This is a continuation obviously of the previous blog post and the show it refers too. This show starts with a tour of the places in which suicide bombs have taken place. It is an awful thing to hear. So many Young lives lost; It's not right, not in a supposed civilised world.
Let me make my position clear on this; I do not support bombing Supermarkets and Bus Stops. I do not support killing innocent people. However, when people are opressed history has shown time and time again that they nearly always turn to the gun and bomb, as they see little else that they can do. As a result I will not condem people who are responsible for this. I can not condem. I have no right to condem.
Anyway the show continues, and Ross Kemp goes to a training session for the IDF. The man he talks with makes it clear that they have a shoot to kill policy when it comes to those they designate as terrorists.
This show highlights that 24 people have been killed as a result of Bombs/Rockets from Gaza and in retaliation the Israeli forces have slaughtered 4000 Palestinians. The lives of the 24 is regretable. Whether it is 1 life, 24 lives or 4000 lives it is unacceptable. As a Pro Palestinian I do not support the deaths of these people, I do not believe it can be justified.. However this is the arguement used against Israel. The Israeli forces have used indiscriminate, unproportional, heavy handed response slaughtering thousands of innocent people. They have evicted the people, leaving them homeless. They have destroyed their livelyhoods by destroying such things as their Olive Grove's. They have broken the international laws by cliaming land over the green line.
This show highlights that while protesters throw stones, the Israeli forces fire bullets and tear gas and use Watercannons firing "Something very nasty, not just water". It is once again the arguement against the Israeli forces. Heavy handed oppression. Where is the justification for this action?
At this stage the show turns to the settler question. The settler that he chooses to talk to states clearly that she does not believe that the Arabs have rights to live in the area and using biblical language to prove this.
Now at this stage I would like to highlight, that despite what this woman states, the Old Testament, the scriptures that Jews study, states that the land belongs only to God. He gives the Israelites permission to live there, but the land belongs to God. However lets assume that they do have historical and religious rights to the land surely this accounts only for Religious Jews. How does this apply to non Religious Jews? The Israeli state allows settlements of secular Jews and takes land from the Palestinian Arabs to house these people?
I'm gonna cut this here, as opposed to commenting the whole show. But before I end I would like to clarify my position on the Palestinian cause.
I support Palestinian rights to live free from opression. Free from checkpoints and siege. I believe that the siege of Gaza must end. I believe that the checkpoints that stop the Palestinian people from travel in their own land must end. I believe that violence must come to an end. I believe that the construction of the segregation wall must come to an end and the current fortifications torn down. I believe that the state of Palestine needs to exist as a united state. Not a nation divided into the West Bank and the Gaza refugee camp. I believe that the continuation of settlements and land grabbing must halt now.
God Bless
Peace
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Friday, 3 July 2009
Thursday, 2 July 2009
I'm getting angry...
I feel that in my young 20's I am already becoming an angry man. Everyday on my way to and fro work, I am given the luxury of a tour of the areas I'm not welcome in, as the bus trudges along, under the butchers bunting and loyalist hate flags justifying the death squads. Golden embroidery and tassles glorifying the slaughter; hundreds of lives lost at the hands of loyalist terrorists, such as the UDA, UVF, UFF, RHC and the LVF.
As a result I can't help but be annoyed. A heres a big hand to our "impartial police force", whom bearing traditional riot gear, assisted in helping these flags to be erected, in the area where Kevin McDaid was kicked to death. Whos wife was beaten. Whos Sons life was threatened. Whos friend Damien Flemming had his head trampled. Why? Cause the national flag of his country had been erected. The Irish tricolour. Not by Kevin McDaid. Not by his Wife. Not by his Son. Not by Damien Flemming. Not by the pregnant woman also beat for defending him. Kevin McDaid, and innocent community worker, had went out to make sure his youngest son was okay.
Amoung those men who was assisted in raising these flags, was one of the members who is accused of beating Kevin McDaid. The flags erected depicting the name of the loyalist murder squad whoms members slaughtered Kevin, and the death threats to his and Damiens family.... The UDA.
As if any occasion can justify this unacceptable behaviour, the reason was the parades through the area, by the "Pride of the Bann" flute band. Whom's members are accused of the murder of Kevin McDaid, attempted murder of Damian Flemming and Grievious Bodily harm of Kevin's wife. I believe in innocence until proven guilty, but I do believe that to appear erecting UDA glorifying flags after such accusations is in bad taste.
