** From last night’s program:
I was so glad to hear about the two convictions against Warren Jeffs. Based on the initial tone of reporting when the jury started deliberating, I had doubts. But it was refreshing to hear the jurors, who were interviewed live on 360°, repeat over and over again that they kept referring back to the applicable law in reaching their verdicts. It’s also refreshing to see an important example of the justice system working in the manner that it’s suppose to.
It was good to see Reza Aslan returning to the program – he hasn’t been on in quite awhile. And there aren’t many Middle Eastern analysts that can explain events and relevant background information as precisely as Reza, nor give context as understandably. For example, from last night’s transcript:
COOPER: "Joining me now is Reza Aslan, author of "No God but God".
How did this play internationally? Because, I mean, many Americans found it, you know, satisfaction in seeing the Colombian president -- Columbia's president basically, you know, stick it to Ahmadinejad. But internationally, how did it play?
REZA ASLAN, AUTHOR, "NO GOD BUT GOD": Well, I mean, it played right into Ahmadinejad's hands. I mean, this is exactly what he is so good at doing.
Don't let the, you know, plain clothes and the simple language fool you, Anderson. This guy is very sophisticated in manipulating the media.
And I think that the Columbia address and, particularly the way that Bollinger introduced him which, quite frankly, was inappropriate in many ways, true, yet inappropriate. Really...
COOPER: Why is it inappropriate, because you think it's rude?
ASLAN: Well, for two reasons. One, because it is -- it is rude, and it allowed Ahmadinejad to essentially take the moral high ground by saying, in effect, "In Iran, we don't treat our guests this way."
But secondly, because in referring to him as a dictator, you're giving this man far more credit than he actually deserves. This is a completely powerless person. He's not in charge of the army. He's barely in charge of the budget. He makes no foreign policy decisions whatsoever. He's not part of the intelligence apparatus in Iran. He can't suggest or pass any laws.
He has no power. He's a completely powerless figurehead. And to call him a dictator is really to give him far too much authority.”
And if you have an opportunity, read the book “No God, But God” from Reza – it was highly recommended to me and I agree that it’s well worth the time.
Another book that – maybe surprisingly(??) - seems to be well worth the time is “The Nine” from Jeff Toobin, and we had another very enlightening installment from it last night on the program. I remember the somewhat recent Supreme Court decision about Affirmative Action (and how close the vote was), and what was discussed as far as the future of the Court’s make-up should cause every voter to take notice. The imminent replacement of more than one Justice during the next Presidential term is one of the few “single issue” topics that should serve as at least one measuring tool to determine which candidate should get your vote in November 4, 2008.
I hope that the “Planet in Peril” documentary just completely shreds all of the competition in the ratings, notwithstanding the much greater cause that it serves in so far as providing education and enlightenment of the pressing issues of global warming, species loss, deforestation and overpopulation.
The initial reports last night about Buddhist monks in Myanmar defying government orders against assembly didn’t sound good, and today’s updates about violence against the protesters will probably (or maybe hopefully?) be covered more in depth on tonight’s program, although it already sounds like a full hour!
Thanks for visiting – updates posted as needed – have a terrific day!
