New fashion from Libya.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
From a a friend, about the Dutch...
Am I a 'Rotterdammer', a 'Hollander' or a world citizen?
Boy, what a ruckus Princess Maxima has created, says a friend of mine.
I remember that when I first came to this country, I thought the life of a novice expat was comparable to having an identity crisis. But it seems that the Dutch who have not even left their own country are now struggling with identity issues.
Maxima's comment that 'the' Hollander does not exist has led to a whirlwind of emotional reactions.
A number are not pleased by Maxima's statement which raises questions about 'the' Dutch identity. These are very serious times with identity as a political agenda item.
Minister of Justice Hirsh Ballin's quest against the double nationality (Volkskrant), for instance. The danger of more than a million citizens in the Netherlands (including their own, who have returned to Holland after having lived abroad) having a double nationality in the near future, is obviously a national threat to be dealt with.
Having the Dutch identity means you are loyal, whereas not having it means, well… I will let you fill in the blanks. Whereas in other countries having a double nationality is actually accepted and is a global trend as well.
Geert Wilders' McCarthyism
Neo-Nazi or X factor?
Wet summers and SUVs
What's in a culture - part I
What happened to those light-hearted days? When the Dutch were not so paranoid about those residents with more than one nationality? What happened to the curiosity and openness towards foreigners? The days in which the Dutch laughed at your silly pronunciation and grammar mistakes? It was all part of the integration game – making mistakes and giggling about them.
When I was still struggling with the Dutch language years ago, I informed the host at a family gathering that I was leaving the party earlier because everyone in the room was “smelly”. Having the flu, the smoke from my relative’s cigarettes irritated my throat. I had mistaken the word "ruiken" for "roken". My sister-in-law looked at me with a big question mark on her forehead. Immediately my Dutch husband, then boyfriend, came to the rescue and explained that what I had meant to say was smoke, not smell. Laughter emanated without a schoolteacher’s lecture.
Nowadays that finger starts waving. You might even be asked whether or not you had actually passed the Dutch citizen exam.
I have not left this country since my arrival more than twenty years ago, except to go on vacation, and I am still amazed that I am actually living in the same country.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, when returning to the Netherlands after a number of years abroad, was shocked by the "rigid" culture which had evolved in the Netherlands over the years. A "de-verdonking" of the Dutch culture was urgently needed, according to Lubbers (Volkskrant).
I often wonder whether Dutch society will remain in this rut and whether the good times will ever come again. What do the Dutch need to lift their spirits and to put an end to these sombre years? I can hardly imagine that making foreigners give up their double nationality will do the trick.
Boy, what a ruckus Princess Maxima has created, says a friend of mine.
I remember that when I first came to this country, I thought the life of a novice expat was comparable to having an identity crisis. But it seems that the Dutch who have not even left their own country are now struggling with identity issues.
Maxima's comment that 'the' Hollander does not exist has led to a whirlwind of emotional reactions.
A number are not pleased by Maxima's statement which raises questions about 'the' Dutch identity. These are very serious times with identity as a political agenda item.
Minister of Justice Hirsh Ballin's quest against the double nationality (Volkskrant), for instance. The danger of more than a million citizens in the Netherlands (including their own, who have returned to Holland after having lived abroad) having a double nationality in the near future, is obviously a national threat to be dealt with.
Having the Dutch identity means you are loyal, whereas not having it means, well… I will let you fill in the blanks. Whereas in other countries having a double nationality is actually accepted and is a global trend as well.
Geert Wilders' McCarthyism
Neo-Nazi or X factor?
Wet summers and SUVs
What's in a culture - part I
What happened to those light-hearted days? When the Dutch were not so paranoid about those residents with more than one nationality? What happened to the curiosity and openness towards foreigners? The days in which the Dutch laughed at your silly pronunciation and grammar mistakes? It was all part of the integration game – making mistakes and giggling about them.