After the Real IRA shot the two soilders in march we were all asked to wear a purple ribbon... Where is Kevins Ribbion??
As for the PSNI, who as I previously blogged about, have ordered the removal of tricolour flags, they have once again proved that they are still a biased force. These flags make me feel second class citizen, unwelcome in my own country. The very Leisure centre in my area hoists a Union Jack flag, making sure it is known, that I am not entitled to use their facilities. I.e. I'm second class.
God Bless
Peace
As a result I can't help but be annoyed. A heres a big hand to our "impartial police force", whom bearing traditional riot gear, assisted in helping these flags to be erected, in the area where Kevin McDaid was kicked to death. Whos wife was beaten. Whos Sons life was threatened. Whos friend Damien Flemming had his head trampled. Why? Cause the national flag of his country had been erected. The Irish tricolour. Not by Kevin McDaid. Not by his Wife. Not by his Son. Not by Damien Flemming. Not by the pregnant woman also beat for defending him. Kevin McDaid, and innocent community worker, had went out to make sure his youngest son was okay.
Amoung those men who was assisted in raising these flags, was one of the members who is accused of beating Kevin McDaid. The flags erected depicting the name of the loyalist murder squad whoms members slaughtered Kevin, and the death threats to his and Damiens family.... The UDA.
As if any occasion can justify this unacceptable behaviour, the reason was the parades through the area, by the "Pride of the Bann" flute band. Whom's members are accused of the murder of Kevin McDaid, attempted murder of Damian Flemming and Grievious Bodily harm of Kevin's wife. I believe in innocence until proven guilty, but I do believe that to appear erecting UDA glorifying flags after such accusations is in bad taste.
After the Real IRA shot the two soilders in march we were all asked to wear a purple ribbon... Where is Kevins Ribbion??
As for the PSNI, who as I previously blogged about, have ordered the removal of tricolour flags, they have once again proved that they are still a biased force. These flags make me feel second class citizen, unwelcome in my own country. The very Leisure centre in my area hoists a Union Jack flag, making sure it is known, that I am not entitled to use their facilities. I.e. I'm second class.
God Bless
Peace
Friday, 26 June 2009
King of Pop...
Michael Jackson
1958 - 2009
So standing outside the last session of the Novena, at Clonard Monastery last night, it was late yet still very warm, and news began to spread like wildfire. Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50.
Being probabley the biggest Music icon since the Beatles it is very hard to get my head around the idea. He was just one of them Characters that you didn't expect to hear that news about for a long time. News spread quiet quickly, claims that he had died of a heart attack or lung cancer etc etc. I do not at this stage know what happened but I hope, as I do for most, that it was peaceful.
Michael Jackson started his professional career in music at the age of eleven as a member of the Jackson 5, and even at this stage was a shining star for music. Despite the rumours and storys and claims against his name, I believe that he should be remembered as the Music legend he was.
However as usual, I didn't really start this post to address the case of Michael Jackson's death, but rather to address the attitudes of the public and the media. Usually I am overcome with disgust at these attitudes... well they haven't failed me this time either.
Within three minutes of recieving a text from my friend that merely said "Michael Jackson Just Died", the jokes started to roll in. The same sick jokes that we hear every time anyone that holds space in the public eye dies, is injured or has a breakdown. Some one predicting, and I fear he predicted rightly, that there will be an incline in the amount of stories of Child Abuse and other such claims. He also predicted that there will be one or two "Billie Jeans" popping up. Now to address this attitude, what kind of world do we live in, when I can honestly fear that happening. When a suggestion like that is put forth, how can it seem like such a reasonable thing to say?? It's sad.
Then there is the media. The Belfast Telegraph is a paper that I seem to have one or two quams with. In short I don't like the paper at all. Today we are met with a frontpage image of Michael Jackson, "shortly before he died" on a hospital stretcher. I see the many images on the news channels of reporters pushing eachother over for their chance to catch the golden photograph of the lifeless body, the men trying to film the ambulance and rush the hospital where he was taken. Its disgusting how the death of someone could be so utterly disrespected that the family are given no chance of alone time, to mourn and come to terms, cause its far more important that the public see these images.
