UK – Page 20 – Citizen Reporter

A Peruvian Trap

You know how it goes when you’re a world citizen blogger. One day you’re talking about Poland, then Frisbee in Amsterdam, and before you know it, it’s time to talk Turkey. Or as we say in Portuguese “Peru” .

Not sure how much you know or the world’s media tells you, about Peruvian history and politics, but myself – I’ve been watching the events unfold for the last 6 years with great frustration. Let me catch you up:

From 1990 to 2000 there was a most terrible president by the name of Alberto Fujimori. A tyrant and dictator who used all kinds of violence and secret tactics to maintain power and oppress oppositional groups. But fortunately in 2000 his ass got chased out of Peru and back to Japan (where he is also a citizen). The country slowly started a process of investigating the crimes of the Fujimori administration, eventually arresting one of the major murderous assholes- Vladimiro Montesinos, who was the head of the secret police during that time, and was also very talented at profiting from drug smuggling. Unfortunately they still haven’t gotten their hands on Fujimori, because Japan refuses to hand him over.

So now there are elections coming up, and Fujimori – even while hiding in Japan – says he will run for president again. And having heard about this, I have a plan for Peru:

Being that it is necessary to deal with the past in order to face the future. And being that Alberto is responsible for a whole lot of human rights violations during his time as el presidente, I say he must be captured – in a clever way. Therefore – I say tell him he is running for president. Tell the whole country to “make pretend” .. and then pretend he wins.. and when he arrives at the airport with that smug “I killed lots of you the first time and youre stupid enough to elect me again” look on his face, ARREST HIM! YAY! Then comes the trial and people can throw tomatos and poof.. national reconciliation mixed with justice and even a bit of fun!

Polish Doublemint Twins Take Election

Something should be said about the Polish elections, cause Poland is a big country, a new EU member, with a truely stubborn national spirit (I love stubborn populations!). I figure when you have such a violent and abused history as a nation, the effects will be felt for generations, in many different ways.

Twins Trouble is, I’m not a Polish politics expert. Though I do keep an eye on Valesa’s son, who did get elected into parliament a few days ago, I had only read an article or two about the twins who are poised to become Prime Minister and President from the “law and justice” party. Can you just picture how the Bush family must be hard at work trying to get the same kind of deal. I mean they got the twins already.

I digress – Polish elections: They say its a shift to the “right” because the “left” is corrupt. They also say the L and J party will tackle unemployment and reforms. Myself I’m skeptical any party in Poland could properly handle problems that are deeply rooted traditions more then they are sudden crises. Or perhaps Im wrong, was the Polish social and economic scene doing well at some point? Communism, capitalism, fascism… my heart goes out to them cause regular Poles always seem to get skrewed.

Here’s one journalist who’s blog I should read more closely and covers the elections quite well. Of course you can also consult the Beeb. And lastly, I haven’t listened to it or checked it thoroughly, but this report looks nice and grassroots.

Oh Kanzler

Our wacky german neighbors are having elections. And I just love when it’s election time in the .de. Not only because I think it’s an extremely interesting and fairly healthy democratic system, but because it brings back memories of me and my buddy… Koblenz’s Martin G.. when we first arrived at University in Amsterdam and I’d wonder down to his apartment on election night.

Mart’s place was excellent for election coverage; he would translate the ARD or the ZDF TV coverage, and describe the dry style of the reporter. Then we’d do our own news and political analysis – being the european communications scholars that we ~~were~~ are. All this while eating the darkest of chocolate and sipping what I believe to have been fine whiskey. Sound high class? Well that’s what politics is all about, the allocation of scarce resources for international students to sit on their lazy asses and ponder the future of the world.

So by the time you read this you’ll probably know more about the confusing result. As I watch the results coming in on the german public tv… I miss my buddy mart.. who I can just picture is sitting right now in his stockholm apartment, watching the results with some dark chocolate within reach.

Stay Angry

Now comes the wierd part. It has been a week and lots of people will say or think — I don’t want to deal with it anymore. You’ve probably heard quite a bit about the crime against humanity, the neglect, the death, the destruction. So much so that you may have decided you know enough and there’s no where to go from here. Just unplug and get back into your daily routine that keeps you isolated from the inequality and injustice that exists in this world and has been very obvious in how the aftermath of this hurricane has unfolded.

