Dr. Martin Russell’s Post

The songs Anguka Nayo (2024) and Unbwogable (2002) serve as significant cultural artifacts in Kenya, reflecting the political climates of their respective eras and the ongoing struggle for change. Both songs have emerged as anthems for their generations, capturing the sentiments of Kenyans yearning for political transformation. Anguka Nayo and Unbwogable are more than just songs; they are a cultural phenomena that encapsulate the aspirations and frustrations of their times. As the country continues to navigate its complex political landscape, these anthems of our time serve as stern reminders of the power of music in shaping social movements and pushing for a collective identity among citizens advocating for change. The enduring legacy of both songs highlight the ongoing struggle for democracy and accountability in Kenya, illustrating how music can transcend time and resonate across generations.

It's truly perplexing to see such an uproar over the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India coming together for Ganpati Puja. Are we really at a point where every gesture, tradition, or cultural practice gets politicized? These two leaders, while holding important roles, are also citizens who share in the cultural fabric of this nation. Their participation in a significant festival like Ganpati Puja shouldn’t be twisted into something sinister. Ganpati Puja stands for unity, peace, and devotion—values that resonate with millions of Indians. So, why is it problematic for two national leaders to engage in this? Why do we feel the need to dissect every moment through a political lens? Shouldn’t we be celebrating the fact that, despite their heavy responsibilities, they honour the cultural traditions that are dear to so many? Have inclusivity and respect for traditions now become things to criticize? The Ganpati Puja moment is a sincere gesture reflecting our nation’s shared cultural and spiritual heritage. It is unfortunate that something so simple has drawn baseless negativity. There is no question of this meeting compromising judicial independence or political neutrality. The critics seem quick to overlook the fact that cultural traditions are deeply embedded in Indian society. Our leaders, whether in government or judiciary, are first and foremost a human who is citizens of this country. Their participation in religious or cultural practices is a personal choice, not a violation of constitutional principles. It is also essential to remember that judicial independence in India is a cornerstone of our democracy, protected by both the Constitution and the Code of Conduct for judges. The CJI, through his landmark judgments, has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to upholding this independence. Engaging in cultural practices does not diminish this commitment, as India's institutional safeguards ensure that the judiciary remains impartial, free from political influence, and firmly grounded in the rule of law. Our constitution firmly upholds the separation of powers, and cultural participation doesn’t blur that line. Judicial independence is preserved by robust institutional safeguards, not undermined by appearances at festivals. Suggesting otherwise only dilutes the true essence of our democracy. It’s time to put an end to this needless criticism. Not every interaction is a breach of some imaginary line. This is a spiritual event, not a political power play. Let them show their respect for a cherished festival without manufactured drama. Rather than fanning the flames of unnecessary controversy, let’s appreciate the symbolism of unity and shared values that such moments represent. We should focus on the harmony these traditions foster, which is central to India’s pluralistic spirit. Let’s honour the choices of our leaders and celebrate the cultural diversity that defines our nation. #CJI #PM #GaneshPuja #Constitution

Ideas Letter - Groupthink Agonistes is out. https://lnkd.in/ec4uJsrj Fantastic curation this week - hard to choose one that resonated most. The Shoah after Gaza by Pankaj Mishra on the weaponization of the Holocaust paired with Peter Beinart is mind-blowing. Inventing Hindu Supremacy by Mihir Dalal in Aeon tracks also the deliberate manipulation of identity in India (and how it's done in other places) and how it is so easy to build unity through hate and othering, something Nigeria experienced a high dose of during the 2023 elections. Then there is a Noble Prize economist who has changed his mind about labour unions, free trade and immigration. I too used to regard 'unions as a nuisance that interfered with economic (and often personal) efficiency and welcomed their slow demise.' The power of capitalism and years of programming in effect...how do we build stronger unions? Some of the answers will lie with women's movements. And if you have ever wondered about intellectual property, and the concept of property in general, Katherina Pistor on how law creates wealth and inequality is a must listen to podcast. Enjoy the biweekly dose of heteredox thinking and have a great week ahead.

