Showing posts with label America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label America. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Humans on display in Paris


PARIS -- It's a queasy experience, viewing chained tribal dancers do a white man's bidding, or African women stripped and photographed to feed European curiosity.
Until just a few generations ago, this is how most white people learned about those with skin of a different shade. A new Paris exhibit examines how for centuries, colonizers plucked villagers from Africa, the Americas or the South Pacific and put them on display half a world away. The demeaning tradition shaped racist attitudes that linger today.

Curator Lilian Thuram, a former soccer star and now anti-racism advocate, hopes the exhibit at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris makes people question deep-held beliefs about the "other."

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Middle East Caution

We must all face the probability that Iran, Iraq, China, or others will develop and hold nuclear weapons in the near future. The materials can be made, stolen or bought. The idea of using nuclear weapons was more remote in years past. But, when President Bush invaded the Middle East and used bombs, targeting "enemies," but also injuring non-enemy civilians, the picture changed. People never forget when a family member is killed. It may be 10 or 30 years, For some the pain is carried for generations. Hatred and anger unites the groups and covered by the cloak of "God's will," the threat will remain for generations.
Middle Eastern Islamic countries do not support the US way of life. In the Middle East, women can be beaten, jailed, and even killed for not being veiled and cloaked. Women can be burned or have acid thrown in their face. Why is it good to have women covered head-to-toe with cloth? Because they look less like humans. They appear to all look alike. It is a way of conveying that the women mean little and need to keep their ideas covered. Some may feel that the women are evil or devilish, so the coverings keep the demons inside and do not allow them to get out to infect others. I saw a family with an older mother, probably age 50's, at the dinner table. The older woman had to wear a lot of garb over her head and cover her mouth. Just navigating the food, without creating a mess, seemed difficult to me. Naturally, the woman said it was good to wear this garb and that she was honored. Did she have a choice? Older women, who are not supported by a male are thrown into the streets to beg. Naturally, with a lot of women, totally covered begging on the streets, they are easy victims for crime and abuse. Women can never go against the male of the household - she can be killed (and I mean stoned) and beaten. Freedom and choice are not welcome in the Middle East. We in America must recognize these differences and continue to protect our American freedoms and way of life.
Libya now wants Sharia law, tents, and for men to have as many as four wives. The killing of Qaddafi was a disgrace. Yes, Qaddafi was a miserable person, and his sons were raised in a similar manner, but I believe in human honor and rights. No human should ever die in that animalistic manner. Many Middle Eastern Muslims believe in mob beatings, and killing those who do not follow Muslim beliefs. Qaddafi's final moments will be a part of American shame. I expect many others are suffering in Libya right now - but we hear no words. We Americans are different and I say "Remember la Difference!!!" Americans are short-sighted. The Middle East looks to the future, the distant future, for their final goals. We must be vigilant and stand firm for American values, ideals, and the American way of life. Women must be especially active in protecting our liberties. We must ensure our money is going towards freedom-loving countries who we will work with as partners for hundreds of years to come.

Sunday, October 02, 2011

Letter from man - He is tired

I got this via email - exact author unknown - but alleged it was Bill Cosby


"I'm 76 and I'm Tired"

I'm 76. Except for brief period in the 50's when I was doing my
National Service, I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some
some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't
call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I
didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am.
Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and
I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people
who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government
will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to
people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when
every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their
sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honour"; of Muslims
rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and
Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for
girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for
"adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in
the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we
must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to
fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in
Australia, New Zealand, UK, America and Canada, while no one from
these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious
school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and
tolerance..

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight
global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must
help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a
giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder
up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to
fight it off?

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of
all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or
youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was
getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich
or poor.

I'm really tired of people who don't take responsibility for their
lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or
discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their
teens and early 20's bedeck them selves in tattoos and face studs,
thereby making themselves un-employable and claiming money from the
Government.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 76.. Because, mostly, I'm
not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just
sorry for my granddaughter and her children. Thank God I'm on the way
out and not on the way in.