"The Arrogance of Power"

Every so often, Obama reminds us that, personal merit aside, he is still the head of the American Empire or what's left of it. This comes to mind when you hear or read his speech in the U.K, saying, with the utmost arrogance, that both the U.S. and England are "essential" for democracy and human rights to flourish in the rest of the world. Really? Well, unless the history of both nations I know is totally wrong, that assertion is bullshit. The British Empire was nothing to be proud of. Ditto the present American one.

Obama was really all over the place in this speech. If, on the one hand, he recognized that the idea of freedom, liberty and human rights is on everyone's heart and mind, then why does the world need that the Americans and the English teach them anything? Are both countries' records so exemplary, that they should serve as models for the rest of the world? Not really. He also said that they should not dictate outcomes abroad. And what the hell are they doing in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention Libya? The list of American intervention is so long that it covers the whole 20th century and keeps growing in this one.

Obama talks the talk, but he doesn't walk the walk. The burden of imperialism is too heavy for him to follow  the straight and narrow path of truth and political honesty.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Belgian Buggery

The Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal won't go away; instead, it keeps growing every day.  Take the story out of Belgium, where a report has been issued that details what went on, including more than a dozen suicides linked to the abuse perpetrated by priests and  a cover up that continues to this day, when a Belgian bishop suggested that a complaint be withheld until 2011, when the bishop who covered up for the offending priest will retire.  With each passing day, it becomes more and more difficult to hold that this behavior was just the work of a few rogue priests.  There are just too many cases all around the world, for anyone to believe such a thing. This is clearly a major problem which the church tried to hide from the authorities and recklessly let it continue, without any regard for children elsewhere, by transferring priests.  There is no excuse for this unpardonable sin.
Read more

Hear, Hear!

Not that it means a whole lot, but, still, the gesture has some significance. After 33 years on the throne, the Dutch queen, at 76, will abdicate in favor of her son. Not subject to election by the vote of her people, she has done the right thing by resigning, so to speak, and letting her son carry on with the royal duties. At 86, and 60 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth would do well to follow this example. Hanging on to the throne at her age and after so many years seems excessive and ungenerous. The same goes for King Juan Carlos, who has just turned 75, and has been on the throne for 37 years. His son will be 45 two days from now, so is already older than his father was when he became King. In Juan Carlos' case, he has, of late, given signs of poor judgment, that could very well be a result of his age. Queen Elizabeth and King Juan Carlos should follow Queen Beatrix 's example.
Read more

Chinese Capitalism

The fact that Asia now boasts of having the biggest number of millionaires in the world is a sign of the times. The predictions of a few years ago have come true: China is the world's next superpower, and the increasing wealth of its economic elite shows it. The sleeping dragon has awakened.
Read more