To what extremes, O vegan? (part 3)

In part 1 I explored the historical backdrop to veganism in the West, in the case of the world’s premier vegan faith, Jainism.  In part 2 I explored some of the logical problems potentially inherent to the “necessary extremism” of veganism, particularly the idea of the absolute equality between the species.

In the epilogue of part 2 I promised to address the question of whether veganism, for all its logical conundrums, is nevertheless necessary in contemporary capitalist America.  Alas, I will be breaking the promise and belaying my answer until the next and final post, part 4.

The reason is because I feel there is another issue that needs to be addressed during the intermission: since vegans are by definition radicals, the riddle they face is not one of how far they desire to go, but how far they are willing to accomodate the rest of us.  I also wish to explore the larger philosophical implications of their economic endeavors.

To what extremes, O vegan? (part 2)

In part 1 I explored the historical backdrop to veganism in the West, in particular that most ruthless of vegan religions, Jainism.  Today, I now turn to the question of vegan extremism itself.  Specifically, I’m curious as to the logic of veganism: whether it is thorough enough or too much.

I personally have been very influenced by the ethical systems of kosher and halal.  These ethical-nutritional systems take the view that fundamentally Man must devour animals in order to survive, but this must be done humanely.

Now, while the reality of kosher and halal have fallen far from the ideal, I can nevertheless conceive how their basic approach potentially sets the stage for the logic of veganism among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim believers:

• if (a) the humane treatment of livestock is the goal,
• but (b) that goal is rendered impossible by the avaricious nature of our current industrial-capitalist system,
• then (c) veganism is therefore the (arguably) only resort left to the nutrionally ethical monotheist.

However, this interpretation of kosher and halal leaves open the possibility that one day livestock can indeed be slaughtered humanely.  Thus, they beg the question posed by the vegan approach, that is, can butchering ever be humane, in any system?

But while vegans confront this question head-on, do they run the risk of becoming ensared in their own logic?

Blog battleplan 2008 and beyond

Well, it’s off to South Africa with me!  I’m going to be seriously “AFK” for those two weeks, too busy soaking in the sun and contracting malaria and ill-placed shark bites.  And by God, do I ever need a break.

What can you expect to see in this space for the remainder of 2008 and beyond?

Parts two and three of my post series on Veganism will be on auto-publish while I’m gone.  Part I will run this Friday, Part II next Wednesday.  These will be followed by some more items, also on auto-publish.  Additionally, this current post will remain in its headlining position on the blog while I’m in South Africa.

In the new year I will be starting my position as managing editor for the English edition of neweurasia.  In real terms, that means a 25% increase in my workload, soooooo…

Since I’ll be busy editing a legion of other people’s blogs, I’ll be reducing the amount of time I actually spend on my own.  But don’t worry, I won’t be leaving.  I’ll simply be experimenting with more time-conserving methods.

First thing that comes to mind will be relinquishing epic posts in favor of shorter, sweeter, and snippier posts.  I might even try to be pithy.  After all, I’ll be drilling my Central Asian recruits in the ways of “KISSing” (“Keep it simple, stupid”) blogging; I might as well try practicing what I preach.

Also, I’m going to try to take some aspects of blogging a little less seriously… as in myself.  *cough  Along those lines, everyone, check out these two blogs: Notions Capital and Heaven, Hell, & Humor.  They may be at opposite ends of the American political spectrum, but by God, they are hilarious!  (And also, check out Loquacious D and The Expatriate.)

With that, happy 2009 everyone!

An Islamic blogging hub?

Nugroho Khoironi Zahra, in his LinkedIn discussion question, “Should we respond to non-moslem’s campaign for anti-islam forums?” alerts us to a very troubling phenomenon: when searching the Internet for topics on religion, Islam in particular, the great bulk of material is sensationalist and xenophobic.  It seems the anonymity of cyberspace evokes people to the grossest outpourings of ludicrousness. 

So, I’ve just had a crazy idea: while there are many, many voices of believers and friends to Islam in the Islamic blogosphere (what I jokingly call the “Islamosphere” or “Allahosphere“), what seems to be lacking is a kind of central Islamic hub for Islamically-themed blogging, be it liberal, conservative, Sufi, Muwahiddun, Sunni, Shia, believer, friend of the faith, etc.

There already exists the blog aggregator/engine Hadithuna, but it’s not exactly what I have in mind.  Essentially, my proposition is online citizen-journalism as applied to the umma in its entirety. 

Two possible venues that already exist which could possibly serve as springboards: Sifr Nil’s cyberquran and Robert Salaam’s The American Muslim.  The former right now is focused on mystical poetry, but the author has expressed interest to me in expanding his purview; the latter focuses on the American umma, but he has announced interest in expanding, as well.  Or the community could simply start something new from the ground up, servers, website, and all.

