http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/world/asia/08pstan.html?th&emc=th
How unfortunate that this has happened especially in the time of the Georgia conflict. I wonder if Musharraf's military will be backing him or the government up. I'm not sure how it's going to go down, but probably not good on Musharraf's part especially after his declaration of emergency. It's a fragile time for this especially with an unstable government already at hand. I, like my family, would not mind seeing Musharraf off his power struggle. If Musharraf is impeached think how embarrassing it would be for the Bush administration. Is it just me or have most of Bush's friends been taken out of office or driven out because of political reasons. What a trend.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Olympic Cleaning
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/sports/olympics/08beijing.html?th&emc=th
Seems like just another way to clean the house before the guests arrive. This time, it's kind of like kicking out the roommate for the night. The article states, "...An unwritten government policy encouraging migrant workers to clear out until the dignitaries and journalists have gone home."
Now it's a tricky situation, a frequent phrase I use in most of my posts, because residents who work to make a living are being kicked out. However it is for the purpose to stop construction and help make a sustainable environment for the Olympics. But what is even worse, people are being "waved away" by hospitals for the same reason! Ms. Ma stated in the article “The whole country is very distracted by the Olympics.” She smiled as if to say she understood." I found this actually quite sad. I would even say immature! Bringing back to school days where the best friend neglects the other when a guy is around. When he leaves, things will be back to normal, but not dependable. China isn't being dependable.
Seems like just another way to clean the house before the guests arrive. This time, it's kind of like kicking out the roommate for the night. The article states, "...An unwritten government policy encouraging migrant workers to clear out until the dignitaries and journalists have gone home."
Now it's a tricky situation, a frequent phrase I use in most of my posts, because residents who work to make a living are being kicked out. However it is for the purpose to stop construction and help make a sustainable environment for the Olympics. But what is even worse, people are being "waved away" by hospitals for the same reason! Ms. Ma stated in the article “The whole country is very distracted by the Olympics.” She smiled as if to say she understood." I found this actually quite sad. I would even say immature! Bringing back to school days where the best friend neglects the other when a guy is around. When he leaves, things will be back to normal, but not dependable. China isn't being dependable.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Buck Up IOC!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/sports/olympics/31china.html?th&emc=th
I know that this probably rattled up a lot of people. I can see the human rights association pointing their fingers in China's face and yelling "Liars!" Limiting freedom of speech, whoo! What a bold thing to do. I'm sure the fact that the IOC didn't do much about it is upsetting. Even worse, OKed it. Censorship in the Olympics? China's going to get a mouthful for claiming this being a non-political event and then take away the internet. I wonder what the athletes have to say about that, but I'm sure we won't find out because it would be censored. It gets better. Hotels have been installing monitoring equipment to track down Internet activity. China wins for now, but I'm suspecting a little challenge opportunity from the media.
I know that this probably rattled up a lot of people. I can see the human rights association pointing their fingers in China's face and yelling "Liars!" Limiting freedom of speech, whoo! What a bold thing to do. I'm sure the fact that the IOC didn't do much about it is upsetting. Even worse, OKed it. Censorship in the Olympics? China's going to get a mouthful for claiming this being a non-political event and then take away the internet. I wonder what the athletes have to say about that, but I'm sure we won't find out because it would be censored. It gets better. Hotels have been installing monitoring equipment to track down Internet activity. China wins for now, but I'm suspecting a little challenge opportunity from the media.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Beijing Hide and Seek
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/sports/olympics/29beijing.html?th&emc=th
When I read the title of the article, the first thing I thought was, "You can run, but you can't hide." Trying to hide something will do the opposite. It'll become more of an attraction than anything. Maybe it's a psychological thing; make them think otherwise. Sneaky. I digress. I almost find it quite ridiculous to cover something that is known to the rest of the world. But I won't push the matter because it's obviously a different perspective in the resident's eyes. Indeed it'll bring good media to Beijing but in a way it's sort of like pushing the dust under the rug. Though Westerners probably have a different conception of what 'clean' actually means. Places should be based how 'clean' it is internally just as well externally. The news does have it's way to always distort a specific image about things. It's understandable that China would want to protect their home from bullies.
Culture between the two needs to come to an understanding.
When I read the title of the article, the first thing I thought was, "You can run, but you can't hide." Trying to hide something will do the opposite. It'll become more of an attraction than anything. Maybe it's a psychological thing; make them think otherwise. Sneaky. I digress. I almost find it quite ridiculous to cover something that is known to the rest of the world. But I won't push the matter because it's obviously a different perspective in the resident's eyes. Indeed it'll bring good media to Beijing but in a way it's sort of like pushing the dust under the rug. Though Westerners probably have a different conception of what 'clean' actually means. Places should be based how 'clean' it is internally just as well externally. The news does have it's way to always distort a specific image about things. It's understandable that China would want to protect their home from bullies.
