The Ruh of Brown Folks .'s Public Library

"...Mahmood sets up an antinomy of her own that erases a broad range of complex historical struggles and alliances. She obliges the reader to choose between a western liberal feminism that has always been more or less associated with imperial interventions, and a recent Islamic piety movement that, according to Mahmood herself, is uninterested in challenging, indeed supports, patriarchal forms of oppression. But are these really the only positions available to progressive leftists, as she implies?"

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"Knowledge production, in other words, is never disinterested. It opens particular options while foreclosing others. In Pakistan’s case, journalists and analysts regularly elide the links among US foreign policy, the policies of successive Pakistani governments to use religion for political ends, and the hold of the Pakistani Army over the country. This offers only the most unsophisticated of explanations for the country’s ills—and pitiless, vulgar solutions."

pakistan media imperialism

The latest in this bizarre saga of the FBI spying on Muslims in Southern California and elsewhere in the US.

islamophobia

Latest US/Israeli aggression against Iran: assassinating scientists. Imagine the outcry if Iran sent assassins to murder American nuclear scientists. This is terrorism, pure and simple.

iran imperialism

Those who claim to be concerned about the plight of Afghan women should listen to what those women are saying: US and NATO out now, end the occupation.

afghanistan women imperialism

Important reading on the connections between occupied Kashmir and occupied Palestine, and the threats to those who speak out about either or both.

kashmir india palestine zionism hindutva south asia

More evidence pointing to the disconnect between the Iranian state's anti-imperialist rhetoric (see here in which Ahmadinejad fraudulently claims to be "anti-capitalist": http://www.payvand.com/news/10/oct/1105.html) and its practice. It should be pointed out that president Ahmadinejad and opposition leader Mousavi are in complete agreement about pursuing a neoliberal economic agenda for Iran - they are both charlatans.

iran economics neoliberalism

Site detailing Obama's exploits, from renewing and expanding the PATRIOT Act without reform, to refusing to sign a treaty banning the use of landmines, to ...

obama

"While ordinary Iranians struggle to survive international sanctions and deepening economic uncertainty, the gap has widened between the disadvantaged and those who can afford to travel to Paris for a haircut."

iran sanctions imperialism economics

A new and very complete Persian translation of Karl Marx's "Capital", available online in a well-organized form. The very insightful translator's preface is worth reading to those interested; it's also available in English translation: http://iranianvoicesintranslation.blogspot.com/2009/07/translators-preface-to-new-persian.html

socialism translation persian

"The Veritas Handbook has one goal: to expose the truth and to educate the masses by educating ourselves. We are devoted to ensuring the elimination of oppression and the establishment of justice for peoples of the world in their common struggle against racism, marginalization, colonialism, and ethnic cleansing.

The Veritas Handbook is an extensive handbook containing vital information and resources for anyone and everyone interested in the plight of Palestinians for justice and equality and is being distributed online, free of charge."

This is a fantastic resource for anyone involved (or even just interested) in Palestine solidarity organizing. Download and share it now!

palestine activism

We should always be seeking out new tactics in the struggle, like this one. I'm not sure it would be as effective on other campuses (UMich has one of the highest percentages of Arab and Muslim students in the US, so the couple of Zionists in the audience were vastly outnumbered) but I still think it's reproducable elsewhere.

palestine activism

"The complicity of western media with their governments could not have been more clear this past week, when the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, came to Lebanon."

ahmadinejad iran lebanon media

Rather than decriminalize marijuana, the Obama administration wants to continue to use it as a pretext to lock up primarily black and brown youth. What better example than this of President Uncle Tom serving rich white interests?

obama

State Department adviser: 98 PERCENT of victims of US drone attacks in Pakistan are innocent civilians. Faisal Shahzad (attempted Time Square bomber) said he was acting in direct retaliation for the drone attacks. There is no logic to the murderous drone campaign-- not even an imperial logic, let alone a humanitarian one.

imperialism pakistan

"Photographer Eric Fischer's color-coded maps of racial segregation are captivating, particularly once you find your own neighborhood. "

race

The BP spill was the biggest in history, maybe the next one will be even bigger and worse. Thanks Obama.

obama environment

Documentary on the life of the great anti-colonial thinker, Frantz Fanon.

african diaspora colonialism race

"Why? Is it a matter of race, or class? Moore was an African-American from the rural south, shot and killed at a party in East Orange, where many poor blacks live. Clementi was white, raised in Ridgewood, one of the state’s wealthiest suburbs.

“We have become tragically accustomed to the idea of African-Americans killing each other,” says James Harris, a dean at Montclair State University and head of New Jersey’s NAACP.

Or, perhaps, were there elements of the stories themselves that led one to become grist for talk shows in a dozen languages throughout the planet, while the other grabbed headlines for a few days and then receded quickly into the back pages of memory?"

race violence lgbt queer homophobia classism

"On Wednesday's Riz Khan we look at the growth in power and reach of the porno industry and the impact it is having on society. Riz is joined by sociologist and author Gail Dines whose latest book is Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality."

sexism women pornography violence sexuality