Interesting Cultural notes and a news story to be aware of

Hi All,
Well, I had my site visit yesterday and all went well. Our program manager got to see our new computer classes and as no one had been to our center since our paint job, she got to see that as well.
In addition, the supervisor for the TEFLer (teaching english as a foreign language) volunteers came. As she is Jordanian, it was a wonderful opportunity for me to get some information.
I had heard that my co-teacher would be out on leave after the death of her husband for 4 1/2 months. I didn't understand why it would be so long but it was explained to me. This is a very old tradition in arab culture. It is done because, a long time ago, if a woman was widowed at a young age, they had to give adequate time to ensure she was not pregnant before allowing her to resume normal activities where she may come into contact with me. This was especially important as the name of the children (and especially the son) comes from the name of the father so they had to ensure the bloodline.
In today's world, a simple blood test could be done at a hospital to confirm or rule out pregnancy, but this is one of the customs of the arab world that is no longer practical but still continues.
In addition, I wanted to make you all aware of a disturbing news story that is surffacing over here. Apparently, Bush plotted to bomb the headquarters of Al Jazeera television. Now, Al Jazeera television sucks (they have been said to raise hatred and spread propoganda... but let me tell you from watching it, it is just bad news reporting.... to educated individuals, it would not insight any emotions as it is so bad... I have even seen news reporters on it READ THE NEWSPAPER!!! While being filmed) but if Bush is in fact guilty of planning to bomb it, in my opinion, well... that is unjustified. Quite frankly, what news station in the world does not spin stories in some way or another to cast the best light on their own country and nationals.
Anyway, I will leave you to form your own opinions on this matter but I did want to pass along the news story web link..
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1122-05.htm



Published on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 by the Daily Mirror / UK
Bush Plot to Bomb his Arab AllyMadness of war memo
by Kevin Maguire and Andy Lines

President Bush planned to bomb Arab TV station al-Jazeera in friendly Qatar, a "Top Secret" No 10 memo reveals.
But he was talked out of it at a White House summit by Tony Blair, who said it would provoke a worldwide backlash.
A source said: "There's no doubt what Bush wanted, and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it." Al-Jazeera is accused by the US of fuelling the Iraqi insurgency.
The attack would have led to a massacre of innocents on the territory of a key ally, enraged the Middle East and almost certainly have sparked bloody retaliation.
A source said last night: "The memo is explosive and hugely damaging to Bush.
"He made clear he wanted to bomb al-Jazeera in Qatar and elsewhere. Blair replied that would cause a big problem.
"There's no doubt what Bush wanted to do - and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it."
A Government official suggested that the Bush threat had been "humorous, not serious".
But another source declared: "Bush was deadly serious, as was Blair. That much is absolutely clear from the language used by both men."
Yesterday former Labour Defence Minister Peter Kilfoyle challenged Downing Street to publish the five-page transcript of the two leaders' conversation. He said: "It's frightening to think that such a powerful man as Bush can propose such cavalier actions
"I hope the Prime Minister insists this memo be published. It gives an insight into the mindset of those who were the architects of war."
Bush disclosed his plan to target al-Jazeera, a civilian station with a huge Mid-East following, at a White House face-to-face with Mr Blair on April 16 last year
At the time, the US was launching an all-out assault on insurgents in the Iraqi town of Fallujah
Al-Jazeera infuriated Washington and London by reporting from behind rebel lines and broadcasting pictures of dead soldiers, private contractors and Iraqi victims.
The station, watched by millions, has also been used by bin Laden and al-Qaeda to broadcast atrocities and to threaten the West
Al-Jazeera's HQ is in the business district of Qatar's capital, Doha.
Its single-storey buildings would have made an easy target for bombers. As it is sited away from residential areas, and more than 10 miles from the US's desert base in Qatar, there would have been no danger of "collateral damage"
Dozens of al-Jazeera staff at the HQ are not, as many believe, Islamic fanatics. Instead, most are respected and highly trained technicians and journalists.
To have wiped them out would have been equivalent to bombing the BBC in London and the most spectacular foreign policy disaster since the Iraq War itself
The No 10 memo now raises fresh doubts over US claims that previous attacks against al-Jazeera staff were military errors.
In 2001 the station's Kabul office was knocked out by two "smart" bombs. In 2003, al-Jazeera reporter Tareq Ayyoub was killed in a US missile strike on the station's Baghdad centre.
The memo, which also included details of troop deployments, turned up in May last year at the Northampton constituency office of then Labour MP Tony Clarke
Cabinet Office civil servant David Keogh, 49, is accused under the Official Secrets Act of passing it to Leo O'Connor, 42, who used to work for Mr Clarke. Both are bailed to appear at Bow Street court next week
Mr Clarke, who lost at the election, returned the memo to No 10
He said Mr O'Connor had behaved "perfectly correctly"
Neither Mr O'Connor or Mr Keogh were available. No 10 did not comment.
AL-JAZEERA'S INSIDE STORY