I know I've been neglecting this blog.
Check out my twitter account
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Darfur soldiers
It's things like this that make me cry out of sheer horror. We often think about the victims of such crimes, as we rightly should. Hearing someone who has been forced to become a rapist and a murderer out of self-preservation is horrifying. It's easy to sit and say self-righteously that you would rather die than do something like that and faced with the choice you would choose death before abusing any of the two of the most important human rights. Would you really?
When you've got the world at your feet, or at least the opportunities you would if you have access to read this blog, it is easy to be self-righteous because the hardships we encounter in the developed world seldom come close to what this "Adam" has had to endure. It's his life or harming people, and how do you choose? I think the primal instinct is to choose your life. Humans have a built-in instinct of self-preservation. Can you blame it?
Certainly the victims of these actions are horribly wronged and deserve to be spared a thought for, but it is interesting to read the other side of the story. It shows that the whole situation is so totally messed up. It makes me sad.
When you've got the world at your feet, or at least the opportunities you would if you have access to read this blog, it is easy to be self-righteous because the hardships we encounter in the developed world seldom come close to what this "Adam" has had to endure. It's his life or harming people, and how do you choose? I think the primal instinct is to choose your life. Humans have a built-in instinct of self-preservation. Can you blame it?
Certainly the victims of these actions are horribly wronged and deserve to be spared a thought for, but it is interesting to read the other side of the story. It shows that the whole situation is so totally messed up. It makes me sad.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Yes, I have given in, or rather been coerced to get myself a Twitter. I suppose it's for the better as I'm not very good at updating my blog, so shorter updates, but more often, is probably the way to go. I will, however, still update my blog as often as I feel I have something to write/rant about. And I promise I will to my best to try to do it more often.
I need to water my bamboo now, but check out my Twitter.
I need to water my bamboo now, but check out my Twitter.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
It Takes Two To Tango
First of all, I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not taking sides in this conflict whatsoever. I don't know enough about it to take sides or justify either side's actions.
Having said that, I still think that this article from CNN about Hilary Clinton's demands to the Palestinians is ridiculous. Or the article in itself is not as ridiculous as the conditions of her demands of Hamas.
Seriously, it takes two to tango. This conflict has been going on long enough for both sides to get their hands dirty, which they both have just in this recent conflict. However, Clinton is putting her demands on Hamas. I know the US supports Israel, but honestly, can that not be part of the problem? If the world's most powerful country wasn't so biased, would it not be easier for us to find a solution to this utterly inhumane war that has destroyed thousands of lives?
Palestine has curfews. It is under military rule. The citizens are only allowed to go out when the Israeli allows them to. Sometimes they have to stay inside for days on end.
The Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, visited Gaza today to assess the situation. Svenska Dagbladet (article in Swedish) reports that based on what he saw there in Gaza, the Israeli military force has consciously and unnecessarily destroyed businesses, something that will have consequences on the financial climate for the Palestines, if they ever will be able to function as its own nation. Business which were never involved in the conflict and businesses which promoted peace and stability for the trade between the two regions. Factories were obliterated by Israeli military forces, leaving these people with nothing.
BBC just recently refused to show an advertisement for humanitarian aid to Gaza because they said they did not want to be perceived as biased. Allegedly, it was out of the same reason they did not want to show footage of a five month old baby that had been run over by Israeli military tanks and left to die on the road. The baby was found five days later, partly eaten by scavengers, several limbs torn off the body. You can find the video on YouTube easily enough if you want to see it.
I am not trying to say here that Hamas has not contributed to the conflict, or even that they are a minor part of this conflict. I am simply asking how this inhumane behaviour can continue?
Palestine is invaded, it has always had the Israeli military inside Palestine or at least close by. The conflict was never fair. This does not justify Hamas shooting rockets into Israel, not under any circumstances. But neither do these rockets justify Israel destroying businesses, factories or running over babies in the street.
And for Clinton to totally ignore this is unforgivable. I never liked that woman, and I like her even less now. I hope Obama does something about this. I hope that the world would stop taking sides and just focus on ending the war and the disaster that has been going on for far too long. The whole business is appalling and saddening, please stop.
Having said that, I still think that this article from CNN about Hilary Clinton's demands to the Palestinians is ridiculous. Or the article in itself is not as ridiculous as the conditions of her demands of Hamas.
Seriously, it takes two to tango. This conflict has been going on long enough for both sides to get their hands dirty, which they both have just in this recent conflict. However, Clinton is putting her demands on Hamas. I know the US supports Israel, but honestly, can that not be part of the problem? If the world's most powerful country wasn't so biased, would it not be easier for us to find a solution to this utterly inhumane war that has destroyed thousands of lives?
Palestine has curfews. It is under military rule. The citizens are only allowed to go out when the Israeli allows them to. Sometimes they have to stay inside for days on end.
The Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, visited Gaza today to assess the situation. Svenska Dagbladet (article in Swedish) reports that based on what he saw there in Gaza, the Israeli military force has consciously and unnecessarily destroyed businesses, something that will have consequences on the financial climate for the Palestines, if they ever will be able to function as its own nation. Business which were never involved in the conflict and businesses which promoted peace and stability for the trade between the two regions. Factories were obliterated by Israeli military forces, leaving these people with nothing.
BBC just recently refused to show an advertisement for humanitarian aid to Gaza because they said they did not want to be perceived as biased. Allegedly, it was out of the same reason they did not want to show footage of a five month old baby that had been run over by Israeli military tanks and left to die on the road. The baby was found five days later, partly eaten by scavengers, several limbs torn off the body. You can find the video on YouTube easily enough if you want to see it.
I am not trying to say here that Hamas has not contributed to the conflict, or even that they are a minor part of this conflict. I am simply asking how this inhumane behaviour can continue?
Palestine is invaded, it has always had the Israeli military inside Palestine or at least close by. The conflict was never fair. This does not justify Hamas shooting rockets into Israel, not under any circumstances. But neither do these rockets justify Israel destroying businesses, factories or running over babies in the street.
And for Clinton to totally ignore this is unforgivable. I never liked that woman, and I like her even less now. I hope Obama does something about this. I hope that the world would stop taking sides and just focus on ending the war and the disaster that has been going on for far too long. The whole business is appalling and saddening, please stop.
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