What are everyone’s thoughts as to the feasibility and justice of such an endeavor?  Leave a comment or fill out this poll.

 

If the shoe (bomb?) fits… Patriotism, professionalism, military intervention, and journalistic integrity

Did Muntader az-Zaidi cross the line between professionalism and activism, or was he acting in the journalistic spirit?

Hopefully this will be my last post on “shoe-gate,” or, the “shoe intifada.” I’m heading off for South Africa in a few days and I need to concentrate on preparations.  So, as you can see from my extended subtitle, I intend to kill a lot of birds with one (shoe).

Ali the Translator, an Iraqi blogger, on the day of Muntader az-Zaidi gave his now famed send-off for his dearly beloved Bush, remarks, “No matter how funny it was, it was kinda disappointing at the same time cuz ‘Journalists’ are supposed to be professional and neutral.”

Consider also American blogger Rick Perlstein, who waves his finger at liberals:

Liberals should not make light of or license the physical assault on the leader of a sovereign state, no matter how much he’s deservedly hated. This is not how we do politics, unless we’re in favor something tending toward anarchy, or fascism.  This seems open and shut to me: the Iraqi journalist should go to jail for a rather long time.

And indeed, Perlstein may very well get his wish.  The BBC reports that az-Zaidi is getting a warm reception in Iraqi jail, and by “warm” I mean a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding. Which leads me to a troubling phenomenon: the defamation of Iraqis as “ungrateful” by American bloggers.

Is the shoe mightier than the pen (or postcolonial theory)?

Bush's image has been associated with shoes throughout the Arabic Middle East (photo: BBC)

There’s been a lot of debate in the blogosphere whether it is “racist,” “anti-Arab,” or “Orientalist” to claim that shoe-throwing is a distinctly Arab way of flipping a person the bird.  Consider the following exchange between readers on the Foreign Policy blog:

TheScudStud88: Er, Orientalist cliches aside, is it not an insult in the West to throw a shoe at someone?

Blake Hounshell: That one’s really not an Orientalist cliche; It really is an insult. Sure, it’s not exactly a friendly thing in the United States, but it’s not the default option.

TheScudStud88: So you agree then that [the characterization] is a taaaaaaad misleading/ wrong categorization? I mean who wouldn’t consider it an insult to have a shoe thrown at them?

kidzib: i don’t think arabs devote nearly as much symbolic value to foot-oriented insults as, say, thais. maybe there was some symbolism to it all, but it was probably the only projectile object available for him to hurl at bush. what else would he have thrown? it’s not like he could’ve smuggled in anything heavier and more dangerous…

then again, a common arabic insult translates as “may a shoe land on your head!” but do you really think the guy thought all that out before he went ballistic (literally!)?

And so on. Part of the problem is that people are confusing their particularist apples with generalist oranges.  Think about it: when was the last time you saw an American, European, African, or Asian lobbing their shoes at a political leader?  Speaking for Americans, we prefer pies.

Funnily enough, a blogger is at the center of the debate:  Asa’ad Abu Khalil, a.k.a., the Angry Arab News Service.  In 2007, Khalil wrote,

Don’t you love it when Western reporters explain to their readers differences between their culture and Arab culture?  I don’t know about you, but I really love it.  Here is from the New York Times:   “During the argument, heated words were exchanged and shoes were thrown, a severe insult in the Arab world.”

So throwing a shoe at somebody is a “severe insult in the Arab world” but not anywhere else?  How exotic.  Tell me more, o culture experts of the New York Times.

Bush’s reaction to shoe-toss reveals his lack of cultural understanding

An Arab reporter flung his shoes at President George W. Bush today.  In characteristic fashion, he took the incident in cowboy stride, but overall his reaction indicated the depths of his ignorance of Arab culture.

Bush called the act an attempt at “attention-grabbing” and compared this to people shouting at a political rally.  Attentiong-grabbing is precisely what shoe-throwing by an Arab is not!

Throwing one’s shoes is a symbolic act of major disrespect and disdain in Arab culture.  Short of throwing stones at Bush, the reporter was decrying him as an oppressor and ignoramus.  In other words, it was a profoundly angry political statement.  (Note also the fact that the act came immediately upon the heels of Bush speaking in Arabic, evidently the straw that broke the camel’s back for the reporter.)

I find it reprehensible that after six years of military intervention in Iraq that Bush hasn’t learned something as simple as this about Arabs!

