Walt is checking his calendar to make sure this is the last day of January, not the first day of April. About 12 hours ago, I posted a report that Zimbabwe's erstwhile president, Comrade Bob Mugabe, had been selected to chair the panel of mediators whose task it is to sort out the electoral stalemate in the Ivory Coast.
Now a Zimbabwean reporter covering the "African Union" meetings in Addis Abeba says that President Robert Mugabe will not -- repeat, NOT -- be heading the mission. In fact, he won't even be on the panel of intermediaries.
The AU must have realized that putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop was a bit over the top, even for Africa, so named heads of state Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Idriss Deby of Chad, Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso (the Land of Upright Men -- that's what it means) and Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania.
A "top Zimbabwe delegate" to the AU meeting told NewsDay's Faith Zaba that Zimbabwe could not be part of that panel because it had its own elections to organize. Actually no election has been called yet, but that's what he said. “We could not be part of that panel because we have our own elections this year and there is still a lot that needs to be done to organise our election.”
Indeed. Wouldn't do to have another misfire as in 2008. Once a chef, always a chef ... at least in Zimbabwe.
Footnote: According to Ms Zaba, Kenya's Raila Odinga was also "relieved of his duties".
Monday, January 31, 2011
Crisis of faith - "God" executed under Sharia law
Iran's semi-official Fars new agency reported today that an Iranian man was hanged for apostasy, after attracting several disciples who apparently believed his claim to be God.
About 1980 years ago, a Jew was crucified in Jerusalem for the same thing, except that the Jews who condemned him called his sin "blasphemy".
The Iranian government is therefore waiting rather nervously to see what will happen the day after tomorrow!
Yesterday's hanging was decreed by Sharia law, the code which is strictly and severely enforced in Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries of the Middle East. Apostasy, murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Sharia, which has been Iran’s law since the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the Shah.
The western-based International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran published a report earlier this month which calculated that Iran had executed an average of one person every eight hours since the start of the year. Let's see. That would be...ummm...about 90 so far, and the year has just begun.
Rights groups say Iran is second only to China in the number of executions it carries out, and puts more people per 1000 population to death than any other country. Iran routinely dismisses Western criticism of its justice system, saying it is implementing Islamic law.
Now militant Muslims in the USA and Canada would like to see Sharia law imported into our countries. Of course, they tell us, it would apply only to their religious community. In other words, they would hang only apostates from Islam, and stone to death only Muslim adulterers. So that's all right then.
About 1980 years ago, a Jew was crucified in Jerusalem for the same thing, except that the Jews who condemned him called his sin "blasphemy".
The Iranian government is therefore waiting rather nervously to see what will happen the day after tomorrow!
Yesterday's hanging was decreed by Sharia law, the code which is strictly and severely enforced in Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries of the Middle East. Apostasy, murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Sharia, which has been Iran’s law since the 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the Shah.
The western-based International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran published a report earlier this month which calculated that Iran had executed an average of one person every eight hours since the start of the year. Let's see. That would be...ummm...about 90 so far, and the year has just begun.
Rights groups say Iran is second only to China in the number of executions it carries out, and puts more people per 1000 population to death than any other country. Iran routinely dismisses Western criticism of its justice system, saying it is implementing Islamic law.
Now militant Muslims in the USA and Canada would like to see Sharia law imported into our countries. Of course, they tell us, it would apply only to their religious community. In other words, they would hang only apostates from Islam, and stone to death only Muslim adulterers. So that's all right then.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Democracy in dark countries - update
On December 9th, Walt commented on the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo, president of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to concede defeat in a presidential election held the previous November, even though he had clearly been beaten by Alassane Ouattara.
This is in keeping with African culture, particularly the cult of the "Big Man", the chief of chiefs in the tribal -- "feudal" would be a better word -- system which is still a hallmark of African politics. Once you become a Big Man -- a "chef", as they say in English-speaking Africa -- you remain so for life. Example: the late but not lamented Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who ruled the tiny state of Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) from independence until his death at the age of 100 (or more -- no-one knew for sure).
