Why Care About USA's Big Picture In Middle East?
Ranked #10,673 in Culture & Society, #213,724 overall | Donates to Room to Read
Failure To Heed The Signs of Middle East Tension May Lead To Nightmare Morning News
Dreams and Shadows, by Robin Wright, is a welcome counterpoint to the labyrinth of news from the Middle East.
This book, and her earlier work, Sacred Rage, straightens some of the hairpin mental gymnastics usually encountered when I try to follow the news cycle out of the land of Arabs and Jews. Wright's grasp of the unique shadows surrounding Arab and Jewish cultures provides important context for readers who want more than the drumbeat of suicide-bomb reports. I haven't yet read her newest book, Rock The Casbah, but it's on the top of my reading list.
In the headlines and news stories aimed at simplifying the incomprehensible, how are we to learn of dignified Iranians among the powerful but inconsistent voices of religious leaders? How are we to prepare our children and grandchildren for a "small world" where murderers cloak themselves in religious fundamentalism? I sense that the shocking technological and cultural changes during my lifetime will be peanuts compared to those that will confront today's children.
(photo credit ishmaelo/flickr.com)
Easy to Read. A Great Overview of Real People, Their Dreams & History.
Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East
Amazon Price: $0.01 (as of 02/17/2012)![]()
Used Price: $0.01
Learning to see events at home and in the Middle East since September 11, 2001 pushes me to look at the big picture. Robin Wright's book helps me see it from the vantage point of real people.
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity.
But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
Sites That Keep Tabs On the Big Picture of the Middle East in the 21st Century
- Expecting A Nuke From Israel?
- The world needs to be much tougher on Iran, but an Israeli attack would still be a disaster
- Crude Oil, Rude Awakening
- Where has all the diesel gone?
- The Pyramids Are Closed Today
- What to do when the pyramids are closed.
Trends and Influences among Islam, Jews, Christians.
Each Islamic country, with discrete identities and histories, is a building block for the future.
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." This was said by T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) in his "Seven Pillars of Wisdom."
If the outspokenness of those today who defend human rights in repressive regimes reflects Lawrence's philosophy about the forces of light and darkness in the Mid-East, there is reason for hope.
Dreams and Shadows digs below the surface to humanize the Palestinians, Israelis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, Kurds, Morrocans.
As the author relates detailed accounts of people and events, organized in chapters devoted each to separate countries, one begins to wonder if old suspicions about motivation aren't more like fairy tales contrived to explain bumps in the night. In the way Wright reveals that hoary desire - independence - in the most surprising places, I began to see how modernization may influence our attitudes toward this part of the world.
Wright's interviews, some recurring over decades, with men in the Middle East who wield enormous and usually subversive powers require an astonishing bravery on her part. Her knowledge of the often illiterate context and the mysteries of recent powers to shake the West to its core, delivers the one-more-page experience of reading a novel.
Robin Wright says, in 1983, she stood and watched where friends were recovered after the "first Muslim suicide bomber against an American target." It was Beirut, one of the areas of the Middle East, which I find mysterious and confusing. Wright breaks down its history and brings to life its most shrouded participants.
Fill the blanks in your mind....
Books about the Mid-East
Emily Dickinson said, "Revolution is the Pod/Systems rattle from/When the Winds of Will are stirred..."
Writers like Robin Wright generate literary foundations for us to examine radicals and religious zealots that want to "revolutionize the West."
Experience the American Journey through our country's visual heritage
Historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States
The content summary for this DVD is adapted from an historical description provided by the government agency or donor at the time of production release. This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
The Big Picture - Focus on the Middle East
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 02/17/2012)![]()
This historical recording from the National Archives may contain variations in audio and video quality based on the limitations of the original source material.
Videos Show the Beauty and Song of Middle East
Feelings and Beauty in Sight and Sound
Robin Wright
"Award-winning journalist and author Robin Wright has reported from more than 130 countries on six continents for The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Sunday Times of London, CBS News and The Christian Science Monitor. She has also written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The New York Times, The Times (London), The Guardian (London), The International Herald Tribune and many others.
"Wright's foreign tours include five years in the Middle East, two years in Europe, seven years in Africa, and several years as a roving correspondent in those areas as well as Latin America and Asia. She has covered a dozen wars and several revolutions. She is now diplomatic correspondent for The Washington Post."
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNo One Knows Better Than Robin Wright
- how to see the good, the bad and the unpredictable in the Mideast
Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World
Amazon Price: $9.42 (as of 02/17/2012)![]()
If you want to know more about the circumstances and conditions leading up to the Arab revolutions don't miss this book!
Check out these blogs about Mideast politics, war, ambitions and more
Terrific photographs!
I'll be adding to this list as I find blogs that have up-to-date, or otherwise compelling opinions and imagery. So can you!
Middle East Strategy at Harvard
Stays up to date. Casts what's new against what's more...0 points
Informed Comment
History, Foreign Policy, Middle East, South Asia, more...0 points
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan
Not always about mideast, unless it's the biggest more...0 points
Sabbah's Blog
We Still Hold The Key And Deed To Our Home In Pale more...0 points
The Big Picture - Boston.com
0 points
Pembawa Berita & Informasi Aktual Terpercaya
Hot Gadget Now, Aneka Gadget terkini, Teknologi Te more...0 points
NO LACK OF OPINIONS AND POINTS OF VIEW
Tell me what book(s) you like about the Middle East.
What title not shown here that you'd like reviewed?