*sigh Well, let’s consider it that country’s parting message to him…

To what extremes, O vegan? (part 1)

“May the entire universe be blessed; may all beings engage in each other’s well being.  May all weakness, sickness, and faults diminish; may everyone and everywhere be healthy, peaceful, and blissful. I grant forgiveness to all living beings. May all living beings grant me forgiveness. My friendship is with all living beings. I have no animosity towards any living beings.” — Jain prayer

“One day I was a happy-go-lucky vegetarian eating cheese and then realized that something was missing in my life and that it was about time I switched to veganism.” — Philadelphian vegan

In the pursuit of ethical living, how far are some people willing to go?  It’s a question a new vegan friend and I have been debating, and to which, in light of the passing of Proposition 2 in California, I’d like to now turn in this space.

The video above is of Rashtrasant Tarunsagar, a living saint of the ancient Jain religion in India. As some of you know, I’m personally acquainted with this community as I was once intimate with a young woman who was of the faith.  (On a side-note, because having dated a white man is more harmful to her health than eating beef, to protect her identity from now on in this blog she will be known as “Jane,” pun intended.   Of those of you readers who know her identity, I ask that you respect her safety and use this pseudonym in public comments.)

I must confess that one of the things I miss most about Jane was the feeling of being viscerally connected to a tradition of such antiquity (although in my buttheaded way I did not fully appreciate it at the time).  However, it was always fascinating to explore her point-of-view, not only with regards to nutrition, but also theology and ethics.

The first part of this post will be devoted to a bit of a digression regarding Jainism, which I think is in order here since historical veganism in the West, especially in the last 75-some years, was brought here by Indian missionaries during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.    Additionally, its recent blossoming among the rank and file of the global anticapitalism movement is attributable to growing ideological and organizational links with religious and political movements within the Subcontinent, in particular ISKCON, the Tibetan government in exile, and the varieties of post-Nehruism. 

Should Islam have a Reformation?

Is Islam undergoing a “Reformation,” and if so, should it?  There’s been a lot of digital ink swirling around this idea ever since Salman Rushdie’s article.  I can think of at least two books on the subject (here and here), and the Islamic blogosphere (a.k.a., the “Islamosphere” or “Allahosphere”) have been intermittently abuzz with debate.

Arguably an “Islamic Reformation” is indeed occuring, to the point where we’re already in knee-deep, as Dale Eickelman points out (among other analogies he raises, the Internet may be to Islam what the Guttenberg printing press was to Christianity).   Recent events, such as the reforms instituted by the Turkish ulema, would appear to bear this view out.

A lot of commentators generally take the idea of an Islamic Reformation as a good thing.  But is it really?  Indeed, is the concept of “Reformation” even a useful framework?  Here are my thoughts on the subject as an historian and spiritual person…

Walmart, Black Friday, and the human condition

As you’ve all heard by now, this past Friday in Valley Stream, NY, a young temp worker was crushed to death by a stampede of customers.  There has been a lot of back-and-forth in the blogosphere about this,* and I would like to throw my two cents in from a philosophical historian’s view.

Many bloggers and readers are interpreting the tragedy as yet “more” evidence of humanity’s innate “sickness.”  For example, one Cynical-C reader remarked,

Cattle. They’re all fucking cattle.  Is saving $70 really worth getting up at 2am and standing in line for 3-4 hours so you MIGHT get what you want at a lower price?  Black Friday is such bullshit. If people would stop herding themselves into the stores on this day, stores would have no choice but to offer deals and remain competitive all season. Anyone that bought something in a brick-and-mortar store that day can eat my shit.

This kind of reaction is very reminiscent of the old Christian-Islamic/Han Fei-Confucius argument over whether human nature is fundamentally evil, flawed, or depraved (the Christian and Han Fei position), or fundamentally good, led wayward by ignorance and ingratitude (the Islamic and Confucian position).  I side with the latter.

Our species’ track record for depravity and atrocity notwithstanding, I actually don’t believe there’s anything fundamentally wrong with human beings.  We’re lost, confused, and scared, that’s all.  We don’t know why we’re here, where we’re going, or what’s to come of everything.

This crisis of consciousness, which has been with us since the first hominid realized one day he would die, is at the root of so many of our problems.  Simply, we all try to fill the hole with something, anything. Thus, while what happened in Valley Stream was consumerism run amuck, the truth about consumerism is that it is just one more opiate in a long list of opiates — and like any drug addiction, in the junky’s frenzy to lose himself in cheap salvation, innocents will inevitably be hurt.

Instead of lamenting, the tragedy in Valley Stream should be used as an opportunity for reflection, both upon ourselves and our society.  A traumatized shopper cried to a reporter after the incident, “I wish I was never here this morning!”  We must ask ourselves not only how we have gotten to the point where a man’s life is judged as less valuable than discounted (and sub-par manufactured) commercial products, but also envision an alternative self-image, one crafted of our better values, and ask: how do we work toward becoming such a person and society?