"In her major address to the 99th annual meeting of the American Sociological Association on August 16, 2004, writer Arundhati Roy brilliantly examines the limits to democracy in the world today. Bringing the same care to her prose that she brought to her Booker Prize-winning novel The God of Small Things, Roy discusses the need for social movements to contest the occupation of Iraq, the reduction of democracy, and elections with no meaningful alternatives allowed. She explores the dangers of the 'NGO-ization of resistance,' shows how governments that block nonviolent dissent in fact encourage terrorism, and examines the role of the corporate media in marginalizing oppositional voices."
via Magpie
I'm certain that it's not the same person, but something about the nose of the soldier above reminded me of the Army officer who stood ahead of me in line at the Doha airport last week. He appeared to be in his early 40s; a low and tight, salty grey haircut, seemingly fit and muscular, a "gathered" demeanor (he had all of his documents tucked inside of a dark purple folder, which just about proved he was an officer).
At his feet lay his bulletproof vest and helmet, the latter having a slight tatter to its edge. His tan boots were fairly worn. As I looked over these items, he turned to his right and our eyes briefly met. He tilted his head in quick acknowledgement; I gave a slight smile. And I wondered, without disdain or judgment, what on Earth that man had seen and experienced while he served (if he served) in Iraq.
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