Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Another Crack in Assad's Foundation

When the vehicles of your propaganda abandon you, the position of power you hold is tenuous indeed.

From The German New Organization, Der Spiegel :

Syrian Radio and TV Host Ola Abbas Defects to Join Rebellion - SPIEGEL ONLINE:

'via Blog this'

In the last few weeks we've seen generals, politicians, and now journalists flee Syria due to the atrocities committed by "President" Assad.  We've also seen the most powerful countries on Earth take sides.  The Iranians tried to hide their support for the Assad regime.  The Russians are more honest about their stance.

This latest defection will hardly be the final straw that brings down Assad.  In truth, I doubt the audience was listening anymore.  Damascus, is a war zone.  They don't need to watch the news or listen to radio hear the gun battles raging in the streets.  Those who can leave are doing so.  Unfortunately for Assad, most of them are his supporters.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Why the Reaction Is Different When the Terrorist Is White - Conor Friedersdorf - The Atlantic

Why the Reaction Is Different When the Terrorist Is White - Conor Friedersdorf - The Atlantic


The better question is why the media's reaction the these shootings is different based on the suspect's ethnicity?  There are many Americans of all races that are reviled and outraged by the terrorist attacks in Colorado and Wisconsin.  In the pursuit of ratings, however, it seems the media is more interested in humanizing the terrorist.  Why?  Does MSNBC, CNN, FOX, and PBS think that because the majority of the audience and the suspect share a common ancestry that they can some how relate to a person who had no second thoughts about killing innocent people?  How does focusing on their backgrounds and bringing in a seemingly endless parade of psychologists to tell us that their murderous outbursts stemmed from their abuse or lack of hugs as children bring us any closer to focusing on the real goal here, which is stopping these killings in the first place?   The focus should be on what these people did instead of what they are.  Stop wasting time trying to relate to them because unless you plan on committing mass murder, you never will.

The profit motive of the major news organizations have driven them to promote a biased agenda that is dangerous for its viewers.  Wearing a wrap on your head, your pants below your waist, worshiping in a different way,  or speaking a different language doesn't make a person a threat.  It's time for the media to change the profile of what and who we consider dangerous. 

Some people, no matter their origins, are just evil.  Period.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

St Kitts reflects Caribbean’s financial woes - FT.com

St Kitts reflects Caribbean’s financial woes - FT.com

This is practically economic colonialism.  The nations of the Caribbean have very few competitive advantages due to the lack of unique natural resources.  The sugar industry has collapsed in St. Kitts and Barbados due to the advent of artificial sweeteners, everyone exports tropical fruit, and the oil that exists in Trinidad is too small to really have in impact on the country financially.  It seems we are stuck in a financial deadlock that only a technological innovation can break.  Unfortunately, the money necessary to carry out the research for a breakthrough would have to come from the same countries that are trying to do it themselves.  It seems that even after 50 years of independence for Trinidad and Jamaica, Britain and the USA still have a major if not definitive say in the futures of their economies.