This is my 43rd and final column for The Carroll News. Next week, the World News section will be in the hands of Michael Reiser, and I’m confident that he’ll do an outstanding job.
At the same time, however, I’m reluctant to give up the reins just yet.
This country has some rough days ahead…
Articles by Sean Webster
World Wide Web: Where is our Day of Rage?
World Wide Web: Taking the high road to hell
I don’t blame Americans for supporting U.S. military intervention in Libya. After all, when cloaked in the guise of multilateralism and the moral superiority of a humanitarian cause, intervention in Libya sounds like a responsible use of military power.
However, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Obama’s “limited” commitment to protect civilians…
World Wide Web: Hey Obama, stay the heck out of Libya
“We don’t want and we won’t accept any foreign intervention on our soil. We started this revolution, and we will finish it.”
Those are the words of Abdul Hafidh Gogha, the spokesman of the provisional government recently set up by the pro-democracy rebels in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.
The situation in Libya…
World Wide Web: Did Bush bring democracy to the Middle East?
It’s hardly been eight years since the United States invaded Iraq, toppled Saddam Hussein and installed a democratic regime in a region where authoritarian rule is the norm. And now the entire Middle East, from Algeria to Yemen, is being rocked by anti-government protesters demanding that their leaders step aside and make way for democracy.…
Blake debut is bloody brilliant
About 30 seconds into the first track on James Blake’s self-titled debut, you realize that the dude has a pretty impressive pair of pipes. He’s got the kind of croon that can turn words like “of” and “out” into six syllable soul scratchers, and a falsetto that’ll give you goose bumps. But any joker can…
World Wide Web: Has social media revolutionized revolutions?
Both the Tunisian and Egyptian Revolutions may not have been possible without Mark Zuckerberg.
Anti-government protestors used Facebook to organize huge demonstrations in the streets of Tunis and Cairo. Then when Ben Ali and Mubarak began cracking down on media outlets, protestors used hashtags on Twitter to let the world know what was going on.…
World Wide Web: Jimmy Carter’s revolution
How important is the promotion of democracy to U.S. foreign policy?
To many Americans, this nation’s main mission is to promote freedom and democracy throughout the world. And as revolution takes hold in Egypt, and protests continue to plague Jordan, Americans have been annoyingly reminded that the United States is thoroughly enmeshed in the business…
World Wide Web: Egypt & the glory days
For decades, Egypt was the juggernaut of the Arab world. As the most populous and powerful Arabic country, it was Israel’s primary military foe. And its leader, the legendary Gamal Abdul Nasser, united Arabs and gave hope to the people of Palestine.
But in a peace treaty brokered by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, Egypt…
World Wide Web: The Middle East is burning
It was embarrassment that drove Mohamed Bouzazi to douse himself in paint thinner and light himself on fire. After the apples that he sold to support his family were confiscated by government workers; after he was slapped in the face and publicly beaten by them – twice; after one of them insulted his dead father;…
Historic vote draws near in Sudan
A month from today, on Jan. 9, the world may witness either the birth of a new nation or the beginning of a bloody genocide in southern Sudan.
On that day, the south is scheduled to go to the polls to decide whether or not to secede from the rest of the country. The vote…
World Wide Web: Do it for Nico
I made an academic debut of sorts this past Sunday night. At the “Peace for Sudan” panel in Donahue Auditorium, I spoke between Dan Griffin, the Sudan adviser for Catholic Relief Services, and Nico, one of the 27,000 “Lost Boys” of Sudan who have been displaced or orphaned by the Second Sudanese Civil War. What…
JCU confronts global poverty in Sudan
The Center for Service and Social Action and Campus Ministry are encouraging the John Carroll community to confront global poverty and rally for “Peace in Sudan.” A panel discussion regarding the political crisis between the North and South will be held on Dec. 5 at 7:30pm in the Donahue Auditorium. After the discussion, a candlelight…
World Wide Web: Four and a half minutes in Zardari’s shoes
For the next four and a half minutes, imagine that you’re Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan. You’re looking westward at your neighbor, Afghanistan, and you see an unstable Afghan government plagued by corruption. You see a weak Afghan military incapable of protecting civilians – let alone defeating the Taliban – without American support.…
World Wide Web: The burden of the working class
I feel like most students who read my column don’t make it past the first three paragraphs. So if it’s okay with you, I’m going to write it bass ackwards this week. Here’s my conclusion:
Republicans want to put the entire responsibility of reducing the nation’s record-setting debt and deficit on the shoulders of the…
World Wide Web: Health care: nothing but the truth
Halloween’s over, but don’t expect Republican scare tactics on health care to end any time soon. The alleged “government takeover” of health care is one of the main reasons Americans are turning their backs on President Obama and the Democrats. And a number of competent Democratic candidates and incumbents were destroyed on Election Day by…
World Wide Web: Tirade
Who would’ve thought that the recession would hit Ohio so hard that it would give half of Ohioans amnesia? It’s sad, but true. Or at least that’s what the polls appear to prove. It’s been just a few years since the failed economic policies of President George W. Bush brought us the biggest financial and…
World Wide Web: A country without a cause
It took about 60 years for America to transform from a great power into the world’s only superpower.
What drove this transition? Competition.
Throughout that period, this nation faced some type of challenge that transcended political differences and motivated Americans to work, in one way or another, towards a common goal. During the 1930s, the…
World Wide Web: The only thing we have to fear is irrational fear itself
Ah, the glory days. Back when I was a freshman, JCU’s dining service was top notch. To-go boxes were free. You could use a meal swipe at Einstein’s for breakfast and at the Inn Between for dinner. And in the dining hall, you could grab a tray right when you walked in and put as…
Word for Word: 9-16-2010
“You can’t be honest. I didn’t want to answer questions, even to say what my weekend plans were.”
– Maj. Margaret Witt, a lesbian, who was discharged from the army in 2007 under its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. (The New York Times)
“I won’t go out. I’ll send people to shop for me. I’ll…
Mideast leaders meet in Washington to commence peace negotiations
Three presidents, a prime minister, and a king sat together in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 1. It was the eve of the beginning of Middle East peace negotiations, and each declared his determination to finally bring peace to a region plagued by violence for over six decades.
But their subtle…
World Wide Web: Immigrants and ugly chairs
My father is an immigrant. He came to this country from Great Britain when he was 18 years old. With only twenty bucks in his pocket, he got a job, got another job, worked his way through college and sent part of each paycheck back home to his family in England.
After college, he landed…
