Posts

Tsunami, Katrina, and now Earthquake in South Asia, Flooding and Landslide in GuatemalaReports about the earthquake that devastated parts of northern Pakistan mention more than 20,000 dead and countless who are homeless. Indian territories escaped major loss. The number of dead greatly exceeds Katrina's toll. In Guatemala, many victims will never be found and accounted for. There is something that jumps out of the reports and photographs---most of the victims belong to the lower end of the income scale....the "have nots".John Lancaster, The Washington Post wrote: "The damage was said to be heaviest in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, where the area's communications minister, Tariq Mohammed, told the Associated Press that "more than 30,000 people have died." That figure was considerably higher than other official estimates and could not be independently confirmed."Krissah Williams' report about Guatemala in the Post mentioned "At least 640 dead, many missing""Guatemalan officials said they would abandon communities buried by landslides and declare them mass graveyards, according to the Associated Press. Many of the missing apparently will simply be declared dead, and the ground they rest in declared hallowed."Bigots see the hand of God in natural disasters. They talked about retribution for sinful New Orleians. Now the holy rollers might see the earthquake as punishment for atrocities committed by Islamic Jihadis. Give them time, they will come up with cause for the suffering of the Guatemalans.The earth's restlessness is easier to understand. There are explanations for earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding. Nevertheless, it seems that the burden of suffering falls disproportionately on the poor. It is because of the areas where they live, the kind of housing which they can afford, and what they do for livelihood.The San Francisco Bay area, of which I am a resident, is considered high risk because of close proximity to earthquake faults. Minor temblors are common and the seismologists talk about the "big one" that is going to hit. If and when a major earthquake takes place in this area the profile of victims will be markedly different.

Personal bankruptcies rise 11% in one quarter*First there was data about the disparity between the rich and poor. The wealthy became wealthier, thank you Mr. President. The number of people at poverty level went up. One cannot blame the president for not being honest. He did say before he was elected "This is an impressive crowd. The haves and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite. I call you my base." (Al Smith Dinner, Waldorf Astoria 10/19/2000). The Census Bureau reported in August that overall there were 37 million people living in poverty, up 1.1 million people from 2003. Now we learn from Michele Singletary's column "When bankruptcy becomes personal" in The Washington Post that:"The overall quarterly increase was fueled by consumer Chapter 7 filings, which rose 17.7 percent, to 362,481 from 308,028, for the second quarter of 2004. Under Chapter 7, a person's assets are liquidated, except those exempted by law, and debts are wiped away. Such cases are usually simple. The average filer doesn't even appear before a judge."This recent surge in bankruptcy petitions is largely attributable to consumers scrambling to file before the new, tougher Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 takes effect Oct. 17."The new act was tailor made to benefit corporate America. There is no doubt that it will do so. Those facing bankruptcy can pound salt.

Ah, the hubris - Frist and DeLay are not alone*"Hubris on the Hill", Ruth Marcus' column in The Washington Post makes good reading. She wrote about the ethical problems facing Bill Frist and Tom DeLay. They invited trouble, especially DeLay whose arrogance greatly exceeded that of Dr. Frist's. They have no one to blame but themselves. There are others on both sides of the aisle in Congress who suffer from monumental egos. The White House and Cabinet offices do not lack them either. It is the nature of the beast. Politics and humility do not mix.The death toll of American soldiers nearing the 2000 mark. The hubris of a handful of people created the mess that is Iraq. They continue to offer platitudes and keep the spectre of terrorism alive to justify their miscalculation.Then there is the controversial nominee for the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Despite the brouhaha the president is confident that Harriet Miers would be confirmed. Don't see the Republicans going to the extent of voting against her. There is too much at stake. After all the president has delivered on most of the issues close to the heart of the conservatives. The president is hurting on several fronts. David Broder in The Washington Post wrote about "Bush's Fraying Presidency". If his support continues to drop then Republican members in the House and Senate will suffer from the domino effect. Last thing they want. So, they might have doubts about her fitness but they will vote to confirm Harriet Miers. I strongly suspect that Ms. Miers will follow the playbook of Justices Scalia and Thomas....the president's favorites. Comments Lily — 2005-10-09 Hi, wanted to check out your musings but have been so busy... I am not sure what to make of good ol' Harriet, but the coverage is interesting in a revealing sort of way....

