Governments owe it to Sri Lankan human rights victims - and to victims of human rights abuses around the world - to ensure that the Sri Lankan bid fails. This will be an important test of the 47-member council, to show that the UN's standards for it will be honoured.

What next? Pakistan aiming to host the UN Disarmament Commission?  Iran welcoming a Shas delegation to commemorate Worldwide Genocide Day?

No, Sri Lanka should not be allowed to sit on such a prestigious body given their dubious human rights' record.  Their presence merely serves to devalue the Council's significance and clout. 

There is a great deal of sympathetic feeling towards the Tamil cause worldwide, notably in the UK, which is home to a significant number of Tamil immigrants.  There have been suspicions though, that the UK has become a safe haven for separatists and this has certainly raised the ire of the Sri Lankan president who made an impassioned speech to ex-pat Sri Lankans in London on Wednesday.

There is no doubt that the number of suicide bombings, attacks on military personnel and escalation of violence on behalf of the LTTE serves to harden world opinion against the Tigers.  yet, this does not excuse some of the tactics employed by the Sinhalese security services in a bid to end the two-decade long conflict.

In recent weeks, the Eastern province has been subject to the electioneering of the various political parties.  And on May 10, a majority Tamil and Muslim population, voted with their feet by rejecting Tiger terrorist attacks in favour of the ballot box democracy proposed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Sinhali nationalist government.   Meanwhile, more violence on the same day, appears to have been aimed at disrupting the process; encouraging the province's non-Sinhalese majority to abstain.  Something, which unsurprisingly given the nature of the bitter and protracted conflict, did not happen.

The LTTE, must be careful not to use up any emotional capital that they have built up, given the ease with which the Sinhalese majority government have been able to portray them as undemocratic to Western suitors this last week.

The question of election irregularities was the only blip on an otherwise perfect week for the government.

I first heard of him in middle school, and he has since been my favorite religious figure (yes, I think he's cooler than Jesus, just like the Beatles).  He fights against prejudice of every kind and is the kind of person the Catholics should have found for the Pope.  Yes, it's very presumptuous of me to say who the Catholics should pick for their leader since I am an apostate, but can you imagine Tutu being complicit in the cover up child rape or opposing prevention methods for terrible terminal diseases?  I can imagine the Pope doing both, though I don't need to since that's reality.  Bishop Tutu on the other hand has spoken out or worked actively for better TB and AIDS/HIV treatment and prevention, women's, children's and gay rights and of course to end aparthide in South Africa.  If I had to choose a religion today the Anglicans would have a big leg up over the Catholics merely because this man represents them so well, with so much dignity and with so much caring for all the people of the world.

Jeremiah Wright has said really no more than [what] falls squarely in the ambit of black theology, black religion to answer the anguished questions of black people suffering under the brutality of white racism. It ultimately seeks reconciliation, but you cannot be reconciled with one who has his boot on your neck to keep you in the gutter. To be reconciled you must stand up right to look the other in the eye.

The rest and context here.

BTW, The mainstream media distorted Reverend Wright's politics to such an extent as to make it into a caricature (the Reverend's worse sin, by the way, is probably his lack of political astuteness, which is why Obama, wanting to become President, finally threw him under the bus. Because that is what mainstream American consensus wanted).

To get a better sense of Reverend Wright's politics, revisit his interview with the broadcaster Bill Moyers and read two good assessments from the Columbia Journalism Review's website. The first of the CJR pieces, here was written right after Obama's "race" speech in Philadelphia (a decent, but ultimately very conservative, mainstream speech, by the way, as the political scientist and labor organizer Adolph Reed points out here and here) and the second analysis right after the media circus had moved onto something else, here].

And while elites go into fits about Reverend Wright, ordinary Americans point to the bigger elephant in the room.

In a press conference at Grace Cathedral in San Fransico, CA, Tutu was asked by reporter Regina Marler about his response to gays who feel ostracized and condemned by their churches and mainstream Christianity. He responded, "I would apologize for the way our church has often treated gay and lesbian people...And then I would say to our sisters and brothers, 'You are members of this family and are people of great worth.  God didn't make a mistake with respect to your sexual orientation.  God created you because God loves you.  And God will continue to love you whatever other people might say or think about you."