When I was still struggling with the Dutch language years ago, I informed the host at a family gathering that I was leaving the party earlier because everyone in the room was “smelly”. Having the flu, the smoke from my relative’s cigarettes irritated my throat. I had mistaken the word "ruiken" for "roken". My sister-in-law looked at me with a big question mark on her forehead. Immediately my Dutch husband, then boyfriend, came to the rescue and explained that what I had meant to say was smoke, not smell. Laughter emanated without a schoolteacher’s lecture.
Nowadays that finger starts waving. You might even be asked whether or not you had actually passed the Dutch citizen exam.
I have not left this country since my arrival more than twenty years ago, except to go on vacation, and I am still amazed that I am actually living in the same country.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, when returning to the Netherlands after a number of years abroad, was shocked by the "rigid" culture which had evolved in the Netherlands over the years. A "de-verdonking" of the Dutch culture was urgently needed, according to Lubbers (Volkskrant).
I often wonder whether Dutch society will remain in this rut and whether the good times will ever come again. What do the Dutch need to lift their spirits and to put an end to these sombre years? I can hardly imagine that making foreigners give up their double nationality will do the trick.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Turkish-Dutch cooperation: The Hague / Ankara
Logo of the Turkey institute in the Hague, the Netherlands.Last week, Myrthe send me a press release about the opening of the Turkey Institute the Netherlands in The Hague on November 27, 2007. Its an independent institute with one goal: to give the citizens in the Netherlands on a scientifically way, information about Turkey. One of the initiative takers is Prof. Dr. Erik-Jan Zürcher, who is Professor Middle East languages at the oldest university of the Netherlands: the University Leiden. Its also one of the most well know universities of the Holland (still the same country), together with University of Utrecht (where he was Prof. Turkish languages and Culture until 2006, and which Universitty ranks worldwide no. 40) and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
The aim of this institute is providing knowledge about Turkey, through discussion platforms such as student associations, media, publishing companies, education centre's etc.
The TI is sponsored by Dutch multinationals such as Unilever (Dutch/British), KLM (with Air France), Fortis (Dutch/Belgium), Eureko (Dutch, but in Turkey with Garanti sigorta), TNT, ING (Oyak Bank), Aegon, Akzo Nobel etc.
According to Prof. Zurcher, there is still misunderstandings between the citizens of both the Netherlands and Turkey. And since there is a huge demand for knowledge about Turkey, with the help of sponsors and the city council of The Hague, this institute could be established. Its unique in Europe and the USA.
Last year, on the 21th of December 2006 the Dutch Minister for Education opened the Netherlands Institute for Higher education in Ankara. This project is established to help Turkish students with a scholar ships, intern ships in the Netherlands, and establishing relations between Higher Eduction institutes in Turkey and the Netherlands. And to improve relations between the Dutch Institutes in Rabat (NIMAR), Cairo (NVIC), Damascus (NIASD), Ankara en Istanbul (NIT). During a meeting earlier this year in Cairo the decision was made to invite the Managing Directors of the Dutch Institutes in Athens (NIA), Rome (NIR) en Florence (IUOART) for a more intense and direct collaboration.
Staff and employees of Niha in Ankara.
All these projects, programs, institutions are funded by the Dutch, to improve bilateral relations with Turkey. Its a pity that some people only are focused and on how 'undemocratic and racist the Netherlands is'.
As some Turkish friends in the Netherlands are saying all the time: Turkish hospitality is great but their pride is 3 times that big: they will never admit that they need the help of other countries. Even they accuse the Dutch Government for not doing enough for the Turkish people in the Netherlands.
Finally, please find the Niha conference from January the 13th until January the 16th 2008 here. Participants are for example the Rectors of the most important universities such as:
Ali Doğramacı, Rector of Bilkent University, Attila Askar, Rector of Koç University
Ural Akbulut, Rector of Middle East Technical University, together with Aybar Ertepınar, vice-president of the Turkish Higher Education Board YÖK) and Tarık Çelik, vice-president of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA). And many others:
Ural Akbulut, Rector of Middle East Technical University, together with Aybar Ertepınar, vice-president of the Turkish Higher Education Board YÖK) and Tarık Çelik, vice-president of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA). And many others:
The program: here.
One important point here: vocational training in the Western world means something different than vocational training and education in Turkey, which is mainly based upon religion.