By comparison, Gbagbo is only 65, so reckons he should have at least three decades left. He clings to power in Abidjan, while Ouattara is setting up shop in Yamoussoukro. Yes, Ivory Coast has not only two presidents, but two capitals.
The former colonial power, France, and the United Nations want to recognize Ouattara, but they're not sure how to dislodge the limpet-like Gbagbo. So rather than impose a white, western concept like "the man with the most votes wins", they've asked on the so-called African Union to find an African solution.
The African Union has responded by appointing a mediating team which is supposed to have a little chat with Messrs Gbagbo and Ouattara -- in separate palaces, one hopes -- to make the peace.
And what a team it is! It includes Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, elected a couple of years ago in an election widely viewed as a fraud and a travesty. Also on the panel is Goodluck Jonathan [Are you sure that's right? Ed.], who was the president of Nigeria but isn't president yet because the election which he plans on winning has yet to be held. Good luck to him!
It gets better...or worse, depending on your point of view. The chairman of the panel is to be none other than Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe -- once, present and future President of Zimbabwe. Comrade Bob knows a thing or two about disputed elections and clinging to power, having done just that following an unexpected defeat at the polls in 2008.
The story bears repeating. Having been Zimbabwe's chief of chiefs since independence in 1980, Mugabe was compelled, by a need for a semblance of respectability, to seek a renewed mandate. The idea of declaring him "President for Life" had been mooted, but rejected because the givers of foreign aid find it politically difficult to keep throwing money at dictators.
In 2008, for the first time since independence, Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party faced a serious challenge from Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democractic Change. Tsvangirai was predicted to be the easy winner of a straight two-man fight, so a dupe named Arthur Mutambara was found to head a breakaway faction of the MDC and become the third man in the fight.
After a run-up marked by brutal intimidation of the opposition, the vote was duly held. As the first returns trickled in, Mr. T. was leading Bob by a comfortable margin, with Mutambara a distant third. Then, all of a sudden, the Electoral Commission -- Zanu-PF appointees to a man -- stopped counting the ballots!
Weeks went by. The people of Zimbabwe were understandably keen to know who had won. Finally it was announced that Tsvangirai had received something like 49% of the votes, against 47% for the incumbent. Mr. T. was on his way to State House to measure the windows for new drapes, when constitutional experts reminded everyone that under Zimbabwe's amended constitution, one had to obtain 50% +1 of the votes cast to be elected!
So there would have to be a runoff. Tsvangirai did not want to risk having any more of his supporters lose their lives, so he withdrew. Mugabe ran unopposed and, not surprisingly, won.
That is how Robert Mugabe hung onto power against the wishes of the majority of his countrymen. The experience will no doubt stand him in good stead as he fixes the flawed Ivorian election. "Set a chief to catch a chief." Africa wins again.
This is in keeping with African culture, particularly the cult of the "Big Man", the chief of chiefs in the tribal -- "feudal" would be a better word -- system which is still a hallmark of African politics. Once you become a Big Man -- a "chef", as they say in English-speaking Africa -- you remain so for life. Example: the late but not lamented Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who ruled the tiny state of Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) from independence until his death at the age of 100 (or more -- no-one knew for sure).
By comparison, Gbagbo is only 65, so reckons he should have at least three decades left. He clings to power in Abidjan, while Ouattara is setting up shop in Yamoussoukro. Yes, Ivory Coast has not only two presidents, but two capitals.
The former colonial power, France, and the United Nations want to recognize Ouattara, but they're not sure how to dislodge the limpet-like Gbagbo. So rather than impose a white, western concept like "the man with the most votes wins", they've asked on the so-called African Union to find an African solution.
The African Union has responded by appointing a mediating team which is supposed to have a little chat with Messrs Gbagbo and Ouattara -- in separate palaces, one hopes -- to make the peace.
And what a team it is! It includes Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, elected a couple of years ago in an election widely viewed as a fraud and a travesty. Also on the panel is Goodluck Jonathan [Are you sure that's right? Ed.], who was the president of Nigeria but isn't president yet because the election which he plans on winning has yet to be held. Good luck to him!