Spain and its Jewish community. A long, often- and again- troubled- history during the centuries. The socialist government, the media with their pro Palestine policies and the acknowledgment of a “Palestinian “ state have sparked fears of dramatically growing antisemitism in the Spanish Jewish community. Again worrying, fearful and in fact infuriating news from one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula, known in Hebrew as the Sepharad, dates back to the Roman period . Spanish Jewry was one of the largest, most prosperous, and cultivated Jewish communities in the world. Despite centuries of unrivaled Jewish success, this “Golden Age” came to an end in 1492 with the promulgation of the “Alhambra Decree,” which presented the Jews with the options of conversion to Catholicism, exile, or death. The majority of Jews in Spain, between 200,000 and 250,000, were forced to apostatize while somewhere between 40,000 and 100,000 were forced into exile. Spanish neutrality in World War II allowed 25,600 Jews to use Spain as a getaway, with Franco allowing Jews to use the country as an escape route. Spanish diplomats extended their protection to Eastern European Jews, especially in Hungary, because many Jews claimed Spanish ancestry. 1992, King Juan Carlos, in a symbolic gesture, repealed the expulsion order; in 2015, the Spanish Parliament voted to offer citizenship to descendants of Sephardi Jews. The law allows descendants of the Sephardic Jewish community from Spain to apply for citizenship after being vetted by the Spanish Federation of Jewish Communities (FCJE) and meeting other criteria such as demonstrating a “special connection” to Spain and a knowledge of its language and culture. As of March 2018, 6,432 Jews obtained Spanish citizenship through this process. Today, an estimated 13,000 (affiliated) and 50,000 (resident) Jews live in Spain, concentrated in the provinces of Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga as well as in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. https://lnkd.in/dfpkJaJW

Sharing this article I wrote almost two months ago because it is sadly still relevant. I have struggled with knowing the best way in which to be vocal about this topic and the most appropriate way to add my voice to the many others bravely and eloquently speaking out about Palestine. For those that don't know, German memory culture has been a focal point of my research for the last few years. I explain in this article how, in my opinion, the pitfalls of an aspect of German memorialisation that is overly bureaucratic and prescriptive are coming to the fore with the current German state's silencing of pro-Palestine movements and criticism of the Israeli government. Note: I use the term Anti-Semitism in this article. I have since learned that this is a problematic term tied to thinking of Jewish people as a race. For this reason, it is better to use the term "antisemitism" or anti-Jewish sentiment. Removing the hyphen from the term at least takes away the implication of a "Semitism" that ties being Jewish to some kind of racial/biological reality, which obviously has a horrible history.

“Swifties vs Jihadis? ISIS finally met its match” In response to the recent allegations of suspected plans of [a] terror attack(s) at a Taylor Swift concert(s) in Vienna, my former professor, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Marashi recirculated his TRT World article from five years ago describing how “toxic ideas of ISIS continue to inspire acts of violence, particularly among a small number of second generation of Muslims often born to immigrants in European states.” Dr. Al-Marashi cites Olivier Roy’s 2017 The Guardian article, “Who are the new jihadis?” In short, Roy deduced: 25% of jihadis are converts, some are 2nd generation European Muslim immigrants, and there is a strong trend observed of “born-again” Muslims experiencing a “re-conversion” after experiencing a generally secular lifestyle after their families immigrated to Europe in order to give their children a better life. What I infer from the articles, along with my own observations and speculations regarding ISIS jihadis in the last ten years is that ISIS exists, at the very least in part, as a teenage/young adult phenomenon comprised of throngs of European/Western runaways and orphans; and that social incentive may outweigh religious incentive with prospects groomed in small circles. Roy’s article illustrates an element of “generational revolt,” which is true for both jihadis who were born into Muslim families, and for those who converted to Islam alike. As terrorist activity increases as a result of the Afghan Withdrawal, I predict that the assertion that the appeal of ISIS/Daesh engagement as a “teenage/ young adult phenomenon” activated by familial rebellion and generational revolt will become more often discussed in mainstream discourse. Per Dr. Vera Mironova's NATO Review summary after interviewing ISIS fighters, dated August 9th, 2018, “ISIS is not a territory on a map – it is a people group in search of a homeland.” Furthermore, ISIS infighting occurred when “another group of people inside ISIS disagreed with the group’s leadership.”  She continues, “these extremely religious fighters had grown dissatisfied with the ISIS brand of Islam,” and ”so called takfiris (Muslims who accuse other Muslims of apostasy) extremists accused ISIS of being kafirs (unbelievers),” further corroborating the proposition that many ISIS fighters were/are new to the cause. This discussion is only meant to help discern the demographic of those who are seduced by ISIS, in particular. Fortunately, these planned terror attacks were foiled. It’s bizarre that reference to ISIS recruits as a “teenage/ young adult phenomenon” sounds more like benign discussion about how we might describe Swifties, but the teenage/ young adult phenomenon of discussion here is far more sinister. Read more on all of the above with more specificity in Dr. Al-Marashi’s article below. Olivier Roy’s 2017 article “Who are the new jihadis?” can be found embedded there as well.