The effects of War and Mother is talking.
The post below, link, is such a powerful one, that I really like to share it here.
It reminds me about the movie 'Apocalypse Now'.
The difference only here is that you don't brag about killing people. Ans this is a real story.
You can read it here. Its called 'Like mother, like son'.
It reminds me about the movie 'Apocalypse Now'.
The difference only here is that you don't brag about killing people. Ans this is a real story.
You can read it here. Its called 'Like mother, like son'.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Some Paparazzi Gossips:)
I am going to post little different this time, if Hans don't mind, little bit of paparazzi gossips. Don't want to talk about Politic, country relations, planes crashes ect..
Here is some paparazzi gossips:
Picture and news taken from USMAGAZINE and People magazines
1) Britney Spears pregnant again;
I was shocked when I heard it as well, she didn't take care of her last 2 kids that she is pregnant again but thanks god she isn't..
A day after both Rotem and Spears pal Sam Lutfi issued statements firmly denying the cover story— which claimed Spears was carrying Rotem's child — a rep for the tabloid released alleged text messages from Rotem, in which he said, "Yes, it's true."
On Wednesday, Rotem released the following statement to Us: “There is absolutely no truth to this.”
Good thing Spears isn't expecting. For a look at her scarier parenting moments,
2) Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt:
I adore this couple not because of I personally met Angelina Jolie on her UN Jordan tour and stayed in my husband's hotel and spending 3 hours in meeting with UN members what they can do with Palestine refugees..
Brangelina not only joined forces to raise their ever-growing brood (four kids and counting!), they've also created the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which donated millions to organizations like Doctors Without Borders.
3) Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony
Yes she is finally pregnant and glooming:)
"I thought it was a more relaxing experience than working with actors that you don't know," Lopez tells Us about acting and performing with her Anthony, whom she married June 5, 2004. The couple - who also co-starred in the movie El Cantante - went on tour together this fall.
4) David & Victoria Beckham
I know I know, they are not my favorite couple but what can I say, David being tick is short when he talks but if they are making a lot of money I guess they have very good people behind them:)) I shouldn't talk about my clients like that I guess, opps:))
"I always knew David's would sell because it's him," Victoria has said of creating his and hers perfumes with David, her husband of eight years. "But I wasn't sure if anyone would want to smell like me."
5) Julia Roberts and the last gossip:))
A mother of three, has made it clear – in her actions and now in words – that she doesn't like paparazzi staking out schools in order to get photos. Roberts, 40, recently chased down a photographer in her SUV near a school and gave him an earful, in an incident that was caught on video and shown on TMZ. Asked by Access Hollywood for Friday's show what she said to the man, Roberts replied, "I just told him a school is not a place for a grown man to be crawling around trying to take pictures.
" She added: "If you want to take a picture of a person, then go to an adult place. Go to the coffee shop, go to the grocery store, go to the restaurant. Don't stake out someones children's church, school or playground environment."
She is one of my favorite actress.. I do agree sometime with her in recent issue: they do have hard time with all those paparazzi and photographers in daily life.. well I guess this is what they get when you are famous, but why I don't see Tom Hanks in daily routine pictures where he eats where their kids goes to school ect? I wonder never hear anything about him except when he is launching his new movie.
Here is some paparazzi gossips:
Picture and news taken from USMAGAZINE and People magazines
1) Britney Spears pregnant again;
I was shocked when I heard it as well, she didn't take care of her last 2 kids that she is pregnant again but thanks god she isn't..
A day after both Rotem and Spears pal Sam Lutfi issued statements firmly denying the cover story— which claimed Spears was carrying Rotem's child — a rep for the tabloid released alleged text messages from Rotem, in which he said, "Yes, it's true."
On Wednesday, Rotem released the following statement to Us: “There is absolutely no truth to this.”
Good thing Spears isn't expecting. For a look at her scarier parenting moments,
2) Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt:
I adore this couple not because of I personally met Angelina Jolie on her UN Jordan tour and stayed in my husband's hotel and spending 3 hours in meeting with UN members what they can do with Palestine refugees..
