Notions

An article published in the Economist on 30 June had this opening line “Ask some Germans how people should react to terrorism and most would probably agree with the historian Herfried Münkler that the best attitude is heroische Gelassenheit: heroic calmness. Let other countries declare wars on terrorism and near-permanent states of emergency, they say; Germany’s dark history has taught it not to over-react”. Yes, Germany had a dark history, and a share of misery, poverty, and war, coupled with an arduous and constant effort to redeem itself for mistakes created by long gone political brutes, cladded in ideological uniforms of scientific rationalism. Nonetheless, Germans realised that history must serve a purpose, and that purpose is to learn how to shape, control, and direct actions in an effective, efficient, and intelligent manner in order to achieve the desired objectives. When the entire world expected a fuming Angela Merkel to step up on a pedestal and read, in passi...

On Friday, the first British Airways airplane landed in Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, following years of estrangement between Heathrow and Imam Khomeini. The move represents an act of goodwill and indication of the renewal of relations between the UK and Iran. The Airlines indicated that they will work on increasing the number of flights to six a week: doubting that Iran will serve as a mere alternative for English tourists to an upset Spain (following the divorce from the EU), the increase in flights is a reconfirmation that water is under the bridge...or clouds under the aircraft? Press TV (Iranian official news portal) was quick to announce the news, citing that “the flagship British carrier has described the Iranian capital as “an important destination” for the airline”, and that “British Airways announced in June that it had postponed the long-awaited resumption of its flights to Iran due to “some technical issues.” The article concludes with “Air Fran...