Dirty Wars: Britain's Collusion with Radical Islam by Mark Curtis
Penetrating history of the British government's sponsorship more...0 points
Radical Islam's War Against Israel, Christianity and the West by Richard Booker
In a simple, readable format, here is book that an more...0 points
Stealth Jihad: How Radical Islam is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs by Robert Spencer
Most terrorism experts agree: it is not "if" more...0 points
Taken Hostage: The Iran Hostage Crisis and America's First Encounter with Radical Islam (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America) by David Farber
On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the more...0 points
Tajikistan in the New Central Asia: Geopolitics, Great Power Rivalry and Radical Islam (International Library of Central Asia Studies) by Lena Jonson
Central Asia has become the battleground for the m more...0 points
Change is also taking place in the United States, where new respect and admiration is building for everyday Iranians.
Want to know what they are saying?
Mid-East journalism
Al-Ahram Weekly
Daily Star (Beirut)
Dawn (Karachi)
Debka.com
Ha'aretz
The Iranian
Iraq Resource Center
Israel Insider
Al Jazeera
Jerusalem Post
Jordan Times
Jane's Defense
Middle East MRI
Pentagon
Stars & Stripes
Tehran Times
Turkish Daily News
Turkish Press
Zaman (Turkey)
Before the 2009 Iranian Election a lot of people thought Iranians hated Americans
Not so, says a Seattle-based man who ought to know. He's lived there over a year.
"Iran will never be the same" has become a familiar statement. Change is also taking place in the United States, where new respect and admiration is building for everyday Iranians. There is also a growing realization that the majority of practitioners of Islam are not that different from everyday Americans.
ISNA - 08-27-2011 - 90/6/5 - Service: / World / News ID: 1835359
Read what students in Iran are saying while Tripol more...1 point
Photographs of Middle East Hot Spots, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Morroco, Lebanon
Windows on the World's Struggle for Freedom
Muslims, Jews, Christians
Children of the Gaza Strip
DARE TO CARE- even a little
The main objective of the P.C.R.F. is to identify and treat every child in the Middle East in need of specialized surgery not available to them locally. We locate, sponsor and run volunteer medical missions to the Middle East in adult and pediatric cardiac surgery, pediatric cardiology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial surgery, pediatric urology, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, pediatric orthopedic surgery, occupational therapy, and other specialties. We also locate abroad free medical care for children who cannot be adequately treated in the Middle East. The P.C.R.F. is the main organization regularly sending injured and sick Arab children to North America, the Middle East and Europe for free care that is not available to them there. Since 1991 over 800 children have been or currently are being treated outside of the Middle East through the P.C.R.F.
The P.C.R.F. also helps to improve the quality of medical care in the Middle East by sending medical equipment and supplies to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The P.C.R.F. has also trained Palestinian surgeons so they can treat patients there and has sent American medical personnel to the region to treat difficult cases and train medical personnel in country.
The P.C.R.F. currently has several injured or sick Arab children in the U.S., the Middle East or Europe being treated for free. We are also working to locate free medical care for many more injured and sick children from Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. We rely on the kindness of many volunteers throughout the U.S. who act as host families, volunteers and donors, enabling us to continue our humanitarian relief work.
-excerpted from a wonderful online place to be: Go there
http://www.pcrf.net/who/who.html
Which statement captures your thoughts?: "The Arabs, Jews, Palestinians are too remote and too scary. And, BORING!"
"I know Earth is 'getting smaller.' and I want to know what the future will be like."
Which of the above quotes best speaks your mind? Neither? Say, what.....?
-
Reply
-
Mas_Radit
Jul 22, 2011 @ 9:50 pm | delete
- Wah.. Thanks For Your Share.. Please visit me later.. I have nice info about islam for you...
http://infopublic-hot.blogspot.com/
-
-
Reply
-
aj2008
Apr 28, 2010 @ 1:17 pm | delete
- I agree with what Kim says, it is too easy to forget that the people living in war torn countries are inviduals just like we are and living as we do, trying to work and raise children.
This is a very good book review and a very thought provoking lens.
-
-
Reply
-
kimmanleyort
Apr 27, 2010 @ 11:40 pm | delete
- Featured today on SquidLit Reviews. - http://squid.crabbysbeach.com/blogs/
-
-
Reply
-
kimmanleyort
Apr 26, 2010 @ 11:15 am | delete
- Oh, I admire you so much for trying to understand another culture. This sounds like a terrific book for doing just that. If only we could humanize everyone who is different from what we are used to. And thank you also for the wonderful blessing on my water lens. I love mountains too and, no, I'm not a Pisces. :)
-
-
Reply
-
qlcoach
Jun 2, 2009 @ 12:53 pm | delete
- Thank you for posting to our Book Club. I have posted your book toward the end of the page. Hope you will visit my new lens about emotional healing. Sincerely: Gary Eby, author and therapist.
-
by LoKackl
Hello! I'm LoKackl. Thank you for your visit! My Purple Star lenses Purple Stars & the Angels Who Helped.
Life's a beach here in western Massachusetts,...
more »
- 119 featured lenses
- Winner of 18 trophies!
- Top lens » Get Ready For Super Bowl 46 - February 5
Explore related pages
- Egyptian News ~ Victory Sets The Scene Egyptian News ~ Victory Sets The Scene
- Middle East: Biggest Puzzle Ever! Middle East: Biggest Puzzle Ever!
- US Navy Seal Team 6 T-Shirts And Gifts US Navy Seal Team 6 T-Shirts And Gifts
- William Penn - developing freedom in a new world William Penn - developing freedom in a new world
- Bodyguards and Assassins - Chinese movie Bodyguards and Assassins - Chinese movie
- Major Online Newspapers & Magazines of West Asia Major Online Newspapers & Magazines of West Asia










