Libya's leader Gadaffi is blaming Al Qaeda for his current crisis - and his soldiers blame rebels as drug-abusers. What a chaos in a country that suddenly smelled freedom when Egypt was freed from the reign of Mubarak.
As in so many other poor nations, the sudden feeling of freedom can really ignite their inner longings. Much like the west propably was also fiered up and zealous just centuries ago when what we today know as the US was established...
The main difference being religion, but the longing for democracy just as identical - regardless of religion. :-)
What happens in that region in coming months is truly going to determine how things will boil up. Noone needs any political degree to smell blood. Truly a scary scenario to behold.
What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment, and let's have a good debate.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
"Four More Years"?
The question about whether President Obama will be a one-term President is going to be revealed once the Republicans will have elected whom they want to run for office. New times didn't quite happen when Obama came into office. Bad scenarios have popped up all around him, and it doesn't take much to consider how a serious Republican candidate COULD win back the office after some pretty awful years under Bush.
It isn't a question about whether Obama made an effort. Everyone realizes he did his best. It would have been stupid to do anything less, because everyone knows a President will be evaluated very harshly by voters when considering four more years.
Everyone considered it was an act of kindness to choose Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, but the choice didn't quite have the effect they would have anticipated. Bill Clinton may be remembered more fondly after he left office, but the whims of Hillary as hidden puppet master seems to be apparent once again - and her chances as a candidate in 2016 are slim at best.
Republicans are free to choose whom they want, but a very strong guess is that Republicans will choose the safe candidate. A candidate that could "prove" even women could enter office, and letting Sarah Palin from Alaska run would be a wise choice. Even if she fails, the Reoublican party could always claim it was because Afro-American Barack Obama was a popular President who, quite naturally, won his second term.
In other words: it would be too dangerous to let Mrs. Palin take on the role of martyr when the Old Boy Network didn't accept her during the 2012 since it would create an even greater expectation for a female President.
In a time when equality should have been natural long ago, sexes are once again important. The power of religion is strong, and no president can ever afford to overlook the strong Bible Belt voters. The Republicans know this because it has been at the centre of their focus every time they have won the office.
So interesting times indeed. :-)
It isn't a question about whether Obama made an effort. Everyone realizes he did his best. It would have been stupid to do anything less, because everyone knows a President will be evaluated very harshly by voters when considering four more years.
Everyone considered it was an act of kindness to choose Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, but the choice didn't quite have the effect they would have anticipated. Bill Clinton may be remembered more fondly after he left office, but the whims of Hillary as hidden puppet master seems to be apparent once again - and her chances as a candidate in 2016 are slim at best.
Republicans are free to choose whom they want, but a very strong guess is that Republicans will choose the safe candidate. A candidate that could "prove" even women could enter office, and letting Sarah Palin from Alaska run would be a wise choice. Even if she fails, the Reoublican party could always claim it was because Afro-American Barack Obama was a popular President who, quite naturally, won his second term.
In other words: it would be too dangerous to let Mrs. Palin take on the role of martyr when the Old Boy Network didn't accept her during the 2012 since it would create an even greater expectation for a female President.
In a time when equality should have been natural long ago, sexes are once again important. The power of religion is strong, and no president can ever afford to overlook the strong Bible Belt voters. The Republicans know this because it has been at the centre of their focus every time they have won the office.
So interesting times indeed. :-)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Egypt - A Country in Despair
It is truly tragic to hear of the assaults on journalists that have happened when people tried to get rid of Hosni Mubarak. What a sad testimony to leave behind in a fight for democracy that people can't respect the role of mass media as part of the process...
How can anyone expect Egypt to rise above dictatorships when the population itself understands so little about what democracy is all about?
Egypt is a country in despair. People will wait long before enjoying their next vacation in that country when people have been so abusive during the crisis as to even sexually molest a CBS journalist.
So winning in the sense of getting rid of Hosni Mubarak was one thing. They have lost much respect among civilized people, and those scars will take long to heal.
What are your thoughts about Egypt? You're welcome to leave a comment. :-)
How can anyone expect Egypt to rise above dictatorships when the population itself understands so little about what democracy is all about?
Egypt is a country in despair. People will wait long before enjoying their next vacation in that country when people have been so abusive during the crisis as to even sexually molest a CBS journalist.
So winning in the sense of getting rid of Hosni Mubarak was one thing. They have lost much respect among civilized people, and those scars will take long to heal.
What are your thoughts about Egypt? You're welcome to leave a comment. :-)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Important Decision to Be Made in France
In France, an important decision is facing politicians. Will they follow the 58% of the population who support gays' rights to join in marriage, or will intolerance be the order of the day for a society that claims it never discriminates based on religion?
