The present strife between Lebanon and Israel might turn out into a full-blown war in the Middle East if world leaders think the way George Bush does.

While the United Nations is carefully handling the conflict situation in a more diplomatic way by not antagonizing the parties involved, President George Bush was caught on open microphone during a leaders’ lunch at the Group of Eight industrial countries gathering in Russia, telling British Prime Minister Tony Blair that the key to defusing the Middle East crisis was for “Hezbollah to stop doing this shit”. He added,“What they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit, and it’s over.” Bush was on camera but apparently unaware that his words were being captured by a microphone. It was unclear who’s the ‘they’ he was mentioning about.

That’s “Cowboy” diplomacy at its finest. You can now imagine how the present White House leadership discuss about foreign diplomacy and global conflicts with George W. Bush at the helm. Yippee-ki-yay, m…fkrs!

Read about the Bush boo-boo here

World View

My take on the issue about the Filipino boy in Canada punished by his school’s director and berated for eating like a pig by using spoon and fork, is that it is a case of racial discrimination. Plain and simple. I don’t see any justifiable reason about the director’s action and reprehensible comments. I find it even stupid to use the adage “when in Rome do what the Romans do” to justify the wrongdoing and cover up the racial slur over the issue. Pigs don’t eat with spoon and fork. By using Pig to describe people who doesn’t eat the continental way smacks of racism in its most despicable form. Although I believe that not all Canadians are racists. Canada is known to be a country far more tolerant to immigrants than the US, but ironically Quebec is known to be a place where Racism is socially acceptable and where everybody assumes you’re an asshole.

A lot has already been said about the issue. I would like to share my thoughts against racism through this song by one of my favorite folk music group, the trio of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers, otherwise known as PPM. I thought all along that PPM has already faded into history. I never heard of them for a long time. But thanks to the internet and of course the You Tube, I found out that they are still singing their songs and even making new ones like this song entitled All Mixed Up which they made in 1990’s. Watching this video transported me back to the past when I used to jam with my old buddies singing PPM songs. Though they obviously looked like Lolos and Lola already but their music hasn’t changed a bit, their songs remain upbeat, cheerful and very meaningful.

So to all of you Racists out there better sing along and learn.

Life's Soundtrack, World View

The recent New York Times Editorial reads:

Filipinos thought they had put an end to electoral chicanery and governmental intimidation when they overthrew the Marcos dictatorship two decades ago. Unfortunately, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has completely lost touch with the ideals that inspired that 1986 “people power” movement.

Yes Virginia, it’s the New York Times. And yes, Sec. Gonzales couldn’t cite them for inciting to sedition…harharhar…

If anything, this editorial clearly states the fact that the US or some of its influential institutions are not happy the way GMA is running the show for Uncle Sam. Although the editorial says that “Mrs. Arroyo is no Ferdinand Marcos”, but it adds, “at least not yet”. Its succeeding statement however, shows that GMA has a strong tendency of becoming one.

Not only that, the editorial also called the attention of Dubya to warn GMA that she is undermining a hard-won democracy thus making Philippines a country far more vulnerable to terrorist pressures. When the US uses the keyword “terrorism” in the context of the Philippines, for them it also means the communist insurgency.

This NY Times editorial is not only a slight dissing, it is a serious warning for GMA. Everyone knows that Philippine politics is very much tied to US interests. Somehow, the US acting very much like a Pinoy’s Big Brother, decides on who’s in or out. Marcos received Uncle Sam’s eviction notice after he became the number one recruiter for the NPA. This time, Uncle Sam has an inkling to believe that GMA is just doing the same. Although the NY Times editorial comes only as the sharpest criticism against GMA but it is not the first time that the US expressed its doubts and criticism on GMA. Preceding this editorial was the statement released by the US giving GMA a polite caution when she delared PP 1017.

Now if other US institutions will follow suit soon, then its a sure signal for GMA to start packing up.The skies are now getting cloudy for GMA and Company.

Philippines for Dummies, World View

In an unprecedented turn of events, Hamas, acronym of Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (in Arabic literally translated as “Islamic Resistance Movement” and Arabic for ‘zeal’) won a landslide victory in the recently concluded Palestinian Legislative Council elections. Hamas won 42,9 % of the vote, which gave them a parliamentary majority with 76 of the 132 seats. The result came as a shock to the world. A party that has been branded by the US, the European Union and certainly Israel as a terrorist organization has translated its widespread popularity among Palestinians into a dramatic win in the Parliamentary elections.

Their rise to power through a democratic electoral exercise is unexpected and has set the rest of the world in a dilema. Hamas’ electoral victory is a most unwelcome development and has brought discomfort and apprehensions to Israel and its allies particularly the United States. As expected US and Israel had immediately expressed their consternation over the election result and has threatened not to relate with the new ruling party. The US even threatened to withdraw its Aid and assistance from Palestine.

In the eyes of much of the world, Hamas is a terrorist organization as it is held responsible to devastating suicide bombing attacks on Israel.

But The movement’s success at the polls does not mean that more than half the Palestinians necessarily approve of suicide bombings against civilians - but they do not seem to have done Hamas any harm.

That is not perhaps surprising, given that more than three Palestinians have died - many of them civilians too - for every one Israeli, and life in general for the Palestinians is probably now as grim as it has ever been.

Hamas had doubled its volume of support because 10 years under the ruling Fatah organization gave most people nothing except corruption, cronyism and gangsterism. That is why it comes as no surprise that even some Fatah card-carrying members voted for Hamas.

Israel had also indirectly contributed to Hamas’ popularity growth. Israel’s attempts to stifle Hamas by decapitating its leadership have been in vain. It had just reinforced the cult of “martyrdom” and “sacrifice” that is part of the movement’s appeal to the embattled Palestinians.

Hamas is particularly popular among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, though it also has a following in the West Bank, and, to a lesser extent, in other Middle Eastern countries and throughout the Palestinian diaspora. The movement’s popularity stems from its provision of welfare and social services to the Palestinian poor, comprising over 80% of its budget (such as its involvement in building schools and hospitals), and for its efficiency and perceived lack of corruption.

As the saying goes “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”. The Palestinians have chosen Hamas and therefore the democratic choice has to be accepted. If anything, the US should be the first to uphold it. After all, the US proudly proclaims that it invaded Iraq for the “noble mission of spreading democracy in the Greater Middle East”.

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News Source: BBC

World View

57 years ago today the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was signed as a covenant among nations to uphold, promote and protect human rights. The UDHR became the main international instrumentality where nations are measured in their standing towards human rights. The world commemorates the signing of the UDHR by observing the 10th day of December as the International Human rights Day.

Today, on Human Rights Day, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Let us re-echo the 30 articles of the UDHR.

Let us strive to advocate, promote and protect Human Rights.

As the late Sen. Jose “Pepe” Diokno said:

“Human Rights are more than legal concepts. They are the essence of man/woman. Deny them their rights and you deny them their humanity”.

“There is no cause greater than the cause of human rights.”

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Poster taken from Project 1210

World View