Brangelina not only joined forces to raise their ever-growing brood (four kids and counting!), they've also created the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which donated millions to organizations like Doctors Without Borders.
3) Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony
Yes she is finally pregnant and glooming:)
"I thought it was a more relaxing experience than working with actors that you don't know," Lopez tells Us about acting and performing with her Anthony, whom she married June 5, 2004. The couple - who also co-starred in the movie El Cantante - went on tour together this fall.
4) David & Victoria Beckham
I know I know, they are not my favorite couple but what can I say, David being tick is short when he talks but if they are making a lot of money I guess they have very good people behind them:)) I shouldn't talk about my clients like that I guess, opps:))
"I always knew David's would sell because it's him," Victoria has said of creating his and hers perfumes with David, her husband of eight years. "But I wasn't sure if anyone would want to smell like me."
5) Julia Roberts and the last gossip:))
A mother of three, has made it clear – in her actions and now in words – that she doesn't like paparazzi staking out schools in order to get photos. Roberts, 40, recently chased down a photographer in her SUV near a school and gave him an earful, in an incident that was caught on video and shown on TMZ. Asked by Access Hollywood for Friday's show what she said to the man, Roberts replied, "I just told him a school is not a place for a grown man to be crawling around trying to take pictures.
" She added: "If you want to take a picture of a person, then go to an adult place. Go to the coffee shop, go to the grocery store, go to the restaurant. Don't stake out someones children's church, school or playground environment."
She is one of my favorite actress.. I do agree sometime with her in recent issue: they do have hard time with all those paparazzi and photographers in daily life.. well I guess this is what they get when you are famous, but why I don't see Tom Hanks in daily routine pictures where he eats where their kids goes to school ect? I wonder never hear anything about him except when he is launching his new movie.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Some facts about me....and you
Super hero, here some facts about me, as you tagged me. I will ask for disclosure of some other bloggers' as well.)):
1) Born anarchist. Turned to be a social-liberal-democrat. Anti-nationalist. But still in love with Bakunin and George Moustaki.
2) Tall, thin, but you can feel my thoughts.
3) Studied for nothing. Law, philosophy, and drama/movies (UCI) made me escape in the world of Peter Stuyvesant and Martini: advertisement.
4) Making ads was not what I wanted and changed to PR; ended up as a communication manager but still can not talk Turkish.
5) Married at the age of 45 at Ciragan Palace. After 9 failed relations. Now happy with a non-typical Turkish spouse.
6) Born in the Netherlands, but made in Italy. Best friends in Holland: male from Iran, female from Suriname. Best friends in Turkey: male from France, female from Turkey but lives in Greece. Best friend in the USA: male from Holland, a female of Jewish Italian heritage.
7) I love to discover cultures and languages, but allergic to dogmatism. Traveller, open mind, but for some people still narrow minded.
And her I go to tag some others, only them with a blog:
Esra
Myrthe
Dinc
Bea
Metin
Derya
Kathryn
1) Born anarchist. Turned to be a social-liberal-democrat. Anti-nationalist. But still in love with Bakunin and George Moustaki.
2) Tall, thin, but you can feel my thoughts.
3) Studied for nothing. Law, philosophy, and drama/movies (UCI) made me escape in the world of Peter Stuyvesant and Martini: advertisement.
4) Making ads was not what I wanted and changed to PR; ended up as a communication manager but still can not talk Turkish.
5) Married at the age of 45 at Ciragan Palace. After 9 failed relations. Now happy with a non-typical Turkish spouse.
6) Born in the Netherlands, but made in Italy. Best friends in Holland: male from Iran, female from Suriname. Best friends in Turkey: male from France, female from Turkey but lives in Greece. Best friend in the USA: male from Holland, a female of Jewish Italian heritage.
7) I love to discover cultures and languages, but allergic to dogmatism. Traveller, open mind, but for some people still narrow minded.
And her I go to tag some others, only them with a blog:
Esra
Myrthe
Dinc
Bea
Metin
Derya
Kathryn
Unions support the Dutch kids
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The General Dutch Union of Teachers support the protest of their high school kids.
