Nationalists scared by Russia and China

If the "pro-Tibet" protesters were really pro-Tibet, they'd be in Bentonville not Beijing. But they don't give a shit about Tibet or its people. They are simply scared of China rivaling the power of the US. China has always been at the forefront of civilization. They had a complex culture with many relatively modern innovations while western Europeans were still living like "savages." This isn't completely forgotten. During the run-up to the Olympics we were bombarded by Chinese propaganda. Protesters saw the big buildings and they saw how the Chinese looked and lived similar to people in the west. This is unacceptable, they thought. They know the earth can't sustain a country with China's population living like they do (Al Gore told them so). Determined to show those damn Chinese there's only room for one superpower, they ran off to buy a plane ticket from capitalist San Francisco to capitalist China. No one in China deserves to hear shit about human rights abuses from any American. Talk to the Koreans, or the Japanese, about the United States and human rights.

The Wall Street Journal calls Russia's backing of South Ossetia separatists "imperialism." I don't know, but did they have the same reaction to NATO's backing of separatists in Kosovo? Russia, another brutal cutthroat capitalist country, still has enough pride to not allow itself to be pushed around by NATO. This, as Yugoslavia found out, is not acceptable. Russia, too big to be picked apart like Yugoslavia, has to be demonized and marginalized on the world stage. CNN has a list of "experts" on Russia who are quick to denounce the Kremlin's "aggression." No doubt many of these same "experts" were also called on when the butcher of Belgrade, Bill Clinton, decided to practice that good old liberal "humanitarian intervention." Amazingly, their analysis was in support of aggression that time.

The double standards are rampant. We want international multiculturalism, sure, but only so long as your culture doesn't try and get all uppity and shit. Know your place. And not only that, us holier-than-thou Americans are going to criticize you for doing what we have done, and still do, but don't like to think or talk about. So fuck you China and Russia! Did you guys actually think you were going to be part of what we define as "the international community" just because you both embraced capitalism? Well, think again. You'll only be welcomed into the west, this culture of competition, when we are 100% sure you can't compete with us.

It's a family affair

Don't worry Fannie and Freddie, Uncle Sam has got your back. There is a lot of blah blah blah, but I liken the US government's relationship with the business community to that of a rich uncle that continuously bails out his greedy and incompetent nephews and nieces. Wall Street, K Street or Pennsylvania Avenue, whatever, it's all family.

Conservatives, liberals, Obama: what's the difference?

Steven Colbert does a wonderful impression of the modern conservative's view on race (or at least he used to, I stopped watching after he crossed the picket line). Colbert claims that he doesn't see race- literally. He physically can't see the color of his skin, or anyone else's, therefore he can't be a racist when he advocates absurd policies that obviously benefit the largely white ruling class. It's funny, but it also is an actual tactic many conservatives use when debating race sensitive issues. Instead of claiming they are literally colorblind, however, they simply ignore the historical context of situations and pretend everyone is on equal footing. It is disingenuous, callous, and for lack of a better word, racist. It is the preferred strategy of the owner of North Dakota's most popular collection of links, a "I'm pro-war but too busy to fight" pussy named Rob Port. Rob claims not to understand why portraying Barack Obama as a monkey is different than portraying George Bush as one. Considering chattel slavery was still alive and well up until the second world war, and given the ease to find examples of rampant racial inequality in today's society, it is safe to assume people like Rob simply long for the "good old days" when blacks, and other troublesome non-whites, knew their place.

But it isn't just conservatives who use race to refuse challenging the power structure. After Ralph Nader's recent comments, many liberals have been attacking him with an intensity they don't dare attack John McCain with (they would never bring up McCain's role in the murders of countless men, women and children in Vietnam). This is exactly why most "progressives" are pathetic. Rather than hold Obama accountable for his disgusting stances on the telecom immunity bill, the death penalty, Israel, his failure to support healthcare for all, his failure to support same-sex marriage, and a host of other issues; they attack Nader for having the gall to question their messiah. They join conservatives in pleading ignorance about the meaning behind terms like "white talk" and "white guilt."

Nader was right. On Father's Day, for example, instead of talking about the steady decline of wages affecting all families, Obama attacked black fathers in an apparent attempt to convince the "blacks are lazy" voter to give him a second look. That's not even "talking white," that's talking white supremacist. Perhaps if black fathers, as well as fathers and mothers from any other race, had a job that paid a living wage without working hours upon hours of overtime, they'd actually have time to spend with their children, and you know, raise them. They could even sit them down for a real meal rather than feeding them "cold Popeye's" and "eight sodas" or whatever other bullshit generic accusation the Obama campaign's version of Nixon-era Kevin Phillips comes up with. We reap what we sow. We can't have a society that rewards the worst aspects of humanity and not have a few dead-beat dads. Until issues like the dictatorship of industry by the few and the commoditization of the human experience are addressed, it is hard to take the "personal responsibility" crowd very seriously.

Also, Nader is not implying that blacks are monolithic in their concerns, as some liberals are saying. Anyone who has read or watched the comments should easily realize how nonsensical this claim is. He is arguing that someone who is not part of the dominant culture ought to have better insight regarding issues that overwhelmingly affect minority cultures. Nader, an Arab American, knows the situation well. Again, this is the same disingenuous logic that conservatives use when it benefits their world view.

This "controversy" shows that not only are "progressives" still not willing to back an actual progressive candidate, they are still willing to throw one under the bus faster than Obama can say Reverend Wright.

The working class and the employing class have nothing in common

This is the sorry state of business unions, from the WSJ-

Two of the nation's largest labor unions [SEIU and UNITE HERE] have struck confidential agreements with large employers that give the companies the right to designate which of their locations, and how many workers, the unions can seek to organize.