Terrorists here, terrorists there, terrorists lurking everywhere*The president read a long speech on October 6th. He needs to boost the sagging polls and the speech writers went all out to assist him. The cold war was mentioned in context with Islamic terrorism. We have a new cold warrior fighting the good battle, defending us from the evil doers.In a report titled "Bush Says 10 Plots by Al Qaeda Were Foiled" The Washington Post's Peter Baker and Susan B. Glaser commented about the vagueness of the threats mentioned in the speech."Most of the plots were previously reported in some form; a few were revealed yesterday. The White House had never before placed a number or compiled a public list of the foiled attempts to follow up the Sept. 11 attacks, but it offered scant information beyond the location and general date of each reported plot -- making it difficult to assess last night how serious or advanced they were or what role the government played in preventing them.""Faulty Logic"Editorial in today's Minneapolis Star-Tribune reads in part:"Myers' view, which Bush immediately quashed, overflowed with common sense and practical wisdom. Bush's Cold War construction overflows with faulty logic; it tries to make Islamic radicalism fit a familiar -- and therefore comforting war-justifying -- mold that doesn't work.""The great error of nearly all studies of war... has been to consider war as an episode in foreign policies, when it is an act of interior politics..."---Simone Weil Comments Nick Mercer — 2005-10-09 the simone weil quote was apt. In england i and many others are rendered almost inarticulate with rage at the collective denial of the labour party and their readiness to abandon their principles for cash and comfortable positions. tony blair mincing into the arms of george bush clearly intoxicated with the prospect of some rough trade i expected. his willingness to forfeit reason and sobriety for the heady rush of vicarious power is a salutary lesson to us all, if indeed one were needed, of the instability of politicians, whatever their political hue, everywhere. We should pull out of iraq and own our folly whatever the consequences. forgive the hyperbole but i've been loathe previously to show up in the debate lest i fuelled the fire. violence, militiary action, is a betrayal of all of us (and the memories of the millions of my fellow countrymen who died while the politicians who condemned them sat on their arses in comfort and died rich and old). and this isn't hindsight - i along with millions of others, in fact everybody i know spanning the whole spectrum of opinion, unequivocally rejected the weapons of mass destruction nonsense (whatever the fuck they are) then watched in disbelief as the tragedy unfolded. No-one seemed capable of or willing to ask specific sober questions to arrest and dispel this obvious collective delusion. in a therapeutic situation the most healing contribution i can make is usually around establishing specificity - it immediately grounds the fear that fuels amnesia and panic; everybody breathes easier including the therapist as soon as the questions are asked - whatever the answers. A weapon of mass destruction is anything from a trebuchet to an atomic bomb.Without clarification its meaningless. yet this emotive and banal phrase became the foundation stone for an inverse pyramid of justification that sought to establish itself as real through self reference and emphatic repetition (and a reliance on general intellectual laziness and a 'family illness' theory of politics - that its easier to collude than to challenge). whilst accepting that there is a political motivation around oil etc in bush and blairs foreign adventures i still believe the real drive comes from both politicians readiness to default to infantile behavioural patterns however well or poorly camoulflaged by the language of jurisprudence in blairs case (and, of course, the readiness of the scoundrel 'patriots' that surround them to collude with their phantasies for self interest - like michael jackson's plastic surgeons). Enough for now, i just wanted to declare myself. I've heard it said that anyone who even hints of a desire to enter politics to 'represent' others or 'help' their fellows without being asked should be bundled into 12 step treatment without ceremony and robustly encouraged to examine their motives and their history. can't say fairer than that. keep posting musafir and thank you.

