Posted by Daisy Cobb
“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody will see it.”
In China’s second scandal involving the opening ceremonies at the Olympic Games it has come to life that a little girl with a beautiful voice was substituted by another little girl who had to lip sync a recording because she was prettier than the real singer. In the opening ceremony, Lin Miaoke stood proudly singing a rendition of “Ode to the Motherland” that made her the darling of the world. However, it has recently come to light that it was actually a little girl named Yang Peiyi who sang the song. Little Lin was chosen to replace little Yang because Yang was not pretty enough and the Chinese government found that unnaceptable and against it’s best interests. They thought it more important to show a good image than to allow a talent to emurge so the prettier girl lip synced to a recording by Yang Peiyi. This is the second time China was caught faking a part of the opening ceremonies after it was divulged that they used computer generated graphics in the televised version of the fireworks display.
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life.”
I first must apologize for not posting in a while but I’ve been having serious computer issues and finally just had to get a new one. I thought this would be an appropriate topic considering the fact that the Olympic games are to occur soon and China continues to have issues with it’s human rights record. I think the quote above says a great deal about what isactually occuring in China as it’s government continues to suppress ethnic and religious groups like the Tibetan Buddhists and Muslim Uighur as well as imprisoning Chinese people in order to make the government look better so they aren’t protesting in the streets. The quote above deffinatly describes the Tibetans as they are a non-violent people and many have given their lives to attempt to gain freedom from the oppressive Chinese government. Those that protested had not died have been tortured if they were caught yet continue to strive for the dream. The Uighur have also revolted against the Chinese in a continuous, though less known fight for independance. Though they use different methods, an example being the recent riot which killed 16 of the Chinese security forces. I think it is a very viable question to ask. Is it really appropriate to have China host the Olympic games?
In my opinion it is about as appropriate to have the games in China today as it was to have in Germany during the 3rd Reich, it’s not. China’s deplorable human rights record, dangerous pollution levels and severe treatment of their athletes, some of which are children, makes it wrong to place an event that is suppossed to be the embodiment of the human spirit. Yes, it is a competition. Yes, everybody wants to be the best. Though it is a time when the world’s nations can come together in one place and exist in relative harmony, if only for a few weeks. To allow the event to take place in a country that through it’s own behavior disregards the meaning of the games is illogical.
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of silver or gold”
In various places throughout the world there is a shortage of quality health care. This is either because of inability to pay or access to care itself and is especially a problem in the United States and third world countries. For instance, in the United States of America, a first world nation there are millions of people who are without health care because they are not insured. It is also considered a very low quality of health care compared to many countries in Europe such as Holland and Danemark. Children in the Appalachian mountains have a high mortality rate, some are inbred because their parents are ignorant and they often go deaf because their parents can’t afford to treat their ear infections. Such things should not be happening in any country much less a first world one. Everyone should have access to treatment and it would be better to treat the uninsured than waste funds that could be used to help people than it is to fight unnecessary and futile wars in the Middle East. That way if someone is sick or injured they need not be in debt for the rest of their life.
I have found a little something that may help for those of you who are reading and are either unisured, underinsured orjust want to take a little off the cost. It’s called Procard International and though it is not insurance it is a discount card that can help pay for medical and dental costs. It’s inexpensive compared to most insurance companies and can save up to 50% on the costs of health care. Here is the link. May your troubles be ended as quickly as possible if you are amongst the under or uninsured. http://www.procardinternational.com/index.aspx?refer=DaisyC3855
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“A balanced intellect presupposes a harmonious growth of body, mind and soul.”
On May 18th it is International Museum Day. On this day all participating museums will have no admission fee. Museums, speaking generally as the subject is not really all that important, are an important part of learning. This is especially true for children as seeing the world’s treasures in person has a much different experience and feeling to it than seeing things on television or in books. One will walk away better educated and with a life long love of learning if expossed to such things in an interesting way and from a young age. If you’ve nothing to do, check out a museum and expand your intellect.
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“All taxation to be healthy must return tenfold to the taxpayer in the form of necessary services.”
