Eye on the Watcher’s Council

As you may know the members of the Watcher’s Council each nominate one of his or her own posts and one non-Council post for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week’s Council nominations is here.

The Glittering Eye, “New Orleans, One Year After”

In my submission for this week I reflect on the catastrophe that struck New Orleans and the Gulf Coast a year ago and present a brief status report. Some things have worked and some haven’t.

Gates of Vienna, “Al-Turki Gets 27 Years”

Dymphna considers the case of the Saudi man convicted of rape, extortion, and false imprisonment in Colorado.  John Burgess has posted very nicely on this subject, noting that “some Saudis have trouble in following local laws outside their own country”.

Understanding and honoring the laws and customs of a country in which one is a guest is the responsibility of any traveller.  I remember vividly the dirty looks (actually, it went a little beyond dirty looks) I received from Germans when I walked across the street against the light.  The violent offenses of which this man was convicted go far beyond such minor infractions.

I do, however, have an honest question:  do Saudis, generally, tend to equate their nation’s laws and customs with divine law?  Or is it just that the elites of all countries believe that the law does not pertain to them?

Sundries Shack, “It’s Not a War.  It’s a Trendy Buzzword!”

At the time of this post I was unable to reach Jimmie Bise’s post.  I’ll replace this section when I’m able to read his post.

Rhymes With Right, “Did ‘Dishonorable Don’ Richardson Solicit a Bribe?”

Greg documents what certainly looks like a crime to me.

Soccer Dad, “Reporters Blogger Behaving Badly”

Reporting the news?  Or advocating a position?  Obviously, it’s possible to do both simultaneously and maintain a veneer of impartiality just by how you select your sources.  Soccer Dad reports on a run-in with Steven Erlanger of the New York Times.

Socratic Rhythm Method, “The Law’s Power to Combat Implicit Bias”

Matt considers the efforts of legal scholars to perfect human nature.

ShrinkWrapped, “Reasons for Optimism:  Part V”

ShrinkWrapped wraps up a series of posts from a guest-poster on the strategy and tactics of the War on Terror.

AbbaGav, “Translating Khatami—Don’t Worry, He’s Moderate”

Gavriel attempts to read between the lines of some statements from former Iranian President Khatami.

Right Wing Nut House, “9/11 Tinfoil Hats Are Melting”

Rick Moran comments on 9/11 conspiracy theorists.

The Education Wonks, “Students Swearing in Class:  Tolerating the Intolerable?”

Mao’s Cultural Revolution  has apparently made its way into the American classroom (just as the Chinese are carefully excising him from their history books).  EdWonk comments on a proposal to let the students establish the standards of behavior in the classroom.

Done With Mirrors, “Condi’s Civil War”

Callimachus weaves together current events, contemporary journalism, and the Democratic Party Platform of 1864 into a very interesting an relevant post.

Joshuapundit, “It Is Time for Jews to Think About Leaving Western Europe”

I think that Freedom Fighter may be a little behind the curve on this:  the movement he’s suggesting has been going on for generations.  FF explains why it’s even more relevant now.

Well, I’ve decided which posts I’ll vote for.  Which would get your vote?

2 comments… add one
  • Regarding Al-Turki: The behavior for which he was convicted–with a few exceptions like retaining his employee’s passport and minimum wage–is illegal in the KSA as well.

    Over the past couple of years, the Saudi media (both English and Arabic) have been taking up the cause for workers abused by their Saudi employers, whether physically, emotionally, or economically.

  • Thanks, John. One of the things that bugs me about this entire incident is that it plays to the worst fears in both countries.

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