Culture between the two needs to come to an understanding.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Israel Moves In
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/world/middleeast/25mideast.html?th&emc=th
Hmm...interesting move Israel have made. I'm not sure if I support the whole illegal build-on-someone-else's-land deal, but then there's that issue that it IS their land. Settlement expansion is the main issue here obviously. Israel wants to build, build, build. Palestine needs a home to call their own. I surely will NOT put my opinion out because I could well be buried under a rock. Religion is touchy especially when 'The Jews were promised land by God' and the accusations that Palestinians are interested in 'peace'. Basically the whole history goes waaaaaay back and to take a side would require very in depth knowledge. I can't say I acquire that, but I can say that this will not end anytime soon.
Religion + Politics = Vicious circle.
Somebody probably got incredibly offended by what I've said.
Hmm...interesting move Israel have made. I'm not sure if I support the whole illegal build-on-someone-else's-land deal, but then there's that issue that it IS their land. Settlement expansion is the main issue here obviously. Israel wants to build, build, build. Palestine needs a home to call their own. I surely will NOT put my opinion out because I could well be buried under a rock. Religion is touchy especially when 'The Jews were promised land by God' and the accusations that Palestinians are interested in 'peace'. Basically the whole history goes waaaaaay back and to take a side would require very in depth knowledge. I can't say I acquire that, but I can say that this will not end anytime soon.
Religion + Politics = Vicious circle.
Somebody probably got incredibly offended by what I've said.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Soundless Suicide
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/world/americas/21tijuana.html?th&emc=th
I'm on the borderline with this. The elderly want to end their lives peacefully but the public think otherwise.
The article says, "It’s awful to me,” Mr. Velazquez, the Tijuana veterinarian and pharmacy owner, said of euthanasia. “I think people should live as long as God decides.”
I agree because of my religious views but then there are people who are in jail for assisted manslaughter and are also in pain, just trying to help a friend out.
I visited the website Exit International to see their reasoning. Their slogan being, "Peaceful Death is Everybody's Right." That had me thinking about those who really need it and those who are depressed. I thought what if a person, who wanted to purchase pentobarbital had a specific amount of people sign a release to purchase it. Then the elder people who need it can leave peacefully at a right. But those who are young and depressed will have a fighting chance.
I'm a bit sad now.
I'm on the borderline with this. The elderly want to end their lives peacefully but the public think otherwise.
The article says, "It’s awful to me,” Mr. Velazquez, the Tijuana veterinarian and pharmacy owner, said of euthanasia. “I think people should live as long as God decides.”
I agree because of my religious views but then there are people who are in jail for assisted manslaughter and are also in pain, just trying to help a friend out.
I visited the website Exit International to see their reasoning. Their slogan being, "Peaceful Death is Everybody's Right." That had me thinking about those who really need it and those who are depressed. I thought what if a person, who wanted to purchase pentobarbital had a specific amount of people sign a release to purchase it. Then the elder people who need it can leave peacefully at a right. But those who are young and depressed will have a fighting chance.
I'm a bit sad now.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Buddhism Struggle
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/world/asia/14japan.html?pagewanted=2&th&emc=th
I think if I weren't Muslim, I would be Buddhist. It just seems like a peaceful religion. So sad that it is declining. One always feels obliged to help, but when it involves religion, all we can do is be helpless. It isn't poverty where you can donate or an epidemic which you can cure. It's a declining religion. What can we do? Forget our own? Then there's that guilt when belonging to a different religion.
"Oh I would help if I could."
Is that blasphemy? Are we straying from our beliefs to want to wish other religions better?
I'm at such a loss at this one. Buddhism has been around Japan for a very long time and I'm very sorry and regretful I can't side on the topic.
I think if I weren't Muslim, I would be Buddhist. It just seems like a peaceful religion. So sad that it is declining. One always feels obliged to help, but when it involves religion, all we can do is be helpless. It isn't poverty where you can donate or an epidemic which you can cure. It's a declining religion. What can we do? Forget our own? Then there's that guilt when belonging to a different religion.
"Oh I would help if I could."
Is that blasphemy? Are we straying from our beliefs to want to wish other religions better?
I'm at such a loss at this one. Buddhism has been around Japan for a very long time and I'm very sorry and regretful I can't side on the topic.
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