Life Is Not Purgatory

A Global Conscience
... from Rwanda to Darfur and uncomfortable places in between.

The collective memory of the world is in desperate need of massive doses of Ginkgo biloba for treatment of its memory problems. In 1995 we stood idly by as a UN Mission to Rwanda was under-funded, under-manned, under-equiped and hamstrung by assine rules of engagement that allowed for the rampant slaughter of 500,000 people over the course of 90 days of pure hell known as the Rwandan Genocide. In the aftermath of that the wolrd took stock of the situtation and vowed that it would never happen again... we failed, or at the very least are failing right now.

Darfur is rapidly degenerating and showing disturbing glimmers of Rwanda's past in its own future. The Government of Sudan is resisting attempts to put a UN force on the ground, to assist the under-funded, under-manned, under-equipped African Union forces already stretched beyond their limits how much more blood do we need the global community need on their hands before we actually put our foot down?

Afghanistan, unlike Iraq was clearly tied to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, it's Taliban regime aided and abetted the likes of Osama bin Laden and his ilk, individuals whose fundamentalism poses a threat not just to the equally fundamentalist beliefs US neo-cons, but to all those who do not subscribe to the same very narrow, strict, and regressive interpretations of the Koran – in which women are little more than breeders, hold no political or personal rights and whom can be raped without consequence – perhaps even stoned to death for adultery unless they can prove ‘rape’ under the Islamic law that requires four witnesses.

I thought that Canadians had the stomach to do the right thing, to send our soldiers to fight for what we believe is right. However with a majority of Canadian’s now wanting to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, I am forced to wonder if anyone will ever have to courage to put their foot down about anything… ever…

How many more millions are going to perish by genocide or starvation, be raped, intimidated or brutalized into submission… How many?

Labels: humanitarianism, politics

All for Naught!
... insert witty subtitle here.

So the mystery date was cancelled by the other partry three hours before the planned meeting, there is a rain check however, so who knows.

In regards to the blog I have decided to set myself a schedule, with certain special interuptions when they tickle my fancy. Starting every Saturday there will be a political commentary on some issue that has crossed the media radar in the past week. Every Wednesday will try to be a non political blog post likely belly-aching about my lack of a life, until I can get around to trading mine in for a new fancier one.

Labels: blog, life, politics