When it came to the question of christian crosses or jewish kippas or muslim veils, it was claimed that no discrimination happened since all religious signs were forbidden in schools etc.
But what could possibly be the reason for forbidding two people to join in marriage just because they chose to join with a partner of the same sex, if not due to religion?
Politics should never be based upon personal preference but should follow the international guidelines against discrimination. Therefore, the French politicians face a tough decision if they fail to comply with international standards. Will France remain a secular society or will policy-making be based on Catholic standards?
And, if so, have they even considered the implications once religion is mixed with politics? Dangerous ground indeed...
When it came to the question of christian crosses or jewish kippas or muslim veils, it was claimed that no discrimination happened since all religious signs were forbidden in schools etc.
But what could possibly be the reason for forbidding two people to join in marriage just because they chose to join with a partner of the same sex, if not due to religion?
Politics should never be based upon personal preference but should follow the international guidelines against discrimination. Therefore, the French politicians face a tough decision if they fail to comply with international standards. Will France remain a secular society or will policy-making be based on Catholic standards?
And, if so, have they even considered the implications once religion is mixed with politics? Dangerous ground indeed...
Political Blogging - Ethics of Making Money From Your Blog
Political Blogging - Ethics of Making Money From Your Blog
By Henrik V Blunck
Blogging about politics can be tough business. Many may drop away from your blog because they disagree with you. On the other hand you will attract very little attention if you stay away from having an opinion about the subjects you blog about.
People have easy access to information about what happens - all over the globe. What they get much less of from traditional sources are analyses and behind-the-scenes impressions about what happens. That creates a duality when you blog about political subjects.
You will have to realize, from the beginning, that politics and religion are the two areas where you will never agree with everyone.
When that has been said, it is also important to say that you can be biased in your analysis without pushing other people aside. Doing that in the best way when running a political blog involves presenting both sides of the equation, and using careful evaluation to show why you have the opinion you do - and how it affects other people.
When you use that type of debate, people may disagree with some of your conclusion, but they will nonetheless respect you for standing by your opinion. When you analyze things from a respectful perspective you show empathy for other people's views while also giving them food for thought.
It's What People Want - Food For Thought
This is the single most lacking ingredient in most political blogging. People are so focused on writing about high profile subjects, and matching certain key words that they totally forget their audiences. This is the one area where you can truly make a difference if you want to do a decent job in blogging about politics.
I know from personal experience that this type of blogging has a tremendous potential. I have seen my blog rise in power and visitor counts within days after writing on an important subject. I did this in danish, but you can have the same experience in any language. The important part is to realize what your assignment is, and after you know that, you can increase your readership considerably by choosing carefully reviewed opinions at all times. You may also have an undecided opinion, and that would be an excellent chance to call in further opinions using feedback from readers.
But don't ever get discouraged by worrying about where you earn your money when blogging. You are never ethically challenged as long as you handle all subjects to the best of your ability.
Thanks for reading this article. Hope you enjoyed the information.
You can see my overview of blogs over at http://blunckmeister.googlepages.com.You can follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/henrikblunck Feel free to leave feedback if you were helped by this article. I am always happy to hear what YOU think.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henrik_V_Blunck
http://EzineArticles.com/?Political-Blogging---Ethics-of-Making-Money-From-Your-Blog&id=4267010
By Henrik V Blunck
Blogging about politics can be tough business. Many may drop away from your blog because they disagree with you. On the other hand you will attract very little attention if you stay away from having an opinion about the subjects you blog about.
People have easy access to information about what happens - all over the globe. What they get much less of from traditional sources are analyses and behind-the-scenes impressions about what happens. That creates a duality when you blog about political subjects.
- On the one hand you want to stay objective - to remain credible
- But you also want to have a twist - to differentiate yourself from the crowd
You will have to realize, from the beginning, that politics and religion are the two areas where you will never agree with everyone.
When that has been said, it is also important to say that you can be biased in your analysis without pushing other people aside. Doing that in the best way when running a political blog involves presenting both sides of the equation, and using careful evaluation to show why you have the opinion you do - and how it affects other people.
When you use that type of debate, people may disagree with some of your conclusion, but they will nonetheless respect you for standing by your opinion. When you analyze things from a respectful perspective you show empathy for other people's views while also giving them food for thought.
It's What People Want - Food For Thought
This is the single most lacking ingredient in most political blogging. People are so focused on writing about high profile subjects, and matching certain key words that they totally forget their audiences. This is the one area where you can truly make a difference if you want to do a decent job in blogging about politics.
I know from personal experience that this type of blogging has a tremendous potential. I have seen my blog rise in power and visitor counts within days after writing on an important subject. I did this in danish, but you can have the same experience in any language. The important part is to realize what your assignment is, and after you know that, you can increase your readership considerably by choosing carefully reviewed opinions at all times. You may also have an undecided opinion, and that would be an excellent chance to call in further opinions using feedback from readers.
