Color is your Parachute just seem to rehash the obvious. I know that I need to find a job where I can interact with people, put my persuasion skills to use and not be chained behind a desk all day. While I don't want to sell my soul to the corporate world, I also don't wish to work for pennies for a cause I support (ie ISRAEL). Nor could I waste the majority of my waking hours on something that is utterly meaningless in the grand scheme of things... Oh, the agony! {Relax, it's sarcasm}

By the way, it was several years ago that I recognized the quarter-life crisis phenomenon. Why, oh why, could I not have been the one to put it all to paper resulting in a NYT bestseller?

Seriously though, reading through the profiles of the online dating service I use (which will remain unnamed), just underscores to me, either the homogeneity of the community here, or the inability of young people to creatively express their essence. Homogeneity seems like it would be unlikely, here in Manhattan, of all places, but maybe it simply means I am not getting out enough to meet up with people of various stripes, etc.

Long story short, I'm just another disillusioned, overeducated soul wondering what the hell to do with her life!

Hmmmm.... a penny for your thoughts...?? Is anyone out there reading my blog? I really am curious, so please drop a line (comment) to say hello ;)

---

PS I need to find a great (preferably free) site counter, that includes data on where visitors surf in from -- any suggestions?

Zionist Haiku

As my soul blossoms
Klal Yisrael b'yachad
Oolay aliyah
------------------------
Components of haiku:
5/7/5 (syllables)
nature/seasonal reference

Translation:
As my soul (nefesh) blossoms
All of Israel (community) together
Perhaps aliyah (immigration to Israel)

Would love to know if this resonates with anyone or if you have feedback :)

Joining the world of blogging

Welcome to my blog: Single Gal in NYC. Yes I know, it's not overly creative, and my status as "single" is transient, but as long as I'm not married, I think it's a fair descriptor. Hopefully you will enjoy reading about my travails as a young single Manhattanite who strives to be anything but ordinary.

Certainly more will be revealed about me through this blog, but here's for starters...

Adventurous
Bantering
Creative
Disillusioned
Even
Flirty
Genuine
Happy?
Inquisitive
Jaded
Klutzy
Loyal
Marginally
Neurotic
Odd
Persuasive
Quasi-
Rash
Silly
Thoughtful
Unabashedly
Voracious
Witty
XX-coded
Yes I’m a
Zionist