Should Obama sell Arms to Bahrain?

picture from The Guardian.uk 

In this interesting New York Times opinion page,  Nicholas Kristof discusses the role America plays in arming countries with guns.   Should we be arming a government that is repressing its people?  What should we be doing?  

This American Life takes us on a journey to the land of Shenzhen.   The place where our Chinese visitors came from earlier in the year.   See how your ipod is made.  What is your opinion on the matter?   Do you think that we should be buying these devices under these working conditions?  Warning:  PG-13.  Words are bleeped out.   Listen to the first part and you can probably skip ahead through the first ten minutes.   Thanks to Jeanne Sturges for sharing this radio piece!  

Strait Hormuz- Is This Where our military is heading?

Bloomberg:   In this article, Iran is discussed as to their next move regarding what will happen if economic embargoes are imposed upon them.   Do you think it is in our national interest to become involved in this?   

Building Up in South Asia and building down in Iraq

Al Jezeera:   Obama has announced a restructuring of the military and the refocusing of forces towards the Southeast Asia.   What are the Obama Administration's interests in this new region and do you think that a cutback in military spending will spark our domestic economy?  

Fighting the Power and the Person of the Year

From Time:   Time has decided to name "the protester" as their person of the year.   Do you think that they are justified in choosing a more thematic choice over people such as Kate Middleton, Ai Wei Wei, of the General who lead the attack on the Bin Laden compound?   Do you think that these protests from around the world are a sign of the times and do you agree with them?   What do think of the Western Occupy protests versus the Arab Spring Protests?   Do you think as western societies we have the right to protest for these changes in the re-distribution of wealth?  

Why is Teemu So Darn Smart?

                                                   This is Teemu in his traditional Fin Garb



From the Atlantic:  Finland's Education System is remarkably different from our own.   Why?   What do you see to  be the major differences?   Do you think that Souhegan is a prime example of a school without equity?   What are your view points?

Nuclear threats and Iran; Oh Boy.

CNN:   This article discusses the launching of nuclear missiles by Iran.   What do you think the course of action should be for the United States?  Do you think that it is our role to intervene if a nation wants to pursue nuclear capabilities?