And that’s why I consider this the most dangerous time. Attention spans are smaller in this era. Death and suffering can be extinguished with a remote control and a pleasant DVD rental. You can gorge yourself with exotic foods, lock your doors, and think — it isn’t here, I’m ok. But if you think about it, that’s obviously bullshit. If you live on this planet.. and you’re human, I say you’re involved.

Once again watching the BBC last night, I watched reports about the UK tourists who had been visiting New Orleans during the hurricane. The segment had lots of closeups, and tearful faces. Lots of voices filled with pain and haunted by unimaginable loss. But the strangest part was this: As they told their stories, they spoke about all the international people sticking together for their own well being. No surprise there. But then they went on, telling of how they arrived at the terrible scene at the superdome and all the carnage they witnessed there.. and get this: eventually, national guard troops smuggled them out of the dome and brought them to Dallas. SMuggled?! Secretly. Secret from whom, you might ask? Oh you know.. all the black people. Or maybe away from the poor white trash. Either one, apparently, is worth less then the life of an international white person.
I was stunned. The tourists were just honest about it. They told about how they had to try not to be noticed or the other people would get angry. And at one point, as they were discretely leaving on a bus, people realized it and started shouting things at them and throwing things at the bus.

I’m watching this report and I’m once again reminded of the truth that many people, especially so-called leaders, do not want to address. Its beyond racism… or at least it is racism on the most gruesome scale imaginable – deciding who lives or dies, based on skin color and class. And this isn’t just happenning in the US.. this is happenning right now, around the world.

ps — Typically arrogant and rediculous, he appoints himself to investigate if he’s committed any wrong doing in responding to the disaster.

pps– I strongly urge you listen to the latest Morning Coffee Notes from Sept. 6th, Dave Winer tells it like it is and he gets under the issues.

Throw Down

I’d love to talk more about expat life, dynamic international females who hypnotize me, other world issues, etc. Trouble is, the New Orleans thing is still and will still be nagging for a long time coming.

But instead of repeating my points from the past few days, or telling you what you already know about the relief effort getting better, I direct you instead to mr Holywriter and mr Pierce who use words as weapons in the quest for a lil justice and common sense. Both of whom, for those taking notes, do not consider themselves progressives or leftists… actually I think they’re both admirable ciritcal thinkers.

But before I leave you tonight, I’d like to send a warm good riddance to old useless rubbish… goodbye chief justice ren. How dare I cheer for the death of a public servant, you ask? Because he was a greedy old man who hurt his country by not being honest with himself and retiring years ago. If I sit here and start to think about all the work that did not get done because the chief justice denial just HAD to keep his post. My only wish for him was that he would have retired long ago, let someone qualified take his place, and he could live out his days sitting comfortably in his enormous mansion. Not so such luck. Seems that this generation of leaders do not believe in letting go of power; even when they make mistakes that cost lives or when a nagging thing like DEATH lingers.

Responsibility

Soon the comments on this blog will require peacekeepers or national guard troops to keep things from getting out of hand. Obviously I sparked some emotion yesterday, and all I can say is — if you’re not angry.. then you’re not paying attention.

If there’s one person I look to for alot of information and understanding of what’s going on in New Orleans, it’s the mayor. Prior to this tragedy, I knew nothing about him. I still don’t know what his politics are.. .and honestly.. I don’t care. His behavior has gained my respect and attention. I just saw him on the BBC literally calling the response from the federal government Bullshit! He also comdemed all the media and politicians (read-theprez) flying over head and snapping photos instead of actually getting to work and assisting in the relief effort.

Speaking of the Beeb…. I’m a trained media critic, and I must say – I never expected – the coverage of the BBC has been excellent. What makes it excellent? They’re asking REAL QUESTIONS. Instead of just regurgitating white house press releases or the usual media mantra of infotainment, Ive heard several BBC reporters ask US officials the following great question:

Is this a case of the United States having been so obsessed with fighting terrorism that they neglected to address the basic needs of the country?

— ding ding ding—- EXCELLENT QUESTION.

And besides that the BBC has been openly critical of the bad preperation and known problems with Lousiana’s coastal infrastructure. And for that, I highly recommend you use them as a source for information instead of the pathetic CNN and whatever else shows you pretty graphics and exciting music.

Oh and one final point. There is something very wierd about watching a president who spends billions upon billions on invading a country, ask people to send cash donations. I’m not saying its bad to donate, I’m saying I get a wierd feeling in my stomach when I watch him do it.