Somethingh different than high school shootings...
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And this is not fun anymore...
The British teacher, Gillian Gibbons, has been found guilty in Sudan of insulting religion after she allowed her primary school class to name a teddy bear Muhammad.
Gillian, 54, from Liverpool, has been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported.
She had been accused on three counts of insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. And what the Western world is still reacting peacefully while for example the OIC didn't make a statement, yet.
Instead of condemning these kind of ridiculous sentences it has to do something about inciting real hate, hate preaches, planned suicide attacks, and undermining the civil societies by imams in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Argentina etc. And the state ideology of Turkey don't left any space for manoeuvre either. The Secr. General of the OIC is a Turk and it can do more than it did...until now.
Calling a teddy beer 'Muhammad'...you are kidding; the Sudanese government doesn't have anything else to do? Darfur? It is a sad sad time for dialogue.
And what shall we do with all the men who are named 'Muhammad'? All 250 lashes?
Gillian, 54, from Liverpool, has been sentenced to 15 days in prison and will then be deported.
She had been accused on three counts of insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. And what the Western world is still reacting peacefully while for example the OIC didn't make a statement, yet.
Instead of condemning these kind of ridiculous sentences it has to do something about inciting real hate, hate preaches, planned suicide attacks, and undermining the civil societies by imams in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Argentina etc. And the state ideology of Turkey don't left any space for manoeuvre either. The Secr. General of the OIC is a Turk and it can do more than it did...until now.
Calling a teddy beer 'Muhammad'...you are kidding; the Sudanese government doesn't have anything else to do? Darfur? It is a sad sad time for dialogue.
And what shall we do with all the men who are named 'Muhammad'? All 250 lashes?
Strike!
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Last week Friday Dutch high school kids went on strike. Between the age of 12 and 18. One reason: to decrease the total amount of school hours with 80 annually. From 1040 to 960.
I must say: interesting to see those kids on strike.
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But this week Monday it became ugly: during protest marches they clashed with the police, especially in Amsterdam..jpg)
For tomorrow. Friday the 30th. is a special protest manifestation planned. If you are 16 years or younger you need approval by or your parents or the principal of the school you attend. 17 years and older, you can go....jpg)
Expats blogging about Turkey
Via Carpetblog I came across an article in Today's Zaman about expat-bloggers in Turkey.
Have fun exploring these blogs!
[French blogger Marie-Antide] Fort provides advice to İstanbul's foreigners and amateur bloggers. "Listen, observe, open your mind to the city's rhythm, movement and craziness. Question yourself and break down prejudice. This is the way to depict İstanbul accurately."This advice captures the open-mindedness and the profound yet lucid love of İstanbul shared by most of these foreign bloggers. As Vincent wrote in his introduction to "James in Turkey": "Turkey might be my favorite country in the world, but that doesn't mean I can't criticize, scream and cry about it. I think there is much that can be changed with a little effort here and there, and this is where I rant what I think to whoever is interested in listening. I invite you to comment and scorn as you please; I might learn something."
Unfortunately, the article doesn't seem to give the links to the blogs, so I did a bit of ...ugh ugh... research myself to provide you with the links to the blogs mentioned. Apart from Carpetblog (who has long been one of my favorite bloggers in the region), the blogs mentioned are James in Turkey, Turkish Muse, Du miel aux épices (in French), Dilek Zaptçıoğlu's Istanbul-blog (in German) and İstanbul la Turque (again in French).
Have fun exploring these blogs!
Fun or not....
Turk Telecom was on strike for the past 5 weeks, and twice problems with Internet. Today already the forth day without I-net connection.b A really disaster if you are for 50% dependent on email and Internet services. Today Turk Telecom announced that they reached an agreement, so the strike is over. But still no services. They told me: 'it's your (wireless) modem', but they told me the last time the same and in the end they were wrong.
The funny thing is, Turk Telecom didn't stop their advertisement campaign. This for me a new way 'of positioning and branding' and quiet unique in the world....
