Politics of class and identity dividing Aleppo – and Syria

By Preethi Nallu, Syria Deeply  |  March 21, 2017 at 8:31 AM
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BEIRUT, March 21 (UPI) -- In late January, a train to eastern Aleppo left the city's main railway station for the first time in four years. The station, which was built before World War I as part of the Berlin-Baghdad network and is still referred to by some locals as "Gare de Baghdad," has witnessed several conflicts in the course of almost a century, but none as devastating as the siege of Aleppo and the subsequent military offensive by the Syrian government in December.

Despite centuries of multicultural existence, the last few years of war have fragmented Syria's largest city, creating a pronounced division between the east and west, and reducing some 35,722 structures to rubble. Human rights groups have labelled Aleppo "the worst place in the world," due in large part to the indiscriminate bombing of civilians and the government-imposed siege.

With much of Aleppo's population denied basic services and their economic lifeline severed by fighting, many have fled to other parts of Syria and across its borders. Most recently, 37,500 people were led out of the city in December in a mass evacuation brokered by Turkey and Russia during the so-called "liberation" of the eastern side of the city. By early January, the United Nations reported, only about 2,200 families had returned. Aleppo has undergone ostensibly permanent demographic changes, according to several organizations, including the U.N. refugee agency.

"Reversing such a drain of people and resources will require a very large investment, if we want to get back to the pre-conflict situation," researchers at the National Agenda for the Future of Syria told a conference in Beirut last November. Launched by the the U.N.'s Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, the program is mapping out the social, political and economic factors shaping any future reconstruction.

Bassel Kaghadou, lead consultant at the NAFS project, notes that there is now heavy "identity polarization" stoked by the warring parties and their proxies. The "identities and micro-identities" of different cities that have hardened over the conflict years should be taken into account by the U.N.'s political and humanitarian branches, says Kaghadou.

"The conflict in the Damascus area, for example, has more of a financial and a rural/urban dimension, whereas in areas like Homs it's more of a sectarian dimension. In areas like Aleppo, it's more of a poor/rich divide – those who have, those who don't have."

Understanding the nature of conflicts in the different urban centers is vital for assessing the feasibility and nature of returns, Kaghadou adds.

Disappearing diversity

"Few places are as ancient and diverse," Philip Mansel writes in his book Aleppo: The Rise and Fall of Syria's Great Merchant City, which was published last summer before the government offensive in late December. This followed an on-and-off siege by opposing sides that had been in effect since 2012.

The Russian-led "scorched earth" campaign – akin to the Battle of Grozny in Chechnya – emptied swathes of the city of its residents, making it easier for government forces to take over. During the latest Syrian peace talks in Geneva, U.N. human rights investigators accused all sides of war crimes in Aleppo. They also concluded that the mass evacuations of the rebel-held enclave in eastern Aleppo amounted to "forced displacement." French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy has gone so far as to call Aleppo one of history's costliest lessons in "urbicide," with returns of refugees and IDPs a challenge for the foreseeable future.

"There are no safe zones. When you take a civilian from eastern Aleppo or eastern parts of Aleppo out to Idlib, there are still threats of brutal government airstrikes and the armed opposition, which is also abusive and repressive," Syrian-Canadian writer and independent analyst Yazan al-Saadi told News Deeply.

Complex divides, difficult returns

In the light of rapidly changing demographic realities in Syrian cities, media outlets have voiced concerns that a majority of the refugees and IDPs, who are Sunni Muslims, might not be able to return to their homes. This is particularly true in Aleppo, where the western side is currently dominated by minorities – Alawites, Christians, Armenians, Druze – and the eastern neighborhoods are mainly Sunni.

"One has to be very careful when making such claims," said al-Saadi, adding that the Syrian government is unlikely to assess civilian returns based on a "black and white" assessment of sectarian identity. "It is not a case of 'you are Sunni, so you cannot come back.' It is about whether you are with 'us' [the Syrian regime] or not."

Mansel says the divisions of identity among the people of Aleppo, especially over the conflict years, go beyond religious affiliations. The city "has been drawn into wars between Sunni and Shiite; Salafis and other Muslims; secularists and clericalists; dictators and liberals; armies and civilians; the city and the country."

The rural/urban identities added yet another dimension to the divides, whereby a vast majority of the "bourgeoisie in the city were afraid of this uprising, and perceived it as coming from rural areas and seeking more social justice," said Joseph Daher, a Swiss-Syrian academic, originally from Aleppo, speaking from Geneva.

Daher and al-Saadi point to "class divisions" as the most important dynamics in Aleppo's case.

Control of the key urban centers along the spine of Syria has been a goal for all warring sides. The government takeover of Aleppo, and the "crushing of opposition presence in the city was crucial for the regime ahead of new negotiations" that took place in January in Astana and February in Geneva, Daher added.

Evacuation or forced displacement?

Months before the Aleppo offensive, the U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien explicitly called mass evacuations and prolonged sieges violations of international humanitarian law. "All sieges, a medieval tactic, must be lifted," he said. "This should not [occur] through any type of agreement which results in the forced displacement of the civilian population."

"The U.N. is inherently biased because of the way it is set up [where it has to engage with states]. INGOs are also obliged to deal with international laws and humanitarianism that at times clash with the needs of a society," al-Saadi said. "The only solution that is I see is an international organization or international body of civilians."

The economics of returns

In Aleppo's case, socioeconomic divides appear to play as influential a role as the sectarian make-up. One has to look at the "social geography" of the fighting in the city, visible as early as the summer of 2012, to understand the possibilities of returns, claim Jean Claude David and Thierry Boissière, authors of Alep et ses territoires, which explores the relationship between urban spaces and the societies of Aleppo.

Across the country, extreme class divisions and the rural/urban flight due to loss of livelihoods are at the root of the eruption of conflict, says Abdullatif El Ali, a Syrian researcher completing his international relations degree in Turkey. The class divide gradually "transformed into an identity divide," he adds.

Ali, who is from Al-Muslimiyah in the governorate of Aleppo, cites his own family's experience. In an interview with News Deeply he recalled how his uncles, who were farmers, struggled to make a living in the village before the uprisings started. A significant percentage of working-age men moved to urban centers. Aleppo was the closest economic hub for many.