However there are the other scenes. The scenes of utter dismay and heartache over the passing. I must admit, I do not understand. I am a fan of Michael Jackson, but I can't find the myself crying hysterically over him. But I am pleased that some people in our world, can be so unsettled by the passing. I would hope that this was respect for human life and not just love of a musician. Eitherway is acceptable however. I prefer these attitudes than that of the jokers and media.
God Bless
Peace
Being probabley the biggest Music icon since the Beatles it is very hard to get my head around the idea. He was just one of them Characters that you didn't expect to hear that news about for a long time. News spread quiet quickly, claims that he had died of a heart attack or lung cancer etc etc. I do not at this stage know what happened but I hope, as I do for most, that it was peaceful.
Michael Jackson started his professional career in music at the age of eleven as a member of the Jackson 5, and even at this stage was a shining star for music. Despite the rumours and storys and claims against his name, I believe that he should be remembered as the Music legend he was.
However as usual, I didn't really start this post to address the case of Michael Jackson's death, but rather to address the attitudes of the public and the media. Usually I am overcome with disgust at these attitudes... well they haven't failed me this time either.
Within three minutes of recieving a text from my friend that merely said "Michael Jackson Just Died", the jokes started to roll in. The same sick jokes that we hear every time anyone that holds space in the public eye dies, is injured or has a breakdown. Some one predicting, and I fear he predicted rightly, that there will be an incline in the amount of stories of Child Abuse and other such claims. He also predicted that there will be one or two "Billie Jeans" popping up. Now to address this attitude, what kind of world do we live in, when I can honestly fear that happening. When a suggestion like that is put forth, how can it seem like such a reasonable thing to say?? It's sad.
Then there is the media. The Belfast Telegraph is a paper that I seem to have one or two quams with. In short I don't like the paper at all. Today we are met with a frontpage image of Michael Jackson, "shortly before he died" on a hospital stretcher. I see the many images on the news channels of reporters pushing eachother over for their chance to catch the golden photograph of the lifeless body, the men trying to film the ambulance and rush the hospital where he was taken. Its disgusting how the death of someone could be so utterly disrespected that the family are given no chance of alone time, to mourn and come to terms, cause its far more important that the public see these images.
However there are the other scenes. The scenes of utter dismay and heartache over the passing. I must admit, I do not understand. I am a fan of Michael Jackson, but I can't find the myself crying hysterically over him. But I am pleased that some people in our world, can be so unsettled by the passing. I would hope that this was respect for human life and not just love of a musician. Eitherway is acceptable however. I prefer these attitudes than that of the jokers and media.
God Bless
Peace
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Ernesto "Ché" Guevara
Does it not strike all these Socialist Partys, whom's main membership is made up mostly of youths, that they 
are actually going against all that Ché stood for, by use of his image? It strikes me as odd that a man that stood against Imperialism and Capitalism then ends ups as a multimillion dollar selling icon, and further more that his "fan boys" endorse this capitalist scheme. I'm led to believe that these people know little of Ché or his belief of Marxism.
Various Socialist Party recuitment stalls around Belfast display a Flag with the face of the "Legend" emblazoned on it. When I approached them to question this inappropriate use of the flag I was informed "it attracts the youth". What this means is it attracts the uneducated Youth with no Political agenda, based merely on an image of a man they know nothing, or little off. Now obviously this can not be applied to all who have a following for Ché, but surely they realise the hypocrisy of Ché tee shirts, especially if members of the Religious groups in our societies wear them. Ché followed his father in his disapproval of Religious organisations, and though born into a Catholic family, quicly fell away from it.
Before beginning this blog I loaded my favourite online shop and entered the word che and to no suprise was met with hundreds of items displaying the Ché icon; Books, DVD's, tee shirts, satchels, hats, beanies, wrist bands, wallets, badges, canvases, coasters, clocks, posters and dolls. Not to mention the unlimited other items this site doe not sell including Ché lighters, belt buckles and beer etc. Further more we have sites such as http://www.thechestore.com
Would Ché endorse this? I certainly don't think he would. I can see the need for history books detailing the historical character, I for instance have recently began to read one I found in my dad's library of historical books. However this is different from the rest of the garbage that is for sale, by capitalist companies that are fully aware that the Ché image is incridibly eas
y to market for the youth, who percieve themselves "different".
