I’m not sorry
During the week just gone, Australia had its 'Sorry Day', where the government apologised to the Aborigines for the treatment they experienced generations ago. I can certainly understand the need for the Australian government to be seen saying sorry for something the government was responsible for generations ago, and I see it as a positive step forward for reconciliation.
However, the problem I have is apologising for something that's not the fault of the current generation. There's two forms of 'sorry'. One is 'I'm sorry you experienced something tragic. I know I can never know what it's like for you as a result of what happened.' The other is 'I'm sorry that I caused you great suffering.' The first is valid for Australia's 'sorry day', while the second is not. The current government is not responsible for the actions of its predecessors 40-50 years ago.
The bird flu hoax
Further to the bird flu entry here, there's another article here that talks about the bird flu hoax.
Interestingly, the intelligence analysis by Stratfor has these particular comments…
An uncomfortable but undeniable fact is that there are a great many people and institutions in this world that have a vested interest in feeding the bird flu scare.
My own research into this has found the following information:
- Gilead developed Tamiflu in 1996 and used F. Hoffman-La Roche for global development and marketing in exchange for royalties (link)
- US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was made Chairman of Gilead in 1997 (link)
- In 2003, Roche begins increasing Tamiflu production "in preparation for massive orders", with up to $2 billion from the US government (particularly the US Department of Defense, of which Rumsfeld is head of) (link)
Israel blocks Palestinian bird flu safeguards
I've always been appalled by how Israel can so blatantly disregard all forms of humanity with their treatment of Palestinians, and the latest such incident is even more shocking to me. The Israelis are blocking material into Palestine that will help the Palestinians locate and treat the bird flu that's of such a threat these days. Now, the only reason the Israelis would be blocking this is simply to maximise the number of potential Palestinian deaths from the bird flu.
Absolutely disgusting and appalling. How can any country get away with shit like this in today's world? How can they have gotten away with all that they've done to the Palestinians? It's like there are commonly accepted rules for the world. There's our rules and then there's Israeli rules.
Well fuck 'em I say. Their actions earn my disgust, and I'm sure that karma will bite them in the arse one day. I pray it's a day I'm around for, and I'll dance in the street.
Beginner’s Guide to American Politics
Thanks to this site:
The criminalisation of politics
There's an excellent post here at Daily Kos, about the Republicans defending the President and his advisors, all of whom are implicated in treasonous acts against the country. An excellent quote here:
There's something beyond mere politics in all of this. Politics, one would hope, is not sufficient reason to damage the country. This is different. This is the cult of power, and of corruption, that is not just defended, but celebrated by pundits, by journalists, and by politicians alike.The Republican pundit machine wails, and wags their fingers, and is shocked by the investigations, and depositions, and prosecutions, and calls it the "criminalization of politics".
Most of the rest of us call it crime, disguised as politics.
Crime, disguised as politics, and defended by crooks, cowards, and blowhards.
