[REASON] Roman and Greek mythology "contains triggering and offensive material that marginalizes student identities in the classroom," students say. Poor little snowflakes can't take the thought of Leda having been mounted by a swan against her will, or Persephone having been carried off by Hades and mounted against her will. Good thing Ovid didn't mention those poor Sabine ladies.
Ovid’s "Metamorphoses" is a fixture of Lit Hum, but like so many texts in the Western canon, it contains triggering and offensive material that marginalizes student identities in the classroom. These texts, wrought with histories and narratives of exclusion and oppression, can be difficult to read and discuss as a survivor, a person of color, or a student from a low-income background.
Is there any mythology anywhere in the world that doesn't contain "narratives of exclusion and oppression?"
You wouldn't think being "persons of color" would make most of them too stupid to comprehend the concept of mythology, wouldja?
Having come from a "low income background" when I was a youth I still somehow made it all the way through the Metamorphoses and I read a good part of Ars Amorata. We read Caesar's Gallic Wars in Latin I and/or II, which was also kind of heavy on "exclusion and oppression." I suppose Caesar is in the "Western canon" as well.
Gilgamesh, I don't think is. There's no exclusion or oppression in that, is there? Gilgamesh is fond of "sounding the tocsin of war," and he humps the citizenry's daughters, so the gods create Enkidu, who lives with the wild animals until Gilgamesh gets him laid--there are some pretty graphic descriptions of the event in decent translations. Kinda triggery, if you've ever had a sex life that didn't feature surviving the old "fate worse than death." So Gilgamesh and Enkidu become best friends though apparently not gaily, which nowadays is politically incorrect. They go off to fight Humbaba in Lebanon. After they murder the poor monster they go back home. They might murder Humbaba's Mom, too; I can't remember. Maybe I'm thinking of Beowulf. So anyway, they get home and Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh sits with Enkidu and mourns "until a worm fell out his nose." That triggers me every time my nose runs, by golly. I always expect to see wiggly disgusting things in my hankie. And Gilgamesh comments "the sleeping and the dead, how alike they are!" Sometimes I think about that line when I go to bed and it triggers me to wonder what'll happen if I don't wake up. At my age it gets more likely with every birthday. So Gilgamesh gets kinda obsessed with the idea of death and he travels to Dilmun to talk things over with Utu-Napishtim, who's immortal--he lives in an old folks home in Bahrain right now. Utu-Napishtim 'splains to Gilgamesh that immortality ain't what it's cracked up to be and the story ends there. By the way, I checked with old Utu and he said not to worry when I go to sleep. If I don't wake up I won't notice, will I? Unless I'm playing a harp or the temperature rises dramatically.
Sure glad that's not in the Western canon. The snowflakes would be dropping like flies. Best to just stick with the Koran. There's no violence in that...
Um... Never mind.
How about the Bhagavad Ghita? The Tale of Genji? The Upanishads?
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
In my version of the Gilgamesh epic it said he sat with the corpse until the "worms had fastened upon the flesh".
It was the fastening that always had me worried. I mean, just how fast are these worms?
#3
These texts, wrought with histories and narratives of exclusion and oppression, can be difficult to read and discuss as a survivor, a person of color, or a student from a low-income background.
Current victimization narratives cannot be overshadowed by events of the distant past. No discourse, no distractions, no exceptions. 'Keep your eye on the prize.'
#4
Cue Quasimodo in the tower, yelling "The bells, the bells".
Posted by: ed in texas ||
05/14/2015 7:35 Comments ||
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#5
You know some years ago I came across G&S's opera "Pribcess Ida" and it was said to be "dated". Turns out these folk have been around a long time.
For Example, "Florian. And there are no males whatever in those walls?
Gama.
None, gentlemen, excepting letter mails –
And they are driven (as males often are
In other large communities) by women.
Why, bless my heart, she’s so particular
She’ll hardly suffer Dr. Watts’s hymns –
And all the animals she owns are “hers”!
The ladies rise at cockcrow every morn –
Cyril. Ah, then they have male poultry?
Gama. Not at all,
(confidentially) The crowing’s done by an accomplished hen!"