🇨🇦 🇨🇦🇨🇦Canadian Jews in Crisis 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 The recent unsettling events in Canada mirror alarming echoes from history, underscoring an urgent wake-up call for the Jewish community. The abrupt shutdown of the longstanding Hamilton Jewish Film Festival, a staple in celebrating cultural diversity akin to other ethnic festivities in Canada, due to threats of violence, marks a chilling departure from the Hamilton I knew. A city once known for its unwavering solidarity, where locals from the robust steel industry would have boldly stood in defense of cultural expression, now succumbs to intimidation, highlighted by an onslaught of "safety-related emails, phone calls, and intimidating social media messages" targeting the festival. This incident is not isolated. In British Columbia, the political landscape has been marred by the coerced resignation of Jewish cabinet minister Selina Robinson. Her departure from the party, triggered by a surrender to antisemitic pressures, further exemplifies the growing shadows over the Jewish community in Canada. These events serve as a stark reminder of the precursors to the dark times of prewar 1938 Germany, where escalating antisemitism went unchecked, ultimately leading to catastrophic consequences for the Jewish population. The parallel is not to instill fear but to ignite a sense of urgency and awareness within the Jewish community and its allies. It's a call to action, to recognize the signs and consider the importance of Aliyah to Israel, a homeland that promises safety and unity against antisemitism. Let us not wait until the warnings from history become the realities of the present. The time for Jews in Canada to contemplate Aliyah is now, before the luxury of choice becomes a retrospective wish. It's about securing a future where cultural festivals and political representation are not endangered by the specter of antisemitism but are celebrated and protected with the vigor reminiscent of the robust Hamiltonians of old. #standforisrael #aliya #fightantisemitism

Good afternoon with us from California brought to you by our community based news service at one and only true channel aka www.fosaac.tv and our communities based organization aka FOSAAC Inc at www.fosaac.org All actions are happening in Asia region mostly and recent changes in dynasty rule collapse globally is a good thing happening and thanks to the youth of their nations whether in Bangladesh or in Sri Lanka or in Afghanistan Dynasty and traitors have no room in any nation to keep ruling Most qualified must be the leader to lead and not dynasty Moral of the story from Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Afghanistan Youth is the King and all evil from society is being eradicated and new and qualified blood is being replaced with Change is good anywhere as long as it serves honestly and for the betterment of their people Now they dictate who should run their nation and they made right decision for Yunus who is most qualified Now same thing can happen anywhere by the youth if they will see injustices happening Reservation even in India must be a top priority for Modi to change the way the youth wants it since Mandal Commission etc are all frauds done by a few only Get Uniform Civil code in place and keep youth happy Now the World is Burning every day and we as citizens globally can save it only Please see the video of Hillary Clinton and hear how she wants all FOSAAC Global Members bringing in Peace between India and Pakistan and this Peace message we would like it to be Global now Now we want to take this model globally by uniting the world and bring in Global Peace and avert the World War 3 which all leaders are getting ready This can only be achieved by the next President of USA in the following way moving forward and the whole world will then re establish their faith on us as the only Super power nation globally Now this proposal of leading this Global Peace project and having the launch in our September 17 show in New Delhi followed by Medina show in mid of October and finale show in Los Angeles on October 26 and 27 before the USA elections on November 6 This whole movement for Peace by the Global people is taking a very positive role and more people want to be part of it too and therefore we will be adding more sub categories to all the existing successful business and religious leaders to this and demand all Governments must have a Cabinet position rank in every Government for making Global Peace department which must be made superior to Global War departments All we are looking for only business and community and Religious leaders in the following ways We are going to be doing it this time on Inter Faith model to choose one from each community globally to honor the honorees and thereafter this group also will be traveling for our other events this year too to announce our Peace missions and meet with responsible global leaders to talk to them about Peace