The Same Old Refrain *The speech writers gave it their best shot. No easy task but 40 minutes can cover a lot of ground. It did. There were some good one liners. But how did the speech play in Peoria? The President and his staff say that they do not pay attention to the polls. Some people believe them. The drop in support indicated by the polls, however, cannot be poo-poohed away. They know it and we know it.So they resurrected the old standbys. 9/11 and the threat of terrorism lurking around the corner Great things are happening in Iraq Soldiers are dying for a noble cause Other evil doers --Iran, Syria Threat of terrorism was the focal point. The fact is that Iraq became a hot bed of Islamic terrorists only after we went there to destroy the non-existent WMD. After that fizzled out the stated reason for our presence became establishment of a free democratic society. Plans to set up a hand-picked Iraqi government failed; the factional disputes among Shias, Sunnis and others make it clear that a stable government in Iraq is a long way off.Saddam Hussein was an indisputable tyrant but Iraqis lived in a secular society in which women were not required to wear hijab and were free to work alongside men. The new Iraqi constitution reflects the influence of Islamic scriptures. Women's rights are in danger.Two and half years after the war began, in Baghdad the residents do not have regular supply of power and water.The speech might temporarily succeed in shielding the president from criticism about the mess created in Iraq and problems at home--the mounting deficit due largely to his lopsided tax cuts and the war in Iraq, the rising energy costs, and funding for reconstruction of New Orleans--but they are not going to go away. Comments Lily — 2005-10-09 The other evil doers- yes, it always helps to mention them whenever he can!!!

General Musharraf - Classic case of Foot in the MouthIf it were not for the cruel facts President Musharraf's PR efforts to put a lid on increasing number of reports about rape victims and lack of rights of Pakistani women would have been funny. Yasmeen Hassan's open letter to President Musharraf in today's Washington Post will only make things more unpleasant for General Musharraf. He is still reeling from his infamous statement during an interview on September 12th."You must understand the environment in Pakistan. This has become a money-making concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped."The General tried to deny saying it but he was being recorded. The audio transcript can be heard on the Post's web site.Yaa Habibi ! Comments Shahzada Sher Saddozai — 2005-10-08 Women are TARGET of THE WORLD WAR AGAINST POVERTY which is the most prominent funding at World Level. This funding walks in with packages of loose string UNO Community Policy a kind of humnour when you cannot correct your Speech and Comprehension of English as Social Language. Over the time our politically socially diverse Newpapers have created a Equity at time when with US Pak Industrialism Western Advertisers moved in loud but dissapointedly most could not hit target creativity or performance in social scene. It is the Human Right Groups which have no authentic moral connection with IHR and newspaper media and photojournalism that is using this for publivc provocation too while the photojournalism betrays and pampers many press scientists who are involved in The Detraction . The recentest occasions have incredible picture performance of victim ladies and the writeuops have been 'soft porn'and on covers of major urdu press. JUST AS TERRORIST BOMBS ARE SERVING PROXIES TO INCOMPREHENSION AND INTERNATIONAL ERRORS. THE SEX VICTIMISATION IS SERVING PROXIES TO WAR AGAINST POVERTY. Hopefully Musharaf's going to tear through the Media Dictatorship of Masses to reach real credit before his 2007 announcement of General Elections in midst of a growlingly of new confidence in Judiciary .The credits Pakistan has gotten from Democratisation is already requiring answers for neigbouring economies. Shahzada Sher Saddozai. GraphicCommunicationTechnologist .World Statesmen. musafir — 2005-10-08 Thank you for taking the time to express your view. Not quite sure of your position but it seems that you are in disagreement with recent reports in the world press about Pakistani women and that you support General Musharraf. I don't believe that the creator intended women to be second class citizens without the rights and privileges enjoyed by men. Women all over the world are demanding equal rights. They deserve it and will eventually gain them. In Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan it might take a while but the handwriting is on the wall---women on the march cannot be stopped. In today's world, the hudood laws have no place in a civilized society. They are disgraceful. Shahzada Sher Saddozai — 2005-10-09 Remember Musafir Hudood means 'limits' and is Women's birth right on the modren planet.How will you put women together withoyut them having thier own puzzle of privacy . In the west women are no example for Modrenity as West is hardly in position to present a real bloodline which has