Nicholas Kristof: Where China Outpaces America

(http://inhabitat.com/shanghai-tower-by-gensler/)

When a Shanghai child outlives an American child on average, that's a reminder that China is more than just another autocratic country. Here’s a fact about China that you may not know: people in Shanghai today have a longer life expectancy than Americans. Nicholas D. Kristof in NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/opinion/01kristof.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas Kristof about the Militants from Tahrir Square

Will Cairo 2011 repeat Tehran 1979 or Prague 1989? I am still scared of another possibility, the Tien An Men tragedy (though I think, following the course of events, that's more and more improbable). What do they think the protesters about the relations with Israel or with US? I think there are all kind of people, with all kind of convictions. The same was in Bucharest in December '89. Liberty comes with its risks and challenges everywhere, not only in Arab countries. Does it mean the Romanian people had in 1989 to remain under dictatorship? Nicholas D. Kristof in NY Times: it would be tragic if we let our anxieties impede our embrace of freedom and democracy in the world’s most populous Arab nation.

Read more at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/opinion/06kristof.html?_r=1

(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas Kristof: We Are All Egyptians

Dr. Nawal El Saadawi, 79 years, a leading Arab feminist, with protesters in Tahrir Square
(image credits: Nicholas D. Kristof)

USA Today: Hundreds of thousands of protesters are jamming Tahrir Square in central Cairo waving Egyptian flags and shouting: We won't leave. He must leave!

Roger Cohen in today's NY Times: Already we hear the predictable warnings from Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu: This could be Iran 1979, a revolution for freedom that installs the Islamists. But this is not 1979, and Egypt’s Facebook-adept youth are not lining up behind the Muslim Brotherhood, itself scarcely a band of fanatics.

Many of my friends are concerned about the events in Egypt. Obviously the Mid East status-quo is no more. I think anyone who loves dignity, democratic values and social fairness must these days to be with the heart there, in Tahrir Square, among those demonstrators who are making history. I can tell all my friends that it's a shame to be scared now. A new regime will emerge and they will be our new partners. Nicholas D. Kristof, who has been in Tahrir Square for a week, says in today's NY Times: the lion-hearted Egyptians I met on Tahrir Square are risking their lives to stand up for democracy and liberty, and they deserve our strongest support — and, frankly, they should inspire us as well. A quick lesson in colloquial Egyptian Arabic: Innaharda, ehna kullina Misryeen! Today, we are all Egyptians!

This should be our thought: Today We Are All Egyptians!

(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas Kristof: Pro-Mubarak Thugs Are Retreating

Nicholas D. Kristof facebooking from Tahrir Square:
Something incredible is happening at Tahrir Square in Egypt: the pro-Mubarak thugs whom the government sent here with clubs, machetes and straight razors are retreating! The democracy forces seem to be winning this battle. It's a symbol of Mubarak's incompetence that he dispatches armed thugs to engineer a crackdown -- and can't even achieve that.

(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas Kristof: Situation in Tahrir is Volatile

Nicholas D. Kristof facebooking from Tahrir Square:

We have a very volatile situation right now in Tahrir. The pro-Mubarak forces have converged and are facing down the pro-democracy groups. I worry about clashes. The idea that pro-Mubarak groups spontaneously formed after his speech is preposterous; many of them seem provocateurs. Stay tuned.


(Zoon Politikon)

Mubarak Won't Seek New Term

Mubarak says he won't seek new term. Despite speech, protesters demand resignation.


Nicholas D. Kristof in his blog: That would have been a historic decision if he had made it two weeks ago, and it might have avoided the present mess. But today, it’s too little, too late. And if the White House has devoted its political capital to getting Mubarak to agree to such a half-measure, then I fear that there’s a measure of cluelessness on both sides. And he continues, I’m afraid that too many Egyptian and American officials have been spending their time talking to each other, and not enough time talking to grassroots Egyptians in Tahrir Square and elsewhere.