Alongside the "pro-government" or "anti-government" divide is the issue of the indispensability of returnees to the future economic growth of Syria, said al-Saadi. The instrumentalization of people as "tools rather than multidimensional individuals" will dictate the Syrian government policies with returns, he added.

Syria's GDP has dropped 40 percent since the start of the conflict, meaning that "attracting capital back into the country will go hand-in-hand with reversing brain drain" and ensuring a safety net for returnees, according to the NAFS program.

The need for a refugee policy

Discussion of the feasibility of returns for Syrians of differing economic, social and sectarian identities begs a fundamental question: What is the Syrian government's refugee policy? The simple answer, according to all the researchers News Deeply interviewed, is that there is none.

"If we were to take the government's statements that everyone is free to return at face value, what guarantees is the government willing to provide, not just with safe passage but also with social protection, economic stability and access to their homes?" asked al-Saadi.

El Ali points to what he calls "accumulating evidence of dispelled people's homes [that were] looted, ruined and became [the] property of the state."

For civilians to return in significant numbers, it appears that the reconciliation process must address the social, economic and religious-sectarian divides that have left a significant footprint on Syria's communal balance and identity. Failing to do this risks turning Syria's cities into versions of Sarajevo, where, decades after the armed occupation, ethnic divisions continue to challenge the return of native residents, says Galen Lamphere-Englund at the Aleppo Project.

A concrete "returns" policy, which has yet to be explicitly addressed in international negotiations, is a pivotal issue that will determine the futures of millions of displaced Syrians. However, according to Kaghadou, "peacebuilding [in Syria] will require forging a new social contract," without which many refugees will not return.

Preethi Nallu is a print and multimedia journalist from Hyderabad, India and the founding editor of Refugees Deeply. This article originally appeared on Syria Deeply, and you can find the original here. For important news about the war in Syria, you can sign up to the Syria Deeply email list.

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Though the relief and reform measures put into place by President Franklin D.Roosevelt helped lessen the worst effects of the Great Depression in the 1930s, the economy would not fully turn around until after 1939, when World War II kicked American industry into high gear.

Despite assurances from President Herbert Hoover and other leaders that the crisis would run its course, matters continued to get worse over the next three years.

After showing early signs of recovery beginning in the spring of 1933, the economy continued to improve throughout the next three years, during which real GDP (adjusted for inflation) grew at an average rate of 9 percent per year.

A sharp recession hit in 1937, caused in part by the Federal Reserve’s decision to increase its requirements for money in reserve.

In the face of this dire situation, Hoover’s administration tried supporting failing banks and other institutions with government loans; the idea was that the banks in turn would loan to businesses, which would be able to hire back their employees. In 1932, however, with the country mired in the depths of the Great Depression and some 13-15 million people (or more than 20 percent of the U. population at the time) unemployed, Democrat Franklin D. state had ordered all remaining banks to close at the end of the fourth wave of banking panics, and the U. Treasury didn’t have enough cash to pay all government workers.

Roosevelt won an overwhelming victory in the presidential election. Nonetheless, FDR (as he was known) projected a calm energy and optimism, famously declaring that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Roosevelt took immediate action to address the country’s economic woes, first announcing a four-day “bank holiday” during which all banks would close so that Congress could pass reform legislation and reopen those banks determined to be sound.

The American economy entered an ordinary recession during the summer of 1929, as consumer spending dropped and unsold goods began to pile up, slowing production.

At the same time, stock prices continued to rise, and by the fall of that year had reached levels that could not be justified by anticipated future earnings.Millions of shares ended up worthless, and those investors who had bought stocks “on margin” (with borrowed money) were wiped out completely.As consumer confidence vanished in the wake of the stock market crash, the downturn in spending and investment led factories and other businesses to slow down production and construction and begin firing their workers.Bread lines, soup kitchens and rising numbers of homeless people became more and more common in America’s towns and cities.Farmers (who had been struggling with their own economic depression for much of the 1920s due to drought and falling food prices) couldn’t afford to harvest their crops, and were forced to leave them rotting in the fields while people elsewhere starved.Over the next several years, consumer spending and investment dropped, causing steep declines in industrial output and rising levels of unemployment as failing companies laid off workers.


[Editor’s note: Transhumanism claims that there is a situation in which we find ourselves that can be improved through applying reason, science, and technology, and that doing so is desirable. It seems therefore that we are also assuming a priori that existence is preferable to non-existence. Agree or disagree? Share your views in the h+ Connect forum below.]

David Benatar is professor of philosophy and head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa. He is best known for his advocacy of antinatalism. His article, “Why It Is Better Never to Come into Existence,” espouses the view that it is always a harm to be born. In addition he wrote a book on the same topic: Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence.

It is commonly assumed that we do nothing wrong bringing future people into existence if their lives will, on balance, be good. This assumes that being brought into existence is generally beneficial. In contrast Benatar argues that: “Being brought into existence is not a benefit but always a harm.” While most people maintain that living is beneficial as long as the benefits of life outweigh the evil, Benatar argues that this conclusion does not follow because: 1) pain is bad, and 2) pleasure is good; but 3) the absence of pain is always good whether people exist or not, whereas 4) the absence of pleasure is only bad if people exist to be denied it.

His second argument is that though we think it strange to say we have children so they will benefit, we think it normal to say we should not have children because they will be harmed. We don’t think people should have as many children as they can so as to benefit those children, but we do think people should refrain from having children if this will cause them suffering.

To further his argument, Benatar notes that most persons underestimate how much suffering they will endure. If their lives are going better than most, they count themselves lucky. Consider death. It is a tragedy at any age, and only seems acceptable at ninety years of age because of our expectations about life-spans. But is lamenting death inconsistent with his anitnatalism? Benatar thinks not. While non-existence does not harm a possible person, death is another harm that will come to those in existence. In response you could say that you can’t be mistaken about whether you prefer existence to non-existence. Benatar grants that you may not be mistaken, if you claim that you are currently glad to have been born, but you could still be mistaken that it was better to have been born at all. You might now be glad you were born, and then suffer so badly later that you change your mind. (I might wish I hadn’t been born, after I find out what’s in store for me.)