And Also this,
#10
Things might have been worse. The professor might have required everyone to get nekkid as a final exam requirement as did one California professor. If you didn't get nekkid, you failed the class. Final exam requirement. A great many universities have crazy things going on in the classroom and the administration often goes along with it. In this case, it is a tyranny in the classroom. A heck of a lot of these classes and instructors have little redeeming value and nothing to do furthering education. At least in this instance at Columbia, students learn about the classics.
#11
This temple here is surrounded by two lines of ghost eaters. Each ghost eater eats a particular kind of ghost. I would link to some photos but they are linked to my name so...
#16
It sounds like the professor should do them a favor and call for them to be committed. Obviously they are unable to function normally in society so they would probably do better in a facility where they can receive the medication, electroshock therapy and lobotomies they so desperately require.
#17
I pray to be the last living reader of nabakovs Ada. It triggered things, wasn't my fault tho, technically not allowed in that section of the library at the time
#18
If we as a society cave in to all student demands and teach students only what they want to learn or are sensitive enough to "handle," we are going to end up with a lot of ignorant and self-absorbed people when they become grown-ups (if they ever do).
[Tolo] The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) announced on Saturday that a trilateral trade and transit agreement is set to be signed between Afghanistan, Iran and India in the near future.
Reducing further Pakistan's impact beyond the support of the Taliban, etc.
All three countries must still finalize the deal, which is expected to free-up the flow of goods and trade between them.
MoCI officials have said the agreement will allow Afghan trucks to travel to and from Chabahar port, increasing efficiency and cutting down transport time for important goods and vegetables that would have previously been brought through Pakistain. Officials have also said airlines will begin routes to Chabahar port, which lies in the south, just across the Iranian border.
"The trilateral agreement is to expand trade and transit. Iran sent their ideas about it last week, so this agreement will be signed soon," MoCI transit director Muhammad Yahya Akhlaqi said. "We hope that with the signing of this agreement, our trucks will be able to go directly to Chabahar port, without any Iranian company partner. In the past, our trucks needed to be accompanied by Iranian companies."
The trade agreement comes at a crucial time for the Afghan economy, which faces high unemployment, government budget shortfalls and stagnant growth overall. Analysts have applauded the pending deal as a major step in the right direction for international trade ties, but have warned about its political implications as Afghanistan has relied on Pakistain's trade routes for most of the past.
"Chabahar route is way more beneficial for our trade and transit relations with India and Iran," Chamber of Commerce and Industries Deputy Chair Muhammad Younus Mohmand told TOLOnews. "The Government must finalize this agreement as soon as possible, so that we can expand our trade relations with these two countries."
Afghan officials have assured the public that the terms of the agreement are strict, allowing Afghan trucks to go to Chabahar port even if they have no bank guarantees, high transit fees and insurance.
[Tolo] An all-girls Karate tournament ended Saturday in Kabul with eight successful participants being selected for the Kabul girls karate team.
Nearly 50 girls from different Kabul clubs took part in the one-day event organized in Zoorkhaneh gymnasium, Kabul.
The participants had to display their best techniques and skills in order to prove their eligibility for the Kabul team, according to competition organizers.
"I won a tough competition - all the girls were well trained," a participant Suma Sediqi said.
But other athletes questioned the management of the Karate Federation. They accused the federation of not helping the athletes to take part in international competitions.
"I am a member of the national team for five years but I have not participated in a single international competition during this time," Shaista Shayan said, complaing that it had discouraged her.
Federation officials, however, insisted that similar events had already been held in Herat ...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns... , Ghazni, Parwan and Balkh provinces.
Not just Kabul, then. Good.
"We are working on proficiency and skills of our girls. The Girls National Team is attending international competitions and one of our female athletes won a silver medal in last year's South Asian competition," said Abdul Mahboob Sarwary, acting head of Karate Federation.
The competition to identify the best athletes for the national team will start next month, he continued.
[Tolo News] A child bride named Arzo awaits trial after being imprisoned three months ago for allegedly drinking alcohol and bringing shame to her husband's family. While her family claims that she was tortured and sold-off by her in-laws have clearly complicated the case, the Attorney General's office says it plans to move forward with charges against the young girl.
Arzo was married to her cousin when she was just thirteen, with little choice in the matter. She and her brother have claimed that after torturing her with a hot grill, her in-laws traded her to a money exchanger to who they owed 750,000 AFG.
