June 12, 2009 was the date of the latest Iranian political crisis, a coup. This coup was special, however. Not only was this coup a military act to seize power, but it is also an act that completes the Iranian revolution in a very ironic fashion. The last remains of those who began the revolution and developed its ideology have been wiped out. Thirty years after the revolution’s victory, the revolution finally ate all its first children.
We at the The Public Sphere are celebrating a one-year anniversary since we ran our test issue 0. Given the myriad anniversaries honored in 2009, from the French Revolution to the Chinese revolution to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's show, Aló Presidente, it seemed an appropriate time to ponder the power and meaning of anniversaries while considering the complex issues confronting us in daily life regardless of annual recognitions. Linda Levitt takes up the impending 40th anniversary of the moon landing, querying mediations of NASA's space explorations. Meanwhile, T.R. Kiyoshi Oshiro questions the role anniversaries play in individual lives, and Mohammad Razi reflects on his own anniversary, having lived through the Iranian Revolution. Continuing explorations of life as a Filipina American, Lauren Espineli examines the importance of language and public recognition ...
Five Republican Problems: Some Friendly Advice for the G.O.P. If they wish to survive, the Republicans must confront five major issues: (1) they must re-think religion as it relates to politics and the social sphere; (2) they must re-think race and ethnicity in the context of traditional conservatism; (3) they must broaden the term “life,” as in pro-life, so that “life” is not reduced to an ideological debate about merely conception and fetuses; (4) they must come to grips with the fact that gay people are not a threat to their lives; and (5) they must see that guns, in fact, are a threat to their lives (this is, ironically, the easiest claim for a liberal to make, and the hardest for a conservative to accept).
I Am Indignant!: Why Am I Forced to Buy Media on the Internet? Five years ago, both an independent video store and a Blockbuster Video could be found within three blocks of my apartment. Of the two, I preferred the indie place because it had been there longer ...
My So-Called Asian Identity: The Invisible Minority Report The only time I get asked "Are you Filipino?" are by nail salon clerks, apparently making sure I'm not Thai or Vietnamese so they can carry on in their conversations without worrying about my possible ...