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Showing posts from July, 2010

Business As Usual

This is the kind of news that is underreported, because it's a way of maintaining the myth of honesty and fair play in capitalism.  About a dozen airlines have been fined a total of $1.6 billion for engaging in cargo price-fixing.  So, while business people praise the virtues of the free market as regulator of economic activity, the truth of the matter is that the market is anything but free, being subject to all sorts of illegal manipulations by big business and other special interests.  This white-collar criminal activity is usually settled by paying a fine, something that is figured as part of the "cost of doing business."

The Facts, Madam Governor

Statistics show that places along the U.S.-Mexico border have a significantly- lower crime rate, contrary to public perception that illegal aliens pose a threat to the safety of Americans who live in the region.  This goes to show that the real reason behind the anti-immigration movement is racism, not a legitimate concern for public safety.  Racists have always and everywhere painted immigrants as dangerous people, so as to justify discriminating against them.  The Arizona law is just the latest manifestation of the xenophobic virus.

The People We Love to Hate

Don't you hate people who use their influence, money and power to impose their will on others?  Who insist that others play by rules made up by them, but won't abide by them themselves?  Then, you know why people all around the world hate Americans.  As if someone had died and had named them Pope, the U.S. behaves like it has been "called upon" to lead the rest of the world in everything, including deciding who gets to do what and how, or else Uncle Sam will impose "sanctions" on his disobedient nephews. Why can't the rest of the world do the same, whenever the U.S. does something that we find objectionable?  This American attitude is akin to Hitler's theory of supremacy based on race, inasmuch as it posits that Americans have a sort of God-given right to tell everybody else what to do and punish them, if they do otherwise.  This is megalomania at its peak, a new version of the "master race" concept.  A hateful idea.

Empty Your Medicine Cabinet!

Oh, boy!  When it rains, it pours. Now, Avastin , a much-used medication for cancer in general, is deemed harmful for breast-cancer patients.  I suppose that, in the rush to find cures or remedies for major diseases, these drugs are not properly or sufficiently tested, relying, instead, on the day-to-day experience of thousands of patients through the years that the product is on the market.  If you happen to have a bad reaction to the medication, the drug companies can always argue that they're doing their best to save lives or lessen the patients' discomfort.  People who are very sick are then caught between a rock and a hard place. I'm convinced that the best course of action is to try to stay healthy and avoid all medications, unless it's absolutely necessary.  The next pill you take might kill you.

It Serves Spain Right.

The so-called Cuban "dissenters" who recently traveled to Spain have turned out to be "dissatisfied" with conditions there, and are making no bones about it.  It seems that they had expectations that are not being met by the Spanish government.  One would've thought that just being out of prison and the Cuban "inferno" would be enough to satisfy them, at least for some time, but they, like Oliver Twist, seem to "want more." Maybe, not used to capitalism, they don't know that "there's no such thing as a free lunch" or that, in a "free" country, it's "every man for himself." Or maybe, they're just ungrateful bastards, and Fidel must be laughing his head off right now.

The Worst and the Dumbest

Just when the Americans start making plans to disentangle themselves from their imbroglio in Afghanistan and Iraq, conditions in both countries turn for the worse, with significant violence erupting. Every time they claim that things are getting better, the headlines say otherwise. Both conflicts are unwinnable for the U.S., and the Americans should've realized that a long time ago. But, imperial arrogance has blinded them to this obvious truth. Vietnam taught them nothing.

The Gestapo is Alive and Well in Arizona.

The news that one of the vigilante leaders against illegal immigration in Arizona is a neo-Nazi sympathizer is no news at all. It's to be expected that someone who believes - as he has admitted - that only white and non- Jewish people should be American citizens is on Gov. Brewer's corner.  This guy also believes that people other than WASPs should leave the U.S. peacefully or by force, which, of course, would include Obama and his family. The U.S. is still the same bigoted and racist country that it has always been.  The one that fought a civil war to maintain slavery, whose Supreme Court decided that a slave was not a "person" and well into the 20th century denied black people their fundamental civil and human rights. So, with regard to the guy from Arizona, as my son would say: "Why am I not surprised?"

