Honor Killings Not about Honor

Recently heard this chilling report on NPR’s All Things Considered about so-called honor killings in Iraq. NPR Foreign Correspondent Anne Garrels speaks to one family in which this occurred.

A daughter was kidnapped and threatened with death unless her brother quit the police force. The brother complied, and the girl was returned to the family. But because everyone assumed the girl had been raped while she was a captive, the family killed the girl. All for the sake of maintaining the family honor. The report is particularly chilling because the father, in his interview, is so forthcoming about what happened. Without any apparent shame, he explains that honor killings are a tradition.

That story typifies one of the reasons why I am wary of traditions. It’s one thing to have turkey on Thanksgiving and another when people use the term tradition to justify, or excuse, hateful behavior. It’s a shame that so many people accept injustices as a part of society instead of challenging injustices to further society.

The Wonder of Craigslist

So I’ve been bumming around Craigslist (an online bulletin board) lately, looking for sublets and rideshares and items wanted as I prepare to move yet again. I’d known there’s a lot of stuff on Craigslist, but I didn’t realize just how crazy some of that stuff is. It seems that there is a forum for everything and anything that people might want to purchase/sell/trade/give away.

For example, I saw the following post, titled “2 free* dave matthews band tickets…read for explanation,” in the “free” forum:

i found two dave matthews tickets in the park. i have something to do that night, plus i know there are some really hard core fans out there who would appreciate it more than me, so here’s what’s going on. because i found them i A) have no idea if they are real and B) they might be tickets that were lost and therefore reissued to whoever tried to buy them originally. in that case they may get you into the event, but then the original buyer might be sitting in the seats in which case you have to just move around during the show…it is also possible that at this point if the original buyer cancelled these then they might not even work to get into the show…in that case i would say avoid any hassles by saying “oh man somebody on craigs list sold me these oh my gosh!” since there is no way to prove that they’ll haveto just let you leave…so i guess these are perfect for someone who was going to try there luck with scalpers anyway…this way if you can’t get in you were already prepared to buy a ticket : ) i will post the free ticket exact location later tonight around 8pm…the pick up area will be hidden in the vicintiy of the broadway/houston street train station somewhere.

I like the fact that the person went to so much trouble to explain what happened and what might happen at the concert. And that the person was going to hide the tickets somewhere for someone to pick up.

The “wanted” forum is also a goldmine. For example, I learned something when someone replied to another post:

If people didn’t know, Cartoon Network was a recently busted marijuana delivery network. They used “cartoon” as a code word. Add it to the list of drug slang idiots use on craigslist because they think they’re slick and no one knows what they’re talking about.

Original:

Seeking replacement for Cartoon Network

I found the following post — titled “Are you (or do you know of) an old wooden door?” — particularly well-written:

I’m looking for an old wooden door to perform tasks not usually performed by a door. Ideal candidate should possess or be capable of possessing the following attributes:
1. 100% wood. The kind from living trees as opposed the the compressed paper-fiber-pressboard crap that comes from the genetically engineered square-trunked trees in New Jersey.
2. Solid core. Not a hollow interior door covered with veneer.
3. Character. Unpainted or very old paint, panels, small windows, heavy hardware, etc.
4. At least an 18″ width along its entire length (height) without rot or severe damage.
5. The door must be willing to be ripped (not on booze or like a phone book) to the above mentioned 18″ width and attached to my wall as a sort of counter/bar.

If you know of or have a door that you feel is highly qualified, please respond with the door’s relevant statistics and coordinates for consideration. As this is an internship of sorts, no significant payment is offered. A small finders fee may be negotiated for an extraordinary candidate and transportation is provided.

Another thing I’ve realized in my online browsing is that no one seems to know what to do with old futons.

I’ve seen listings for free futons and futons for sale, but I haven’t found many non-profits that specifically request futon donations. I tried to look for information online about deconstructing a futon, but that proved fruitless. There must be some way to reuse/recycle an old futon by taking out the cotton batting, and, I don’t know, turning the futon cover into pillow covers or something.

Anyone have any ideas, let me know.

Threat of Transit Strike in NYC

There’s the possibility that a strike by New York City transit workers will take place Dec. 15. The Gotham Gazette provides some background on the situation here.

I wasn’t aware that a transit strike had occurred in New York City in 1980. For a city so dependent upon public transportation, it boggles my mind to imagine how people would move about without it. There are taxis and car services — though I heard a taxi driver say on public radio that he and other drivers would support the strike by refusing to make multiple pickups — but that would mean spending more money when I already have an MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) pass. And because I travel between Brooklyn to Manhattan, I’d be even more concerned about the cost of using private transportation.

I’ll refrain from making any judgments about the strike threat until I’ve learned more. In the meantime, you might want to check out the transit workers’ union’s Web site at http://twulocal100.org. The MTA does not seem to have released an official statement on the negotiations, but the agency’s Web site is http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us.

Well, my commute is only 5.5 miles. Maybe it’s time to break out ye olde running shoes.