But don't ever get discouraged by worrying about where you earn your money when blogging. You are never ethically challenged as long as you handle all subjects to the best of your ability.
Thanks for reading this article. Hope you enjoyed the information.
You can see my overview of blogs over at http://blunckmeister.googlepages.com.You can follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/henrikblunck Feel free to leave feedback if you were helped by this article. I am always happy to hear what YOU think.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henrik_V_Blunck
http://EzineArticles.com/?Political-Blogging---Ethics-of-Making-Money-From-Your-Blog&id=4267010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Russia - Is the Era of Glasnost Over?
Mikhail Khodorkovsky was a businessman who paid a lot of taxes. Now he is a convicted criminal. He didn't flee his country, but tried to defend himself against the allegations made against him, trusting the system would, in the end, validify his actions.
Now, many feel he is being sacrificed because he dared question the system. He dared criticize a system that ended up destroying his business.
Regardless of all the hype that journalists may report, there are - obviously - many judicial details that we can't yet know all about. But nonetheless it is high time to ask the question: "Is the era of Glasnost over?"
Mikhail S. Gorbachev started a difficult process of reform, but now it does seem like much is lost due to pride and power struggles. Much like we see power struggles in the West, but still with a somewhat surprising turn in the sense of Khodorkovsky being sentenced to a work camp. Not worthy treatment of a former Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy...
What are your thoughts on all of this? You are welcome to leave a comment.
Happy New Year everyone. :-)
Now, many feel he is being sacrificed because he dared question the system. He dared criticize a system that ended up destroying his business.
Regardless of all the hype that journalists may report, there are - obviously - many judicial details that we can't yet know all about. But nonetheless it is high time to ask the question: "Is the era of Glasnost over?"
Mikhail S. Gorbachev started a difficult process of reform, but now it does seem like much is lost due to pride and power struggles. Much like we see power struggles in the West, but still with a somewhat surprising turn in the sense of Khodorkovsky being sentenced to a work camp. Not worthy treatment of a former Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy...
What are your thoughts on all of this? You are welcome to leave a comment.
Happy New Year everyone. :-)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Obama - The Revolution That Never Really Happened
When Barack Obama was elected President, everyone could feel the buzz. Comparisons to Kennedy, change, renewal, growth, optimism and "new beginnings" were flying through the air. Everyone thought we would finally have the ultimate gift for modern politics.
In one sense it did happen. It was an election that introduced social media, primarily through Twitter and Facebook, and the internet in general as new channels for political debate. That change is historic.
What is much less historic are the catastrophes that have occurred:
All of the above points are missed opportunities. The efforts made in Afghanistan rely heavily upon military effort alone - and actual help projects to rebuild the country have proved in vain, at best, and seem almost bordering fraud at worst.
The financial crisis wasn't taken seriously enough, and consequently didn't result in as much job creation as hoped - and certainly not in the groups desired.
Financial regulation is still missing. Many of the speculative elements of big business are STILL a challenge for stock exchanges on a global scale.
And, finally, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a disaster where everyone was more busy washing their hands instead of getting to work - and involving all sources available. I wrote about this on June 20th in the article "The Oil Spills - There Is a Better Solution"
All of the above points are just part of the picture. There HAVE been improvements, but certainly not at the levels promised. I think it's fair to conclude that it's much like turning a supertanker. There are a lot of valves in the engine that have to work together.
Will Obama be ready for reelection, or will Sarah Palin become the first female President? That is a very good question.
In one sense it did happen. It was an election that introduced social media, primarily through Twitter and Facebook, and the internet in general as new channels for political debate. That change is historic.
What is much less historic are the catastrophes that have occurred:
- The oil spill in the Mexican gulf
- The lack of better focus in Afghanistan
- The financial crisis
- Financial regulation still missing
All of the above points are missed opportunities. The efforts made in Afghanistan rely heavily upon military effort alone - and actual help projects to rebuild the country have proved in vain, at best, and seem almost bordering fraud at worst.
The financial crisis wasn't taken seriously enough, and consequently didn't result in as much job creation as hoped - and certainly not in the groups desired.
Financial regulation is still missing. Many of the speculative elements of big business are STILL a challenge for stock exchanges on a global scale.
And, finally, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was a disaster where everyone was more busy washing their hands instead of getting to work - and involving all sources available. I wrote about this on June 20th in the article "The Oil Spills - There Is a Better Solution"
All of the above points are just part of the picture. There HAVE been improvements, but certainly not at the levels promised. I think it's fair to conclude that it's much like turning a supertanker. There are a lot of valves in the engine that have to work together.
Will Obama be ready for reelection, or will Sarah Palin become the first female President? That is a very good question.
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