been allowed Great Koranic Virtue to improve themselves . You taught them wrongly the lessons of competeing with man to be an equal but they cannot rule man without bringing his soul lower to them .But at Cocktail Parties where Western Man have no dignity for them but the secuarists havent been there.The dictatiorship of Masses is clearly a Secular Conspiracy with Europeans [Canadian]and French Republicans and Crass Funding requested by Asian African leaders and International Press is carrying it on. My former lodge at 23 Guldin Colony is right now being used by a maittre who would clean a servant latrine and her daughter was adopted to a job at Canadian embassy .Her son who lives there and has poorer skin than his shiny black grandmother who would be born in any 23 GC [Genetic Coded] families including my own maternal uncle .In England 'Face'is Faith or picture virtue of fate 'Din' .In Islam our names have order of Din. But the Press needs a show! It the Human race to realise that Empowerment of Women 'is not Westernising them which it will turn out to be after Third World secular interpreters who like can all out shout 'Huddod must not be allowed'? It was 'Huddood' and Koranic Virtuos Knowledge that recreated woman from the Meccan women who wandered wanton for sex in outskirts of cities . Shahzada Sher Saddozai. GraphicCommunicationTechnologist .World Statesmen. musafir — 2005-10-09 I am not an Islamic scholar and not qualified to argue about the finer points of Koranic laws. Suggest that you read my June 15th post "The Shame of Pakistan" which was about Hudood and included the following: Quote Proof of zina or zina-bil-jabr liable to hadd shall be in one of the following forms, namely:-- * (a) the accused makes before a Court of competent jurisdiction a confession of the commission of the offence; or * (b) at least four Muslim adult male witnesses, about whom the Court is satisfied, having regard to the requirements of tazkiyah al-shuhood [credibility of witnesses], that they are truthful persons and abstain from major sins (kaba’ir), give evidence as eye-witnesses of the act of penetration necessary to the offence (P.L.D. 1979, 53; Bokhary 1979, 182; Major Acts 1992, 12).3 Talk about a classic Catch 22---this is the mother of them all! Hard to believe that such barbaric laws and practices exist in the 21st century but they are real. End of quote If majority of Muslim women accept the laws then they will remain in force. But if they don't then the laws will not stand regardless of how the scripture was interpreted by those who framed the laws. Shahzada Sher Saddozai — 2005-10-10 Same people who won travel abroad to richer urbanias and work or jobs with International Organisations read a newspaper story to create a 'contradiction' amongst Third World Elites ! Im amused your not a Islamic Scholar but youve talked as far a Ruler and a full Society where is Islam is taught/ Scholared tutored free with other subjects at School and affairs at Home too,but hardly interpreted to Ethincally US/EU White media and Government which do not accept religion as dictation because they are masses who will first aquire prosperity of one world The Nord West . Infact I repeat that in half a century of Isreal/PLO confrontation which overtly divided Muslims allover the World and Arabs in particular from Jews and USA ,but not one socially politically interconversant 1st class talkshow or a Journalist reached into from Asian African Arabian side and Ghazi Yasser Arafat could not score 'one Prime Time easy interview!. Pseodo Secularists! Feminists! Same people who come and shout in front of Courts of Law when Courts reward a Capital punishment to diverse offenders . Asian offenders must ask inquire women if Rape/Murder are a Capital crime? But they must tell the world how far are they with all the pedophiles in Pakistan who are thrown into acid and infact WHY?. As there are Shariat Courts {regulatory law} confession or 'the four witnesses' is only a convenience! why feel awkward. This is a scientifically advanced and very modren world ,a world with Kashi a Forsenic Evidence Pshycologists ,and photofinsh is available with such crimes as Rape . It is the media that buxom submissive village girls who improved socially economically but still live below the remote Punjabi 'small land tenents [muzairas] and are being flanked Internationally by NGO's of HRC's and Rape of minors and pedos goes unoticed the next day! musafir — 2005-10-10 You and I hold different positions on this issue. We can go on exchanging comments for ever without reaching an agreement. If you give your e-mail address I shall be glad to seek your learned opinion about future posts related to Pakistan and women's role in Islamic nations. In the meantime, I express my sorrow for the victims of the earthquake. No doubt you are involved in the relief efforts in some form or other. Stay well. Shahzada Sher Saddozai — 2005-10-11 How do we hold difference of Opinion of News in a Day to Day government with Developming Economics and Transcedental Science. Sex apeal? Low confidence? running ahead to keep up with Breaking News? why was the quake?