As if this complete misuse of Ché's image wasn't enough, most other symbols connected to Socialism and Revolution are way way over used. The very typical over use of a red or yellow star is just another example. How many in our "Socialist Youth" organisations even know the origns of this star or why it is still used on connection to "revolution"? In fact little is really know about the origins of the use of this symbol, and I personally deem it irrelevant today.
Another symbol which I once again can't stand to see today, is that of the fist. It takes more than the wave of these symbols to be a socialist or a revolutionary. These symbols of revolution today, are no more than an attempt to be different. It is far cooler in this day and age to be against something, than for it. Most of our youth displaying these symbols, if they even realise the political connections, will know little of what they are laying claim to by wearing these shirts, or hanging these flags.
The symbols have merely become a symbol overused in the "alternative" or punk scene, more in connection to music than Politics. Much like fans of Rage against the Machine, a band who claim to be singing about Socialism and revolution and the need for change in certain aspects of society. Many of the fans of this band will proudly display their affection for Ché by buying into the capitalist merchandising world, without having any real knowledge of what the man was involved in, many using the typical soundbyte, claiming him to be a Cuban revolutionary, without mention that he was an Argentinian, if that is a word, and that he was involved in Revolution in Cuba, The Congo and Bolivia.
I do not claim to be a revolutionary, but I am a socialist, in that I believe that people need to come first. The poor need to come before the rich, and that no one member of the Public is better than anyother. Politicians, celebrities, bankers and businessmen are not above the law, or even the "lowest" of society. I however have never had any piece of merchandise
God Bless
Peace
are actually going against all that Ché stood for, by use of his image? It strikes me as odd that a man that stood against Imperialism and Capitalism then ends ups as a multimillion dollar selling icon, and further more that his "fan boys" endorse this capitalist scheme. I'm led to believe that these people know little of Ché or his belief of Marxism.Various Socialist Party recuitment stalls around Belfast display a Flag with the face of the "Legend" emblazoned on it. When I approached them to question this inappropriate use of the flag I was informed "it attracts the youth". What this means is it attracts the uneducated Youth with no Political agenda, based merely on an image of a man they know nothing, or little off. Now obviously this can not be applied to all who have a following for Ché, but surely they realise the hypocrisy of Ché tee shirts, especially if members of the Religious groups in our societies wear them. Ché followed his father in his disapproval of Religious organisations, and though born into a Catholic family, quicly fell away from it.
Before beginning this blog I loaded my favourite online shop and entered the word che and to no suprise was met with hundreds of items displaying the Ché icon; Books, DVD's, tee shirts, satchels, hats, beanies, wrist bands, wallets, badges, canvases, coasters, clocks, posters and dolls. Not to mention the unlimited other items this site doe not sell including Ché lighters, belt buckles and beer etc. Further more we have sites such as http://www.thechestore.com
Would Ché endorse this? I certainly don't think he would. I can see the need for history books detailing the historical character, I for instance have recently began to read one I found in my dad's library of historical books. However this is different from the rest of the garbage that is for sale, by capitalist companies that are fully aware that the Ché image is incridibly eas
y to market for the youth, who percieve themselves "different".As if this complete misuse of Ché's image wasn't enough, most other symbols connected to Socialism and Revolution are way way over used. The very typical over use of a red or yellow star is just another example. How many in our "Socialist Youth" organisations even know the origns of this star or why it is still used on connection to "revolution"? In fact little is really know about the origins of the use of this symbol, and I personally deem it irrelevant today.
Another symbol which I once again can't stand to see today, is that of the fist. It takes more than the wave of these symbols to be a socialist or a revolutionary. These symbols of revolution today, are no more than an attempt to be different. It is far cooler in this day and age to be against something, than for it. Most of our youth displaying these symbols, if they even realise the political connections, will know little of what they are laying claim to by wearing these shirts, or hanging these flags.
The symbols have merely become a symbol overused in the "alternative" or punk scene, more in connection to music than Politics. Much like fans of Rage against the Machine, a band who claim to be singing about Socialism and revolution and the need for change in certain aspects of society. Many of the fans of this band will proudly display their affection for Ché by buying into the capitalist merchandising world, without having any real knowledge of what the man was involved in, many using the typical soundbyte, claiming him to be a Cuban revolutionary, without mention that he was an Argentinian, if that is a word, and that he was involved in Revolution in Cuba, The Congo and Bolivia.