"Blackheart"

Mel Gibson seems to be falling apart.  Maybe the fact that he is no longer a big name in Hollywood has caused him so much frustration, that it has affected his judgment.  The truth is that, in a rather short time, he has gone from being one of the most sought-after actors and directors to a non-entity.  Right now, his erratic and outrageous behavior has pretty much destroyed whatever career he had left.  Worst of all, he has shown  a streak of bigotry that can't be attributed to alcohol or drugs, but to a mean spirit.

"Tea" With Arsenic

A while back, I predicted that the name-calling and disrespectful behavior towards Obama would continue to escalate because it was racially motivated, and that there was a part of the American population that couldn't bear the fact that he was black.  The Tea Party billboard in Iowa - part of the so-called "heartland of America" - is the latest manifestation of the racist agenda, disguised as objections to a supposed "socialism" espoused by the President.  To compare Obama to Hitler and Lenin is outrageous, and shows how much hate there is in these people. A hate that should be taken seriously because it is downright dangerous.

What Will They Say Now?

Hugo Chávez, who has been accused of every evil under the sun by the U.S., has finally done a "good deed", by deporting three drug traffickers to that country.  This is significant, since Chávez has been portrayed as not doing enough to fight drug trafficking and terrorism in Venezuela, and some in the U.S. have gone as far as claiming that he supports both.  So, this is a classic example of a "slap in the face with no hands." Of course, I suppose that there will be those that will say that this is just a public relations move on his part, to try to put those rumors to rest, but, for now, the official American reaction has been positive, much to their discomfort at having their number-one bad guy do the right thing.

A Different Tune

Four years ago, it seemed that Fidel Castro was on his deathbed.  Now, he seems to be much better, appearing in public and on television.  Ironically, Olga Guillot, the great Cuban singer of the 50s and 60s, has just died at 87 in exile.  She is only the latest of a long series of Fidel's enemies who have died waiting for his death, assuming that it would mean the end of the regime.  By now, I suppose that she and the rest of the Cuban exiles realized that Fidel isn't going to die anytime soon, and that the Revolution will go on without him. Guillot was part of a pre-Castro Cuba in which corruption, drugs, gambling and prostitution were the staples of the country's Mafia-friendly economy.  As long as there was plenty of money to go around, a lot of people didn't ask where it was coming from.  Castro's "unpardonable sin" was to kick out the American Mafia from the casinos and whorehouses, affecting the livelihood of those who had it easy in that cesspool.

Ingrid, the Ingrate

I always felt that it was a mistake to cast Ingrid Betancourt as heroine and symbol of democracy and human rights.  Upon her release, she quickly shunned her husband, took a lover, put on a bikini and became a sort of high - class beach bum.  Her commitment to human rights and fighting for peace were forgotten.  I got the impression that, despite all the accolades, she was shallower than the water she swam in. Now, after having dropped out of sight for almost two years, she comes back suing the Colombian government for some $7 million, for having failed to protect her, and allowing the FARC to kidnap her.  I suppose her money has run out, and she's looking to cash in on her status of "martyr" of democracy and victim of communism, so she can go back to her lifestyle of the rich and famous in Miami Beach or in any other jet-set or beautiful-people location. I'm sure that many in Colombia now wish that she had been left to rot in the jungle.

Let's All Grow Up!

Fanaticism, in any form, is inimical to a good life. I've never really understood why people take sports so seriously and defeats or losses in the playing field so hard.  I like sports as much as the next guy, but it's really ludicrous that even heads of state intervene in what, in essence, are games. With so much to really worry about, considering the elimination of a country's team as a national disgrace or humiliation is downright silly of grown men and women.  Argentina or France are no worse for having lost at the World Cup.  In sports as in life, sometimes you win, and other times, someone else does.  It's no big deal.

