Way to go America! November 5, 2008

”The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.” — Walt Whitman.

The results are out and the winner is… the United States of America. Congratulations to President Barack Obama and the American people on their wonderful victory that also means America’s triumph over racial divide, narrow mindedness. Americans have shown the world why this is the greatest country in the world.

Even as tiny Western European countries keep on electing right wing politicians, America has set another great example for the rest of the western world. Because the United States are not provincial. This is the boldest, noblest, most unique and greatest nation in the world. Congratulations again.

We’re still here, World. May 24, 2008

Hello readers,

Well, in the title I thought I should bring you the short message from the many voices and personalities of my fragmented and cluttered brain. I have not blogged in ages as I have been busy with all things offline. Things are shaping up for stability and clarity in life. This is all I can say safely for now. I am on my way to become permanent resident of this peaceful, humble, placid and polite little country, New Zealand, within a couple of months. I hope this country will survive my very big ego, selfish and mean heart, erratic mind. If not, I can move on to wilder and bigger zones of this world. Any sprawling city where no one knows your name or gives a fuck and leaves you alone will do. Hopefully, next year I would take up higher studies to get an odd academic feather in some worthless field such as Literature, Creative writing, American studies. Hmm.

But well, I should be blogging again, at least once a week because this world cannot afford to miss my valuable opinions and prophetic voices. Ok, I’m just trying to annoy people. hee hee. **Phlegm, cough and spit.**

Another reason I did not post was because I only had thoughts of political nature on my mind and they are rarely worth reading. I have tracked with great thrill American Democratic nomination. I am glad that I’d endorsed Barack Obama months ago when he was considered just an underdog that Senator Hilary Clinton would beat by the sheer power of her status as Mrs. Bill Clinton, two timing former First Lady, extensive and powerful connections, huge support base and her ethnicity (if I’m allowed to say that). But Mr. Obama has not only lived up to my expectations, he has actually exceeded them! Well done. I believe in his wisdom, leadership, humility, diplomacy, charisma and good will even more now. Though I have high respect for Mr. McCain as well who is probably the first Democrat in the Republican party in a long time, I would have Mr. Obama to lead and redirect the new America and the new Americans into a new and fiercely challenging century. Sadly, America has been going down, and along with it the world economy. America stands at the crossroads and nothing will save it except reinventing itself as it has always done in the past and survived. I offer my prayers and good wishes to the land of individual freedom, liberty and innovation.

Other than this not so exciting note I should rattle my readers (most of whom just wander into my posts from anywhere) And to do so I think I should give you a typical sensational Ember goody to amuse yourself. Here is a link to the dirty love letters of James Joyce (If you might be dumb enough to own an iPOd and not know who he was, he was the great and acclaimed Irish writer whose novel Ulysses I have NOT read) to his lover and soulmate Nora. Here is the link: JAMES JOYCE’S DIRTY LETTERS read it and let me know what you think of it. That’s all for now… but wait. Here are two bonus trivia bits for you:

1.) I heard British singer Robbie Williams has been scouring Arizona for UFOs and actually attended international UFO conference. He says, he knows there are lots of hoaxes but he wants to believe in them, sincerely.

2.) I was just reading Wikipedia entry on Michael Moore (Sensationalist documentary maker: Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko) and got to learn that he is a ”Practising Catholic”. Hmmm..? I would recommend that he skip meat on Fridays.

Ember Endorsements: Go Obama and McCain. January 29, 2008

I am just writing this post for the record. Months and months ago while discussing upcoming American Presidential elections with my online friends (mostly American) I had hazarded a guess about the possible President to be. My choices were: Barack Obama from the D camp and Rudy Giuliani from the R camp. While Rudy has seriously screwed up his chances by shoddy and smug campaign, Obama has risen as the star for new politics and new things of substance.

 

Months ago, my good friends had suggested that- from D camp- Obama is immature and Hilary will win the day as she got the right connections and the money and two timer in the White House as husband. But I disagreed. She always came across as a power hungry phony to me. It was a dangerous thing to say back then because Mrs. Clinton has always been a very respected figure, but in the recent times she has definitely made her phoniness apparent in collusion with her tag team partner and husband. I think American people suspected her lack of mettle from the very beginning in Iowa and the initial polls in New Hampshire. She won New Hampshire with a slight margin only because of pity vote as she cried her way to a wafer thin victory.

 

I probably shouldn’t be saying all this because-yet- she may very well become President and nuke this part of the world where I write my missives from. But I am expressing my unabashed opinion. February 5th, the grand Tuesday, will seal the fate and I hope it will be in Barack Obama’s favor. His election will only confirm all that is good, noble and sound about America.

 

As a final word, I also support and endorse John Mccain from the R camp as he is a person of substance and great moral courage.