The agreements are raising questions about union transparency and workers' rights. A summary document put together by the unions says it is critical to the success of the partnership "that we honor the confidentiality and not publicly disclose the existence of these agreements." That includes not disclosing them to union members.

The article goes on to mention that the deal demands the unions give up their right to strike as well. All this for a card check system, something that even has measurable political support. Andy Stern wanted off the Democratic Party's tit only because he wanted to latch on to corporate America's tit. That, of course, is nothing that wasn't known, but disgusting nonetheless.

The IWW is more relevant, and needed, than ever.

The destruction of Somalia continues

Last November I wrote the following piece and it got picked up by the Somaliland Times (Somaliland is either an independent country north of Somalia or a breakaway part of Somalia, depending on who you talk to). In the wake of the recent illegal US air strike in Somalia, I think my article is still largely correct. For nearly the last decade I've worked with several Somalis and in order to avoid brain atrophy from monotonous factory work, we talk politics. Someday I wish to visit the area.

According to the United Nations, the situation in Somalia is the worst humanitarian crisis in all of Africa. In the last two weeks 100,000 people have fled Mogadishu, the capital of the country. It is estimated that 1.5 million Somalis are now in need of immediate assistance. Despite all this, coverage of the situation has been absent from nearly all national, and local, news outlets.

One can’t help but think that the United States’ involvement in the catastrophe is one reason why the media has been so silent on the issue. The US fervently backed the Ethiopian invasion, the installment of the unpopular warlord-led Transitional Federal Government and the attempted break up the Islamic Courts Union. Since January of this year, the United States has launched several air strikes in Somalia targeting individuals deemed “terrorists” (state-sponsored assassinations are illegal under international law). Ethiopia, caught in an Iraq-like situation of its own, has been accused of randomly shooting civilians, looting Somali shops, raping Somali women and various other abuses during the occupation. They have stated they are "defending themselves" in Somalia and intend to leave when a “stable” government is in place (stable, of course, means the U.S./Ethiopian proxy Transitional Federal Government).

The Islamic Courts Union had brought stability to a region that has seen nothing but war since the fall of Siad Barre in the early nineties. They were a broad coalition of Islamic groups that had gained the support of many people sick of being attacked and robbed by local militias and warlords. The ICU, who at best had limited influence outside Mogadishu before the invasion, now appears to include anyone who decided to fight against the imperial conquest, regardless of their beliefs. This labeling no doubt helps sell the occupation as a part of the larger so-called "war on terrorism." The possibility of Somalis, who aren’t known for extremism, to actually work with the ICU and hammer out a government backed by the people is all but lost. Now, directly due to the occupation, we are seeing a radicalization of the population, leading to roadside and suicide bombings.

This is another example of post-colonial Western intervention in Africa, causing nothing but death and destruction. Put into the context of the so-called “war on terror,” our meddling in Somalia is counterproductive. It is simply creating more “terrorists.” It also begs the question: Is terrorism always abominable, or is it somehow acceptable if it is done by Western powers, namely the United States of America?

"The Band's Visit," a film for peace

The Arab-Israeli conflict is complicated. Even calling it "the Arab-Israeli conflict" provokes questions. After countless debates, peace deals, brokered then broken cease-fires, and even a road map; it seems only fitting that a seemingly apolitical movie would make such a strong political statement against the ridiculous behavior of leaders on both sides.

It's films like Eran Kolirin's The Band's Visit that keep my belief in humanity strong. The opening tagline announces, "Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important." Only, as the film goes on to explain, it is "unimportant" events like this that shape who we are and how we act. The story begins just as the police band from Alexandria is being dropped off at an Israeli airport. Decked out in sky blue military-style uniforms, they are by no means keeping a low profile. They even get their picture taken in a hilarious opening scene that sets the stage for the many awkward moments to come. (The camera work is brilliant- every shoulder shrug, facial twitch, and uncomfortable silent moment is captured completely unpretentiously, something many "indie" films can't seem to figure out.) The band was invited to play at the Arab Cultural Center in Petah Tiqwa, but when a P gets mistaken for a B, they end up in a lonely desert town where the only entertainment appears to be a roller disco that has a very eastern European feel to it. With the next bus a day away, and little to no Israeli money, they are forced to rely on the kindness of complete strangers. Complete strangers that they, of course, are expected to hate. Dina, played wonderfully by the absolutely beautiful Ronit Elkabetz, runs a restaurant on the edge of town where the band, led by "the general" Tawfiq, played perfectly by Israeli actor Sasson Gabai, stops to ask for directions. When it becomes clear that they are in the wrong place, and stuck for the night, Dina makes arrangements for the band to stay at various locations across town. Tawfiq, at first a bit reluctant, agrees to stay and ends up at Dina's place.

During the course of the film, I felt as if I knew the characters. I related to their hopes, desires, flaws, painful regrets, and I felt the underlying awareness of the political situation they all felt and were forced to deal with. Dina is tough and fiercely independent on the outside, but is deeply depressed and substitutes sex for love. Tawfiq is strict, especially with the womanizing Haled, but really views himself as a father figure to the youngest officer. Tawfiq's second in command lacks the self-esteem to finish his clarinet concerto, but is inspired by a stranger's advice and infant child. There is a scene at the roller disco that is, for lack of a better word, adorable. If it doesn't move you, you have no pulse. The film is full of subplots, each adding to the development and fascinatingly complex depth of the characters.

In a better world Tawfiq and Dina could expand on their shared moments, but for various obvious reasons, that are no fault of their own, this isn't an option. It may not be an option now, but as The Band's Visit makes abundantly clear, a better world is possible.