The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
I am a graduate student in philosophy and an adjunct lecturer in New York City. Academically, my focus is moral and political philosophy and the history of philosophy, but I’ve had a long running interest in international affairs which has shaped my philosophical interests. The blog, Interventions, I started with two philosopher friends just a few weeks ago. We are each politically-minded and were eager to become more politically active. We have been extremely upset by the changes that have occurred in the political climate in the US in recent years and thought that, with the blog, we could put some of our critical skills to work. We also think there is a dearth of worthwhile commentary out there. We hope the blog functions as a forum for intelligent thought on current events.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

Writing is done in so many different contexts that it is hard to adjust your style from one to the other. I’ve been in school for years and have grown as an academic writer. This is useful, but it is not the sort of writing that could be popular. As a teacher, I have had to learn to write in a different, much more straightforward way. And as a blogger, I definitely think I’m still gaining my footing. Blog writing has its own style. You have to be as succinct and clear as is humanly possible. I hope that with time I’ll figure out how to do this. It’s hard.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Well, there haven’t been many yet. One thing that has surprised me is how exciting it is to publish something, even if it is online and you know only a handful of people are going to read it. It can be really exhilarating and frightening.

Given the political bent of our blog, it will also be interesting how we learn to deal with angry commentators. I posted a brief quip about US-Israeli relations that I knew would make someone angry and, sure enough, I quickly got vehemently denunciated. On issues that are controversial, you really have to be prepared to take heat. I’m not sure how ready I am for that yet.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

At this point, we’re still trying to develop relationships with other bloggers. We’re sending a few emails and leaving comments when we can.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

I should come clean. I’m really not tech savy. I don’t spend that much time on the internet (in fact, I don’t even have an internet connection at my home) and I don’t own any really new technology. I have a cell phone and only recently learned to start sending text messages.

I am struck though by how the internet and wireless communication has really transformed political organizing. People are linked together in huge networks that they can access in an instant. This makes it possible to get people together fast. As a frightening example, text messaging was widely used to organize the recent ethnic violence in Kenya.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

They can be. If they’re filled entertaining junk, then they can cause people to be less responsive too.

What do you think sets your site apart from others?
Well, I hope it’s the level of the conversation. We want to provide fairly serious discussions that touch on complicated theoretical issues and apply them to urgent, concrete events. We hope our site can reward serious readers who are looking for a deeper understanding of global political issues. We don’t want to just dish out angry, unsupported opinions like so many other blogs do.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

My ability to be ashamed of myself.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

The happiest would be when my wife proposed to me and the gloomiest would be when I first had my heart broken.

Do you think the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians is bandwagon jumping or what?

I’m sorry. I’m clueless on this one.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for—what would your top 3 choice be?
Turkey, Guatemala, and Vietnam.

What is your favorite book and why?

There are two categories here for me. First, the philosophical category: My favorite piece of philosophy, at the moment, would have to be Hegel’s “Philosophy of Right.” I can’t say I understand it all, but the shear imagination of it is enough grab you and suck you in.

Now, the pleasure category: This is going to sound sick, but my favorite book is Philip Gourevitch’s “We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families.” The book is chilling and, at times, grotesque, but it was a really life-changing read for me. Rather than make me depressed, books about terrible events can make me feel inspired by putting things in perspective and making the world seem like it is really important. This book did this for me. It’s simply gorgeous.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

It depends on the person.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No, but I didn’t start writing much at all until I was 18 or so. If anything, the bad message I got as a child was that writing doesn’t matter.

How bloggers can benefit from financially?
Beats me. We’re hoping that one day we’ll have enough traffic to sell an ad here and there.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

No, because a good blog is an outlet for someone who is dedicated to a topic and is already spending their time thinking about it. A good blog is just a place where a busy person collects their thoughts once in a while.

What are you thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?
Again, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Sorry.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendly and less hostile?
Dialogue is the only way people who see each other as different can avoid seeing each other as enemies. Blogs can start dialogue between different people.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

I’m not sure I have five. Let’s see, first on the list is definitely my wife Summer Pierre. She is the world’s greatest blogger. Next, is Juan Cole. His blog is always informative and intelligent. It was the first blog I ever starting reading regularly. Third, Helena Cobban. Fourth….well, there isn’t a fourth.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction for people?
Nothing stands out yet. But wait till I write something incendiary on the Israel-Palestine conflict. In the US, it is virtually unacceptable to not blame everything on the Palestinians.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

I could write a lot here. Briefly put, I perceive them as a highly educated and intelligent people who are extremely politically active. In this regard, they make Americans look ignorant and apathetic.

Have you ever been stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
No, I haven’t. But again, I’m not much all that plugged into the blogosphere.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

Often, it’s the power the former has over the latter.

What is the future of blogging?

No idea.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

The blog is always on my mind when I’m listening to or reading the news, or when I’m doing any research. I’m always thinking “Is there something I can write about here?”

What are your future plans?

I hope to complete my PhD eventually and to continue improving the blog. The main thing the blog needs now is more contributors. If we can get that, I think we’ll get more visitors and commentators.

Any message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

I sincerely hope Pakistan can achieve political justice and stability soon. Also, I hope they can build a more satisfactory relationship with the US. For too long it seems to me the US has treated Pakistan like one large American military base and has thereby prevented justice and stability. As an American, I am ashamed of that. Also, I hope you visit our blog. Please feel free to contribute any writing that you think might be appropriate, whether essays or comments. We’d love to hear from you!

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