Sunday, September 09, 2007
Open doors
A review of:
“Cuba, a Rebel Group’s Birthplace, Becomes a Refuge”
by Simon Romero
The Colombian leaders of the National Liberation Army (E.L.N.) have found their way back to the safe haven of Havana, Cuba. The space provides leaders of the E.L.N. the opportunity they desire for further international negotiations, and allows them time for contemplation regarding their upcoming role in the Americas—whether that role be active or passive.
With the influence of both liberation theology and Fidel Castro, the E.L.N. has forever been labeled as a rebel group since their 1967 insurgency of Colombia. And, in the recent past, members of the E.L.N. have been branded as terrorists by the United States, especially as conservative Colombia today remains one of a few South American doors still open to the U.S.
Furthermore, in an era when cease-fire thoughts of E.L.N. are more common than ever before, their goal of peace is still far in the distance. Therefore, their unsettling search for safe space — a space supportive of their unexpected growth in dialog — will likely continue in this hemisphere.
Yet as long as this search continues, for E.L.N., the doors of Havana will remain wide open.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Chalk One Up for the Good Guys
Well, Islamic terrorists have been thwarted again, saving the lives of innocent people. On Sept. 5 German authorities stopped a major terrorist attack, arrested three militants and confiscated several explosive materials. The Islamic terrorists were in the advanced stages of the planning and there are five more insurgents on the loose. The article on the front page of the Sept. 6th New York Times goes on to explain that the incident will ignite a debate over Public Security and Civil Liberties in Germany. I don’t understand what the debate is about. If it works it isn’t in need of fixing. They bagged the bad guys, no? Germany should neither increase public surveillance nor cut back. I know Germany and America have had their differences in the past, but it seems this time Germany really stepped up their anti-terrorist game. First they banned Tom Cruise from filming his movie in their Scientology-less country, then stopped a terrorist attack! We Americans should give them a pat on the back. My hat goes off to you Germany.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Science Supports Individuality
Tuesdays always bring the Science section of the N.Y. Times. It’s a section I look forward to with great anticipation. There’s always good stuff. Here’s something from this week’s edition:
A new version of the human genome suggests that we each may be a little more individual that we (or at least science) previously thought. According to a report in the science pages of the Times this Tues., a team led by J. Craig Venter has finished the first mapping of a full genome made up of the DNA inherited from both parents. Venter’s research suggests that the differences between individuals are greater (in terms of percentages) than the number of variations that, according to earlier genome research, had separated humans from the primates. In 44 percent of Venter’s genes (he studied his own DNA), the genes he inherited from his mother were different from those he inherited from his father.
I like it when science complicates our understanding of human nature even as it adds significant new information.
Prof. Hettinga