The Attorney General's office has maintained that the girl's case has and continues to be pursued in accordance to the law. Yet, despite obvious signs of inflicted pain on her body in the form of grill burns, the charges being levied by the office are entirely against the young girl, with none brought against her husband's family.
"These are the signs of torture all over my body, being burnt with a grill," Arzo said as she showed the scars on her skin. "What kind of justice is this? Those who are guilty are walking freely and innocents are being placed in durance vile Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! ," Arzo told TOLOnews on Wednesday.
According Arzo's family, she and her brother were locked away Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! for drinking alcohol after they approached law enforcement about the mistreatment she suffered under her in-laws. Her third brother, Sher Agha, has demanded a full investigation into his sister's in-laws.
"If the Attorney General cooperates and discloses telephone conversations related to the groom's family, our statements regarding them selling my sister in exchange for 750,000 AFG will prove true," Sher Agha said. "If our claims are proven wrong, the government can execute my sister and brother who are sitting in jail."
Meanwhile, ...back at the argument, Livia grabbed for Jane's hair to make her point. Jane elbowed her in the face in rebuttal... Sheree, Arzo's widowed mother, has also called for justice, and even went so far as to threaten suicide if it is not served. "The government must address our demands, otherwise I will commit self-immolation," Shereen threatened on Wednesday.
Arzo's grandparents have had to come to her defense and seek out support for her in light of the absence of her father, who has passed away. "We consulted every office and no one met our demand," Arzo's grandfather Mohammad Haleem said.
Meanwhile, ...back at the argument, Livia grabbed for Jane's hair to make her point. Jane elbowed her in the face in rebuttal... in a phone conversation with TOLOnews, Arzo's father-in-law rejected the allegations that she had been tortured or bartered and maintained that she was simply imprisoned after drinking alcohol and bringing shame to his family.
Arzo's family has accused the Attorney General's office of taking bribes from her in-laws. Unsurprisingly, the Attorney General's spokespeople have categorically rejected those claims.
"We investigated the claims of both sides and made the decision in the light of law," Attorney General front man Basir Azizi said on Wednesday. "The case has now been sent to the primary court."
"Based on the civil law and the law on elimination of violence against women, the legal age for girls to get married is 16, but unfortunately, due to poverty and old customs in Afghanistan's societies, the girls are forced to get married earlier than their legal ages, and this is why we witness such issues. But in this case, I think both the families are guilty," female MP from Parwan Samia Sadat said.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] Gambia ... The Gambia is actually surrounded by Senegal on all sides but its west coast. It has a population of about 1.7 million. The difference between the two is that in colonial days Senegal was ruled by La Belle France and The Gambia (so-called because there's only one of it, unlike Guinea, of which there are the Republic of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, New Guinea, the English coin in circulation between 1663 and 1813, and Guyana, which sounds like it should be another one) was ruled by Britain... n President Yahya Jammeh sacked an internationally-renowned Pak appointed last year as Gambia's top judge, according to judicial sources, appointing a Nigerian as his temporary replacement.
Ali Nawaz Chowhan was dismissed without an official announcement, a source in the west African nation's judiciary told AFP late on Tuesday, adding: "We have no idea why he was removed from his position."
Chowhan, who was a judge for three years in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, had served just 14 months under Jammeh after he was sworn in on March 6 last year.
Court of Appeal president Emmanuel Fagbenle becomes "acting chief justice" -- a role which he performed for several weeks the last time a chief justice was axed in February last year -- the source said on condition of anonymity.
Fagbenle has been cited by local media as presiding over many high-profile cases in recent years and was sworn in as a Court of Appeal justice six years ago, according to a government release from 2009.
A lawyer in Gambia's capital Banjul described the move as "unconstitutional", adding that Jammeh had no power to sack the chief justice.
"The constitution states that the president shall in consultation with the Gambia Judicial Service Commission appoint the most senior supreme court judge as chief justice," he said.
"Where does Jammeh derive his authority from? Fagbenle is not one of the supreme court judges. "Recent chief justices have not lasted long under Jammeh, a notoriously fickle leader who regularly reshuffles his government and judiciary.
In what many observers say is a sign of insecurity, the president also runs several key ministries himself, including defence and religious affairs.
