Unmasking propaganda

It's not even April Fools Day, and many Americans are losing their minds over being humane towards refugees. Fear not hard-liners, much of the Islamic world embraces your conservative doctrine, whether it be: advocating capital punishment, meddling with woman's personal choices, mixing religion into politics, and opposition to evolution, minority rights and universal healthcare. 'There is always a silver lining', and in this case, those you hate most could be an asset in upholding your views. As for the empathetic out there, I urge you to accept all comers. Not all of us are fortunate to have been born in a liberal society, we must learn to accept those still struggling with modernity, and help them enter a new era. 

The bottom line is: Native Americans are the only ones who have true claims to the American continent, the rest are invaders from far and wide. Australia knows this only too well, the Aboriginal population can be traced back 40,000 years, yet those shouting the loudest about 'bashing' immigrants are foreigners themselves - confusing, isn't it? As Australians of Anglo-Saxon heritage are aware, many of their ancestors can be traced to British convicts. Which brings me to an interesting tidbit: former Australian Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) is a descendant of a criminal. His fifth great-grandmother was pardoned from a death sentence, and instead transported to Australia (in 1789) to serve out a prison sentence. Next time your blood boils over fellow humans from Earth wanting a better life, remind yourself about the 'White' Christian criminals of 200 years ago. Also, do not forget the modern-day success stories, like Afghani-Canadian Maryam Monsef. Fled with her family to Canada in 1996 (via Pakistan, Iran and Jordan), recently elected to Federal Parliament, and promoted as Canada's Minister of Democratic Institutions (all at the ripe old age of 30).

Even if you choose to ignore the compassionate argument, you still realize that there is an abundance of deceit. Time to put the same amount of energy into resettling refugees as we do backroom deals with Godfather of radical Islam (refer to my previous post from November 15: 'World is a vampire'). Alternatively, we can pressure the Godfather to take in more refugees, however that would mean getting them cranky. We would not want that, after all, Francois Hollande was all smiles in Riyadh on May 4, 2015 (with a certain tyrannical king). It appears many in Western democracies love their anti refugee slogans, but fall deftly silent in denouncing the root cause of this crisis. As defined by the diplomacy dictionary: pamper your enemies enough, so they create homicidal maniacs.

PS. In not-so breaking news: for the best part of 30 years, the U.S. has maintained top spot in arms exports to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia being the main beneficiary). In 2014 the U.S. sent a total of $8.4 Billion their way, next up are: UK ($1.9 B), Russia ($1.5 B), France ($1.3 B), and Germany ($1 B). I guess the subhuman zealotry of Wahhabism, has friends in all the right places... 

The world is a vampire

When the Madrid train bombing took place (product of al-Qaeda) in 2004, social media was in its infancy. Alas, we didn't have to put with the same amount of sensationalist news coverage of carnage as we do today. Now in Paris' aftermath, we have social media leading the way in cheapening tragedy. Instead of getting caught up in the hoopla, that is the business of death reporting, we should balance things out by mentioning that religion (other than Islam) is used everyday to perpetrate atrocities everyday, refer to extremism in: Congo (Christian), India (Hindu), Myanmar (Buddhist), Palestine (Jewish)...

Seeing as the world is preoccupied with one form of extremism, let us address why this is so? The answer is quit simple, place your attention on the G-20 summit taking place in Antalya, Turkey this weekend. Warning: the following information will be offensive to those with a conscience. A leader of a certain oil rich country (with fingerprints all-over al-Qaeda and ISIS) ordered the following for their visit for the aforementioned meeting: 546 room reservation at the exclusive Mardan Palace Hotel (between 800 and 15,000 euros per night), red carpets laid down all over the hotel as a mark of respect and 400 luxury cars. To top it off, before the leader arrived in Turkey, personal belongings were transferred to the hotel in 16 trucks. A total of 65 armored Mercedes cars were also brought to the city for the leader and his guards. I know you are itching to find out, it so happens to be, drum roll...King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

The world can take a collective deep breath and gently breathe out. The representative of the Kingdom that has connections to the carnage that we so love to watch on our screens, is having his picture taken with 19 of the world's other economic powers. I guess they will all collectively pressure the King, into marshalling his terror contacts to calm down. On second thoughts, they will most probably turn into water and kiss his hands, cause they repeatedly fall into the trap of selling the Saudi's weapons of mass destruction. You see, the Saudis have a knack of winning friends over, with what I like to call: 'terror-extravagance'.

Next time you get outraged over blood-letting in the name of religion, just remember that evil has accomplices far and wide, some even are countries that espouse the great French ideals of: Liberté, égalité, fraternité.

Home truths (with a dose of humor) about being armed

Congratulations Dallas, you have finally entered the prestigious list of cities advocating for more gun rights. I know folks in Houston are yawning, they have allowed guns in public places for a lot longer, whether this has anything to do with the fact that they are the most obese city in the U.S. is another thing - I digress...

Dallas' Arboretum and Botanical Garden has been pressured to take down its 'no guns' signs. You would think there was a mass of folk clamoring for this, however only one 'gun nut' cried wolf, and now kiddies will have to deal with guns hovering around them while they learn about nature - brings a tear to one's eyes. This is part of an ongoing debate in the city about where guns are allowed. According to state law, if a venue can be deemed for entertainment purposes then guns have no place. What a relief to all those heading to Six Flags amusement park, you can avoid bullets while on roller coasters. The Dallas Zoo on the other hand is fighting a battle to keep guns at bay, though pressure is mounting, I guess exotic animals can get quite annoying and guns will ease the pain.

Every time someone dares to speak out, the old chestnut of the Second Amendment is rolled out. Let's just say the word 'militia' refers to modern-day police/soldiers, not to the average citizens hell-bent on shoving killing machines down our throats. I grew up in a city of 4 million (a progressive one in that, within a Social Democratic country with strict gun laws), never once did I fear for my life, downtown was a place I could enjoy at all hours. Now I find myself in a city marketed as free, but where people frown when I mention I walk everywhere or like heading to certain areas with a lower socioeconomic level (from what they're used to). Maybe this is why people voluntarily incarcerate themselves in their vehicles, why get out and mingle with folk, when you can access banks and food by drive-thru. Here I thought being armed meant a safer society.

Take a tip from Hank (my inner American is coming out): Try walking around and catching public transit once in a while, maybe even visit the so-called shady parts of town. Let's all roam free, rather than preaching freedom whilst bearing arms. 

Footnote: the U.S. has the highest homicide rate from firearms in the Western World (even higher than Third World countries, such as Pakistan).