Category Archives: Religion

Death By Acts Of Nature

I confess to feelings of relief on learning that a tornado ripped through the state of Oklahoma and killed either 94 or 54 or 24. The figure continues to change as new reports  come in from areas that were devasted. We know that an elementary school was wiped out as was a hospital.The two mile wide tornado tore apart the city of Moore, Oklahoma. My relief was that deaths in America or in the Middle East or in Africa were not the result of human action-just dear old nature showing her angry face to the world. For once, we can cease blaming this or that group of humans and fix anger at Mother Nature who apparently is upset about something.

I suspect that in the history of our human race it is rare to identify a time period in which one war or another was not raging. How about a truce among we humans that transfers all killing over to Mother Nature?

Oh, report in from Washington D.C. The Republican party wants an investigation in order to discover why President Obama did not protect the people of Oklahoma from natural terrorists. And, he never used the word-TERRORISM!!

Nude In Tunisia

Tunisia was a colony of France for over a hundred years which meant that thousands of young Tunisians spent part of their  lives either visiting France or attending school. It is not surprising  that modern Tunisia contains a solid core of conservative Muslims along with a more secular minority which seeks a modern democracy that enshrines the idea of free speech and free  dress. A Tunisian feminist, Amina Tyler, has shocked the entire nation by sneaking into Tunisia’s holiest city and then attempting to shed her clothes in protest against the growing power of Islamists who want women back in the veil. Ms. Tyler is a member of the Ukranian feminist group, FEMEN, whose main tactic is baring breasts and going nude in order to show the world they mean business.

Ms.Tyler once in Kairouan, took off the veil, displayed her jeans and showed her blond hair. The Interior Department might charge her with “provocative acts” that are against the  morals and traditions of Tunisian society. Of course, when Salafis attack liquor stores or beat up people who do not dress the right way, they are simply carrying out Tunisian morals.

The Arab Spring began in Tunisia. It is time for Tunisia to adhere to its original ideas of creating a free society.

Future For Youth?

Four years ago in most European nations young people were hopeful that with further education there would be ample opportunities to secure a good job.Today, the unemployment rate in Spain or Greece is over 50% for young people with scant prospect of changes during the coming decade of their life. Stylia Kampani, now works as an unpaid intern for an important Athens newspaper. What happens after the end of her internship is unknown. “None of my friends believes that we have a futureor will live a normal life. That wasn’t quite the case four years ago.” She is now part of a lost generation which is doomed to low wages, uncertan job security and loss of control over individual lives. European nations have not learned the lesson of America’s Depression when the federal government created jobs for youth like the CCC. It funded the theater, opera, symphony orchestras and provided many job opportunities in society.

Germany recruits some  skilled workers from Greece or Spain. In the UK anger is directed at immigrants because the government has done nothing to offer youth a chance for the future. Oh, it has tripled the cost of college. Youth needs to go beyond protest and organize political parties which pledge to create jobs, and, in so doing create hope. If governments refuse to act to create jobs, the end result will be emergence of neo-fascist political parties based on hate an violence.

HEADLINES FROM WORLD PRESS

We offer samples of headlines that appeared in the world press along with our comments.

UK, Guardian:  ”Toilet Paper Shortage”

This is one shitty story.

USA, Daily News:  ”No Charges Against Officer Who Killed Teen”

Why charge him,  he met the daily quota?

USA,  aol:  ”White House Releases Benghazi Notes”

Did the White House clear it with Fox News?

France, Connexion:  ”Good Girl Gone Bad”

I think it is more interesting news if about a bad girl gone good.

China, China Daily:  ”Who Stole The Show”

As far as John Boehner is concerned, the answer is-Barack Obama.

Germany, Der Spiegel:  ”Pet Monkey Remains In Germany”

I assume he is making a monkey of himself.

Russia, Moscow Times:  ”Work Longer, Live Longer”

But, in what physical shape?

Freedom Of The Press??

Each day it becomes clear that Barack Obama has never grasped what Americans wanted in a new president in 2008. Many were disgusted by the growing abuse of rights in this nation, many were tired of a government that eroded human rights and operated in secrecy using the ongoing excuse of-national security. During the past five years it is difficult to believe that George Bush and the dynamic duo of Rumsfeld and Cheney are gone from government. The Justice Department seizure of Associated Press phone records is inexcusable and the tired refrain of –national security- just does not work.

Gary Pruitt, head of AP made clear the issues at stake. “We don’t question their right to conduct these sort of investigations. We just think they went out of their way. So sweeping, so secretly, so abusively and harassingly and over-handed that it constitutes, that it is, an unconstitutional act.” Sources are now reluctant to speak with AP reporters because they fear being monitored by the government.