But might we be deceiving ourselves about how good life is? Most of us assume life would be unbearable if we were in certain situations. But often, when we find ourselves in these situations, we adapt. Could it be that we have adapted to a relatively unbearable life now? Benatar says that a superior species might look at our species with sympathy for our sorry state. And the reason we deceive ourselves is that we have been wired by evolution to think this way—it aids our survival. Benatar views people’s claims about the benefits of life skeptically, just as he would the ruminations of the slave who claims to prefer slavery to death. Benatar concludes by saying: “One implication of my view is that it would be preferable for our species to die out.” He claims that it would be heroic if people quit having children so that no one would suffer in the future. You may think it tragic to allow the human race to die out, but it would be hard to explain this by appealing to the interests of potential people. He concludes that it is better never to come into existence, as being born is always a harm.

Reflections – Benatar relies on an asymmetry to claim that it is better never to have been born, and it would be a good thing if the human race became extinct. The validity of this asymmetry is open to question. Yet despite its philosophical subtlety, it is hard to believe that Benatar believes his own argument. Can one really prefer eternal nothingness to the possibility of a good or bad life? If I prefer to remain alive, I am not implicitly accepting that life is better than non-life? Does it really make sense to dedicate a book to the parents who harmed you by bringing you into existence? Still, Benatar’s arguments are persuasive enough that I cannot find any knock-down arguments against them, although I urge caution against accepting philosophical prescriptions that, if followed, will result in the death of the species. Surely we ought to tread carefully here despite the power of Benatar’s claims.

I find this one of the deepest, most troubling, and hardest to evaluate pieces I’ve ever read. A possible answer might be to accept the truth of Benatar’s assertions regarding the history of cosmic evolution to the present—so far pain and unhappiness have outweighed their opposites and so far it would have been better never to have been—but suggest that a glorious future is in store for our descendents. This future will make the long, painful struggle of life and consciousness ultimately worth it. Thus the end state will be so rewarding that we can say, in retrospect, that it was better to have been.

Still this kind of eschatological talk scares me, inasmuch as it relies on a future that may not transpire. It also implies that somehow the future will justify past suffering. If this justification depends upon an eternal plan, then the eternal planner is exceptionally evil. As Dostoevsky said, the torture of a single child cannot be justified by a good future. But if reality was a matter of happenstance, and if all those who previously suffered somehow partake in this better future, then one might justifiably conclude that, on balance, it was better that consciousness arose.

Still I don’t know if my argument works against Benatar, and the whole question strains my limited intellectual faculties. Perhaps we just have to hope that life is worth living. But then this is really no answer either. As for me, I now find my life to be quite worthwhile. However, if at some point in the future that it not the case , then I hope to have the option to end my life without help, or be able to get help ending it if necessary. I also hope that my family reads the pieces I have written on this topic, as well as consult my end of life documents. Until then, I want to follow the advice of Thoreau:

Henry David Thoreau


Monday, January 30, 2017

Science X Newsletter Week 04

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for week 04:

Metallic hydrogen, once theory, becomes reality

Nearly a century after it was theorized, Harvard scientists have succeeded in creating the rarest - and potentially one of the most valuable - materials on the planet.

Physicists unveil new form of matter—time crystals

Normal crystals, likes diamond, are an atomic lattice that repeats in space, but physicists recently suggested making materials that repeat in time. Last year, UC Berkeley's Norman Yao sketched out the phases surrounding a time crystal and what to measure in order to confirm that this new material is actually a stable phase of matter. This stimulated two teams to build a time crystal, the first examples of a non-equilibrium form of matter.

Nicotine normalizes brain activity deficits that are key to schizophrenia

A steady stream of nicotine normalizes genetically-induced impairments in brain activity associated with schizophrenia, according to new research involving the University of Colorado Boulder. The finding sheds light on what causes the disease and why those who have it tend to smoke heavily.

Fossils of giant pterosaurs found in Transylvania

(—A pair of researchers in the U.K. has identified fossils found in the Transylvania area in Romania as those of a pterosaur they have named Hatzegopteryx—a giant, muscle-bound flying reptile that could eat prey as large as a small horse. In their paper published in the journal Peer, Mark Witton with Portsmouth University and Darren Naish, with the University of Southampton describe the fossils and what they believe the creature looked like when it was alive.

Scientists find brain hormone that triggers fat burning

Physicists patent detonation technique to mass-produce graphene

Children get more satisfaction from relationships with their pets than with siblings

Archaeologists uncover new clues to Maya collapse

Using the largest set of radiocarbon dates ever obtained from a single Maya site, archaeologists have developed a high-precision chronology that sheds new light on patterns leading up to the two major collapses of the ancient civilization.

For this metal, electricity flows, but not the heat

There's a known rule-breaker among materials, and a new discovery by an international team of scientists adds more evidence to back up the metal's nonconformist reputation. According to a new study led by scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and at the University of California, Berkeley, electrons in vanadium dioxide can conduct electricity without conducting heat.

Scientists find advanced geometry no secret to prehistoric architects in US Southwest

Imagine you are about to plan and construct a building that involves several complicated geometrical shapes, but you aren't allowed to write down any numbers or notes as you do it. For most of us, this would be impossible.

Corn turning French hamsters into deranged cannibals: research

A diet of corn is turning wild hamsters in northeastern France into deranged cannibals that devour their offspring, alarmed researchers have reported.

Engineers develop 'smart glasses' that automatically focus on what wearer sees

Your Android device's Pattern Lock can be cracked within five attempts

Scientists create first stable semisynthetic organism

Life's genetic code has only ever contained four natural bases. These bases pair up to form two "base pairs"—the rungs of the DNA ladder—and they have simply been rearranged to create bacteria and butterflies, penguins and people. Four bases make up all life as we know it.

