We know that crooks and killers go free everyday and live like royalty. That becomes almost like a normal injustice in the world. Those people get elected president, coronel, king, or they just become millionaires. One particular of these: Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. With the help of his right-hand man Montesinos, who is yet to really serve any time in prison, these men were responsible for murdering countless, rigging elections, stealing tax-payer money, and generally speaking – running Peru into the ground.
Well eventually the show ended, when there were no attrocities left to commit.. or so it seemed, these men ran off.. Fujimori, to Japan, where he was given asylum as a Japanese citizen. (yeah he had both) So there he has sat for some 3 years now, and last week the news that he has been appearing on Peruvian TV surfaced, apparently he managed a commentating gig with some program. A criminal, who committed attrocities as the alleged president of a country, escapes, gets asylum, and now gets on TV. This is truely disgusting. Shame on the Japanese government for allowing it. The American government for ignoring it. And Peruvians for ever being bamboozled by that monster. When one looks to their role model in the USA, it almost seems natural.
The Bishop and the Church
Today the episcopalian church officially appointed the first openly Gay bishop. At the ceremony several bishops stood and read their statements condemning the choosing of a gay bishop and stating that it “breaks god’s heart.” They then walked out with their heads lowered. Why were their heads lowered if they were so certain of their opinions? Weren’t they carrying out “god’s will.” Or could it be that they were ashamed? Ashamed at their own homophobia and bigotry. Ashamed that their own religious beliefs could not tolerate someone based on their sexual preference.
The church may split. Yet another split of a religion that is troubled by the spirit of evolution and acceptance. A religion that can’t seem to keep up with the times, and often chooses archaic exclusionary traditions over open-minded tolerance.
There’s nothing new in this story, except for the new bishop. Otherwise it’s just another church acting as we’ve come to know organized religion, close-minded, outdated, and irrelavant.
Bush Logic
Mr. Bush’s reaction to the recent day in Baghdad which featured 3 different suicide bombings, something to the effect of “This shows that we’re making progress and that freedom is taking hold, our enemies are getting desperate.”
Progress? Over 100 American military personal have been killed. Hundreds if not thousands of Iraqi’s have been killed. The Red Cross and the United Nations have become targets of massive attacks. Officials, journalists, religious leaders, and other civilians are murdered with little protection from the occupying forces.
All this is progress? Is this freedom? The freedom to be bombed and gunned down by gangs? Why would Bush say this? Does he have any concept of what is happenning in Iraq? Of course, he’s never been there, and when his own secretary of defence went to Iraq, he spent all his nights in Kuwait. Sure – he’ll make a speech about freedom and progress, but he himself doesn’t seem aware of the actual situation. Or rather, is it that he really doesn’t give a shit?
Calipornia
My heart goes out to Californians… they now have a governor who made such films as Junior and True Lies. Grant it, Predator and Kindergarten Cop had their moments, but it’s not like having Deniro or Pitt – who make fine films – being elected governor. This guy is an average actor and he’ll be an average (or less than average) governor. People want to know what happened to California’s wealth, they blame the governor – but have they looked into global economics and privatization. It’s not like the governor was in charge of the electric companies, they are PRIVATE. It’s not like the governor killed Silicon Valley, the .com boom ended and with it went all the get-rich quick pipe-dreams.
Furthermore Arnold has absolutely no plans.. his campaign consisted of crappy rock songs and movie quotes… plus his air-guitar was awful. If the Kennedy family had any shred of respect and esteem, it is being quickly eroded by the son-in-law that likes cashing in on his relation to them, yet likes to play for the other team (republicans).
The only good outcome could be for democrats in the presidential race – after Arnold helps the situation go from bad to worse, it will be election time, and man — they will definately give Bush a kick in the ass for the crappy work of his fellow republican cyber-bodybuilder-governor.
Israel Attack
The Israeli bombing of Syria is an act of war and therefore illegal. Using its superior military featuring the latest in fighter technology from the United States, the Israeli defence force committed a violation of international law by attacking another nation. The Sharon government calls it an attack against a terrorist training camp, terrorists who have bombed cities in Israel, and therefore this is retaliation. Sharon’s aggression has precedent, the United States bombing of Afghanistan and Sudan during the Clinton admininstration, and more generally – the pre-emptive strike Bush doctrine. Welcome to the era of pre-emptive attacks. In the name of peace, you wage war, insisting that you’r stopping a future threat. And of course, the international community gives no clear response, even the Arab league won’t stick their necks out to defend Syria. Perhaps more interesting, is that at present, the Syrian government has not responded with violence… a phenomenon that Arial Sharon should study carefully — non-violent responses to aggression.
Iran… Please.
The Bush Administration likes to play the “Iran” card every now and then. They point, shout, and condemn the Iranian government – already stigmatized as part of the “axis of evil”. What’s all the fuss? Because allegedly, the Iranian gov. has acquired the nuclear techonology that could be used to make nuclear weapons. That is – they have it to generate energy, but if they want, they could make weapons… allegedly.
Strange thing, I don’t recall the US, UK, Russia, India, or Israel asking anyone for permission to use nuclear energy to develope their countries. Suddenly Iran is “dangerous” because they might be doing the exact same thing. Hypocracy at its best. We’re responsible with weapons of mass destruction-you’re not, because we said so. Unilateral ethnocentric diplomacy at its best.