What is a Black American? Language of politics and race November 30, 2007

Believe it or not, the color of skin remains a very defining character in a human being’s life, despite liberal ideals and politically correct slogans. Race relations is the subject and concern of the Western world and its importance will only increase in the times to come. That’s because Western countries are the only countries where racial diversity is found because of their history, colonial past, globalization, immigration and interracial couples. One may argue there are lots of races or ethnicities in non Wester countries. Yes, but those are more like sub ethnicities or sub races that have- more or less- resembling cultures and customs, as in China, India, Indonesia, African countries.

 

 

But in the Western World probably there is no country in the world where race seems to matter more than in America. This is not because Americans are racist (they’re much less racist and least xenophobic than most countries of the world) but because America is racially and demographically too diverse. But as other races have managed to assimilate into Americana, the Blacks or Afro Americans have always stood out and remained isolated. There are barely any bridges between Black and White in America. They live in their own universes, for better or worse.

 

But I want to dig a bit deeper and understand the psychology of this racial isolation and refusal to cross over to the other sides of their own race, Black or Afro American in this case. I remember watching great Larry David’s (creator of Seinfeld) wonderful comedy program on DVD called ‘‘Curb Your Enthusiasm” in which Larry plays the real life Larry in comic style. Larry David and his wife also have a Black woman friend (played by Wanda Sykes). Often race is used in the sitcom for humorous effect and sarcasm. In one episode Wanda wants Larry’s reference to get a job. One day they meet on the street in LA and Wanda asks if Larry has already put in a good word for her. Then Wanda complains how come Larry forgot to mention that she was a Black woman with Brown skin. I think it was just a priceless satire. Kudos to Larry David, Wanda Sykes and the rest of the crew.

 

Obama is not Black, not enough- And here I come almost to the final paragraph. What is a Black American then? Do you know, in American Presidential campaign there are more Black voters who are voting for Hilary Clinton than Barack Obama, who in return is gaining a lot of White votes. Why? Is it so that despite the media coverage that tags Obama as the Black Presidential candidate is actually a person of mixed race? Let’s say bi-racial, who has a White mother and a Black (Kenyan African) father. Naturally, Obama is brown and biracial not Black. Maybe he is not fit enough to represent the Blacks. Here is the New York Times Op-ed that produced this post from me: ”Obama’s Color line”. It notes, ”The alienation, anger and pessimism that mark speeches from major black American leaders are missing from Mr. Obama’s speeches.

 

Is Being Alienated, angry and pessimistic, being Black? Why is it that when Blacks become successful, ”they act White” and are not Blacks anymore. Colin Powell was never touted as a Black hero. But wait, his skin is too light. Let’s look elsewhere… Condoleezza Rice? But she ain’t much popular Black hero either. Then, I suppose, she must be acting White….

When a young Muslim man comes to live with an American family November 29, 2007

I just found this beautiful article from Christian Science Monitor, ”New friend, new views of the world”. On another September 11, a young Muslim man lands on US soil straight from Egypt. September 11 sounded like an ominous day to Pamela Freundl Kirst. She was anxious and felt ‘’somewhat threatened”. But the true story unfolds into a lesson in friendship and tolerance. 



I personally found Abdul’s customs and his strong will to stick to them, even though when he was by himself in America, somewhat strange. But as we see it works out well. It is not about converting each other but understanding each other. That’s pretty much my philosophy for world peace.  CLICK HERE TO  READ FULL STORY

Let’s talk Islam and the World-1 November 6, 2007

**This blog may be edited or expanded later for typos and better coherence**

This debate seems inevitable. It began with my Blog post (CLICK HERE TO ACCESS) that was meant as a review of Mark Steyn’s book, ”America Alone- The end of the world as we know it” . Book review became an excuse for tackling hackneyed Islamophobic notions, consiracy theories and rhetoric, often fanned by ”conservatives” and dirty little right wing political parties in Europe and the rest of the world. I welcome all the comments from anyone, anywhere in the world and I promise I will try my best to include your comment, even if you may have very strong opinions about anything, pro Muslim or Anti- Muslim. It is time we become very honest about our secret spaces of heart and mind and once and for all express what is it that we really think or want?

 

First of all I am no friend of ANY RELIGION, let alone Islam. But it just hurts my nerves to see religion being used as an excuse to vent people’s own personal prejudices, grudges and narrow mindedness. Follwing is one comment to my above mentioned Post and my comment in reply that I wish to be the start of this debate. If you’re out there and feel strongly about it. Now, is the chance to vent it or express yourself. This post is available both on my WordPress and Blogger blogs. So, feel free to check both to keep track of comments.