Astronomers measure universe expansion, get hints of 'new physics' (Update)

Astronomers have just made a new measurement of the Hubble Constant, the rate at which the universe is expanding, and it doesn't quite line up with a different estimate of the same number. That discrepancy could hint at "new physics" beyond the standard model of cosmology, according to the team, which includes physicists from the University of California, Davis, that made the observation.

80-million-year-old dinosaur collagen confirmed

Utilizing the most rigorous testing methods to date, researchers from North Carolina State University have isolated additional collagen peptides from an 80-million-year-old Brachylophosaurus. The work lends further support to the idea that organic molecules can persist in specimens tens of millions of years longer than originally believed and has implications for our ability to study the fossil record on the molecular level.

Physicists show that real-time error correction in quantum communications is possible

Nature Physics today, Monday, 23 January 2017, published online the research by a team led by physicists from the School of Physics at Wits University. In their paper titled: Characterising quantum channels with non-separable states of classical light the researchers demonstrate the startling result that sometimes Nature cannot tell the difference between particular types of laser beams and quantum entangled photons.

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Today’s women suffers from time poverty! There are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Balancing work and family life is a huge challenge. In a recent Harris interactive survey that was conducted for Healthy Women. This is how they actually spend their time vs. how they would like to spend it:

Domestic chores: 49%

Paying bills: 47%

Running errands: 47%

Making phone calls: 23%

But this is how they would like to spend it!

Texting and e-mailing: 23%

Entertainment, such as reading, watching TV or surfing the Internet: 65%

Spend time with family and friends: 54%

Physical activities, such as working out or running: 46%


Prospective study of mustard allergy: first study with double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge trials (24 cases)

Martine Morisset Department of Internal Medicine Clinical Immunology and Allergology University Hospital 29 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny 54035 Nancy Cedex France

Background: Mustard allergy accounts for 1.1% of food allergies in children. However, double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge trials (DB PCFCs) have not yet been proposed.

Objective: To carry out DB PCFCs to determine the real frequency of mustard allergy in patients sensitized to mustard.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 30 subjects aged 3–20 years presenting positive prick tests to ground mustard seeds (Brassica nigra), mustard flour (B. juncea), metabisulfite-free strong mustard seasoning (B. juncea) and a commercialized allergenic extract (B. nigra). Twenty-seven subjects were screened for mustard-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE). PCFCs were carried out either DB or single blind (SB) with up to 1340 mg of metabisulfite-free seasoning.

Results: The mean diameter of the wheal induced by prick tests with the allergenic extract was lower (n.s.) than that induced by the native mustard products: 5.8 mm (1.5–15) vs 6.9 mm (0.5–18) for B. nigra ground seeds, 7.8 mm (1–20) for B. juncea flour and 9.7 mm (3–20) for the strong mustard seasoning. The diameter of the wheal induced by the allergenic extract was significantly different from that induced by the mustard seasoning (P < 0.005). The mean of mustard specific-IgE values was 8.7 KU/l (0.35–72.4). Seven of 30 food challenges were considered positive. Mean prick test results in the positive and negative PCFC subgroups were 5.5 mm vs 5.9 mm for the commercialized extract, 10.9 mm vs 5.8 mm for B. nigra ground seeds (P < 0.01), 9.9 mm vs 7.1 mm for B. juncea flour (n.s. P > 0.25) and 11.5 mm vs 9.1 mm for the metabisulfite-free mustard seasoning (n.s. P > 0.1). Mean specific IgE values determined by CAP system radioallergosorbent test (Phadebas Pharmacia) were higher but not significantly so (P > 0.25) in the subgroup with mustard allergy (12.3 K/l vs 7.6 KU/l).

Conclusions: About 23.3% of the sensitized subjects were allergic to a routine dose of mustard. Positive prick tests and the presence of specific IgE were not predictive. SB PCFC or DB PCFC is required before recommending avoidance diets.


Learning about Dance: Dance as an Art Form and Entertainment

"Learning About Dance" is a lucid, exciting, and concise textbook that takes the student through all of the diverse elements that make up the world of dance. Beginning with a broad, historic overview of the art form, this text moves into an engaging discussion of the respective roles of the dancer, choreographer and audience, and then into the more detailed origins and evolution of the major genres. It shows the respective roles of dancers, choreographers and audiences relating to the art of dance, along with highlighting the many careers in dance. It contains all the major dance genres: ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, musical theatre, world dance forms, improvisation, creative dance and social dance. There are dramatic photos that illustrate text information. It features a user-friendly writing style. There are discussion questions that elicit the critical, creative thinking needed for group discussions. There are creative projects that apply text concepts to promote hands-on, experiential learning. It also includes major figures that feature biographical statements, photos and descriptions of renowned artists.


Man with Supernatural Powers

A sorcerer uses his supernatural powers to remove an evil spirit from the body of a woman.

Planet Doc

For the Zulus of South Africa, there is one man with supernatural powers who is fundamental to the welfare of the community because is capable of performing exorcisms. He is the Sangoma, a sorcerer, an enigmatic character whose role is to heal people spiritually, see into past, present and future, and communicate with spirits.
A woman needs magic to expel an evil spirit, and it is in the spirit doctor’s powers to cure her by exorcism.
No one doubts the Sangoma will succeed, as he communicates with the other side through his supernatural powers and works miracles.
Highly respected for his wisdom, he guides his people by reading the bones of dead animals.

His hut is a kind of outdoor clinic, filled with sacred amulets: when someone approaches his spiritual throne for healing, the secret knowledge handed down orally over centuries from generation to generation guides him.

Tell us what you think!


* Click on the question to view the answer.

Spousal support, as it is now commonly called, used to be known as "alimony." Spousal support is not mandatory in most states, but can be ordered by a judge under certain circumstances. State laws differ from state to state when it comes to the issue of spousal support. Your attorney will be able to advise you on how it is normally handled in your state. One issue that most states take into consideration is the earning ability of the wife, whether she was a stay at home mom, and how much she contributed to her husband's career. As a general rule a wife is considered a dependent spouse if she makes less money that her husband and is substantially dependent upon him for her maintenance and support; however, this applies to either a wife or husband.