Justice Chowhan is a graduate of Columbia Law School. He was the second judge from Pakistain to serve as chief justice of The Gambia.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
When you have to import Supreme Court justices, what does that say about your country? Wait. don't ask, dems might like the idea...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/14/2015 7:55 Comments ||
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[REUTERS] A Burundian general said on Wednesday he had deposed President Pierre Nkurunziza for seeking an unconstitutional third term in office and was forming a transitional government, after more than two weeks of protests against the re-election bid.
But as cheering crowds streamed onto the streets of Bujumbura, sporadic gunfire was heard in the centre of the capital, and it was not immediately clear how much support Major General Godefroid Niyombare had.
With Nkurunziza having gone to Tanzania to discuss the crisis with East African leaders, the presidency dismissed the declaration by Niyombare, who had been fired as Nkurunziza's intelligence chief in February, saying on Facebook that the coup had been "foiled".
"We consider it as a joke, not as a military coup," presidential aide Willy Niyamitwe told Rooters. But late on Wednesday night, Nkurunziza's whereabouts were unclear.
A Tanzanian official said he had not attended the talks in Dar es Salaam, and had left to return to Burundi. But Niyombare said the capital's airport and all border crossings were closed.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... 's Supreme Economic Council has approved a restructuring of state oil company Saudi Aramco [SDABO.UL] that includes separating it from the oil ministry, Al Arabiya television channel reported on Friday, citing sources.
There are no indications that the move will lead to changes in the fundamental way the world's top crude exporter makes its oil decisions.
"Saudi Supreme Economic Council agrees on Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's vision of restructuring oil-giant Aramco," Arabiya reported on its Twitter account.
"Restructuring of Saudi Aramco includes separation from petroleum ministry," the channel said.
The Supreme Economic Council is a new body formed by King Salman ...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, Cutodian of the Two Holy Mosquesand Lord of Most of the Arabians.... earlier this year to replace the Supreme Petroleum Council, which used to help set the kingdom's oil policy.
The new council is headed by the king's son Prince Mohammed, a move seen by analysts as laying the ground for a generational shift in how Riyadh develops its energy and economic strategies.
The main tenets of Saudi oil policy, including maintaining the ability to stabilize markets via an expensive spare-capacity cushion and a reluctance to interfere in the market for political reasons, are set by the top members of the ruling Al Saud family.
On Wednesday, King Salman appointed Saudi Aramco's chief executive as chairman of the state oil firm and health minister, as part of a major reshuffle in the OPEC kingpin.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
So with this action ... follow the money. Who gets majority stock in Aramco?
#1
Honestly? The man made islands are a pretty interesting tactic. Imagine what the seas would look like if it was attempted in the period of colonization.
#3
China has undertaken a vast program of land reclamation in the South China Sea, turning rocks and submerged reefs into islands capable of supporting airstrips and military facilities
Have they done an environmental impact statement? Aren't they increasing their carbon footprint? Contributing to man-made global climate change? Why aren't the birds-and-bunnies folks protesting up a storm?
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/14/2015 13:59 Comments ||
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#4
Nice time for a couple typhoons. When high ground is 12' above sea level...
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/14/2015 14:22 Comments ||
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#5
When high ground is 12' above sea level... just pile it higher and deeper. I'm sure the PRC has some loyal PhDs who can figger that out.
Interesting how the PRC is creating new territory for itself while the USA is abdicating its own territory & going into debt to bomb other territories.
#6
As I've noted previous, the IJN (the japs) had a similar scheme to turn French Frigate Schoals into a seaplane base if the Midway operation was successful
[DAWN] A lawyer, along with his henchmen, thrashed a colleague in the court of District Coordination Officer Saqib Manan during arguments in a revenue case hearing.
The DCO went into his retiring room and avoided to take any action against the lawyer (who belongs to the ruling party).
Although lawyers observed black day on Tuesday, Rana Muhammad Hanif and Syed Qaiser Gilani and their opponent Mohsin Sherazi appeared before the DCO in a revenue case. During the course of arguments, Sherazi lost temper and along with his guards thrashed Hanif.
The injured lawyer took refuge in the Bar room and requested his colleagues to help him. Initially, the lawyers condemned both sides for turning up in court in violation of a decision to boycott courts. Later, they hit out at Sherazi for mercilessly beating a lawyer.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
I was disappointed to see that this happened in Pakistan and not here. Oh well, early in the day yet...
