Global Voices

English

The world is talking, are you listening?

Saudi Arabia

American Bedu starts a list of what Saudi women can and can not do.

Egypt

Zeinobia from the Egyptian Chronicles is equally offended by the Mexican version of Playboy and its decision to publish photos of a nude woman portraying the Virgin Mary.

Bahrain

“When I felt sand splatter on me I remember thinking that this was more serious than just a tip to the side. This was it. I was gone. I was going to go. I was definitely dying. Wasn't there something I was meant to say before dying?” writes Evil Odd in narrating a recent near-death experience.

Iraq

The Moor Next Door deconstructs the cultural implications of having a pair of shoes thrown at you: “In either case, the insult is obvious: Few people of any culture would take having a loafer or sneaker thrown at them as an expression of endearment.”

Palestine

The Palestinian music documentary “Slingshot Hip Hop” opens in Dubai according to Bataranzi.

Turkey

Talk Turkey presents the faces of the youngest member of the Ottoman Dynasty.

Iraq

In response to the recent throwing of shoes at US President Bush by an Iraqi journalist, Kurdish blogger Rasti adds the following suggestion: “If it had been a Kurdish mother launching the shoes, Bush would have easily had one shoe firmly lodged in each nostril at that close distance. When you need something done right, better ask a Kurdish woman to gt it done instead of screwing around with amateurs.”

Cyprus

The Cyprus government is currently attempting to ban GPS systems that use Turkish place names in the Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus, Homeboy Media News reports:

The Ministry of Education and Culture meanwhile has come up with some additional reasoning for the campaign to ban the GPS receivers. In its feedback, the Ministry pointed out that the Greek place names of Cyprus have been shaped throughout the centuries. It is a fact that the Turkish “so-called authorities” have indeed undertaken a systematic campaign to alter the nomenclature of occupied northern Cyprus. Further, the Ministry pointed out that, according to both the UN and UNESCO, placenames are part of a nation’s cultural heritage.

Iraq

Kurdish author Ardalan Hardi from Kurdishaspect writes a poignant letter in honor of his father entitled Lessons from a Kurdish Poet.

Israel

“I’ve written before of the schizophrenic nature of the Diaspora relationship of Jews to Israel…. The older generation marches to the drummer of past suffering. The newer generation looks for a way past that allows both peoples to live in peace. The question becomes–which pole will dominate?” writes Tikun Olam while looking at Jewish-American attitudes towards Israel.