Europe, US and rest of the world sat on their hands watching genocide unfold in Bosnia as they did in Rwanda. When Libyans took to the street in peaceful demonstrations, it was unprecedented. The crackdown that followed could not be tolerated.

If Europe and the US (sans Russia & China) had stood by and done nothing then what else would Gaddafi get away with? What about piracy in the Mediterranean? How would that impact shipping? What would happen to future economic security?

Gaddafi would know that the West’s rhetoric did not meet actions and this would signal to others, like the Egyptian military, that change wouldn’t have to come as quickly as the people wanted.

Exhibit A: Bahrain and the ensuing crackdown by Saudi troops. We now know that Saudi hatred and distrust of Shi’a runs far deeper than distrust to Al Qaeda.

The intervention is a ‘just’ cause.

Unfortunately, Tomahawk missiles fall within a different budget to that of health care, social security, medicare, education, etc.

US defense spending is an abyss with no foreseeable cuts. I think it’s fair to mention that the defense industry is largely responsible for keeping and maintaining a manufacturing industry in the US. And it is unlikely to ship R&D and this type of manufacturing to China et al, because of national security concerns.

I do think that it is ironic that Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, believe that defense spending creates jobs and a good economy BUT in the next breath claim that spending tax dollars on job creation, education and health care is bad for the economy.

Plainly speaking, any type of government spending, defense or otherwise, is paid for by taxes.

Clearly, Republicans along with Democrats, have no problem in the belief that government spending is directly linked to job creation for one industry at least.

Secondly, the US is a constitutional democracy. The President, the Commander-in-Chief, governs. Congress and its both houses appropriate bills for the running of the country, which the President either signs or vetoes. The justice branch makes sure that the President and Congress govern according to the Constitution.

Americans elect Congress directly.* If people do not register to vote, go to the polls and participate in elections, the results of these can favor one party over the other.

(*The President is officially elected by the Electoral College but US voters today play a significant role in determining this mandate. Appointments to the Justice branch is made by the President and Congress elects appointments.)

Therefore when a significant number of Democrats stayed home during the 2010 midterm elections, Republicans and Tea Party activists turned out. The election results spelled out what Congress would be doing ideologically in the next two years (Lower House) and seven years (Upper House).

Democracy is about participation. If you do not vote, your voice is not counted. Period.

There are a number of people whom I respect that want health care and job creation, but who chose to stay home and not vote.

Claiming that elections are held on Tuesdays is a bit of a red herring. Today you can vote via postal ballots and polling stations open at 6AM and close at 9PM.

If you voted in the 2008 election then a Tuesday did not stop you that time.

My personal opinion is that Libya is a no brainer, especially in consideration to US national- AND future economic security.

Yes, the US is joined at the hip with Europe. But this allows the US to pursue a weak dollar (good for exports and US biz) whilst EU lives amiably (some grudgingly – see Germany) with a strong Euro, so the West can ride out the financial meltdown and recession somewhat intact.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Middle Eastern countries (as well as Russia and China) balances our current financial system by buying large amounts of Euros and Dollars for their foreign currency reserves.

Thus the argument that this is a petroleum/oil driven conflict is a fair argument, along with reigning in a humanitarian disaster on the shores of North Africa is another, but so is the security of Euros and more importantly, the Dollar.

— Sent with System SEVEN – the new generation of mobile messaging

My walks take me out at night, early in the evening, late afternoon though never in the mornings.

The region where I live is very diverse culturally, but also from a streetscape perspective.

I enjoy walking around looking at different neighbourhoods and wonder how and when they were built. During my walks on different times of the day, I get to see how people use them.  Or rather, how they recreate them.

Often I get to read the phonebook. Tags are everywhere.

Then later, on my way home, I’ll be standing on platform five and there read the latest tags or older ones that have been left. Yes, some are not washed away. Don’t ask me why.

Two years ago, I caught a tagger in the act.

It was late and I was thrilled to meet this tagger. She froze literally.

I have been doing calligraphy since I was a kid and have always liked public art, that is to say accessible art.

I understand how some people might regard tags and graffiti as nuisance and vandalism.

Some tags and graffiti exist only to mark territory, and through that presence intimidate and the next level, extort favours, money and fear from their targets.

I see a lot of that.

Sometimes I wonder if politicians really understand how their words impact people’s lives. As certain remarks have become more mainstream, neo-nazi tags have become more visible in or near shopping districts.

It’s not just swastikas anymore.

Other taggers who are related to gangs use tags as iniation-rights. Often lavatories are used by younger offenders to prove their moxy.

Some taggers from gangs are more public than others.

A street front of a house covered in tags shows a complete disregard to not just property, but the public discourse.

If a tagger is willing to tag an entire facade, what is their next move? What will they have to do to achieve their objective the next time?

Then there are other taggers who mark their presence behind utility posts, pipes and other things sticking out of buildings or the ground.

To tag well in such a place takes skill, quickness and not too many people moving about. And the question begs to be asked, why tag where most people won’t look?

I can think of a number of answers.

Some tags carry messages. Some are shorter than others.

The tagger on platform five had just finished an impressive 70 cm long tag,  when I happened upon her. I had seen her before.

I asked her what the tag meant. I think she figured I wasn’t a cop or a security guard. They’d never ask that of course. Apprehend, but they seldom ask why.

She explained her tag to me.

Public art should be accessible, but I also respected her reasons for tagging in not-so-accessible spaces.

I had seen and deciphered her tags. She pointed to other spaces and places  that she frequented. Early tags to more refined tags as her tagging evolved.

As a researcher, I had a field day. And I learned about tagging.