It gets better...or worse, depending on your point of view. The chairman of the panel is to be none other than Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe -- once, present and future President of Zimbabwe. Comrade Bob knows a thing or two about disputed elections and clinging to power, having done just that following an unexpected defeat at the polls in 2008.
The story bears repeating. Having been Zimbabwe's chief of chiefs since independence in 1980, Mugabe was compelled, by a need for a semblance of respectability, to seek a renewed mandate. The idea of declaring him "President for Life" had been mooted, but rejected because the givers of foreign aid find it politically difficult to keep throwing money at dictators.
In 2008, for the first time since independence, Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party faced a serious challenge from Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democractic Change. Tsvangirai was predicted to be the easy winner of a straight two-man fight, so a dupe named Arthur Mutambara was found to head a breakaway faction of the MDC and become the third man in the fight.
After a run-up marked by brutal intimidation of the opposition, the vote was duly held. As the first returns trickled in, Mr. T. was leading Bob by a comfortable margin, with Mutambara a distant third. Then, all of a sudden, the Electoral Commission -- Zanu-PF appointees to a man -- stopped counting the ballots!
Weeks went by. The people of Zimbabwe were understandably keen to know who had won. Finally it was announced that Tsvangirai had received something like 49% of the votes, against 47% for the incumbent. Mr. T. was on his way to State House to measure the windows for new drapes, when constitutional experts reminded everyone that under Zimbabwe's amended constitution, one had to obtain 50% +1 of the votes cast to be elected!
So there would have to be a runoff. Tsvangirai did not want to risk having any more of his supporters lose their lives, so he withdrew. Mugabe ran unopposed and, not surprisingly, won.
That is how Robert Mugabe hung onto power against the wishes of the majority of his countrymen. The experience will no doubt stand him in good stead as he fixes the flawed Ivorian election. "Set a chief to catch a chief." Africa wins again.
French fed up with Muslim occupation
Some readers will remember a picture of Muslims praying in the street appearing here some months ago. There are several videos of such scenes on the Net. Here's one of them.
And here's where Walt found this.
One of Walt's followers wondered if the videos were perhaps a hoax, images shot in an Arab country pasted onto a background of a Paris street scene. Wrong. These are real, shot in France where Islam is now the second-biggest religion after Catholicism.
This is a common scene not just in Paris but in cities all over France. A call to prayer goes up from a loudspeaker perched on the hood of a car, and phalanxes of muslims touch their heads to the ground and point their bums towards heaven. And the French are sick of it.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France's Front National, said recently that these scenes are proof that Muslims are taking over France and becoming an occupying force.
Reuters reports the head of research for French pollsters IFOP as saying "This has become a key political issue. Street prayers and the perceived growing influence of Islam are seen as impginging on French values of secularism [and] communal living."
Mme Le Pen's comments are evidently resonating with the French public. A TNS Sofres poll showed that support for her ideas has grown by 12 percentage points in the last year.
A presidential election is about 15 months away. Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Marine, expects the party to to even better than in 2002, when it knocked out the mainstream socialist candidate.
Think of le Front National as France's equivalent of the Tea Party. Except for one thing. Americans do not yet see the threat of Islamic domination. The streets of Atlanta, Bellingham and Cleveland are not yet blocked by praying Muslims. The Islamization of America is not an issue ... yet ...
And here's where Walt found this.
One of Walt's followers wondered if the videos were perhaps a hoax, images shot in an Arab country pasted onto a background of a Paris street scene. Wrong. These are real, shot in France where Islam is now the second-biggest religion after Catholicism.
This is a common scene not just in Paris but in cities all over France. A call to prayer goes up from a loudspeaker perched on the hood of a car, and phalanxes of muslims touch their heads to the ground and point their bums towards heaven. And the French are sick of it.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France's Front National, said recently that these scenes are proof that Muslims are taking over France and becoming an occupying force.
