{"id":16288,"date":"2015-10-02T09:27:01","date_gmt":"2015-10-02T16:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=16288"},"modified":"2015-10-02T09:27:01","modified_gmt":"2015-10-02T16:27:01","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-02102015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/10\/02\/squatchs-open-thread-02102015\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch’s Open Thread 02\/10\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been a fairly relaxing day, although most of it has been spent at the computer working on Friday's and Saturday's articles.  That means tonnes of reading and other research.  Tomorrow I have physio, closely followed by teaching ESL so time is short.  Thanks to Lona for the supply of cat naps to which I avail myself from time to time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Puzzle<\/strong> — Today’s took me 3:24 (average 5:23). To do it, click here<\/a>. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upworthy<\/span><\/a><\/strong> — h\/t JL <\/strong>— <\/span>Cats. We love them, but do they love us? We may never know. But there's one thing we know … cats hate patriarchy.<\/p>\n

If you've ever tried to make a cat live up to your expectations of cat behavior, you probably already know this. They despise ALL systems of unequal power and expectations. Cats are over patriarchy.<\/p>\n

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Of course cats are so over patriarchy!  Check it out.  They are fully into catriarchy!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The New Yorker<\/span><\/strong><\/a> — After the stunning ISIS<\/small> blitz in June, 2014, that captured tremendous territory in Syria and Iraq, Washington employed a so-called “Iraq First” strategy. The U.S.-led coalition committed to using air power to contain ISIS<\/small> in Syria but gave preference to restoring Iraqi sovereignty. Priorities are now shifting, as Syria’s war spreads across continents. The United States would like to replicate the success of the Iran nuclear deal to press for coöperation among China, Russia, Iran, and the European powers, while also enlisting Turkey and the Arab countries that are heavily invested in Syria’s future. At the U.N., on Wednesday, Kerry warned Russia against striking targets beyond ISIS<\/small> or Al Qaeda’s local affiliate. But, Kerry told the Security Council, “The United States supports any genuine effort to fight ISIL<\/small> and Al Qaeda affiliated groups, especially Al Nusra.” If Russia has a “genuine commitment” to defeat ISIS<\/small>, he said, “we welcome that effort” and will work to “deconflict” the respective American and Russian air campaigns in Syria. The bigger question is whether Iran’s interest in coöperation was maxed out with the nuclear deal—or whether old enemies could become unlikely partners in determining Syria’s future.<\/p>\n

As said in The Nation<\/a> "Similarly, each of Kissinger’s Middle East initiatives has been disastrous in the long run. Just think about them from the vantage point of 2015<\/strong><\/span><\/em>: … emboldening Pakistan’s intelligence service, nurturing Islamic fundamentalism, playing Iran and the Kurds off against Iraq, and then Iraq and Iran off against the Kurds, and committing Washington to defending Israel’s occupation of Arab lands.<\/strong><\/em><\/span>"<\/p>\n

Will Iran coöperate on Syria?  It is hard to say.  Russia is backing Assad and bombing Syrian rebel forces which also include ISIS fighters.  As well, Russia has supplied weapons and materiel to Iran. But the US has nurtured Islamic fundamentalism which it now wants to defeat.  It seems that the various countries are doing what is right for them while ignoring the people of Syria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Huffington Post<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — <\/span>Ray Halbritter, representative of the Oneida Indian Nation and an occasional Huffington Post blogger<\/a>, says that instead, Snyder and other supporters of these names and mascots are denying Native Americans a simple request to be seen as equals in the eyes of their non-Native peers.<\/p>\n

"They're so desensitized, they think Indian people are not real people; our children and our concerns are not real to them," Halbritter told HuffPost last year. "They don't think [the debate] is even real, they don't even think it's even worth bringing up or talking about. We're not human beings, we're not even part of humanity. And that's the problem. They think of us as just something to entertain them, or mascots — relics out of a museum."<\/p>\n

Jeb: “But again, I don’t think politicians ought to be having any say about that, to be honest with you. I don’t find it offensive. Native American tribes generally don’t find it offensive.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ah, rich white privilege at it's finest with a rich white male Republican at the helm!  Bush is reprehensible (I wanted to use some other nouns and adjectives but thought better of it since this is TC's blog) as is Snyder.  I wonder where Jeb obtained his information about what Native American tribes find offensive, or not?<\/span><\/p>\n

My Universe<\/strong> — I could not resist sharing this video with you.  I don't know if it's just flip-flops that engenders this reaction or more.  My cats like to use my shoes for sleeping on when they're not on the bed.  Enjoy!<\/span><\/p>\n