Mad respect to these cats.  People are capable of a lot if when they are dedicated, passionate, ambitious, creative, inspiration, and imaginative.  Kane Smego was a classmate of mine, and this dude is one of the smartest cats I know namely because of his level of commitment to the future, and the emerging generations.  This looks like a dope project, and definitely looking forward to the end product.  The other video below was the winner of a high school competition in Washington DC.  These are high school kids who got together and made this film, so many layers.  so insightful.  Man, I am inspired by these cats, and sometimes I wish I had friends who I could collab with to this extent.  This is just absolutely inspiring. 

New piece I wrote on the bioethics of the current revolutions sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.  Check it out by clicking the image below!

Inspired by this idea of making the world a better place through critical thinking, The Dynasty emerged organically while  I was in college.  Friends would get together on Friday and Saturday nights at a local coffee shop to talk about issues and topics of great depth.  Not wanting our conversations to go in vain, we vowed to continue these conversations outside of the coffee shop with others.  Once we all graduated from school, we now hold our discussion sessions via email.  A new question is sent out every month and by the end of the month all the contributions are anonymously put up on the site.  We, too, hope to contribute a small portion to the Education Revolution.  

This Muammar Gaddafi character needs to straight up tried in the international courts.  You can tell this dude is crazy from the way he perceives himself as it correlates to reality.  He dresses like he is a hero but in reality he is a war criminal.  

He has hired Ghanaian, Ukrainian, Serbian, and soon Nigerian mercenaries to kill his own people, and straight up stockpiling on weapons from Belarus.  And he jailed his Defense Minister when he refused to open fire on the Libyans.  

May peace come to Libya, and then Bahrain soon enough.  

First off, join the virtual support network created by Aisha Saad (the person you have been following on Twitter.com/aisaad).  It was also featured on TV (Al Jazeera English) and other locations on the interwebs.  The point of "attending" this virtual march is to generate support.  Sure this won't feed the hungry, but its the absolutely LEAST you can do to show these protesters that you support their plea for freedom.  

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO ATTEND!

Check out the New York Times piece:  

I don't if you have been paying attention to all the secondary news, namely Israel stirring up some trouble...obviously for self-interested reasons.  See the story below:

And apparently, they are trying to help Mubarak poison the crowds with dangerous anti-crowd weapons?  People are still hush-hush about the rogue practices of this oppressive country (i.e., Israel).  

One of my homies from way back in high school recently asked me this question:

Regarding Obama's recent speech, do you think that it is sufficient to not enumerate specific action that will be taken if Mubarak doesn't step down soon?

 I think it was a smart tactical move by the President. He makes it very clear that the Egyptians should choose their future, namely their future political leader. Secondly, Mubarak also recognizes that the status quo is not stable. The consequences that await Mubarak are self evident. I think it would seem intrusive, unnecessary, imperialistic, rude, and threatening to enumerate what would happen if he didn't step down. That is the LAST thing the United States should involve itself with (i.e., more bellicose and demagogic rhetoric) after what has happened with Iraq and Afghanistan, and more importantly its passivity towards Israel's morally reprehensible behavior. It was great to see the President support the people of Egypt and not side with Mubarak out of selfish interests (i.e., keeping Israel safe and oil). Furthermore, it increased the US's popularity in that region, a region that feels the US is out to get them. His speech most definitely worked in our (i.e., the US's) favor militarily and diplomatically.

Mubarak needs to do what Gorbachev did, and just step down and say, 'fine, go ahead people and you decide what you want.  Oh, you want to dissolve the USSR, thats cool.' Mubarak is being very stubborn and it is just making people angrier. He tried to play it cool and say he wouldn't run for another term. Lets be honest, the people know better. They don't want Muabarak's son to replace him. 

The only action the US should take, in my opinion is one of assistance, for several reasons.

(1) It is the morally right thing to do. What I mean by that is, the US should respect the autonomy of another country and not violate popular sovereignty, or use turmoil as a guise to violate popular sovereignty. 

(2) The rest of the middle east will be more open and receptive the US's presence in the region and not bitterly resent it. Mubarak will leave, its a matter of time. But the person who comes in should not enter with a hatred towards to US for its standoffish-ness. Otherwise, the country will take on a hue similar to Iran. Carter never told the Shah to just step down, and when the Ayatollah Khomeini entered the scene he was lauded for being what the Shah wasn't. Now look at Iran and US relations. And as much as I hate to say it, a new Egyptian leader will be more open to being pro-Israel than if one enters with strong anti-American sentiments. America has an invested interest in the success of Israel. (even though in my opinion its a bad idea) 

(3) Opens the table for serious peace talks. Israel wants badly to maintain a Mubarak regime out of self interest (see the history behind Gaza), and by the US supporting the stepping down of Mubarak, Arab nations will be more receptive to the US as a peace promoter and not a hypocritical, double standard, selfish nation. Bellicose rhetoric and force is never the answer, this is a sensitive situation, they do not want to exacerbate it.

(4) Voicing support is enough, anything less is viewed as hypocrisy, (why was the US pro revolution in Tunisia but not in Egypt? People will wonder). Anything more will seem aggressive and suspicious ('why is the US being so forceful all of a sudden? They have never supported us. something fishy is going on'). 

UPDATE:  Remember to follow @aisaad on twitter as the stories unfold (especially if you don't have live stream capabilities) 

Thank you everyone for visiting my site!  Greatly appreciate it!

On a more serious note, revolutions are important and great, but its also a very vulnerable point for a nation by which they can easily be taken advantage of and manipulated.  In Tunisia you have extreme secularism, and in Egypt you have rigidly authoritarian religious law, both which lead to tyranny.  Will another demagogic person seize the open seat?  Will another Ayatollah Khomeini rise, or will we see a Shirin Ebadi or Mohammad Khatami-type of person?  Or will there be a new, different person who we will judge independently?  Will the laws change?  The aftermath of this revolution, and how the future unfolds is important, otherwise the actions of many protesters and activists will go in vain.    Will the citizens achieve the future they were fighting for?  

On a more humorous note, I found this funny:  

UPDATE:  Photo essay by the Guardian 

I hope they change the laws and get rid of the patriarchy.  Human Rights in Egypt and Tunisia, Inshallah.  My fear is that another corrupt individual will enter that will be lauded as a reformer but only to be the same as previous leaders (e.g., like the 1979 Iranian Revolution).  Its one thing to kick out the officials, its another thing to actually get solid reform in place.  No more oppression for the Coptics, the Maronites, the homosexuals, the Baha'is, the Jews and all the other groups I forgot to mention.  

First it was Tunisia!  Now it may be Egypt.  Follow all of it as it unfolds via @aisaad