The funny thing is, Turk Telecom didn't stop their advertisement campaign. This for me a new way 'of positioning and branding' and quiet unique in the world....
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Winter has arrived in Yerevan
Last Saturday we had the first snow of this winter in Yerevan. It snowed all day, but in the lower lying parts of the city the snow melted pretty soon. In the highest parts of the city it snowed at least 5cms. Since Saturday we've had a drop in temperature as well: During the day it is just above freezing. Snow seems to have come rather early this year, because usually it doesn't start to snow until mid-December. We'll see what the weather brings in the next weeks.
I am still surprised at how fast seasons change in Armenia, or at least in Yerevan. Usually spring and fall last a few weeks (a few being less than a month). Within two or three weeks the weather can change from winter to summer or the other way around. This year I had the feeling, though that fall lasted longer than usual.
I am still surprised at how fast seasons change in Armenia, or at least in Yerevan. Usually spring and fall last a few weeks (a few being less than a month). Within two or three weeks the weather can change from winter to summer or the other way around. This year I had the feeling, though that fall lasted longer than usual.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
New co blogger
Soon, Seda Han Doukas, a dear friend of mine, will join us here as co blogger.She is born and raised in Turkey but moved last year to Thessaloniki, Greece, where she married Thomas Doukas, a great friend! Picture of Seda is made couple of months ago.
Day Opening - November 25
Cementerio General of Santiago de Chile.
Below, Paris Street, Santiago de Chile
Statue "La Miseria" (The Misery, 1910), by Ernesto Concha, Museum of Modern Arts, Santiago de Chile.
Christmas shopping.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Visa's, visa's and visa's.
As Turkey doesn't make any progress with integration in the European Union, where it wants so desperately be a member of (while many Turks say they don't want to be a member as an answer to the growing resistance in Europe against Turkey as a member of the EU),
the ruling by the European Court of Justice, caused controversy in Turkey. And it continues.
Today, TÜGİAD called for action. Their points are made upon believe not on facts.
This week we had a business luncheon with the some Turkish newspapers guru's. Their complain was that most of their staff members cannot speak English, can not read it well, and interpret, what most of the time comes in by wire, wrong.
To make it short: as Turkey wants that their citizens can freely travel to Europe, it has to change its attitude, since it looks like that the EU is always wrong and Turkey is always right.
To give you a full insight about Turkish citizens rights in Europe, please read the following thesis made by a Turkish PhD student.
For people who are unaware about current EU legislation, by December 21, the EU labor market for some countries such as Poland, will be open. More than 2 1/2 years after they formally joined the EU. Why should the EU give a privileged status to Turkey when it failed to implement agreement after agreement. And let the Generals do their dirty business.
Read the complete report here.
the ruling by the European Court of Justice, caused controversy in Turkey. And it continues.
Today, TÜGİAD called for action. Their points are made upon believe not on facts.
This week we had a business luncheon with the some Turkish newspapers guru's. Their complain was that most of their staff members cannot speak English, can not read it well, and interpret, what most of the time comes in by wire, wrong.
To make it short: as Turkey wants that their citizens can freely travel to Europe, it has to change its attitude, since it looks like that the EU is always wrong and Turkey is always right.
To give you a full insight about Turkish citizens rights in Europe, please read the following thesis made by a Turkish PhD student.
For people who are unaware about current EU legislation, by December 21, the EU labor market for some countries such as Poland, will be open. More than 2 1/2 years after they formally joined the EU. Why should the EU give a privileged status to Turkey when it failed to implement agreement after agreement. And let the Generals do their dirty business.
Read the complete report here.
Within the family...
Derya put yesterday an interesting article on her blog.
All about marriages within the family. You can read her entry here.
For me is it amazing that some Islamic scholars in the Sharia law still defend these kind of practices.
Marriages in medieval Europe were often arranged, especially in the aristocracy and royal families to protect family possessions or extend them. Most of these marriages were often
between first degree cousins. Which is not called incest but inbreeding.
In most of the Western world, while incest generally describes forbidden sexual relations within the family, the applicable definitions of family vary.
Within the United States, marriage between first cousins is illegal in some states, but not in others.