If a spouse will face hardships without financial support, spousal support should be considered. The deciding factor for spousal support is the need to maintain the spouse at his or her customary standard of living. In other words, the law recognizes a husband or wife should not be forced to live at a level below that enjoyed during the marriage.

However, other factors also need to be considered. For example, spousal support should most likely not be considered if:

  1. The marriage was for a short duration (less that two or three years), and
  2. Both spouses are employed and self-sufficient
  3. This does not mean the parties cannot agree on spousal support

You and your spouse can dismiss the divorce after the papers have been filed. Simply request a dismissal form from the county clerk anytime before a judgment has been entered. If no response has been filed, the petitioner alone can file the dismissal form. If a response has been filed, both spouses must sign the dismissal form.

The following are deductions typically allowed against gross income:

  • State and federal income taxes that accurately relate to the tax status of the parties
  • Contributions to Social Security (FICA)
  • Mandatory union dues
  • Health insurance premiums
  • Necessary job related expenses

Under most state laws, a divorce (or "dissolution") action must be filed and decided in court. Many states have a "no-fault divorce" policy. In other words, the courts are not concerned with which spouse was guilty of marital misconduct. Tennessee is not a "no-fault" state! "Fault" is a factor when calculating spousal support, but not in property division.

The following legal requirements are necessary to file for divorce in most states:

The spouse filing for divorce must have resided in the state and county for a certain period. Six months is a common state requirement, and three months is typical at the county level. Tennessee requires six months residency in order to file and have proper jurisdiction; however, in some rare circumstances Tennessee may obtain emergency jurisdiction within a shorter time period.

Waiting Period

Most states have a mandatory waiting period from the filing to the finalization of a divorce. In other words, you cannot file and finalize a divorce on the same day. The average waiting period is 6 months but can be anywhere from 0 to 12 months. After the waiting period, the divorce is finalized and both parties are free to remarry. Tennessee requires 60 days from the time the Marital Dissolution Agreement is filed when there are no children from the marriage and 90 days if there were children conceived within the marriage.

Legal Grounds

States generally recognize two legal grounds for divorce: (1.) irreconcilable differences and (2.) separation. "Irreconcilable differences" simply means there are marital difficulties that cannot be reconciled and have led to the permanent breakdown of the marriage. Tennessee recognizes several grounds for divorce such as habitual drunkenness, adultery, inappropriate marital conduct, and several others.

Whether or not you can sue for any "grounds" depends on what state you live in. Most states have adopted no-fault divorce laws meaning a divorce action can be brought against a spouse without the need for a reason. Be sure to check with a local attorney to find out what your state's laws are concerning grounds for divorce.

On the other hand, if your spouse had cheated the negative behavior can come into play during divorce settlement negotiations. For instance, if a cheating husband/wife spends marital funds on the other woman/man the courts will take this into consideration when considering how marital assets are divided. A competent divorce attorney will be able to answer any questions you have about how your local court deals with such situations.

Jurisdictional Requirement

An action for divorce must be filed with the proper court. The appropriate court is typically in the county where either the wife or husband has resided for at least 6 months prior to filing for divorce.

The court will take into consideration what they feel is in the "child's best interest." The court will take into consideration a number of issues when considering custody. Issues such as who the child is living with at present, the relationship with each parent, and a parent's ability to care for and provide for the child; however, most courts are moving toward equal or shared parenting.

In an uncontested divorce, the parents must decide on the custody of any minor children. Custody is divided into physical custody (where will the children live) and legal custody (who will make important decisions regarding the children's health, education, etc.). Both physical and legal custody can be either joint or sole. Even if one parent will have sole physical custody, the other parent still has visitation rights, if requested. If custody and visitation are not agreed upon in Tennessee, the courts will utilize a list of fifteen factors to determine the "best interests of the child."

The cost of a divorce is determined by how complex the case is and whether or not the issues in the cases are contested. An uncontested divorce is naturally going to cost less than a contested divorce. In other words, the more adversarial the divorce, the more expensive the divorce will be in the long run. In addition to attorney fees, you will also have the expense of court filing fees and other expenses incurred during the divorce.

The filing fee for a divorce petition or complaint is approximately $200-$350 in most counties. These fees are collected by the government and are in addition to any service or legal fees. The filing fees are in addition to the amount charged by your attorney.

If your state laws require mediation, you and your spouse will be responsible for those costs. If there are large assets to split, a business to be valued, or property to be appraised, you may need to assistance of a divorce financial analysis. This is another expense you and your spouse will be responsible for.

A marital dissolution agreement spells out the terms of the divorce and the relationship between the two spouses after the divorce. These agreements usually cover property division, child custody, child plans, debt division, spousal support and any other relevant issues related to the divorce.

If the divorce is uncontested and a marital dissolution agreement is filed, only the petitioning spouse must go to court for the final hearing. In that case, only a few standard questions are asked in front of the judge before the judge rules on the final decree.

Most state laws have guidelines to determine child support payments. The payment amount is based on each parent's income and the amount of time he or she spends with the children. The guidelines also provide for add-on amounts for the following expenses:

  • Work related child care
  • Health care and health insurance
  • Special education or other needs
  • Travel-related visitation

Parents can increase or decrease the guideline amount if the following conditions are met:

  • Both parents acknowledge they are fully informed of their rights under state law and the amount of child support is mutually agreed upon
  • Both parents declare that the agreed upon amount is in the children's best interest and will adequately meet their needs.

Keep in mind that the judges presiding over divorce proceedings are the ultimate authority on child support decisions. They can deviate from the guidelines as they see fit.

No, Child Support and Visitation are two separate issues. If you withhold visitation you can be held in contempt of court. If your ex is not paying child support you should see an attorney who will advise you on how to recover the lost child support and to further insure that your spouse makes future child support payments.

No. If you withhold child support, you can be held in contempt of court. You should see an attorney who will be able to advise you on what steps you need to take to ensure visitation with your children and that your right to see and parent your children is no longer interfered with.

In community property states, accrued or vested retirement benefits are community property. This means they need to be divided in a divorce. Retirement benefits that fall under community property include military pensions, veteran's educational benefits, ERISA funds, IRAs, Keoghs, Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPS), 401(k) and 403K plans, etc.