Bush Administration Against State's Rights*They tried but failed in the Terri Schiavo case. Now the zealots in Washington are at it again. The conservatives who championed State's Rights in the past have turned about-face and are now arguing before the Supreme Court to overrule Oregon's Death With Dignity Act. Their case rests on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), that it was being violated by physicians prescribing drugs to terminally ill patients who requested such assistance in dying.The Washington Post is carrying a report by Charles Lane, "Supreme Court Holds Hearing On Assisted Suicide Case" that includes questions raised by the justices.This case will exemplify the importance of the crucial "swing vote" in the current Supreme Court. Unfortunately, Justice O'Connor is not likely to be there when the case is decided. It was she who raised a very pertinent question."O'Connor immediately challenged Solicitor General Paul Clement, asking if federal drug laws also prevented doctors from participating in the execution of murderers." (Reported by Gina Holland of the Associated Press).From what is known about Harriet Miers and her affiliation with a fundamentalist Christian church, if she wins confirmation to the Court her vote would most probably be against Oregon.Summary of the background.OREGON'S LAW Patients must be in final six months of terminal illness Patients must make two oral requests and one written request to die, separated by a two-week period Patients must be mentally competent to make decision Two doctors must confirm diagnosis Lethal prescription of drugs prescribed by doctor and administered by patients themselves The Death With Dignity Act was passed by voters in Oregon in 1994, and three years later they voted against repeal. Since then 208 terminally ill patients (mostly suffering from cancer) have elected the option.The Bush administration has been after Oregon's Death With Dignity Act for a long time. The former Attorney general Ashcroft took a personal interest in it. Religious organizations, including the Catholic Church, vehemently opposed the act. Ashcroft tried to annul the law in 2002 because "it depended on an improper use of medication by doctors and violated federal drug laws". His order was overruled by an appeals court. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is continuing the battle, State's Rights be damned.An editorial in today's NY Times ended with the following:"The impact of today's case will be felt beyond Oregon. The Bush administration's position has discouraged other states from enacting assisted suicide laws. But the Supreme Court should make clear that Oregon, and all states, have the right to allow terminally ill people to end their lives with a maximum of dignity and a minimum of pain." ...

The Dark Labyrinth of Her Mind*There were doubts about her motives and hints that reasons other than "protecting her source" made her decide to remain silent and go to prison. Today's Washington Post carries a report "Lawyer Casts Blame on Reporter for Time in Jail" by Carol D. Leonnig that sheds some light but does not fully explain the circumstances. Perhaps Ms. Miller went to prison to benefit from the "tell all" book that is supposedly in the works. As the reporter who contributed a series of stories about Saddan Hussein's non-existent WMD which the NY Times management was guilty of publishing without checking facts, Ms. Miller will undoubtedly create a partly fictional account of her role in the Plame affair. Comments Yorkshire Pudding — 2005-10-04 Visited today.Never even heard of Judith Miller before. Keep on blogging brother.

