America Needs to Rethink its Policy on Negotiating with Terrorists

In one of the most iconic satirical films of the 21st Century, Tropic Thunder, the aggressively unlikeable studio executive Les Grossman, played by Tom Cruise, finds himself in a shockingly serious and delicate situation. He finds that the actors he sent to a remote South Asian jungle to shoot a film were captured as ransom by the ‘Flaming Dragon’ gang, who demand $100 million in ransom money in order to release their actors. With stark comedic poise, the ill-tempered Grossman tells the gang to ‘skin the bastards alive’ and to not forget to ‘go fuck themselves’. When confronted by devoted agent Rick Peck, played by Matthew McConaughey, with the fact that they will murder the captives, Grossman eloquently responds with the notorious line: “We don’t negotiate with terrorists”, which is followed by an enthused patriotic applause by the crowd.

GlobeNour TahaAugust 16, 2023Nour Taha, foreign policy, kidnapping, terrorism, terrorists, nixonComment

Is Egypt willing to save itself?

Less eggs, less meat, and more chicken feet. While at first glance this may sound like a bizarre nursery rhyme for some, Egyptians know all too well that this is what state-run media in Egypt considers a good alternative to the crippling inflation that has become impossible for anyone in the country to ignore. When speaking to Egyptians today, it is clear that many are starting to lose patience with the consistently ailing economic situation. “We legitimately don’t know where the country is headed.

Final Exam: Canceled. How Strikes have Impacted the UC System

Within the last week of Fall Quarter, professors have been rolling out updates about the final exams and end-of-quarter assignments in consideration of the UC-wide academic worker strike that has persisted since Nov. 14. In acknowledgment of unfair labor practices and low wages in relation to high cost of living, members of the academic union swept the California campuses, administrators’ homes, and Sacramento streets in the past month. A mass strike halts grading, discussion sections, and all regular functions that allow undergraduate students to receive grades and move on to the next quarter without financial or academic conflict.

The Importance of Public Debate In the Modern Era

Last Saturday, the Davis Political Review hosted a public debate between the Davis College Republicans and the New Liberals club. The event was the first of its kind in Davis where student panelists questioned other students with differing perspectives on topics ranging from freedom of speech, campus violence, foreign policy, and inflation while providing them with a platform to civilly discuss their different opinions. We would like to thank the New Liberals club and the Davis College Republicans for their participation in this debate. As a nonpartisan organization, we in the DPR understand the value of our free speech, and most importantly the duty we hold to protect it.

Lebanon: A Tragic Masterpiece

The romanticization of cities and nations in song, poetry, and literature has always fascinated me as I try to remain pragmatic and hopeful about the increasingly chaotic world we live in. I had always imagined that our grasp of beauty and exceptionalism was tied to our memories, experiences, and personal connection to a certain place. But if that is so, why do Americans in the Midwest yearn for visiting the romance of Paris? Why do young men in Lahore dream of experiencing the hustle and bustle of New York City?

Featured, GlobeNour TahaAugust 9, 2022Lebanon, Beirut, War, Peace Over Violence, bread, economy, salameh, Pandora Papers, election, Nour TahaComment

Bridging an Eternal Generational Gap

For decades, different generations have had divisions ranging from political affiliation to popular culture, and even visions for the future. To start, it is important to know who exactly Gen Z is. People born from 1997 onward to around 2012 are all considered to be Gen Zers. Due to the differences in socio-economic circumstances that come with being born at such a time period, it is only logical that different generations see the world differently…

Globe, FeaturedNour TahaMay 26, 2022GenZ, TikTok, wealth inequality, intergenerational, youth, Nour TahaComment