  • Railroad retirement benefits
  • Social security payments
  • Compensation for military injuries
  • Worker's compensation disability awards

Uncontested divorces move much faster through the court system and are therefore less expensive. In addition, bypassing the lengthy litigation and trial process tends to reduce hostility and allows the former spouses to move on with their lives more quickly.

On average, there is a zero to six month waiting period after the initial divorce petition is filed and served on the other spouse before a divorce becomes final. Tennessee requires 60 days from the time the Marital Dissolution Agreement is filed when there are no children from the marriage and 90 days if there were children conceived within the marriage. A judge may make a final ruling, or judgment, on the divorce prior to that date. This order will be effective immediately. However, the marriage is not finally dissolved, and the spouses may not re-marry, until after the waiting period.
During the period between the judge's order and the expiration of the waiting period, any action taken by either spouse is a separate act. In short, these decisions will no longer effect community property.

Of course, if a divorce cannot be resolved agreeably and requires litigation or a trial, it could take longer than six months to finalize.

Anyone can obtain a divorce whether his or her spouse wants one or not. In no-fault divorce states, all you have to do is file your petition for divorce. Some states have laws requiring a period of separation but, after that period a divorce can be obtained whether your spouse agrees to it or not.

There has to be a petition for divorce filed with your local court clerk. You can do this through a divorce attorney or you can do it Pro Se (without the benefit of an attorney). Once a petition for divorce is filed, your spouse will have a certain number of days in which to respond to the petition.

Once a petition has been filed, the court clerk will stamp it and give it a case number. Once it is given a case number and your spouse responds the court will set a date for either a hearing for temporary court orders or mediation.

In a legal separation, you remain married. In a divorce, the marriage is dissolved and any legal ties between the parties are broken by law.

All property is considered to be marital property unless it can be proven that it is separate property. Separate property is property owned by one spouse prior to the marriage, property that was inherited and never commingled, and property that was given as a gift to one spouse or the other.

Other issues that will be taken into consideration when dividing property are the earning power of each spouse, the expectation of a return on retirement benefits, contributions made by one spouse to the education or career development of the other spouse and the need of a custodial parent to stay in the marital home.

You need to protect yourself before, during, and after your divorce by filing a restraining order against your husband. In Tennessee, this is called an Order of Protection. The kind of assistance you can receive differs from state to state. There are state domestic abuse resources and programs available that you should take advantage of.

If your question is not answered by our FAQ, contact us using the form below.


I am soo excited to announce my NEW COLLABORATION with the FOUNTAIN HOUSE CHARITY showcasing our FALL 16 artist and one of FH artists' JONATHAN GLASS!

If you don't know about Fountain House you should, they're an amazing organization that's helping take the stigma away from those with mental illness.  They're such a cheerleader to those in need & I've  always been impressed with the level of care and love they put to every project. Knowing people that have suffered from mental illness I really love how they treat those suffering with respect, love, and continually help them thrive.

For this collaboration we created LIMITED EDITION scarves that will be sold at the event & partial proceeds will go to Fountain House to help them carry on their mission. Only 50 scarves will go for sale and they will be numbered and include information about Jonathan, Fountain House, and our design studio.

We will be showcasing and selling these scares at the MAD ABOUT ART event on NOVEMBER 17th. I hope you can come-please see below & click here for more details and of course email me at info@alexandrareboul.com for any questions.

If you can't come to the event but would love to get a scarf shop online now before they are SOLD OUT.  Click here.

Fountain House Gallery is an amazing cause – providing member artists with opportunities to produce, exhibit, and sell their work. Now in its 15th year, the Gallery is a vibrant demonstration of the creativity and capacity of people living with mental illness, and it has grown to be a vital contribution to the New York arts community.

Art Lover or OBSESSION?

Art Lover or OBSESSION?

So what's up with these art collaborations?

Let me start off with the truth: I'm 100% obsessed with ART.

I go to the Art Shows/Exhibits/Museums every chance I get & I'm happiest at a gallery or spending the day entirely at an art fair! I even make sure to schedule friends, joining me at art shows, to join in shifts.. yes shifts! That way when they get tired of me obsessing over artwork they can head out & I have a new buddy to join me!  Yes, it's that kind of obsession.

This obsession has been around for as long as I can remember. I grew up going to school ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. We were there every week- since you know it's across the street. I LOVED IT. ..It may have been a way for the teachers to get a few minutes to breathe- but hey I can't complain!  On top of that growing up in NYC ART is EVERYWHERE!

I guess it all started when I joined a "special" art group around age 10? or earlier? I was the youngest in the group and to get in you had to be "admitted".. you know show talent.. that kind of thing. Well to me it felt like winning the lotto & I couldn't be happier. Funny thing is that I still have some of those drawing from that time- one is of the earth- & its awful. I mean its squiggly blue and green paint splotches scattered around and clearly I have NO IDEA what the earth looks like. Ha.  But wow did I learn a lot!  Ever since then I've been painting, drawing, sketching, you name it.  As this passion for art grew I eagerly took every fashion & art class possible and pretty much went to every art school there is: FIT, PARSONS , RISD, CENTRAL ST MARTINS, etc...... Clearly this obsession grew....

So when it came to thinking about launching my own business, I just couldn't decide art or fashion.. ART OR FASHION?? Hmm.. well then ta da, I'LL DO BOTH!!!  I mean all the "self help" journals say "Do what you love" right?

My brand's mission is that I really want people to understand and appreciate art the way I do. I think that people today are so intimidated with ART. Where to start? Did that artwork just sell for 5million? What do I have to know to sound smart in the art world? I just don't get how is Duchamp's "Fountain" (urinal) art? Why are all the people into it so glamorous looking... etc etc.   Look I get it... Its intimidating. However, art can teach you so much and I really feel  it's a secret to the artists soul & the world/time they were in when they painted.  In the end, if you like something- like it - thats the point. Don't like it because someone said so. And if you don't like it fine- but maybe ask yourself why? That urinal from Duchamp- well it ended up being the forefront of modern art and radically shifted the way people perceive art & create it today.... Anyways, if I peaked your interest, read "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT" by Will Gompertz as it gives a great insight about that artwork (fountain) & modern art in general.