Will She Maintain or Destroy The Supreme Court's Delicate Balance ?*El Jefe pulled a rabbit out of the hat. Harriet Miers was a possibility but not at the top of the list of most of the pundits who ventured to express their opinions about a possible nominee. Initial reactions indicate that Conservatives are more unhappy than the Democrats. That, however, is not enough to feel good about the nominee. The Conservatives' ire could be part of the plan. Remember El Jefe's stated admiration for Scalia and Thomas ? It is hard to believe that he changed his position and risked displeasure of his core constitutency, especially the Christian right, by picking a person who would be radically different. A tiger does not change his stripes. G.W. Bush remains an opportunistic, hypocrite. Either he has reason to be assured that Ms. Miers will deliver by siding with Justices Scalia and Thomas or he decided to avoid a brutal, long drawn-out confirmation process by nominating one who could sneak by without causing a fire storm. He has enough problems on his desk to discourage him from adding another.As he always does in such unrehearsed settings, during the press conference this morning the president butchered the English language but spoke strongly about the nominee. He also disparaged polls. That must be taken with a grain of salt. The White House does pay attention to polls.The problem with the nomination is that Ms. Miers' positions on various issues remain unknown. She never held a judicial position--there is no public record of her beliefs and opinions. Details of her work in the White House will be protected under "executive privilege". The perfect stealth candidate. Scenario I: The president is confident of Ms. Miers' position on issues that are important to his core support groups and they will soften their criticism. Scenario II: Ms. Miers comes with an open mind and, if confirmed, will follow the path of retiring Justice O'Connor. It is only after she takes her seat on the court that we shall really find out what makes Harriet Miers tick.

October In Wales *The first day of October. Thought of the poem by the late Dylan Thomas. "Especially when the October windWith frosty fingers punishes my hair,......"Great poem. For us in the San Francisco Peninsula frosty fingers are unheard of in October. October means sunny, bracingly cold days and blue skies. After unseasonably cool days during most of the second-half of September, we had our Indian summer. During the last few days the daytime temperature climbed over 90 degrees F (32 degrees C). JHL and I hiked the 7.5 mile Los Trancos trail a few days back and felt the heat. We were tired and sweaty but it felt good. Buckeye Creek was almost dry but that will soon change. Today is noticeably cooler.Back to Dylan Thomas and October in Wales that he described so powerfully. There is beauty and there is harshness. The Welsh must be hardy people to cope with such stark autumn. "Especially when the October wind With frosty fingers punishes my hair, Caught by the crabbing sun I walk on fire And cast a shadow crab upon the land, By the sea's side, hearing the noise of birds, Hearing the raven cough in winter sticks, My busy heart who shudders as she talks Sheds the syllabic blood and drains her words.Shut, too, in a tower of words, I markOn the horizon walking like the treesThe wordy shapes of women, and the rowsOf the star-gestured children in the park.Some let me make you of the vowelled beeches,Some of the oaken voices, from the rootsOf many a thorny shire tell you notes,Some let me make you of the water's speeches.Behind a post of ferns the wagging clockTells me the hour's word, the neural meaningFlies on the shafted disk, declaims the morningAnd tells the windy weather in the cock.Some let me make you of the meadow's signs;The signal grass that tells me all I knowBreaks with the wormy winter through the eye.Some let me tell you of the raven's sins.Especially when the October wind(Some let me make you of autumnal spells,The spider-tongued, and the loud hill of Wales)With fists of turnips punishes the land,Some let me make of you the heartless words.The heart is drained that, spelling in the scurryOf chemic blood, warned of the coming fury.By the sea's side hear the dark-vowelled birds."Dylan Thomas died young, at 39. Among his works, the magical "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and the unforgettable "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" ."I first saw the light ofday in a Glamorgan villa,and,amid the terrors of theWelsh accent and the smokeof the tinplate stacks, grewup to be a sweet baby, aprecocious child, a rebelliousboy, and a morbid youth"---Dylan Marlais Thomas (1914-1953)For those who are interested in learning more about Dylan Thomas, the BBC's web site is a treasure trove. Comments Anonymous — 2005-10-02 aww, come on. Tell me that somewhere in your heart there lurks one with an occasional deviation toward bad taste, far and away from the sublime and the beautiful and the perfect. Tell me your collars do not have buttons-down; that your tongue once entwined around stale Nesselrode pie; that your eyes made contact with a "Family Guy" tv screen just a tad. Oh, please. :) f