In twenty-four states marriages between first cousins are prohibited, and another seven permit them only under special circumstances. Utah, for example, permits first cousins to marry only if both spouses are over age 65, or at least 55 with evidence of sterility; North Carolina permits first cousins to marry unless they are "double first cousins" (cousins through more than one line); Maine permits first cousins to marry only upon presentation of a certificate of genetic counselling. The other states with some, but not absolute, limits on first-cousin marriage are Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
First-cousin marriage without restriction is permitted in nineteen states — Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia—and the District of Columbia.
First-cousin marriage is illegal in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas (such marriages may not be performed after 1 September 2005, although previous marriages are still recognized), Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming, although the United States Constitution has been interpreted as requiring these states to give "full faith and credit" to such marriages performed in other states.
Yet, in the absence of a United States Supreme Court ruling, the scope of the Full Faith and Credit Clause is not clear in this context, especially as it would have implications on whether states were required to recognize marriages commenced in Massachusetts between same-sex couples. There are conflicts and courts have interpreted the clause differently. Some states, such as Wisconsin, have marriage abroad laws that make marriages by their residents in jurisdictions in order to circumvent their state's marriage restrictions null and void, and marriages contracted in that state to avoid restrictions in another jurisdiction likewise void.
The definitions of incest and inbreeding are distinct. Incest describes socially taboo sexual activity between individuals who are considered to be too closely related to enter into marriage. In other words, it is a social and cultural term.
Inbreeding describes procreation between individuals with varying degrees of genetic closeness, regardless of their relative social positions. It is a scientific term, rather than a social or cultural term.
With the exeption of Sweden, the USA has a total different view about this matter.
While in the Middle East the discussion is going on, who cares for all those retarded children born out these kinde of marriages? Culture relativisme still rules parts of the world.
All about marriages within the family. You can read her entry here.
For me is it amazing that some Islamic scholars in the Sharia law still defend these kind of practices.
Marriages in medieval Europe were often arranged, especially in the aristocracy and royal families to protect family possessions or extend them. Most of these marriages were often
between first degree cousins. Which is not called incest but inbreeding.
In most of the Western world, while incest generally describes forbidden sexual relations within the family, the applicable definitions of family vary.
Within the United States, marriage between first cousins is illegal in some states, but not in others.
In twenty-four states marriages between first cousins are prohibited, and another seven permit them only under special circumstances. Utah, for example, permits first cousins to marry only if both spouses are over age 65, or at least 55 with evidence of sterility; North Carolina permits first cousins to marry unless they are "double first cousins" (cousins through more than one line); Maine permits first cousins to marry only upon presentation of a certificate of genetic counselling. The other states with some, but not absolute, limits on first-cousin marriage are Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
First-cousin marriage without restriction is permitted in nineteen states — Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia—and the District of Columbia.
First-cousin marriage is illegal in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas (such marriages may not be performed after 1 September 2005, although previous marriages are still recognized), Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming, although the United States Constitution has been interpreted as requiring these states to give "full faith and credit" to such marriages performed in other states.
Yet, in the absence of a United States Supreme Court ruling, the scope of the Full Faith and Credit Clause is not clear in this context, especially as it would have implications on whether states were required to recognize marriages commenced in Massachusetts between same-sex couples. There are conflicts and courts have interpreted the clause differently. Some states, such as Wisconsin, have marriage abroad laws that make marriages by their residents in jurisdictions in order to circumvent their state's marriage restrictions null and void, and marriages contracted in that state to avoid restrictions in another jurisdiction likewise void.
The definitions of incest and inbreeding are distinct. Incest describes socially taboo sexual activity between individuals who are considered to be too closely related to enter into marriage. In other words, it is a social and cultural term.
Inbreeding describes procreation between individuals with varying degrees of genetic closeness, regardless of their relative social positions. It is a scientific term, rather than a social or cultural term.
With the exeption of Sweden, the USA has a total different view about this matter.
While in the Middle East the discussion is going on, who cares for all those retarded children born out these kinde of marriages? Culture relativisme still rules parts of the world.
