thoughts

What's really bothering me right now though is this whole ports dispute.  I recognize that it's a little alarming at first glance that an Arab company might be taking over operations at some ports, but this has gone from knee-jerk reaction to despicably racist.  It's Dubai!  Places don't get much more open to free trade than that.  We certainly don't.  And while sure, some terrorists have used it as a physical or financial base, that's an indication of its relative freedom and location, not of government support or sanction.  The US and UK also have terrorists operating in them, and frankly I doubt it would be much harder for a terrorist to get some sort of access through P&O in Britain than through Dubai Ports World.  Or through US-based operators for that matter.  Furthermore, it's the height of imbecility to antagonize one of the few governments in the Middle East that is actually well-disposed towards the US as they seek to prepare for a future in which their oil reserves cease to support the country.  At this point we need all the friends over there we can get, and we certainly don't want to put ourselves in a position to be scapegoated for the impoverishment of another Arab nation.  What this dispute does point up is the current, abysmal state of port security.  If the opportunity is taken to strengthen cargo screening and other forms of security, great.  And if, somehow, the investigation into the deal was somehow not quite proper, okay, do it over and do it right.  But ultimately, unless we decide that we won't allow ANY foreign-owned company to operate ports (a step for which there are arguments, but, all told, still a very unlikely step), blocking this deal goes against all American principles of free trade or fair treatment.  Barring some deep, dark secret in this that even Congress doesn't want to talk about in public, the only argument for not allowing this deal is that the company comes from a country that has Arab in it's name.  That objections are coming from both sides of the aisle in an attempt to score political points off xenophobia just makes me even more depressed.  I know they're politicians and have to cover themselves, but I'm distressed to find myself siding with the Bush administration and Sen. Lieberman on this.

Anyway, now that's off my chest, I'll update y'all a little bit.  Right now I'm visiting Chris (my brother) at Wesleyan.  I'll be here a couple more days before I go back home to see Dad when he gets back.  For the past few weeks I've been doing small stock jobs at Fisk and helped a cabinet-making company move to a new shop.  Otherwise, not too much.  My time is freeing up, so I'll start writing here about India.  I'll also share all the new albums, and may actually label all the pictures now.  Let's start with sharing the pictures.