"Raison D' Etat"

It seems to me that the real reason - one that is not publicly admitted - that the French government wants to ban those Islamic veils and clothes that cover women's faces and bodies is not so much that it may be a symbol of female oppression, but one of public security.  As far as I know, most countries do not allow people to walk around with their faces covered because it makes the identification of criminals impossible.  Given the fact that people from Islamic countries have been notoriously involved in terrorist activities, it's only common sense that this "religious" practice is incompatible with public safety.  Of course, this particular rationale is not offered in support of the ban, for fear of being accused of discrimination on the basis of religion. The truth is that there are times and circumstances in which "discrimination" is allowed, and this is one of them.  When a religious practice is in conflict with critical societal concerns, such as pub

The Noble Thing To Do

Argentina's fight against the impunity of the military junta and its cohorts over 30 years ago is making headlines in more ways than one these days.  The owner of the country's biggest media conglomerate is being investigated for having knowingly adopted two children of people who were killed or "disappeared" by the regime.  Although the adopted pair has given up samples of their DNA, there is reason to believe that it might have been tainted on purpose to alter the results, a practice found out in similar cases.  That they stand to inherit a fortune estimated at $1 billion explains a lot. Whatever comes of it, the Noble family should fully cooperate with the authorities, as an example of what those in the newspaper business are always urging others to do.  Let the truth be known, and the chips fall where they may.

"Norwegian [Good] Wood"

The Scandinavian countries have always been at the forefront of economic and social development.  They are enlightened societies, with a more advanced value system and the willingness to try bold and different  approaches to dealing with human problems.  Crime and punishment, for example. Norway has very little serious crime, and very little punishment.  Instead, it relies on small and home-like institutions with humane treatment of its inmates.  Wisely, they realized a long time ago that these people will eventually go back to society, so they try to make sure that they don't return in worse shape that the one they entered prison in. Thus, recidivism is a mere 20%, compared to the 50% or 60% in the U.S., for example.  Also, it helps that Norway has an economic and social system that takes care of its people, so that its citizens are not in desperate need to cover their bare necessities. We should learn from the Norwegian experience, and try to adapt it to our own situation.

"Dishonorably Discharged"

I've just finished reading the now infamous General McChrystal interview in Rolling Stone magazine.  The truth is that it's much more disturbing than I thought, because it goes far beyond being an example of indiscretions in high places and contempt of the President and some of his staff.  That, in and of itself, is just cause for immediate dismissal of the General and his staff involved in such stupid, insensitive and disrespectful behavior. But, what is much worse, in my opinion, is what it reveals of the military culture that makes it possible for a guy like McChrystal to reach the rank of general and be appointed to posts and given missions of such high responsibility.  This is a guy who was, in essence, a hooligan at West Point - no model institution, anyway - and who, along the way, did pretty much as he pleased, while having no respect for authority, except his own.  The article reminds us of a couple of major incidents - one being the cover-up of Pat Tillman's kil

From Riches to Rags

California, once one of the richest states of the United States, has fallen on hard times these past few years.  So much so, that "The Terminator", as Governor, has ordered that 200,000 state workers be paid minimum wage, until the budgetary crisis is resolved.  The state that boasts of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and other symbols of luxury and wealth is in danger of being known for Skid Row, unemployment lines and soup kitchens. And, that is no fantasy, but a grim reality.

Silly "Creatures of the Night"

Maybe it has something to do with age or being of a different generation, but I just don't get this craze over vampire or werewolves novels, movies and television series. It's not that I think that there's something wrong with the subject matter, but I do think it's too damn much of the same.  Also, the new approach seems rather silly, with plots that are frankly absurd and ridiculous, seeking to appeal to young audiences, by departing from the traditional canons of the genre.  In trying to be radically different from previous tellings of the vampire and werewolves stories, they have gone too far for my taste.