Members of Hindutva organisations in the United States have said that they want to set up a lobbying operation to influence American policies vis-a-vis India, like the powerful Israel lobby. Since Israel launched a brutal air and ground assault on Palestinians in the besieged Gaza enclave last October, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, as the Israel lobby is formally known, has been in the thick of action influencing and marshalling US political, diplomatic and material support in favour of Israel’s war even though, surveys show, the majority of the American public disapprove of the Israeli aggression. In an ongoing series, Abhay Regi, an editorial fellow at The Caravan, traces the network of Indian-Americans, mostly aligned with the ruling BJP and the wider Sangh Parivar back in India, seeking to influence US political elites. The extent of their lobbying is revealed in publicly available records filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, which requires representatives of foreign interests in the US to periodically disclose their activities. This vast network includes groups like the Overseas Friends of BJP which are pushing to secure American support for the Narendra Modi government, allay concerns over its treatment of religious minorities, and aid the flow of international donations to the BJP and other RSS affiliates. The first of Regi’s three-part series is now online. Read: https://lnkd.in/gPGhhb56 The Caravan has reported on the activities of Hindu nationalists in America previously as well. One of them is Shalabh ‘Shalli’ Kumar, a prominent businessman dubbed “Trump’s favourite Hindu” during the newly elected president’s first term from 2016 to 2020. In his first term as president, Donald Trump’s perceived camaraderie with Modi made headlines in national and international media. As he prepares for a second term in a changed global geopolitical scenario, it remains to be seen how the US deals with the Modi government and views its treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in particular – and what role overseas Hindu nationalist groups play in this new dynamic. In the meantime, here’s a selection of our reportage to lay the context: https://lnkd.in/g-GU8fKV Illustration by Shagnik Chakraborty.

Srilanka Prior to the end of the Second World War, the countries of Europe seemed to be permanently in conflict as their alliances shifted from one rival group to another. Europe had a hundred year long war between France and England. But the mass devastation of the Second World War and the formation of the European Union to help the battered European economies recover has meant that war in Western Europe has become unthinkable. Europe also produced world renowned thinkers on peace such as Johan Galtung who recently passed away and gave to the world the conceptual difference between positive peace and negative peace. There can be a similar phenomenon at work in Sri Lanka too. After the end of the three decade long war and more recently the economic collapse the ethnic conflict is fading into the background outside of the theatre of war in the north and east. But it is a negative peace, an absence of war rather than a celebration of peace with all communities feeling this country is their home and treats them as its children. The fundamental issue for the non-recurrence of war and conflict is to find a way in which the different ethnic or religious communities share the power to decide on the country’s future. For the victim community, accountability will be the priority interest. But for the Tamil people as a whole, the main root cause of their discontent is the powerlessness of the ethnic and religious minorities to defend their own rights, to decide for themselves and govern themselves. This points to the need for constitutional reform after elections. If constitutional reform with consultation and participation by the ethnic and religious minorities becomes a reality Sri Lanka will be on the road to relegate ethnic conflict to the past, as in Western Europe. If not it can mean that the reconciliation process will take much longer, due to the lack of consensus on contentious issues articulated by political leaders, which was responsible for the emergence of the three decade long war in the 1980s.