Posted by: ed in texas ||
05/14/2015 7:37 Comments ||
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[DAWN] SARGODHA: Around 500 camels have fallen a victim to a 'mysterious disease' in the last few days at Noorpur Thal and adjoining areas.
It is learnt that these camels have died while grazing gram at Noorpur Thal, Shah Hussain, Katimar, Shahuwala and Nawan Sagu (of Khushab district). A camel starts shivering and expires within 10 minutes.
The secretary livestock has sought a report and sent a team for vaccination and diagnosis. The livestock department has set up health camps in the area and appealed to the people to bring the affected camels to the camp for treatment. It has asked people to avoid consuming camel meat.
The team has taken the samples from stomach and rectum of the affected animals and sent these for analysis.
Noorpur is about 65 kilometres away from Sargodha city and is an area of sand hills and camel is used for transportation and considered a valuable animal. The death of 500 camels has panicked the owners, mostly cultivators, as it is often used for cultivation and running wells.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/14/2015 16:59 Comments ||
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#8
The secretary livestock has sought a report and sent a team for vaccination and diagnosis.
Excerpt from memo:
"Take samples from each patient's rectum
To find out which sect would infect 'em.
Since all Muslim mammals
Are known to love camels,
You'll all volunteer to inspect 'em!"
[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Iran's nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, who has played a major role in recent talks with world powers, has had emergency surgery for a perforated bowel, state media reported Tuesday.
Doctors discovered the tear in the wall of his gut on Monday evening and operated on it successfully, state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
quoted Health Minister Hassan Hashemi as saying.
"His condition is satisfactory and he should be discharged from hospital in a few days."
As well as heading the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, the 66-year-old is also one of Iran's vice presidents.
He holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and played a major role in the technical talks that helped pave the way for a framework nuclear deal with six major powers on April 2.
They included several rounds of talks with US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, a nuclear physicist who taught at MIT.
Further negotiations on the technical specifications of Iran's scaled back enrichment of uranium to produce fuel for nuclear reactors will form a key part of efforts to finalise a full agreement by a June 30 deadline.
Such a deal aims to allay Western concerns that Iran could covertly develop a nuclear weapon.
The Islamic republic denies seeking the bomb and insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful energy and medical purposes only.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
I just read about a guy who was caught with a loaded .25 cal pistol in his rectum - I wonder if something of that nature caused Dr. Salehi's bowel perforation?
#3
"Doctors discovered the tear in the wall of his gut"
He saw the text of the deal Obumbler had offered them and bust a gut laughing. You know it's true.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
05/14/2015 14:51 Comments ||
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[DAILYCALLER] Law enforcement officers at Washington, D.C.'s annual Police Week tell The Daily Caller that the anti-police climate is taking its toll on the men and women in uniform and that morale is low in departments across the country.
One source told TheDC Monday night that officers have stepped back from engaging in proactive policing, because they often see the same violent criminals they arrest immediately released on to the streets.
President of the Fraternal Order of Police Chuck Canterbury told TheDC that he believes that a shortage of cops is the reason. "For the last six or eight years, proactive law enforcement has come to a stop because of shortage of personnel."
Additionally, cops say that the fear of legal and political backlash, similar to what was seen in Ferguson, New York City and Baltimore, is hurting morale. One source at Police Week who also does part-time security work for private companies was astounded at how young some of the violent individuals were during the Baltimore riots.
Another law enforcement source described how objects like bottles are often thrown at the police cruiser she drives.
One recently retired police officer told TheDC that people do not seem to understand that cops do not get up in the morning thinking about who they want to hurt that day.
"Morale is low because we don't have the public's backing," she said, noting that the same people who verbally or even physically attack coppers are the same ones who call them for help. "I pulled a guy over, recently. He was a drunk driver. He said, 'Fuck you, I hate cops.'"
Posted by: Fred ||
05/14/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
Constant media smear. Constant political smear. Take care of your own. Let these people destroy themselves. Yes, the young are most active. Same as with riots of the past. The Democrats have created this mess. Let them solve the problem, as if they will. So you live in the hood. You stay there. Try to get out and they think you feel your better than them. Leave and don't look back.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[REASON] Roman and Greek mythology "contains triggering and offensive material that marginalizes student identities in the classroom," students say.
