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). 

Time to elect a President, not a bigot or backroom dealer

 Fifty-four weeks out from the Presidential vote, and the verdict for the showdown (according to betting markets) is in: Hillary Rodham Clinton versus Marco Antonio Rubio. Just what the U.S. needs - two politicians entrenched in partisan politics, who have relied on taxpayers to fund their careers and lifestyle. The only fascination I see in this contest is over the superficial - Rubio would become the first Hispanic and third youngest President, Clinton the first female and second oldest.

The other candidates in the running do not exactly instill confidence, or display the mental fortitude required to lead a Superpower. Some observations from the sideshow, that is campaigning...Ben Carson and Ted Cruz are so overly socially conservative that I am beginning to think they are courting the fanatical Muslim vote. Donald Trump on the other hand, is providing classic analysis on world affairs: building walls, throwing people out of the country. I think he has forgotten what makes the U.S. exceptional. However, I am sure Hungary would accept him as an Honorary Ambassador, just for his bigotry alone. Martin O'Malley was impressive taking on the gun lobby, but as many Americans believe guns 'cure cancer', he is polling at a 'massive' one-percent! If the country ends up electing another Bush or Clinton, it will be time to reinstate the U.S. as a Monarchy.

A President needs to have the gumption to stand up to special interest groups trying to impress their agenda/beliefs onto the populace. For too long billionaire party donors, drug/military/oil companies, media conglomerates, religious organizations, Wall St, the NRA (and so forth) have hijacked democracy - sort of like what Oligarchs are to Russia. If you sell your soul to the aforementioned groups, how can you act as a peacemaker for the world? Hard to spread democracy when it is not being practiced at home, (now I get the 'love' for medieval regimes). One google search for: 'Bush kissing Saudi' and 'Obama bows Saudi' tells you everything you need to know. 

Here is a suggestion to a would-be leader: cut the time and money wasted appeasing all those with an undemocratic agenda, instead instill compassion and basic tenants of humanity into the fabric of the nation. The Founding Fathers were all about separation of church and state, above all citizens being truly represented by elected officials, not bought and paid for by faceless lobbyists in D.C.church and state, above all citizens being truly represented by elected officials, not bought and paid for by faceless lobbyists in D.C.

Super Sunday

After the surprisingly entertaining Canadian election, which was a win for modern democracy (even if it meant electing the first tattooed leader of a G-8 country), it's time for more elections - geopolitical geeks rejoice!

Busy weekend ahead, with both Argentina (Presidential and Legislative) and Poland (Parliamentary) going to the polls on October 25. Seeing as woman in politics these days is a major talking point, it's interesting to note that the term has ended for Argentina's first female President, Cristina Kirchner (wife of the former President), and the three main political parties vying to form government in Poland are headed by woman. 

Both countries have similar populations, are predominantly catholic and are hovering between developing and first world economically. Socially they differ: Poland is more socially conservative in nature, whereas Argentina is more progressive (for those of you not aware, legalized same-sex marriage in 2010).

Poland would be considered 'Argentina 2.0'; closing the gap on Western Europe and becoming a bigger global player. Meanwhile Argentina is regressing, gone are the glory days of the 1930's when it was in the conversation of leading economies, it now finds itself lagging behind other middle-income nations. Many in Argentina blame the 'kleptomania' syndrome, where a husband and wife duo have used the country as a political football for the past 12 years. Even foreigners cringe when seeing Kirchner representing Argentina abroad. Her recent speech at the UN General Assembly was basically a conspiracy theorists fantasy.

Many issues still face Poland, it is finally coming-of-age, from simply being a place where German companies find cheap labor to a modern industrial nation. Stemming the brain drain of young Poles moving abroad (particularly the UK) is still a main concern. As history has taught us, Poland has not had the best of luck when it comes to neighboring powers. Russia is still a main cause of concern, and is often used as a tool by politicians to invoke fear into the public (as evidenced by the continued rhetoric about the plane crash that claimed the life of the former President, Lech Kaczyński). His twin brother (a former Prime Minister) is now Chairman of the party that is favored to win the election.

For two countries, world's apart on separate continents, they will head to the polls facing similar challenges - fascinating time in geopolitics...