I. What's happened to 'higher' education?
If the term "higher education" is to be distinguished from other forms of learning or training, surely the distinguishing feature cannot simply be the number of years students have devoted to the cultivation of an ability. No, what the term refers to is the study of things that are themselves higher; higher in the order of abstraction, higher in that plane of thought and of action on which the examined life is lived. Understood in these terms, higher education found itself a century and a half ago on a collision course with what the general public was equally pleased to call "the real world," the world of commerce, careers, and popular estimations of success. In 1692, the great English philosopher John Locke warned against an education that would trade "your son's innocence and virtue for a little Greek and Latin." He disparaged "the learning now in fashion in the schools of Europe," insisting that "a gentleman" can well do without it.
II. Shadowy Bilderberg group meet in Greece — and here’s their address
Don’t tell anyone, don’t breathe a word, but the world’s most powerful men are meeting secretly again to save the planet from economic catastrophe. Every year since 1954 a club of about 130 senior or up-and-coming politicians gather at the fireside of a secluded hotel with top bankers and a sprinkling of royalty to discuss burning issues, to trade confidences and just stay abreast of the I-know-something-you-don’t-know circuit. No lists of participants are disclosed, no press conferences are held; spill the beans and you’re out of the magic circle. This year the club is going to talk about depression. “According to the pre-meeting booklet sent out to attendees, Bilderberg is looking at two options,” says the Bilderberg-watcher Daniel Estulin — “either a prolonged, agonising depression that dooms the world to decades of stagnation, decline and poverty — or an intense but shorter depression that paves the way for a new sustainable
economic world order, with less sovereignty but more efficiency.”
III. A Marshall Plan for Afghanistan
It seems these days as if Russia is living in its own universe. For example, the United States, NATO, China, India and Iran all consider the situation in Afghanistan a top foreign policy priority. Russia, however, does not. This is more than a little strange. Russia was essentially the first country to recognize Afghanistan's independence in May 1919. The Soviet Union made a significant contribution to Afghanistan's modern economy by building the country's infrastructure between 1950 and 1980. What's more, Afghanistan is geographically the "soft underbelly" of Russia and not of the United States or NATO member countries. Afghanistan's well-being depends on whether it enjoys true sovereignty and becomes a powerful, independent state. This is a question of vital importance. Unlike the United States and its allies, Russia does not interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs. Russia's greatest advantage is that it does not need anything from Afghanistan.
IV. NATO revives 'Cold War' era says Russia
Moscow responds on the issue of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) war games in neighboring Georgia, saying the alliance seeks to revive the Cold War. Russia-NATO relations sank further into troubled waters on Wednesday with the launch of controversial alliance war games in Georgia. On the first day of the military exercise, Russia expelled two top NATO envoys from Moscow in retaliation for the organization's decision to oust two Russian diplomats from Brussels. the NATO decision to hold the drills in Georgia during the WWII Victory Day celebrations was a "total revision of the history of the Great Patriotic War" and a direct insult to a country that has borders with a "malicious humiliation."
V. Proud Russia hosts Eurovision extravaganza
Russia is hosting the event for the first time after winning in 2008 - a triumph seen there as part of a post-Soviet national renaissance, in which a Russian was also crowned Miss World. Moods may have been darkened by the economic crisis, but the Russians are looking to show the world they can put on a show-stopping party as they prepare to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. Russia, Serbia and Ukraine have all won in recent years. Norway is the bookies' favourite to win the contest.
VI. Kazakhs approve pipeline to Russia
Nursultan Nazarbayev, the president of Kazakhstan, has signed a law approving the construction of an additional gas pipeline to Russia that will bolster Gazprom's control over central Asian gas exports. The 1,600km pipeline will carry 20bn cubic metres of gas from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan north to Russia. The European Union has urged the two countries to join the planned Nabucco pipeline project to bring gas to the west without crossing Russia, but the countries have refused to commit to it.
VII. Pope in Bethlehem: A missed opportunity - Benedict overlooked murder, persecution of Christians
During Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Bethlehem today, the pontiff did not address rampant Muslim persecution of Christians and stood by as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas lied about the real reason behind local Christians fleeing. In a major address, the pontiff strongly supported a Palestinian state. Perhaps he does not realize recent history demonstrates such a state may lead to increased persecution and endangerment of Palestinian Christians. He said nothing, of the suffering of Gaza's 3,000 Christians since Hamas took over that territory in 2007. Benedict might well have decried the many bombings, shootings and other Islamist attacks against Gazan Christian establishments, the brutal murder of the territory's only Bible-store owner, or the regular intimidation and persecution of Christians there. His solidarity with Gazan Christians might have given them some much-needed strength. Bethlehem consisted of upwards of 80 percent Christians when Israel was founded in 1948, but since Arafat got his hands on it, the city's Christian population dove to its current 23 percent. As soon as he took over Bethlehem, Arafat unilaterally fired the city's Christian politicians and replaced them with Muslim cronies. He appointed a Muslim governor, Muhammed Rashad A-Jabar and unilaterally disbanded Bethlehem's city council, which had nine Christians and two Muslims, reducing the number of Christians councilors to a 50-50 split. Arafat then converted a Greek Orthodox monastery next to the Church of Nativity, the believed birthplace of Jesus, into his official Bethlehem residence. "We are harassed, but you wouldn't know the truth. No one says anything publicly about the Muslims. This is why Christians are running away." Meanwhile, Benedict's call for a Palestinian state would bring complete PA control over more territory in which Christians reside. Thus, his call, if implemented, may well result in even more Christian deaths, persecution and intimidation.