But I digress.. and clearly I could talk about this for a few more hours...

I CREATED A BRAND WHERE I GET TO WORK WITH ARTISTS. I get to meet these amazing talented people & learn about their artwork, why they do what they do, what they do, and everything in between. It's SOOO exciting for me and "I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT." (cue cheesy music) These artists inspire the way I paint, draw, & design differently each season!

To sum it all up....Let's say the clothes I make aren't for you... but if you learned about a new artist, got to see artwork in a new way, and appreciated the artwork.....maybe even want to buy the artists work?!! ..... That to me is a HUGE SUCCESS & why I created this brand in the first place!!

Honestly what could be more fun?!

xx Ali

Who is Alexandra Reboul?

So who am I- Behind the Sewing Machine?

My name is Alexandra, but my friends call me Ali. I grew up in Manhattan on the UES but don't worry, no, I'm not a princess. My family is from France (Paris & Nice) so I've always felt in between two-worlds.  Growing up in NYC I was around so many fabulous cultures and art ever since I can remember. I become OBSESSED with fashion at age 16 and never looked back.

So why did I start my own brand?

After years at Oscar de la Renta I launched my own business. I realized there was a need for beautiful clothes MADE IN USA with exquisite fabrics but at a price that wouldn't break your bank account.

My clothes are 100% luxury and 100% quality made in NYC. I want to make clothes that last, styles that are flattering, ethically made in factories in USA, and pieces that aren't going out of style tomorrow.

So who am I- The Designer?

Ever since I can remember art and fashion have been my passions. I paint, draw, and create any chance I get. I wanted to create a brand that fused my two loves FASHION & ART in a way that was meaningful.

I LOVE to design it's like breathing- pretty FABULOUS! Each season I collaborate with 1 artist and create a collection around that artist.

I like to think of myself as a curator selecting an artist each season and creating a collection around it. But what does that really mean?

As a respect and admiration of the artist, I like to create a few pieces that represent the artist's work directly by transforming their work into wearable textiles/art.

The remaining part of the collection is inspired by the artist work and how they create. This artist inspiration permeates through the entire collection. Be it how I design the silhouettes or prints, the music I listen to while designing, the materials I source (yes- I have the same tweed manufacture as Chanel-shh) to the colors and mood of the entire season.

I design every print, where did that come from?

I started my career working at Diane von Furstenberg, where I learned about prints and how to create them. I always loved drawing and painting and became ECSTATIC when I learned that I could create textiles out of it! Thank you so much for teaching me that!!

Who's my brand for?

My goal is to create clothes that look great on you no matter what. As a woman designing for women- I want to make clothes that highlight every women's beauty. I love adding little details here and there to make the clothes more flattering and secret printed lining details just for you!

stay tuned for more about the brand.....


What Is Going On In Ethiopia?

20/10/2016 13:52 BST | Updated 21/10/2017 10:12 BST

The athlete looked up at the sky when he crossed the finish line, and made an X shape above his head with his wrists. The stadium cheered, a new moment in history was made. Later when he took to the podium with 'Ethiopia' written across his top to collect a medal for the marathon he had run, he made the gesture again.

Two months after the 2016 Olympics, this protest salute made by runner Feyisa Lilesa before a TV audience of millions, is still the most audacious red flag on what was a largely ignored iceberg. The iceberg being the Ethiopian state's deadly crackdown on its Oromo people. His protest was in support of the struggles of an estimated forty million Oromo in Ethiopia's Oromia region against an authoritarian rule historically committed to keeping them in their place. In a month that has seen Ethiopia call a State of Emergency in an attempt to stop the massive Oromo protests from spreading, Lilesa's daring stand and the will he-or-won't he question of whether he will return to Ethiopia continues to force the subject onto the global news agenda and encourages people to ask: who are the Oromo and why are they protesting?

The answers lie in the history of the Oromo. The Oromia region was once made up of autonomous sultanates with distinct cultural traditions. Its people lived on the land for over five hundred years before the Abyssinian Empire moved in and established its new capital of Addis Ababa in the centre of Oromia at the end of the 1800s. What followed was a mass eviction of the Oromo, and then a state waged campaign against them, continued to this day by the modern Ethiopian government, which has previously sought to extinguish Oromo traditions, ban the language of Oromiffa in schools, and prevent Oromo civil and political status.

For the last year, the Oromo have been protesting the Ethiopian government's plans to extend the capital into Oromia further still, however in recent months the protests have turned into a broader call for a multi-ethnic government, justice and the application of the rule of law. The Amhara ethnic group, their number estimated at 20 million, have now begun their own protests in the Amhara region and voiced their concern at a repressive government made up of one ethnic group. However since the protests began, at least 500 deaths have been confirmed, reports of torture and forced disappearances are widespread and an additional one thousand people have been detained so far in October alone.

Media attention on the protests therefore couldn't come at a more important time. Since Lilesa's salute and following a horrific stampede at an Oromo thanksgiving festival at the start of October, killing between 52 and 300 people (concrete figures are difficult to come by in Ethiopia) after police used teargas, rubber bullets and batons on protesters, the Ethiopian government has ordered a six month state of emergency. It has also continued to blame the violence and deaths at protests on banded opposition groups and gangs funded by Ethiopia and Eritrea, the former of which has already denied the claim and the latter of which has maintained a frosty silence. Human Rights groups however implicate the security forces in the deaths.

As a result of the state of emergency, Ethiopia is on lock down. Foreign diplomats have been banned from travelling more than 40kms outside the capital, protests in schools, universities and other higher education institutions are forbidden, there are country-wide curfews, security services are barred from resigning, satellite TV, pro-opposition news and foreign news are banned and posting links on social media a criminal activity. In short, there is a total news black-out of anything that is not state sponsored.

On the African continent, condemnation of Ethiopia's actions by African governments has been very quiet. However, the protests have been well covered by African media and civil society organizations particularly in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa, while protests supporting the Oromo have taken place in South Africa and Egypt.