Friday, November 23, 2007
A milestone
Today the we got a visitor of Guatemala. Exactly a visitor from a country where I've been on my first trip to Mexico some 20 years ago. The trip from Mexico DF, to Guatemala was an interesting one; by bus, through the wilderness. A country which by that time was torned by a civil war. The USA didn't play a nice game there, in contrary, it was a nasty game. This person from Guatemala made this blog more international: we have now visitors from 100 different countries in a very short period of time, starting mid July 2007.
With almost 25.000 hits since July 17, 2007, we are growing, up to an average of 300-400 hits a day. Hope by the end of this year we will grow to 500 a day and next year up to 1.000 a day. Most of the content here is original. No dump junk links.
Thanks to the co bloggers, and especially to my I-net guru Priyank.
The information on the bar on the right part of this blog is not updated since mid October, due to the fact that none of the bloggers here have 'administrators features'. Thought beginning of this week that it was solved, but no. Still not.
Yasemin is not a co blogger anymore. Bea, an American living in Turkey for a long time is the new co blogger here. And there will be more space for guest writers.
Thanks to all the readers. We love your comments and suggestions
With almost 25.000 hits since July 17, 2007, we are growing, up to an average of 300-400 hits a day. Hope by the end of this year we will grow to 500 a day and next year up to 1.000 a day. Most of the content here is original. No dump junk links.
Thanks to the co bloggers, and especially to my I-net guru Priyank.
The information on the bar on the right part of this blog is not updated since mid October, due to the fact that none of the bloggers here have 'administrators features'. Thought beginning of this week that it was solved, but no. Still not.
Yasemin is not a co blogger anymore. Bea, an American living in Turkey for a long time is the new co blogger here. And there will be more space for guest writers.
Thanks to all the readers. We love your comments and suggestions
Metin
Before Metin left for his family to get in a 'Turkey coma' (people get that while eating Turkey) he wrote a nice posting on his blog: Turkey's Genocide (an annual one). Funny to read, but oh so true: 50 million Turkey's slaughtered each year...
Btw, today, is Metin's birthday. Guess how old? Congratulations!!!
Btw, today, is Metin's birthday. Guess how old? Congratulations!!!
An ordinary Dutch
This is Manon Thomas. An ordinary Dutch woman. Age: 44.
I think Dutch women in general look younger than they are.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
The only USA president who won 4 elections on a row
Franklin D. Roosevelt (Dutch for field of roses) is the only president in the USA who's re-elected 3 times until he died on April12 1945, just before the end of the second World War.Last night I saw a movie named Warm Springs. A movie about an illness he contracted 'Paralytic illness' also named polio.
But Roosevelt refused to accept that he was permanently paralyzed. He tried a wide range of therapies, including hydrotherapy, and, in 1926, he purchased a resort at Warm Springs, Georgia, where he founded a hydrotherapy center for the treatment of polio patients which still operates as the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. After he became President, he helped to found the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now known as the March of Dimes). His leadership in this organization is one reason he is commemorated on the dime.
At the time, when the private lives of public figures were subject to less scrutiny than they are today, Roosevelt was able to convince many people that he was in fact getting better, which he believed was essential if he was to run for public office again. Fitting his hips and legs with iron braces, he laboriously taught himself to walk a short distance by swiveling his torso while supporting himself with a cane. In private, he used a wheelchair, but he was careful never to be seen in it in public. He usually appeared in public standing upright, supported on one side by an aide or one of his sons.
This movie is about the treatment he undergo in Warm Springs, Georgia. And shows why he was such a 'warm' president.
Under Turkish rule -The Jewish safe-haven myth
…true secularism does not mean just any secularism. It means secularism that protects individual freedoms and rights, not the ultra-nationalist kind that breeds an environment in which Adolf Hitler's “Mein Kampf” is a bestseller, the Armenian 'genocide' is denied and minorities are persecuted. Hrant Dink, the Armenian editor, was murdered by such a nationalist. It is this mix of virulent nationalism and predatory Islam in Turkey that makes the challenge for Turkish secular liberals greater than for any other liberal movement today.
Start reading here
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