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A Greater Mediterranean Economic Zone
By Michael Boyajian
The European Union is merely one step leading to a greater Mediterranean Economic Zone based on the logical borders of the Roman Empire at its greatest extent and beyond. A region that was joined by Rome for trade purposes for a thousand years and not for any other reason like conquest for the sake of conquest.
Dorismond was a security guard and father of two children who was killed by an undercover NY Police Department officer.
Giuliani decided to release Dorismond’s Juvenile record and declared Dorismond was “no altar boy.”
But the move caused a firestorm of criticism at Giuliani because the juvenile record had been sealed, and you can’t make this stuff up, Dorismond had actually served in that capacity, as an “altar boy.”
911 Call For Justice
By Michael Boyajian
Some people like cop movies. I like F.B.I. movies like Mississippi Burning where Gene Hackman is knocking around pasty white KKK goons. I would like to see this kind of action against those who threaten this country in real life too. That is why I believe President Obama should deploy special agents to investigate the mosque burning in Tennessee and anywhere else Muslims are being threatened just like JFK did during America’s civil rights battles of the 1960s.
Dear Editors:
The constitution of this country reserves a special place for newspapers in this unfinished democracy: a special place which comes with specific responsibilities to the polity. Newspapers are expected to inform and edify the masses beyond the mundane day to day events of life in this city, state and nation. Its columnists, free-lance journalists and editorial boards are also expected to take positions on issues, in order to stimulate debate and discussion amongst elites, professionals and ordinary folks alike. Thus the roles and functions of any newspaper are quite important to the theory of democracy. And despite the fact that television, radio, the internet and other contemporary mediums within modern communications technology, have altogether surpassed newspapers as the main mode of information-gathering for most people, the responsibilities mandated by the constitution remain the same.
Signaling A Change in Tactics: Will the Real Tea Party Step Forward
By Michael Boyajian
Frank Rich reported in the New York Times that Rupert Murdoch and the Koch brothers were bankrolling the Tea Party. It was ironic to me that foreign born billionaire Murdoch would be the force behind the most xenophobic movement in American history turning brother against brother in a political civil war in a country in which he had no birth right leaving many to wonder if he himself should be deported.
On any given day, one can create a checklist of issues facing us in this state: issues which need addressing by our Albany legislators in a timely manner; issues which affect millions of New Yorkers in profound ways. And yet, Albany’s collective response over time has left a lot to be desired. It is no secret that between the Senate (now 62 members) and the Assembly (150 members), Albany has been dysfunctional for years: very little gets done. It’s a joke that isn’t funny anymore: it’s an ongoing situation of which most serious political people have become frustratingly inured.
Over the years, there have been too few individuals who intermittently jumped up to seize the mantle for change in Albany. Over the years, there have been too few individuals willing to articulate a framework for reforming the way business is done up there: Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi was one. And there have been too few elected officials willing to fight to change the sterile leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver (as a precursor to real reform): Assemblyman Michael J. Bragman was one. The point is this: Albany harbors too many political cowards and convenient opportunists.
A few months ago I began an experiment, by changing the format of this department. As I noted then, I spend too much time on Facebook, and it displaced my time on Room 8 as my #1 time waster, but while Facebook displaced Room 8 in my life, Room 8, in its own way displaced Facebook. I started my Facebook life making somewhat edgier versions of David Barry-like observations, combined with opining about Rock and Roll’s roots and branches; and except for posting links to my Gate pieces, barely let politics include, even during the primary season.
But somehow, in a manner resembling my current obsession with the Young Men’s Islamic Association proposed for The Holy Mother Coat Factory, I became obsessed with passing health care reform, and specifically with the idiotic left wing efforts to sabotage it because the achievable was not good enough.
Young Men’s Islamic Association developer Sharif El-Gamal seems to enjoy the gamier side of life a bit too much to be a Wahabbist, and seems too angry to be a Sufi; he bears a far greater resemblance to a US Senator from Louisiana crossed with a State Senator from Flatbush.
Nonetheless, it is worth remembering that if NYC barred the sleazy from the development of real estate projects, our skyline would resemble that of Dayton, Ohio, but with more open spaces. Park51 developer Sharif El-Gamal has a history of run-ins with the law www.nydailynews.com
The Romanization of Christianity
By Michael Boyajian
I have been drawn for well over a year now to visit Rome to see first the Forum which was the center of the expansive Roman Empire and then the Vatican the center of the universe for one billion Roman Catholics. Unfortunately I have been prevented from going for various reasons but have found other ways to visit through my imagination, travel and history books on Rome and television shows on the subject.
