Jeff's Nation Blog

Culture Today - Election Tomorrow

jnation — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:45:10 +0000

Tomorrow will be all about the Kurdish Elections. The Region is on high alert, as there is a curfew in all areas that begins at midnight and lasts until 6pm tomorrow. The polls officially open at 8am, but it is rumored that there will be Obama like lines all over the Region. I am upset that I will be stuck in Erbil tomorrow, as I wanted to go to Sulaimaniya, where I believe most of the election drama will be. It is nearly impossible to gain security clearance for a specific area of the region unless you are physically there. I have all credentials in place to cover the Election action in Erbil tomorrow. So, with all that said ground zero will be the Kurdistan capital. Today however, I was able to speak with some very humble, yet aggressively proud young Kurdish men.

The three young men, each with very different experiences, felt an overwhelming responsibility to use their education and energy specifically for the land of their ancestors. This self-imposed burden is not only connected to a cultural relationship with the past, but a political vision for what this region of Iraq has the potential of becoming. It is however evident that no matter how much the KRG has done to develop the Region and provide social infrastructure, that there is still not enough opportunity for young men or women who want to take the skills developed in other parts world and bring them back to develop Kurdistan.

With each passing day I become more and more interested in learning more about the Kurds. The challenge for me is that I am trying to do a cultural story in the midst of a very political moment. As a political scientist, I enjoy the electoral process and the study of those pushing to utilize its power. But I am enjoying the human connection and learning some of the social and cultural norms of the Kurdish people. I have immensely enjoyed the hospitality of both young and old; wealthy and common. There is a proud humility that is coupled with an aggressive love for their people that I see in the way many work and interact. I am not romanticizing a people I don’t fully know, but I am thankful for the introduction and look forward to knowing more.

Tonight…I have to review footage…..Tomorrow…the election. Check you later.

Kurdish Women

jnation — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:27:28 +0000

It is about 3pm in Erbil right now, and I am preparing to speak with some students, but wanted to drop you a line. Yesterday’s agenda was filled back to back with meetings. While
the documentary will take a comprehensive look at Kurdish social and political desires, customs, and history, much of today’s conversation centered around the issues of Kurdish women. I cannot begin to give the material content away before I start, but I did make several observations that will lay the framework for the interests and issues I previously mentioned. There is a visible crossroads for women in this Region of the country. Being a woman in Kurdistan presents some unique opportunities and challenges than exist 198 miles south of Baghdad. The women that I
spoke with today were elected officials, scholars, and quite socially accomplished women. It was an honor to be in their presence. The women were gracious with their time and expressed undeniable energy. I am however looking to balance their assessments with those of some younger women and female students, but their perspective was valuable. I am very interested in documenting the consensus or debate on the state of women in this nation. Women are allowed to vote in tomorrow’s election. Something that is not permitted in many parts of this region of the world. That however does not mean that the Kurds have created a utopia for the noble and proud women that populate Kurdistan. There are over 100 organizations all over the region set up to address women’s issues and a government office that monitors and advocates on their behalf as well. It is impossible to have a healthy nation when women are limited and/or even oppressed. I am not prepared to make an assessment at this point, but the dialog that I had with the women gave clear indication of the capacity that the Kurdish women possess to thrive. Stay tuned. I will have another update coming at 2pm this afternoon (EST).

Finally…From Iraq

jnation — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:22:11 +0000

On the street

I have had a difficult time connecting online and have had intermittent internet usage. So with my constraints here is a quick and dirty update. I am in this part of the world with the self-imposed task of producing a documentary that will introduce the Kurdish people of Iraq and the election process to my fellow US citizens.

I have had a whirlwind experience, so much so that I have not stopped to breathe since my arrival. Even now it is 4:30am and I am reviewing footage in my room and eating some quite impressive baklava…if you’re in to that kind of desert. Let me remain focused here and talk about my time here thus far.

Baklava supplier

The team tasked with constructing the documentary are four black men from the US, an uncommon site in these parts. We touched ground at 3pm local time yesterday. From the airport we literally sped to our hotel, which rests on a picturesque hill nearly 15 km outside of Erbil; or as I have learned to say today the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq. Not 30 minutes after dropping our bags in the hotel, I was able to connect with a new friend and fellow journalist from the Netherlands named Vladimir. Vladimir was willing, ready, and prepared to meet me at the Erbil headquarters of the Gorran, also known as the CHANGE Party. This party has provided the loudest and most critical opposition of the ruling coalition party of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) for the upcoming elections on July 25th. I thought I was simply going to meet Vladimir at the office, meet some of the Gorran officials, and perhaps get our first interview of the trip. In the midst of my crash course in Kurdish democratic posturing, I was bombarded by Gorran accusations of government corruption, and party manipulation by the ruling coalition party (PUK & PDK). As the night continued, a report came into headquarters that several Gorran supporters had allegedly been beaten by security forces and were prepared to speak with us on camera. After driving on what seemed like the search for a unicorn, we caught up with the battered supporters at another Gorran office. While it was obvious that they had been attacked or in a fight, there was no clear evidence of who had actually done the bruising.

