Secession in US already happening in many ways

+ Middle East democracy 20 years after US invasion of Iraq US Edition - Today's top story: Secession is here: States, cities and the wealthy are already withdrawing from America [View in browser]( US Edition | 20 March 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Antisemitic tweets spiked after Musk’s Twitter takeover]( - [Podcast: How Iraq war affected lives of Iraqis]( - [Why time slows down near the speed of light]( Lead story The American Civil War was precipitated by the withdrawal – known as “secession” – of 11 slave states from the Union. More than 600,000 soldiers died in the war. So when Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene advocated recently for red and blue states to form separate countries, history’s long and deadly shadow hung over her pronouncement, provoking shocked responses from many. But Greene isn’t alone in her sentiments, writes scholar Michael J. Lee of the College of Charleston. “Fifty-two percent of Trump voters, Donald Trump himself and prominent Texas Republicans [have endorsed various forms of secession]( in recent years.” And, continues Lee, “roughly 40% of Biden voters have fantasized about a national divorce as well.” Lee doesn’t see secession as something that might happen in the future. He takes a broader view of secession and sees it happening, in small and large versions, across the nation already. “Wealthy white communities have separated from more diverse school districts,” he writes. “Eleven states dub themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries,” while “since 2012, 21 states have legalized marijuana, which is federally illegal.” And the rich who pay virtually no taxes? Lee says that’s a form of secession as well. When it comes to secession, the question isn’t “what if?” writes Lee. It’s “what now?” [[Sign up here to our topic-specific weekly emails.](] Naomi Schalit Democracy Editor Acts of secession are happening across the U.S. Vector Illustration/Getty Images [Secession is here: States, cities and the wealthy are already withdrawing from America]( Michael J. Lee, College of Charleston Secession talk evokes fears of a second Civil War. But one scholar says secession is already happening in the US under a variety of guises. Politics + Society - [20 years on, George W. Bush’s promise of democracy in Iraq and Middle East falls short]( Brian Urlacher, University of North Dakota The Bush administration invaded Iraq with plans for it to become a democracy. But according to some social science measures, the country isn’t any more democratic than it was before 2003. - [The collapse of major US banks leads to bills calling for more regulation]( V. Gerard (Jerry) Comizio, American University The recent collapse of three banks has lawmakers debating whether stricter regulations will prevent other banks from meeting the same fate. - [Antisemitism on Twitter has more than doubled since Elon Musk took over the platform – new research]( Carl Miller, King's College London New research shows that antisemitic posts surged as the ‘free speech absolutist’ took over the social media giant. And it has settled at a higher level since. - [Iraq 20 years on: researchers assess how US invasion shapes lives today – podcast]( Mend Mariwany; Nehal El-Hadi, The Conversation The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to civilian death and displacement. Twenty years later, Iraqis are telling their stories of conflict and trauma as they move towards healing. 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Science + Technology - [What is the National Cybersecurity Strategy? A cybersecurity expert explains what it is and what the Biden administration has changed]( Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County The new National Cybersecurity Strategy reiterates the government’s focus on resilient infrastructure and taking the offensive against hackers. But it also brings a fresh approach to the private sector. - [Why does time change when traveling close to the speed of light? A physicist explains]( Michael Lam, Rochester Institute of Technology Your experience of time is relative because it depends on motion – more specifically, your speed and acceleration. Ethics + Religion - [Why Ramadan is called Ramadan: 6 questions answered]( Mohammad Hassan Khalil, Michigan State University Muslims observe a monthlong fast for the holy month of Ramadan. A scholar explains the religious observance and its spiritual significance. Trending on site - [‘Pantry porn’ on TikTok and Instagram makes obsessively organized kitchens a new status symbol]( - [As bird flu continues to spread in the US and worldwide, what’s the risk that it could start a human pandemic? 4 questions answered]( - [3 reasons the Willow Arctic oil drilling project was approved – it’s the latest battle in a long fight over Alaska’s North Slope]( Reader Comments 💬 “As the article points out people already anthropomorphize all sorts of things like pets, yet negative consequences are mild at worst. So while AI’s are unsettling, anthropomorphization is not high up on my list of what makes them so. In fact it’s difficult to know what those concerns should be, given we don’t know how AI’s will function in our society yet.” – Reader Russell Stuart on the story [AI isn’t close to becoming sentient – the real danger lies in how easily we’re prone to anthropomorphize it]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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