a feature on the news about the Philippines being put on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Governemnt rep’s they interviewed were beaming with pride at how this was vindication and proof that the current administration was corrupt free and excellent on human rights issues.
Guess they failed to notice that most members of that council were placed for the single reason that their human rights record was HORRIBLE. Like placing a theif in charge of the vault… every one will be watching to its a subversive way of forcing them to get better instead of making a new resolution that would upset an already fragile national pride.
UPDATE: these are two different stories I had thought were in the same area. The fire was a huge area of squatters that were filled with burka wearing women selling souvenirs at tons of stalls and had partially clothed kids running amok. Personally, I disliked walking thru there, it felt like taking a wrong turn in a bad neighborhood. They had tried kicking them out before but the wire was ripped down and they moved right back into the buildings.
One thing happened for sure—- there were gunshots fired, buildings on fire, lots of tear gas. A friend of mine was pulled out of the tear gas by police when they saw him as being a distinctly ‘old white guy’.
For a long time now, I have avoided all conversations about politics. No two people think the same way and generally consider themselves to be right, so when confronted with a person that thinks differently (and also thinks they’re right) you end up with a long conversation that’s 1. not entertaining, 2. not enjoyable, 3. noneducational, and 4. you’re always in a slightly sour mood afterward.
That’s no fun.
Whats worse is that so many people want to talk about American politics.
I had a conversation with a Canadian girl last night… I should have (more…)
