What's Next for American Hikers?

In July of 2009, three American hikers were captured in Iran and accused of being spies. On Sept. 14, after over a year of imprisonment in Iran, one of the hikers was released. 32 year-old Sarah Shourd is the first of the hikers to be released after Swiss negotiation officials paid a $500,000 bail.

The question on everyone’s mind now is: what about the other two hikers? Shane Baur and Josh Fattal, both 28 years old, remain in Iranian custody. At the U.N. Assembly the week of Sept. 20 Iranian President Mahmound Ahmadinejad refused to promise the release of the American men, citing the release of Shourd as a “huge humanitarian gesture” already.

The imprisonment of the Americans came shortly after the re-election of Ahmadinejad back in 2009, whose re-election was fraught with accusations of fraud. Tensions over the accusations heightened anti-American sentiments in the country.

“[Iran is] trying to create a favorable environment and a trading environment for themselves and to point out that they don’t like things that America does,” says Josh Landis, Director for Middle Eastern Studies. “ And if you are bad to us we can be bad to you, but we also have mercy and we can be good to you if you are good to us.”

Landis believes it is all an effort to push Ahmadinejad’s ‘we can have a dialogue’ proposition to the United States. While negotiators are working on the release of Baur and Fattal, it appears the Iranian government wants a deal similar to the release of Shourd for each American. For more information and to track the story visit www.freethehikers.org.

Blogger Advocates Social Change

On Wednesday, Sept. 15 students from a variety of majors flocked to the Regents Room in the Memorial Union to hear renowned blogger Mona Eltahawy speak on the concept of blogging for social change. Eltahawy, a Muslim-American journalist, is the first Activist-in-Residence brought to OU this year by the Center for Social Justice. Her most recent blog post “Hey America: I’m Muslim, Let’s Talk”, explores the strained relationship between America and the Muslim culture.

“This idea of creating a blog so you could tell the world about how you feel was practically nonexistent.” Eltahawy says of her beginnings as a blogger post 9/11. “Blogging back then for me was like opinion pieces, so I started writing opinion pieces sharing the ‘I’, and I think that’s the most important factor when you blog or when you go on social media. It’s about the ‘I’.”

With the recent debate over plans to build an Islamic community center two blocks from Ground Zero and religious groups across the nation burning the Quran, Eltahawy’s speech comes at a time when anti-Muslim sentiment is higher than ever. Eltahawy describes how blogging led her to physical activism in an effort to educate people on the true nature of Islam.

Mona Eltahawy speaking to students at her “Blogging for Social Change” symposium

Eltahawy emphasized the reality of blogging to students—change does not come over night. However, she maintains the awareness created by blogs is a powerful force against dictatorships and oppression. Eltahawy hopes to bring awareness to Americans on the true values of Islam. Her blog posts can be followed at http://www.monaeltahawy.com/.

Taking the Plunge

This post marks the beginning of a blog that will center around the controversial politics in our world. Here I will delve into the who's and what's behind the hot topics you see on your television every day. Whether you have a strong set of beliefs already and are looking to broaden your perspectives, or don't know how to feel about what-- this blog will give you political insight from your own generation. It should be an interesting ride!

--R