Right on with this essay. The last paragraph should be required reading for those of us concerned about the present and future of this great(?) nation.
It's clearly past time for a Palestinian state. The Palestinians must have something on which to build a future for themselves and their children. And it needs to be a state with well-defined and internationally-recognized borders. The pre-1967 borders are a good place to start negotiations for the two states. Certainly Israel has security concerns and these must be recognized by the Palestinians. But the development of massive Israeli colonialism and the resulting apartheid are signs of absolute failure on the part of the Israelis. No good will come of this current arrangement.
There are a few of us Oklahomans who regularly read Juan Cole's pieces. And some of us even vote our personal interests which really are not represented by the likes of Coburn and Inhofe. The problem facing progressives in Oklahoma is that politics still revolves around "god, gays, and guns." These are the emotional appeals that are to be found in almost every political campaign in the state. There are precious few discussions about economic inequality and investments for the future of all Oklahomans. The lack of sufficient school safety measures -- at least reasonable measures beyond weapons arming our school teachers and other personnel? -- only reflects the terrible level of educational funding in the state generally. Even those Oklahoma communities with "good schools" have a great deal of trouble raising educational financial support to levels thought adequate in others parts of this country. While there are a few more than three gays or islamists in Oklahoma, intolerance toward most minorities, including Native Americans, is rampant today. Probably the most hopeful description of Oklahoma is limited to Professor Cole's opening remarks. Oklahoma is a great place to live and a state with a history worth learning about. Unfortunately, it's also a state with a dark history that so few really know about or appreciate.
Right on with this essay. The last paragraph should be required reading for those of us concerned about the present and future of this great(?) nation.
It's clearly past time for a Palestinian state. The Palestinians must have something on which to build a future for themselves and their children. And it needs to be a state with well-defined and internationally-recognized borders. The pre-1967 borders are a good place to start negotiations for the two states. Certainly Israel has security concerns and these must be recognized by the Palestinians. But the development of massive Israeli colonialism and the resulting apartheid are signs of absolute failure on the part of the Israelis. No good will come of this current arrangement.
There are a few of us Oklahomans who regularly read Juan Cole's pieces. And some of us even vote our personal interests which really are not represented by the likes of Coburn and Inhofe. The problem facing progressives in Oklahoma is that politics still revolves around "god, gays, and guns." These are the emotional appeals that are to be found in almost every political campaign in the state. There are precious few discussions about economic inequality and investments for the future of all Oklahomans. The lack of sufficient school safety measures -- at least reasonable measures beyond weapons arming our school teachers and other personnel? -- only reflects the terrible level of educational funding in the state generally. Even those Oklahoma communities with "good schools" have a great deal of trouble raising educational financial support to levels thought adequate in others parts of this country. While there are a few more than three gays or islamists in Oklahoma, intolerance toward most minorities, including Native Americans, is rampant today. Probably the most hopeful description of Oklahoma is limited to Professor Cole's opening remarks. Oklahoma is a great place to live and a state with a history worth learning about. Unfortunately, it's also a state with a dark history that so few really know about or appreciate.