Since it is so close to the deadline for getting one’s taxes in is just around the corner, April 15th, it seems appropriate to say a wee bit about that. To some people it’s a good thing because they will get a refund and to others it’s a nightmare that one will be having to pay the government. To all it is probably the most boring hour or so they will spend this year. So I hope everybody reading this gets their’s in on time, hopefully without incident and with a large refund.
Though taxes are a necessary evil, unless people were to suddenly give up money and I say good luck with that one, I seen on the news today that there is a lot of unnecessary spending by government workers. They are using the taxpayers money not to benefit the people but to buy personal items like frilly underwear, Ipods, steak dinners and other objects that are just not necessary. I can see buying laptops, cellphones or things that can actually be used to get the job done but many of the charges made by government workers are unnecessary and take advantage of people who have worked very hard to pay for the government worker’s fun. They don’t need Ipods and fancy underwear to accomplish the tasks laid before them.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“Nonviolent acts exert pressure far more effective than violent acts, for that pressure comes from good-will and gentleness.”
In honor of what would be the 80th. birthday of Fred Rodgers, great educator of children and star of PBS’ Mr. Rodger’s Neighborhood. His show was a breath of fresh air for teaching children the important lessons that they need to learn in order to coexist with the rest of society in a productive way instead of screaming, throwing things and generally assaulting the senses of children ending in a spaztic surge of hyperactivity and completely annoying their parents the way many other children’s shows did and more often than not continue to do. In truth Fred Rodgers was a visionary who truly understood how to express himself and educate children and adults alike in showing educational features about how objects are manufactured, introducing culture like Orchestras, Taiko Drumming and martial arts to name a few of the subjects that were introduced through his programming. He was also a composer and often played piano and sang songa bout how we should accept and love who we are and appreciate the best things about ourselves and those around us. The show also taught important lessons about expressing our feelings, sharing, being compassionate towards one another and trying to be better people using adorable puppets like Henrietta Pussy cat, Lady Alaine Fairchild and the sweetly shy Daniel Tiger. Through his work Fred Rodgers showed that we don’t have to speak to our children as though they were idiots, talk down to them or scream and act a fool. One really only needs a gentle nature, a bit of logic and the understanding that children are miniature versions of ourselves and should be treated as such. His signature on the show was a red sweater that he always put on when he came in the house and took off before he left. So if anyone should wish to honor him tomorrow is Red Sweater Day. Don a red sweater if you wish to honor the man who taught several generations of children to be good neighbors.
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“The fire of independence is burning just as bright in my breast in the most fiery breast in this country, but ways and methods differ.”
There is a lost part of history that the British Government has kept secretive since the end of World War Two. This is a forgotten chapter in the book of India’s History. There were actually thousands of Indian Soldiers that were duped into fighting for Germany under the rouse that they would be fighting to rid India of the British. In April of 1941 Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian revolutionary leader, came to Berlin in hopes of securing aid in his quest for Indian Independance. Within six months the Germans began issuing propeganda speaches, radio broadcasts and flyers in hopes of getting more Indians to join the fight. In 1941 Germany recognized Bose as the leader of the provisional Free Indian Government in exile. He thought the Germans would train the soldiers and give them provisions, weapons and uniforms in order to take back India by force. In the POW camps Germany recruited thousands of Indian soldiers captured from Rommel’s Afrika campaign. These soldiers became known as the Free India Legion. They swore an oath to Germany that is said to be “I swear by God this holy oath that I will obey the leader of the German race and state, Adolf Hitler, as the commander of the German armed forces in the fight for India, whose leader is Subhas Chandra Bose.”
