True Colors
December 7th 2006 17:02
News and Views:
(From Bob)
First story:
New s (More from Fiji)
The deposed prime minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase, has called on his countrymen to fight for democracy after the military finally ousted him last night in a bloodless coup. After months of threats and an escalating military campaign, Commander Frank Bainimarama last night confirmed what Fijians knew was inevitable - that he had overthrown the Government. The deposed prime minister had been place under house arrest, but the armed soldiers watching him left his residence as promised by Commander Bainimarama.
Mr. Qarase called for Fiji citizens to “stand up and fight for our democracy - by peaceful means of course.” Mr. Qarase also predicted a crashing economy; he also predicted economic sanctions and a large amount of aid would come to an end.
Views:
A military coup is always a disturbing thing. It is good that it apparently was a “bloodless coup” and that Comander Bainimarama has released the deposed prime minister. Further, he is on record as stating the situation (martial law) is a temporary one and that national elections will come soon. Let’s hope so; let it stay bloodless, and may democracy once again reign in Fiji.
Meanwhile, watch the northern beaches for boatloads of frightened Fijians.
Next:
News:
Australian singer and wobbleboard icon Rolf Harris has apologised for racist lyrics in his song :Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”, forty-six years after it launched his entertainment career. The racist lyrics: “”Let me Abos go loose, Lou, let me abos go loose; they’re of no further use, Lou; so let me Abos go loose.”
The song was released in 1960 and immediately went to the top of the charts in Australia, the US and Great Britain. Singapore banned the song because of the racist lyrics.
Harris claims to never have sung that verse since 1960 (the original release).
Views:
Racism is a terrible and intolerable thing. It cannot be allowed, and Harris has made his apologies. We all slip at one time or another - it’s time to let Rolf alone and hope that he can some up with some new catchy tunes and rise to the top again.
News:
A Queensland police officer who punched a mentally handicapped, partially blind and deaf Aboriginal man so hard his eye was swollen shut was not charged because the state's corruption watchdog considered it unlikely he would be convicted. This because the “legal system and processes are completely foreign to indigenous peoples.” The incident occurring March 2004 at Doomadgee, an Aboriginal community in the state's northwest.
However, and this is very interesting, the alleged victim, Shane McNamee, 21, will appear in Mount Isa District Court next year charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of serious assault over the March 2004 incident.
Views:
The policeman, who was very heavily believed to have committed the assault on Mr. McNamee will not be charged because “legal system and processes are completely foreign to indigenous peoples;” yet, Mr. McNamee will be charged; I guess, in spite of the “indigenous peoples’ unfamiliarity with the legal system.” Something smells here, methinks.
News:
The Australian Parliament's Treaties Committee has approved the sale of uranium to China for the first time. There are wide outcries for close and careful monitoring to make sure that the stuff is only used for peaceful means.
Views:
This blogger doesn’t believe that any amount of monitoring will prevent China from converting the uranium from its “peaceful form” to that of weapon’s quality. Remember, this is a country whose government was just in the news yesterday as most likely having harvested organs from thousands of Falun Gong members executed over the past seven years - see yesterday’s column.
News: (To the US)
Louisville, Kentucky and Seattle, Washington have both previously disclosed plans where students are offered a choice of schools but can be denied admission based on their race if enrolling at a particular school would upset the racial balance. The cases are presently in front of the United States Supreme Court.
Views:
Racism is everywhere (alas) - See above story re songwriter Rolf Harris (although the one terrible verse should just be forgotten, and we should be entitled to enjoy a throughly great ditty). Hopefully, the Supreme Court will see fit to do the right thing and strike this insidious Kentucky and Washington State thinking a tremendous blow. Fingers crossed.
Quickie News Clips:
News: An Iraq Study Group urges fundamental change in U.S. military mission and launch of diplomatic effort with countries including Iran and Syria and is quoted as saying the situation is “Deteriorating.”
Views: I wonder how much money was spent on this study only to come up with a conclusion that the entire civilized world has already reached. Duh
News: The Australia Lawmakers have lifted a four-year ban on cloning human embryos for stem cell research _ legislation that could put Australia at the forefront of research into diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and arthritis.
Views: This could be a very good thing if the mad scientists don’t get to cloning themselves and other human beings. Need to be careful here, but could be a boon to mankind, methinks.
News: PARIS France's foreign minister said Wednesday that Iran will face U.N. sanctions for refusing to halt its nuclear program, but major world powers remain divided over exactly how far punishment should go.