Although it is disappointing that African governments have not spoken out, it is important that the Ethiopian diaspora, along with African and global civil society continue to call loudly for an independent investigation into the deaths and violence occurring and that wealthy Western governments continue to evaluate their support for the increasingly authoritarian Ethiopian state.

Indeed an independent investigation is key and not without precedent. The Burundian government vowed to cooperate with an African Union investigation into state abuses only this week. However, the Ethiopian government should also be pressed to pass inclusive multi-ethnic state reforms as quickly as possible before this crisis escalates. The Oromo and Amhara are 65% of the Ethiopian population so it is suggested the Ethiopian government tread more thoughtfully and less violently because as precedents on the continent show, mismanagement can lead to devastating losses in any numbers game.

***The views of this blog do not necessarily represent the views of Democracy Works Foundation.


Cedar Ridge , Book 2
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 978-1455586783
December 2015
Contemporary Romance

Cedar Ridge Resort, Colorado - Present Day

After spending years battling cancer, artist Bailey Moore has a list of things she wants to enjoy before she settles down. Next on her agenda is tackling a mural on a wall at Cedar Ridge, a family run ski resort in the Rocky Mountains. From the start, Bailey battles one of the owners and head of the ski patrol, Hudson Kincaid, which leads to fiery clashes between them. She is ready to walk away from the project when his family overrides his objections. Will Hudson continue to be a pain in the neck for Bailey, or will hate turn to something different?

Hudson has a lot of responsibilities, what with his job at the resort rescuing people who act irresponsibly while skiing, to caring for his mother who is suffering from dementia. Hudson is also missing his twin brother, Jacob, who walked out of their lives years ago after they fought. Something about Bailey rubs him the wrong way, and he's very vocal about his objection, but when he discovers she's a cancer survivor, he feels like a cad.  Hudson soon learns that Bailey is a tough person and can't be told she cannot do something. Yet it doesn't stop them from clashing, which quickly turn into heated kisses. With his responsibilities in life, he cannot promise a future for any woman, while Bailey has a life to celebrate. Is there any chance they can work out a compromise?

In MY KIND OF WONDERFUL, Jill Shalvis brings readers back to Cedar Ridge and the competitive Kincaid family who are trying to keep their ski resort afloat after their father's death. The family consists of a motley crew of half siblings who have two things in common: a father and a love of skiing. Hudson's mother's mental state has slowly deteriorated to the point that Hudson and Jacob soon found themselves as teenagers caring for their mother. This led them to seek out their half siblings in Colorado and a family closeness has developed. However, after Hudson and Jacob fought years ago, Jacob walked out and has yet to show his face in Cedar Ridge again.

Enter into Hudson's life Bailey. She's stubborn and beautiful, and while she might appear fragile after her cancer battle, she is one tough woman. It was Hudson's mother who "commissioned" the mural, and it's his family who ultimately (against his wishes) approved the project. They can see the effect Bailey has on Hudson, and they love it. He's a man who has spent his life accepting responsibilities, so it's about time he has a little "fun." Hudson tries to micro manage Bailey's work, but being around her only intensifies the attraction between them. An affair is a dangerous thing to happen to someone who might be looking for love after concentrating on getting well for the past few years, but Bailey insists she's only looking to enjoy life. Yet, how will both react when it's time to say goodbye?

The interactions between Bailey and Hudson will have readers snickering as they battle each other and try to hide their feelings for each other. There are also the competitive battles between the Kincaid brood, which are intense in their mission to try to outdo the other. Meanwhile, Hudson has to deal with his guilt over what he considers his responsibility toward driving away Jacob. Will he ever overcome this?

The sexy hijinks enjoyed by Bailey and Hudson in MY KIND OF WONDERFUL are fun and entertaining. Their chemistry sizzles and zings right off the pages and it's one of those books that you won't ever want to put down. But good things eventually come to an end, and readers won't be disappointed in MY KIND OF WONDERFUL.

Patti Fischer


White Privilege

Off-Broadway Review: “White Guy on the Bus” at 59E59 Theaters

What is clear about Bruce Graham’s “White Guy on the Bus” is that white privilege drives the engine of racism in America. In a compelling performance as successful financier Ray, Robert Cuccioli gives that protagonist rich layers of contempt for all things that might threaten his privileged status. Additionally, this contemptable character seems to have difficulty controlling an undercurrent of…

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Staff Guide

Training and certification

Training and UM Accessibility certifications are available.

Web pages and sites

If you maintain a departmental website, you will need to ensure that the site meets the UM requirement of compliance with WCAG 2.0 AA standards.  Web Technology Services (WTS) trainings and UM Cascade help site include the information you need.  In addition, be aware that:

Instructional Materials

Instructional environments of Moodle, electronic classroom with podiums and campus computer labs have all been made more accessible.  Further information is available on the technical checklist.

The remaining issue for faculty and staff is the accessiblity of course *materials* that are used in these environments.  Refer to the faculty checklist for information about materials used in Instructional Materials environments.

  1. Create accessible Words documents from the start.  (If you use a macintosh computer, please refer to the discussion of Macs and documents.)
  2. Use documents in "native" accessible Word documents instead of PDFs.  But, if PDFs are necessary, make accessible Word documents into accessible PDFs with "save as PDF."
  3. Convert older, image-based PDFs
    • How do I know:  Image-based PDFs don't let you select and copy text into another file
    Convert image-based PDFs into text-based documents
  4. UM recommends brochures and flyers created in Adobe InDesign over MS Publisher because the InDesign files are easier to convert into accessible PDFs.

Submit videos for captioning and audio-records for transcripts (opens new window).

Refer to the Technical Checklist if you wish to be more involved in the captioning process.

Our Resolution Agreement requires that all EIT (electronic and information technology) be accessible. Please submit existing software and hardware for review (opens new tab).

EIT purchasees submitted to GrizMart are automatically submitted to an accessibility review process.  There will also be periodic accessibility audits of other purchases. You can submit software and hardware for review ahead of an actual purchase (opens a new tab).

Call 243-EITA (3482) or email for help.

For Additional Assistance:


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