The Free India Legion believed they would be trained by the Germans and parachuted to India to combat the British. However, things were not to be for them. After the battle of Stalingrad it was clear that Germany would neither be in the position to assist much less drive the British out of India. Bose saw that there would be no hope for the German alliance and fled to Japan where he tried to raise a force to march on India. The Free India Legion never made it to India and was used in various propeganda battles in Holland and France until they were driven out with the other German troops after D-Day. A year after the war the Indian troops were sent home and released after short jail terms. A few leaders were put to trial but the charges were dropped after the Indian Army mutinied and civilians protested in the streets.Eventually Indian Independance was secured by Gandhi’s non-violent policies that showed the British that India would no longer be a co-operative part of it’s empire. Bose never got to see India’s independance as he died in 1945. Though at least now the story his attempts to free India will be known.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Posted by Daisy Cobb
30, Jan. 1948 in Delhi’s Birla House Mahatma Gandhi was assasinated by Nathuram Godse, an angry Hindu that considered Gandhi’s non-violent policies treasonous. Godse and his accomplices considered Gandhis non-violent was tresonous because they thought he was appeasing Muslims and aiding to the suffering of Hindus by doing this. In reality the times after India’s freedom from Great Britain were very turbulant. Both Hindu and Muslim were going at each other and nearly a million people died in riots before India and Pakistan had partitioned. The partitioning was something Gandhi was deeply oppossed to and he stated “Before partitioning India, my body will have to be cut into two pieces.” Though he later realized that an even bloodier civil war could erupt if India was to stay a single nation and encouraged the Congress Party to accept the partition. After he saw the damage that had been done in the fighting between Hindus and Muslims Gandhi went on another venture into non-violent protest and went on a hunger strike. He stated that he would not end the hunger strike until the violence stopped and India gave 550 million Rupees it was withholding to Pakistan. This action led to his passing at the age of 78 when he was shot three times by Nathuram Godse as we was on his way to a prayer meeting. Gandhi was a man who lived and died for peace. In doing so he became an immortal martyr and though it is sad to say, may have been worth more dead than alive. To this day people who support peace in the world don T-shirts and bumperstickers that repeat the words of Gandhi and bear his likeness. That is because his message was not only for India. It is the wisdom of a country that for most is undiscovered but there are those who can find peace and share it with others. One day peace will no longer be an undiscovered country but until then the words of the great man will be left as they should be, to the ages.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.”
For the first time in nearly fifty years a Greek Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis will make a diplomatic trip to Turkey. In the past there has been diplomatic conflict that nearly sent the two countries to war. The trip to Turkey is seen as a good start to ease cold diplomatic relations between the two nations but little is expected to be accomplished in the technical sense. However, a little bit is better than nothing and it is always better to try to talk things out before beginning a blood bath. The fact that the Greeks and Turks are able to take this step forward is a positive sign.
The Greeks and Turks have had harsh relations for decades. The last time an exchange such as this had occured was 1959. Both sides are warry of each other and suspicious. There is a territorial dispute beween the two over islands in the Agean Sea, particularly Cyprus. The two nearly came to blows over such things ten years ago. Though there has been a great deal of progress towards peaceful relations made lately such as a joint pipelines for gas and trading more freely with each other. There are still disputes over Turkish planes flying over islands the Greeks claim to own, which occur on a daily basis that add to political problems and there is some dispute over who owns some rockyy islands in the Agean. It is clear that this visit will probably not do a whole lot to end the problems between Turkey and Greece but any dialog that can be established is an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Posted by Daisy Cobb
“True humility means most strenuous and constant endeavour entirely directed to the service of humanity.”
Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest was also probably the most famous Kiwi in the world. He is absolute proof that ordinary people can do the most extraordinary things. In 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest. Hillary was a humble man though and always gave credit to his Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, without Norgay he probably wouldn’t have made it. He claimed to have climbed the summit similtaniously with Norgay for decades before finally admitting he got there first in his book. Hillary was a very generous person who created a trust to benefit the people of Nepal, which provided them with schools, hospitals, bridges and airfields. In 2003 he was made an honorary citizen of Nepal for all the work that he put into Nepal. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth 2 in one of her forst official acts as Queen in 1953 and in 1995 recieved the highest honor a monarch can bestow, the Order of the Garter,for chivalry. He rose from a humble bee keeper to a great adventurer and in the process improved the lives of people across Nepal. It only goes to prove that anyone can change the world by changing the way people look at it and sometimes that takes an act that to most would seem impossible.