Views: Nuclear weapons in the hand of ‘Radicals’ is one scary idea. Brrrr
Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back.
(From Bob)
First story:
New s (More from Fiji)
The deposed prime minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase, has called on his countrymen to fight for democracy after the military finally ousted him last night in a bloodless coup. After months of threats and an escalating military campaign, Commander Frank Bainimarama last night confirmed what Fijians knew was inevitable - that he had overthrown the Government. The deposed prime minister had been place under house arrest, but the armed soldiers watching him left his residence as promised by Commander Bainimarama.
Views:
A military coup is always a disturbing thing. It is good that it apparently was a “bloodless coup” and that Comander Bainimarama has released the deposed prime minister. Further, he is on record as stating the situation (martial law) is a temporary one and that national elections will come soon. Let’s hope so; let it stay bloodless, and may democracy once again reign in Fiji.
Meanwhile, watch the northern beaches for boatloads of frightened Fijians.
Next:
News:
Australian singer and wobbleboard icon Rolf Harris has apologised for racist lyrics in his song :Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”, forty-six years after it launched his entertainment career. The racist lyrics: “”Let me Abos go loose, Lou, let me abos go loose; they’re of no further use, Lou; so let me Abos go loose.”
The song was released in 1960 and immediately went to the top of the charts in Australia, the US and Great Britain. Singapore banned the song because of the racist lyrics.
Views:
Racism is a terrible and intolerable thing. It cannot be allowed, and Harris has made his apologies. We all slip at one time or another - it’s time to let Rolf alone and hope that he can some up with some new catchy tunes and rise to the top again.
News:
A Queensland police officer who punched a mentally handicapped, partially blind and deaf Aboriginal man so hard his eye was swollen shut was not charged because the state's corruption watchdog considered it unlikely he would be convicted. This because the “legal system and processes are completely foreign to indigenous peoples.” The incident occurring March 2004 at Doomadgee, an Aboriginal community in the state's northwest.
However, and this is very interesting, the alleged victim, Shane McNamee, 21, will appear in Mount Isa District Court next year charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of serious assault over the March 2004 incident.
Views:
The policeman, who was very heavily believed to have committed the assault on Mr. McNamee will not be charged because “legal system and processes are completely foreign to indigenous peoples;” yet, Mr. McNamee will be charged; I guess, in spite of the “indigenous peoples’ unfamiliarity with the legal system.” Something smells here, methinks.
News:
The Australian Parliament's Treaties Committee has approved the sale of uranium to China for the first time. There are wide outcries for close and careful monitoring to make sure that the stuff is only used for peaceful means.
Views:
This blogger doesn’t believe that any amount of monitoring will prevent China from converting the uranium from its “peaceful form” to that of weapon’s quality. Remember, this is a country whose government was just in the news yesterday as most likely having harvested organs from thousands of Falun Gong members executed over the past seven years - see yesterday’s column.
News: (To the US)
Louisville, Kentucky and Seattle, Washington have both previously disclosed plans where students are offered a choice of schools but can be denied admission based on their race if enrolling at a particular school would upset the racial balance. The cases are presently in front of the United States Supreme Court.
Views:
Racism is everywhere (alas) - See above story re songwriter Rolf Harris (although the one terrible verse should just be forgotten, and we should be entitled to enjoy a throughly great ditty). Hopefully, the Supreme Court will see fit to do the right thing and strike this insidious Kentucky and Washington State thinking a tremendous blow. Fingers crossed.
Quickie News Clips:
News: An Iraq Study Group urges fundamental change in U.S. military mission and launch of diplomatic effort with countries including Iran and Syria and is quoted as saying the situation is “Deteriorating.”
Views: I wonder how much money was spent on this study only to come up with a conclusion that the entire civilized world has already reached. Duh
News: The Australia Lawmakers have lifted a four-year ban on cloning human embryos for stem cell research _ legislation that could put Australia at the forefront of research into diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and arthritis.
Views: This could be a very good thing if the mad scientists don’t get to cloning themselves and other human beings. Need to be careful here, but could be a boon to mankind, methinks.
News: PARIS France's foreign minister said Wednesday that Iran will face U.N. sanctions for refusing to halt its nuclear program, but major world powers remain divided over exactly how far punishment should go.
Views: Nuclear weapons in the hand of ‘Radicals’ is one scary idea. Brrrr
Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back.
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