Sorry,Mr. President, the Justice Department is under your control. If they commmitted unconstitutional acts, fire the head of the Justice Department!

Iraq,Iraq, Iraq Violence

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago at the beginning of the twenty first century there lived a great ruler named George Bush who  had two trusted assistants named Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld. These were wise  men who knew all about that far off land called, Iraq. It was ruled by an evil man named, Saddam Hussein. George and Dick and Don decided to bring peace, prosperity and hope to the people living in this terrible place, and in the process, they would destroy Weapons of Mass Destruction. And, so the bad man was killed and Americans took over the land of Iraq. And, peace and prosperity were now part of the lives of those living in Iraq??

Instead of working to create a coalition government that included both Sunnis(minority) and Shiites the US  allowed a sectarian, angry Shiite government to assume power. Thus, a new civil war arose between Sunnis who felt oppressed and Shiites who now controlled the government after decades under  rule of Sunnis. In one week over 13o people died in violence that wracked Iraq. The country is being torn to pieces because Prime Minister Maliki is  out for vengeance rather than being out for peace and reconciliation.

We recommend that Maliki ask assistance from South African leaders who avoided such chaos by reaching out to whites  rather than seeking revenge for  years of oppression.

The Bachman Affair

There is abundant evidence that the Obama administration has made America’s number one intellectual leader of the Republican party a target for destruction. Congresswoman Bachmann is undoubedly the leader of conservatives in America and her insightful comments during the past campaign simply made clear that had she been selected as the Republican candidate to oppose the black man from Kenya, this nation would enjoy booming times. Just think, babies being born, new jobs, new homes, a woman with encyclopedic knowledge of foreign affairs as our leader, wow-what a difference from who now sits in the Oval office.

OK, so she is under investigation by the Federal Election Committee, the Office of Congressional Ethics, the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee and now the FBI. Has anyone noted that Muslim terrorists are key figures in these groups? Just remember, extremism in the cause of saving America allows cutting a few corners.

As I recall, Ms. Bachmann was considering citizenship from Switzerland. Hmm.

American Ami–Go Home!!

A Republican party era that dawned with the coming to power of Ronald Reagan left in its wake attitudes that business leaders knew what was best for their employees as they did for American society. They refuse to respect rights of workers to organize for better wages and working conditions. Unfortunately for US business organizations, that attitude is not shared in Germany whose constitution respects the rights of workers to have input into wages and working conditions. Workers at the two largest distribution centers for Amazon in Germany went on strike when company officials refused to engage in negotiations with them. Amazon wages in Germany are most probably better than what is paid to their American employees. But, management can cut wages whenever it desires.

American business leaders in Europe do not grasp the absence of medieval minded Republicans having power in Europe. Walmart had limited success in Germany  because it did not understand German attitudes toward worker rights. Few American companies in Germany even have a personnel department because they do not believe workers have any rights-other than accepting low pay and being treated like those without the right to a decent  economic life.

German business is built on long term thinking, not this year’s bottom line. It respects the rights of workers just as it respects the rights of share holders.

Hungary Not Hungry For Democracy

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has done his best to remove those who oppose his regime from any source of power. He has welcomed those with Nazi ideas into his company and urged that Romas be sent to other areas of Europe rather than remain in his racially pure Hungary. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made him angry because of her opposition to removal of democratic procedures in Hungary. A German politician, Social Democrat Peer Steinbruck, raised the issue of asking Hungary to leave the European Union only to infuriate Orban.

Orban compared Nazi occupation of Hungary to current complaints about his dictatorial regime. “The Germans have already sent cavalry to Hungary-they came in the form of tanks.” I hate to teach the Hungarian some Hungarian history.  Hungary was an ALLY of Nazi Germany. Thousands of Hungarians took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union and thousands died there.

Oh, Mr. Ovban, over 500,000 Hungarian Jews were rounded up with the assistance of Hungarian police and sent to their deaths. The people who killd them would agree with his views on democracy-or, should we say, the absence of democracy!

Benghazi Again

Benghazi for people of my age–82– was a key city during the war  between British and German troops as to who would control that area of the world. Today, it is the site of a Republican campaign to capture control of the White House. For months they have bombarded the enemy with shells of accusations as to why the Embassy lacked adqequate security. New information reveal that Ambassador Chris Stevens REJECTED MILITARY SECURITY!! He was offered additional security by General Carter Ham, who headed the Africa Command, but turned down the offer.

I am certain Republicans will claim that Stevens actually demanded further security but was turned down by General Ham. This ridiculous story goes on and on and leads nowhere.