This experience was upsetting, but also strangely encouraging. I condemn any notion of injustice or brutality on the part of institutions that have pledged to serve, and thus was concerned by the possibility of this story being true. I was however excited about the fact that such a young democracy was already dealing with the presence of very vocal and somewhat mobilized opposition movement. It is important to mention that the Gorran party is only one of several that are posing an opposition. Additionally, the views of those parties are much more ideologically and in some cases religiously extreme. Each is challenging an aspect of the ruling coalition party and what they have or have not done for the Region and its people. This is exciting because no government is free of corruption, and it is the responsibility of a healthy democracy to call for accountability. After one day on the ground in Kurdistan one thing is clear. From the opposition rallies in Sulaimaniya to the Christians I saw dancing and singing in the streets for the current leader, President Massoud Barzani, to the overall spirit of excitement and anticipation from the Kurdish people, all prove that these elections are not being taken for granted. So for a region of the world that could use a healthy model for democracy, the Kurds are working to provide one.

As my 5 hours in Erbil was coming to an end, I was reflective. I have to say that the Kurdish Regional Government should be applauded for creating the kind of environment that encourages this type of expression. The end of my day did not signify the end, but rather the beginning of our task to capture more. Thursday was just as busy, and gave us the opportunity to speak with some amazing Kurdish people. Check my next entry..coming sooner than you think and follow me on Twitter.

NAACP National Convention: 100 Miles and running?

jnation — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:15:45 +0000

I had the opportunity to speak during the NAACP 100th Convention Mass Meeting for Youth. I must admit, that as a former National Youth Director of the organization, I didn’t expect to see much new. And in my short time there, I didn’t. I am a supporter of the new Persident and CEO Ben Jealous. However, no new vision from the staff will be able to change an old organization with a 64 member Board of Directors. This is especially true when you take into account that some of the members that the NAACP have on the Board add no value to the organization via resources, fundraising, vision, or industry power. They take up space with remedial self interest and use the organization to yield power in their local community that they have in too many cases not earned. My point is that after 100 years the NAACP IS necessary, but in need of a tune up. If this tune up fails to reduce the size of the board, focus on a relevant and responsibly aggressive agenda, and engage both young adults and young people, then I question how well or how long it will continue to run at all.

I must admit that I was impressed with the Youth and College Division’s focus on international issues. The panel that I was able to be a part of was pragmatic and focused, providing those both young and seasoned some practical recommendations of how to be involved in international issues. Take a look at some of my remarks @ NAACP Convention, and as always, I welcome your thoughts.

For more on the NAACP, you can log onto NAACP.org.

Leaving Iraq….For Now

jnation — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:37:20 +0000

As I leave Iraq, I am both excited and overwhelmed. Excited and blessed to have had the opportunity to visit this region of the world. I was able to see beautiful and encouraging work taking place on the ground here. Even more fulfilling was my interaction with some brilliant and hospitiable Kurds who are working to make this a safe and respected autonomous region of the country. Check out just a few of the things I saw before I left at Leaving Iraq..for now.

Despite my great experiences, there is a very important story that needs to be told with a level of depth. The political and social reality here is encouraging, but not perfect. From where I sit that is ok, but it will take real care to introduce this piece to an audience that doesnt know very much about the Kurds. I hope you will watch. Stay tuned.

Jeff

Coming Together

jnation — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:34:27 +0000

I have had quite an enlightening past few days. So much so that I have not been writing. I will post another video blog this afternoon. Stay tuned, and thanks for all the emails and texts of support.

Blessings

Preparing to tell the story

jnation — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:02:43 +0000

Being on the ground in Erbil is not the Iraq that most people see on CNN. From the common space landscaping to the visible real estate and commercial development, it is evident that this is no Bagdad. Clearly the people who have made this Region, known as Kurdistan, a sector of stability have a story that is bigger than the country I am now in. Check out some of my thoughts as I prepare to conceptualize this project @ Iraqi Arrival

Just touched down in Eribl

jnation — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:33:01 +0000

I am now on the ground in Erbil, Iraq. As we speak I am going through customs and preparing for a day of meetings and seeing the city. I promise to check back in with video this afternoon your time. Thanks for all the emails and prayers. Your support means more than you know.

Today’s “Dayover”

jnation — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:00:38 +0000

I pray that tomorrow I will actually be in Iraq. While not the day of substance I planned for, it was a beautiful day in a beautiful city. Take a short look at A day in Vienna

Jeff

From Delayed To Stuck

jnation — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:04:14 +0000

I have traveled all over the world, and as a result have been witness to some pretty crazy travel situations. The last 12 hours have not been extraordinary, but they have certainly been funny. Anyone that flies ANYTHING out of JFK expects to be delayed. Hell, even pigeons have gridlock. But when the captain got on the loudspeaker to inform us that we were 41st for take off after being on the tarmac for an hour already, I could do nothing but laugh.

What made the trip (well the taxi ride to the runway) more amusing was the fact that nothing about the onboard experience felt like an international flight. I told my twitter friends last night that when I closed my eyes I could have sworn I went through a time warp back to my college days in Ohio when I was taking the Greyhound from Toledo to Cleveland. Euro Bey Bey Kids RUNNING and crawling around the cabin, obnoxiously loud Austrian Uncles, and the smallest coach seats all made for a memorable delay.

Well, that behind me I now sit in Vienna, stuck for the day in light of my late departure from JFK. Now I can think of worse places to be stranded for 24 hours, but I already was under a tight schedule for Iraq. SO…my friends. One more day before I can show you a bit of Iraq. You can always follow me on Twitter as well. Stay with me and keep me in your prayers.

Jeff