When someone is a very strong exponent of a particular cause - be it Human Rights, Zionism, Islamism, Humanism, Feminism, Communism or White Supremacy -- their motivation can be enigmatic. What really motivates them? Upbringing, intellect, trauma, experience, money, power?? Without knowing which ones to pay attention to, the chorus of dischordant voices that fills the airwaves and weblogs can be overwhelming. How does one filter out the noise?

We've noticed of late that several deeply entrenched ideologues are "switching sides" on various subjects, particularly in those topics that deal with the Middle East and militant Islam. We find this very significant.

Imagine how your world outlook would change if you listened to only those voices belonging to the smart and accomplished, but also -- importantly -- those that have defected to the "other side" after reaching stardom, whatever side that is. While you still would not know for sure what motivates them, it would be a good bet that they would likely be motivated by the discovery of some new intrinsic logic that escaped them until recently. Whether their change in world view is due to changing times or due to structural flaws in their old beliefs matters not: these voices have either retuned themselves to the times or finished a long and exquisite tuning process, and need to be heard. 

Now imagine a web site that focuses on those notable politicians, thinkers, doers, NGO's and media that recently switched sides A "first derivative" kind of blog that charts changes in opinion rather than static opinions themselves... a tribune that reports the epiphanies of those that see from the highest mountaintops, for better or for worse.... 

Welcome to SwitchingSides.com.

SwitchingSides is a blog originated and managed by Steve Tobias. He is an international oil and gas explorer that has lived, worked, taught and consulted in many countries. Notably, he has spent many years working in Israel and teaching/consulting in various Muslim countries, and has a unique (and rather optimistic!) view of the dynamics of that part of the world. Steve lives with his wife and three children in Houston, Texas. He welcomes all comments at steve@switchingsides.com .