Il faut pas tuer

Readers round these parts probably know that I consider myself a world citizen. And as such, the only organized government that I remotely believe in is the United Nations. Flawed and perpetually in crisis, I believe in the concept of all nations working together for peace, justice, and a decent standard of living. And so, though a pacifist, I believe in many of the functions of the blue helmets who are deployed often in the most tense situations, to maintain peace without a mandate to kill.

Brazilian Peacekeepers Are BloodthirstyUnfortunately they have a mixed record, which isn’t too big of a surprise considering how imperfect the governments involved are. But still, I hate seeing it and I demand better.

I’m thinking particularly of the latest slaughter in Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Carried out by a majority Brazilian military force, who I originally thought would provide competant and restrained assistance, following the secretly US supported removal of president Aristide, over one year ago.

The UN says the 20 or more civilians who were killed in a recent battle, were criminals who attacked them. The Haitians who managed to get access to media and relatives in New York City, say otherwise. Women and children, innocent civilians were gunned down.

Though I’m a fan of the United Nations, I know who I believe. And the testimony is slowly coming to light, it was a massacre, and the whole world keeps its eyes closed to anything that goes on in poor Haiti.

Irony of Community

Reflection Eternal The reoccuring thought in my little brain, and the frequent topic of conversation with some old high school friends who happenned to be in town: community.

It’s part of the reason why you’re here. It’s a good part of the reason why I write. Community. In this case, online. But regardless of the venue, it is what we often seek, myself included.

Despite having moved a few times in my adult life, between countries, it is ironically what I secretly desire. If you’ve stayed put over the last 10 years or so, without thinking too much about it – it is probably what you have; you know your neighbors. You know the dude at the corner café, the cutee bartender at that pub across town, maybe the postal worker who comes to your door daily. It could be just a matter of personal taste, but I like to imagine that sort of thing will bring me lots of personal satisfaction. Asense of being right with the world, belonging, being an appreciated part of a whole.

And so it seems ironic, especially when speaking with old high school friends who now work at that very high school, that I left that town where I knew so many. I run around Amsterdam trying to get on a first name basis with the girls at the bagel shop, or that homeless dude who sells the streetpaper. Again, believing that if I can do that, I’ll have that sense of community that I probably walked away from way back when. – Don’t get me wrong, I love where I am, but I won’t pretend to not see the ironies.

Speaking of community, Jamie’s hangin in our south jersey hood. And the midnight mailman is launching a film career.

Lula Still Rocks

When Lula became president of Brazil, it represented a turning point in latin american politics. Around the same time his workers party was voted in, in Uraguay, Equador, Chile, etc…. the masses decided to put a left-leaning party in power. Probably in hopes to put an end to the poverty they’d been living in since the days of colonialism.

When he got in, I was psyched. He put more women and black people in cabinet positions then ever before. He brought members of one of the most famous grassroots social movements in the world, MST (The Landless Movement), in his cabinet. Hell, he made Brazil’s most beloved singer, Gilberto Gil, minister of culture. Then he started talking about how global trade rules unfairly favored rich nations, and that Brazil would seek to make their own system, one where third world nations wouldn’t simply be forced to live by the rules the first world makes. As if that weren’t enough, one of his main programs – fome zero – sought to eradicate hunger in the country.

Clearly this progressive agenda (though not all his policies are that progressive) would generate lots of enemies amongst the powerful forces, home and abroad. Just to add fuel to the fire, I loved when Brazil decided that since the US fingerprints all foreign visitors, Brazil will fingerprint all American visitors. hahaha. But the inevitable has happened — a scandal involving money, corruption, and his party.

While we all know power can corrupt, I don’t buy this one. A man who grew up in the poorest state in Brazil. A man who sold oranges on the street, and later led strikes against a dictatorship. A man who lost one of his fingers in an industrial accident — I highly doubt he’s guilty. Rather — I think those traditional forces are trying to cripple a government seeking to make some rather revolutionary changes.

Back in 00

The year was 2000, the season was spring, and the journey was from Marseille, France (my place of residence at the time) to Amsterdam, NL to visit the D-Rock. (as he was residing in the dam then) It was pretty luxurious for a student, TGV to Lille, Eurostar to Brussels (stopover to see family), and this same international train to Amsterdam. It was a long and wonderous journey filled with plenty of young, worldy, and often good-looking backpackers to befriend.

I mention this because its been 5 years and I still feel that journey in my bones. Those backpackers are still on the train. Speaking their spanish or italian or australian english. I even noticed an Indonesian family doing some backpacking today. I glance over at them often and when its not too creepy, I offer help in the form of directions. They’re defensive but thankful, of course, as right they should be — lots of psychos with blogs out there.

Its crazy to think of myself now, an amsterdammer of about 3 years, to then – when all I wanted to do was visit my friend for a few days and head back to France. Little did I know. Little do we ever know the odd paths we later take.

Other news: Tim and his Radio Clash are in Spin Magazine. While xtx and her infamous cleavage are having a birthday! Oh and I mustn’t forget another birthday girl — FashionSloerie.