I do not claim to be a revolutionary, but I am a socialist, in that I believe that people need to come first. The poor need to come before the rich, and that no one member of the Public is better than anyother. Politicians, celebrities, bankers and businessmen are not above the law, or even the "lowest" of society. I however have never had any piece of merchandise
God Bless
Peace
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Now We Wait...
So its been a long haul, but I've reached the end of the Campaign trail. I've not had time to blog recently, as I have been out on the streets, doing my best to canvas for the European elections, which have closed just half an hour ago, at time of writting.
So now we wait. Wait until Monday evening, when we will hopefully hear some good news. The turnout today was fairly slow, though people where still arriving as time was running thin.
So as a result of not blogging I have also missed an awful lot. The loyalist murder of Kevin McDaid. Republicans targeting Republicans, in the form of Sinn Féin Ministers. The missing Air France Jet. The slaughter of the British tourist in Africa. Untalkable events in Palestine. The Tamil Tigers officially announcing their surrender, and their main leader being murdered. Its been a bad time to miss blogging Politically. I do not feel that there is a need however to drag these things back up. I will continue to blog about the events in the future.
God Bless
Peace
So now we wait. Wait until Monday evening, when we will hopefully hear some good news. The turnout today was fairly slow, though people where still arriving as time was running thin.
So as a result of not blogging I have also missed an awful lot. The loyalist murder of Kevin McDaid. Republicans targeting Republicans, in the form of Sinn Féin Ministers. The missing Air France Jet. The slaughter of the British tourist in Africa. Untalkable events in Palestine. The Tamil Tigers officially announcing their surrender, and their main leader being murdered. Its been a bad time to miss blogging Politically. I do not feel that there is a need however to drag these things back up. I will continue to blog about the events in the future.
God Bless
Peace
Friday, 12 December 2008
56.5
Okay just for a bit off fun while I'm setting up this whole new Blogging thing, I have come across a wee activity. Again I know nobody is going to read it but I thought I'd give it ago anyway.
Grab the book closest to you. Go to page 56. Find the 5th sentence and put it in a comment
So yea, if you are reading this, give it ago.
God Bless
Peace
Grab the book closest to you. Go to page 56. Find the 5th sentence and put it in a comment
"Apart from a brief flurry of Republican election successes in the mid-1950's, when four Sinn Fein representatives were elected on abstentionist tickets in the south of Ireland and two in the North(both republican prisioners), there had not been a real Republican electoral options for Nationalists to vote for." - The Hunger Strikes, R.K. Walker
So yea, if you are reading this, give it ago.God Bless
Peace
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Direction and Focus
I'm looking for a direction for my blogs, and a focus point. If you read over my blog, I have alot going on here. It started out as almost a diary about whatever was going on. Then I began to comment on Politics, Social Issues, Design Work, Computing and also continued with my Diary inputs. So I've decided that this doesn't really work. The original title for this Blog was "Whats a Chris?", and thus it made sense to post my Diary inputs. However Social Issues and Politics are a big thing too me. So this is the idea I'm currently jogging along with.
3 Blogs.
1 Account.
If that is possible on Blogger here it is what I plan to do. This blog will return to the title "Whats a Chris?", and I will continue to keep an online Diary effectively. I will continue to use the title "Guerilla Blogging" and that will be for my political opinions, albeit niave opinions, Social Issues and Religious Belief. That title came around as a bit off a joke. I know that some off my friends wouldn't agree with my opinions so I took my name and such off the blog. The third blog I have no title for, but it will be focused on my Design projects.
I'm currently working on the design aspects of the blogs, so it will be a week or so before this project gets off the ground. I've been looking into Blog promotion also, so I'm hoping to get some sort of readers base. We will see how that goes.
God Bless
Peace
3 Blogs.
1 Account.
If that is possible on Blogger here it is what I plan to do. This blog will return to the title "Whats a Chris?", and I will continue to keep an online Diary effectively. I will continue to use the title "Guerilla Blogging" and that will be for my political opinions, albeit niave opinions, Social Issues and Religious Belief. That title came around as a bit off a joke. I know that some off my friends wouldn't agree with my opinions so I took my name and such off the blog. The third blog I have no title for, but it will be focused on my Design projects.
I'm currently working on the design aspects of the blogs, so it will be a week or so before this project gets off the ground. I've been looking into Blog promotion also, so I'm hoping to get some sort of readers base. We will see how that goes.
God Bless
Peace
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