Reuters reports the head of research for French pollsters IFOP as saying "This has become a key political issue. Street prayers and the perceived growing influence of Islam are seen as impginging on French values of secularism [and] communal living."
Mme Le Pen's comments are evidently resonating with the French public. A TNS Sofres poll showed that support for her ideas has grown by 12 percentage points in the last year.
A presidential election is about 15 months away. Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Marine, expects the party to to even better than in 2002, when it knocked out the mainstream socialist candidate.
Think of le Front National as France's equivalent of the Tea Party. Except for one thing. Americans do not yet see the threat of Islamic domination. The streets of Atlanta, Bellingham and Cleveland are not yet blocked by praying Muslims. The Islamization of America is not an issue ... yet ...
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Arabs are revolting
Madness in the Maghreb! First Tunisia, whence refugees are even now making their way to Canada, slowed down somewhat by the weight of the gold bars in their luggage.
Then disturbances in Yemen and Algeria. And now Egypt. As I write, an excited radio commentator is describing riots in Cairo as Egypt's "Berlin moment". Walt doesn't think so.
Even if regime change does come to Egypt and the other countries of north Africa, don't expect a sudden outbreak of democracy, prosperity and peace. The people of those states are Arabs. Democracy and pluralism (political or religious) are not part of their history and culture. In the Arab societies, absolutism and authoritarianism are accepted as the norm.
Some of the countries may be officially secular but in practice they are dominated by Islam. The Islamic militants, such as Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, aren't going to go away. Attacks on tourists will continue, no matter who's in charge. Likewise the persecution and martyrdom of Christians.
So before we all rush to church to give thanks for the long-overdue civilization of the Arab world, let's take a moment for a large reality check. Tune in again in a year's time and see whether change has been for better or worse.
Footnote: Reports are that the social media are being used to organize demonstrations and get the news out to the rest of the world. It seems the protesters are making maximum use of Fezbook.
Then disturbances in Yemen and Algeria. And now Egypt. As I write, an excited radio commentator is describing riots in Cairo as Egypt's "Berlin moment". Walt doesn't think so.
Even if regime change does come to Egypt and the other countries of north Africa, don't expect a sudden outbreak of democracy, prosperity and peace. The people of those states are Arabs. Democracy and pluralism (political or religious) are not part of their history and culture. In the Arab societies, absolutism and authoritarianism are accepted as the norm.
Some of the countries may be officially secular but in practice they are dominated by Islam. The Islamic militants, such as Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, aren't going to go away. Attacks on tourists will continue, no matter who's in charge. Likewise the persecution and martyrdom of Christians.
So before we all rush to church to give thanks for the long-overdue civilization of the Arab world, let's take a moment for a large reality check. Tune in again in a year's time and see whether change has been for better or worse.
Footnote: Reports are that the social media are being used to organize demonstrations and get the news out to the rest of the world. It seems the protesters are making maximum use of Fezbook.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Cause for beatification of Archbishop Sheen revived
Do you remember Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen? Half a century ago, I was informed, educated and motivated by his then-popular TV show, "Life is Worth Living". I can still remember Bishop Sheen, as he then was, walking over to a chalk-board, writing "JMJ" at the top of it, and proceeding to preach clearly and plainly The Gospel of God's love for us.Fulton John Sheen was born on May 8,1895 in El Paso, Illinois. He was baptized "Peter John", but soon became known by his mother’s maiden name, "Fulton". The family moved to Peoria where the young Sheen attended school and served as an altar boy at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Turning down a scholarship for graduate school, he followed his desire to become a priest and entered St. Paul’s Seminary in Minnesota.
He was ordained a priest on September 20, 1919 in the Peoria Cathedral. Father Sheen went on to become Archbishop Fulton John Sheen, a universally popular evangelist, radio/TV personality, writer and missionary. He is best known for his television series, which had a viewing audience of over 30 million.
On October 3, 1979 Archbishop Sheen had an audience with Pope John Paul II at which the Pope embraced Sheen and gave a perfect summary of his life and work: “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus. You have been a loyal son of the Church!” He died on December 9, 1979 in his private chapel in his Manhattan apartment.