(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas Kristof: An Image from Tahrir Square

Egypt pro-democracy protesters taking photos with soldiers on Tahrir.
(image credits: Nicholas D. Kristof)

Egyptians interviewed by Nicholas D. Kristof on Tahrir Square are sure the military won't crack down on them -- hopefully they're right.


(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas Kristof from Tahrir Square

Nicholas D. Kristof facebooking from Tahrir Square:

I've arrived in Egypt! Amazing scene. Thanks for all your suggestions; I'll be FBing, tweeting, writing, if I can get on line. Borrowing a sat phone now. Tahrir Square is just unbelievable--first time I've ever strolled across it without worrying about traffic. Just tanks and thousands of protesters. Everybody's very hopeful and very nervous.

....

The back streets in Cairo are very tense after curfew, no traffic. Residents have set up roadblocks every 100 yards, and are armed with clubs, bats, steel rods and machetes. One had a gun. They ask for ID to make sure you're not a policeman or looter. They were all very polite to me, but it's a very tense environment ripe for accidents.

....

I just did a bunch more interviews at Tahrir Square, and the mood is giddy. I especially love the campfires. But it reminds me, painfully, of the equally giddy mood at Tiananmen Square before the shooting started. Some of the regime's moves -- earlier curfew, buzzing protesters with fighter planes, nasty media -- don't seem conciliatory at all.

....

I just snagged a satellite phone, so I'm on line again in Egypt! I spent the day at Tahrir Square until well after curfew, and even bigger crowds today. This is snowballing, and if it continues Mubarak is history. His only chance is if he orders a bloody crackdown and the army obeys; neither is certain, but both unfortunately are possible.


(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas Kristof is Heading for Egypt

Nicholas D. Kristof is heading for Egypt and he thinks he can get in. Depending on Internet/phone access he hopes to FB, tweet, blog and columnize soon. There are about 600 comments on Facebook. Karen Holland Hanania suggested him just hearing from the people on the streets. Kathleen V. O'Bryan says, please put faces on the protesters, tell their stories, be cautious and have safe passage, we await your news, thank you for going. Linda Lacy has a wonderful comment, go by the funky, run-down Cairo version of the Blue Mosque and talk with the caretaker; he has nine children and makes very little money when he gets paid at all, Mr Hawass does not have money to preserve every antiquity equally, but the caretaker loves to talk about the mosque and I would be curious what he would say about current events. He doesn't speak much English BTW. Tell him the lady who came in 2006 and 2008 with the guide Samir and who gave his son a piece of candy sent you. Little Mary Margaret Cannon prays, God be with you!!!





(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas D. Kristof: China's Winning Schools

An international study about student performance in math, science and reading placed in top four countries. Only one of them was non-Confucian: Finland. The other three were China, Hong Kong and Singapore. As for US, 15th in reading, 23rd in science and 31st in math. Well, someone has to be the 15th, isn't it? You cannot have all countries to be the 1st.

Says Nicholas D. Kristof in today's NY Times, Americans think of China’s strategic challenge in terms of the new stealth fighter aircraft, while the real challenge is the rise of China’s education system and the passion for learning that underlies it; we’re not going to become Confucians, but we can elevate education on our list of priorities without relinquishing creativity and independent thought.

Read more in:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/opinion/16kristof.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

(Zoon Politikon)

Nicholas D. Kristof - Message to Muslims: I'm Sorry

Many people consider that moderate Muslims should stand up to their extremists and apologize for their fanaticism. That is true also for us: as moderates we should stand up against our extremists and apologize for the wave of bigotry and nuttiness directed against Muslims, for all that racist innuendo that equates Islam with terrorism and sees in any Muslim the enemy.

Many of us honestly believe that Islam generates violence, but world is far more interesting and nuanced than a black and white picture of them against us.

Nicholas D. Kristof in today's NY Times...


(Zoon Politikon)