 

Comment Received from ”Blue Devil” on my WordPress blog post–

 

”Your comments edge on the overly PCism mentioned in the book. Your rantings are equal to the European politicos and literati that chant anti-American slogans, even though without American help in WWII, all of Europe would be speaking German.
BTW, there are over five million Muslims living in the Philippines. Do you live in a cave? I think I could find one of them that is pro-Islam. You mention India, which is 80+% Hindu. Do you realize that there are over 100 MILLION Muslims in India? China has around 50+ MILLION. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world at about 200 MILLION.

 

Also, Steyn was not talking about the procreation of Muslims worldwide, but he was comparing their procreation in Europe compared to ethnic Europeans. However, Muslims in predominantly Muslim countries procreate at a greater rate than other races. For instance, in Malaysia, the gov’t (predominantly Muslim) encourages Muslims to have many children. Although, they do stop giving tax breaks after six children. So, a Muslim with 4-6 kids pays little or no taxes and non-Muslims with a couple of kids, but less income, will pay more taxes.

 

I would suggest that you read “While Europe Slept”, written by a gay American that moved to Europe because of (what he thought) their liberalism and found that he and his partner were frequently verbally (and once physically) attacked by Muslims because of their sexual leanings. He has lived in Europe (Amsterdam and Oslo) for the past decade and has a better firsthand insight than you have.”

 

My reply

 

Thanks for your comment. There are lots of points I must address vis-a-vis your comment **I will also blog this comment to be expanded later**

 

But first of all I must underline I AM NOT PRO EUROPEAN AT ALL. Not even A European fan as opposed to many so called American Conservatives who pine for a 100% White race European society (where people will not only speak German but also French, Italian, Greek etc.) all the time , whether they admit it or not.

 

Second, once again you’re buying into ”Muslims Attack planet earth” rhetoric. But before I go into it, what possible objection we can have if the whole world population converts to Islam and Muslims make tons of babies, USING THEIR FREE WILL and DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM AND GOD GIVEN SPERMS AND OVARIES?? Freedom: I mean isn’t it what America stands for? I may not like overwhelmingly religious or Muslim world but if it does become so, what can I or you do about it? And what right we have to tell the world what friggin religion THEY CHOOSE or NOT?

 

I mean in the old times when Christianity was as tyrannical (or more) as fundamentalist Islam today, nothing could stop the spread of Christianity into Europe like an aggressive Cancer. Islamist Christianity of those days was uncivilized, undemocratic, homophobic, misogynist, genocidal, homicidal, persecutory, corrupt, violent, illiberal and and all things Islamist.

 

And even today we have Christian cults like Mormons and in extreme form, Camp Davidians or doomsday cults whose members’ religious fervor, polygamy, Pedophilia etc. is legendary. Indeed they’re so sick that American federal government has to send military to kill these weirdos. My solution is: any fundamentalism within any religion or philosophy must be annihilated. I don’t care what these weirdos may call themselves: Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Shamans, Hindus, New Age. They should be shot dead on sight or arrested and sent to nut houses.

 

But there is nothing we can do about people’s right to choose a religion as long as they’re not going in the extremes or seriously harming the life, liberty and security of others. Going by that logic, Islamist terrorists do not represent Islam. End of story. They’re like any other cult and I’ve discussed above what we should do with them.

 

And as for human rights violations and crimes against humanity, innocent Muslims (men, women and children) get butchered all the time but it does not bother us. Why??? Indian police and army has been butchering them in Kashmir. In all other parts of India from time to time mobs or hooligans enter their homes to rape their women and slaughter their men and children in India (don’t ask me to give examples, you should keep up with news). So, 100 million Muslims in India are not having a jolly good time. They’re persecuted and bullied. Same is true with Uzbekistan, China, Russia (Chechnya)

 

And your star writer Mark Steyn also notes the massacre of Muslims in the modern territories of Yugoslavia. But he says something like, ”If you can’t outnumber ‘em, you cull ‘em.” Cull what?? Chickens? This is how stupid Mark Steyn is and nobody wants to notice. Is that your solution for the rest of Europe and the world??? ”CULL ‘EM”??

 

Mark Steyn (as someone with Jewish race) must remember that Nazi party too had said something like that about 60 years back. ”Cull ‘em” And then you got holocaust. I wonder– AND MARK MY WORDS– if with all of this vitriolic propaganda Europe is being groomed for another holocaust. This time ”cull ‘em” for Muslims. It will happen, if this stupid scaremongering keeps gaining momentum.
And by the way, Who is the best U.S. friend, outside the United States? Is it not Saudi Arabia? (Now, even Britain says it has ”Shared values” with Saudi Arabia) How come? And what possible liberation of Muslims and especially women is being carried out by the American military in Saudi Arabia? Please, keep me updated.