In 2002, Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC, of the Diocese of Peoria, officially opened the cause for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification and canonization. Work on the cause was suspended last November out of frustration with the failure of the Archdiocese of New York to transfer the archbishop's remains to his home town. While that dispute remains unresolved, Bishop Jenky has received encouragement from many other American prelates to continue work on the cause.
The Archbishop Sheen Foundation, established to promote the cause, has announced that Bishop Jenky is again actively pursuing the inquiry and is “hopeful that the cause will advance quickly.” Click here to read the Foundation's news release. Please support their work through your prayers and donations.
Pray too for vocations. The Church -- and the world -- needs many good and holy priests and bishops like Fulton J. Sheen to preach the True Faith.
Don't shop.nhl.com
This is a "Reebok Montreal Canadiens Women's Swirl Girl Long Sleeve Layered T-Shirt". That's what it says on the shop.nhl.com website. Agent 78 is a Habs fan and she wanted one. So she ordered one from the website, without checking out the online reviews. Here's what happened.The package was delivered by courier within a week or so. Not bad. Shipping costs added around 8 bucks to the cost, but they told her that when she ordered, so fair enough.
When she opened the package, the shirt enclosed turned out to be red. Red is the Habs colour, but the website didn't say anything about a choice of colours. Even if it did, Agent 78 wanted the dark blue. To make matters worse, the cotton was not quite thick enough to be called flimsy. Says she, "I've seen thicker Kleenex."
What to do? Since Agent 78 had paid by credit card, Walt said just call the bank and tell them you're sending it back and would they please reverse the charge. Whoa!!! said the bank. You have to give the company a chance to make good.
So Agent 78 e-mailed shop.nhl.com's customer service. Not getting any response after a couple of days, she phoned them. Thank goodness for 800 numbers, she says, because after a considerable wait she got hold of someone who, without too much of a fight, said they would e-mail a shipping label which 78 could print out and use to return the item by the same courier.
A week goes by. No e-mail, no shipping label. So 78 phones them again.
Service Rep (so-called): "You want to return something?"
78: "Yes, I'm not satisfied with the 'Reebok Montreal Canadiens Women's Swirl Girl Long Sleeve Layered T-Shirt' you sent me."
SR: "What's wrong with it?"
78: "It's red."
SR: "Well it only comes in red."
78: "But on the website it's shown in blue and it doesn't say anything about red."
SR: "Are you sure?"
78: "[expletive deleted]! I'm looking right at the [expletive deleted] thing."
SR: "Just a minute... ... ... ... oh ... ... ..."
I'll spare you the rest of the transcript, the part in which SR says they'll e-mail 78 a shipping label because it seems the first one is, err, still being processed. Suffice it to say that, after another couple of days, the e-mail comes. Agent 78 packs up the garment, but El Courier Cheapo won't come and collect it. She has to take it to their drop-off point at Business Deport. It's only a 10-minute drive, so OK, she does it.
A week goes by. The courier website shows the package having been dispatched, but that's all. After another two days, Agent 78 calls the bank. The bank's SR won't take 78's word for it and says she will call shop.nhl.com herself. Go ahead, says 78.
After the banker calls the secret number only to find it out of service, she coughs up the credit to Agent 78's card. Every penny, including the taxes and shipping charges. This was in December, well before Christmas. All's well that ends well, thought 78.
Imagine her surprise, then, to receive only today an e-mail from shop.nhl.com! We've got your returned item, it says, and we're going to give you a refund of $28.46, only $8.99 less than you paid. Apparently the difference is the shipping charge.
Now Agent 78 asks Walt what she should do next. Walt passes the question along to you, gentle reader. Answers on the back of a postage stamp, please, to the usual address.
Postscript: Click here to read "shop.nhl.com sucks!" on RedFlagDeals.com. And don't buy anything from an online vendor without checking them out. If you pay by credit card or PayPal, they might bail you out, but it'll take time and aggravation.
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