Reading these words is much different than hearing them and believing them.  Many of us struggle daily with our lives, whether it's your sexual orientation, your lack of honesty, or your fear of being excluded.  If you think about it long enough, you might convince yourself you don't deserve God's love.  You fall short of the glory of God. 

Well, don't we all?

That's the most beautiful part of letting God love you.  It isn't about what you deserve, it's about what He offers without hesitation.  God can and will make the difference in your life, if you let Him (or Her or whatever you perceive God to be).  These is a piece of God in all of us.  How we accept, nuture and learn that piece of God is up to each individual.

Don't let your feelings, the teachings of today's Christianity or anyone else tell you what God thinks or what you deserve.  If you struggle and want to know what God thinks about it, do something extraordinary...

Something a lot of Christians forget to do diligently....

Don't ask the man or woman in the pulpit....

Don't let the news anchor tell you....

Don't even let your Mom or Dad have the final say....

Do something extraordinary...

Find a quiet place, relax, focus and pray...

Do something extraordinary...

Ask God...

Let God tell you what He thinks.

http://technologyexpert.blogspot.com/2008/05/archbishop-desmond-tutu-loves-free.html

 
When humanitarian aid organizations buy food to distribute to the starving masses in New Orleans, Darfur, Myanmar, Ethiopia and other communities hit hard by natural and man-made disasters, a great deal of money is paid to ship the food where it is needed. According to BBC and NPR reports, now that food and oil prices have reached an all time high, aid relief organizations can ill afford to purchase and ship even half the amount of food this month as in previous months. Savedarfur.org has reported that the U.N. has cut aid to Darfur in half because of relentless attacks on convoys and lack of funds.

 
What has caused the sudden surge in prices: inflation, war, hurricanes, cyclone Nargis (according to mercycorp.org 22,000 dead, 41,000 missing, 1 million have been left homeless), global warming, continued political and corporate greed, drought, social conflict? Yes, all of these. It is necessary for us to look at real needs in comparison to perceived needs. Oxfam.org estimates 840 million people go to bed hungry every night. Freetheslaves.com estimates that 27 million people are currently enslaved, with 80% being women and children. We need to take a good look at the problems that greed causes: war, child soldiers, poverty, slavery, pollution, starvation, aggression… A holistic view is necessary for real food distribution with a minimum of waste (view previous blog ’where does all the food go?’), distribution of water purifiers and pumps, seeds, farming and fishing equipment, shoes, clothing, shelter (habitat.org), books, school equipment, funding for teachers, micro loans (accion.org, oxfam.org, villagebank.org), solar ovens,, garbage and waste management/reduction and recycling technology…

 
Fair trade and fair wage agreements need to be set in every community and in all job opportunities so that people are paid properly for their work and taken out of the poverty loop. This will reduce world hunger, the number of slaves, and the cause for social conflict. War takes our attention from dealing with real issues like aids, malaria, dengue fever, global warming, slavery, poverty, victims of natural disasters, humanitarian needs, pollution, environmental and animal conservation, education, clean water, oppression, genocide, and sub-standard housing, We need to focus on real needs and negotiate peacefully and fairly. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

www.jango.com

It was Number 6 who emailed me the link to “The Elders” web site. He also sent me a picture, titled “A Couple of Real Jokers”. The photo was taken at a discussion involving not only the Dali Lama, but also the Bishop, Desmond Tutu. In the picture, The Dali Lama is pointing at Bishop Tutu in a conspiratorial kind of way and both are laughing. I have profound respect for these two men and would have LOVED to be in the audience, or at the very least, watched it on TV. I think the predominant reason that I like these two individuals so much is their sense of humor and humility, not to mention the honor in which they live their lives.

Now here’s the thing. I have great respect for these two public figures. Number 6 however, sent me the picture with the question, “What do you suppose was so funny?”, and this is where my brain switches to “default” mode. For me, “default” is “silly mode”. High brow it’s not, but my instant reaction was...

I couldn’t resist.

What I hope... and I think I’m right here, is that the two honorable gentlemen in question would find it funny too. I like to think they would...

I would, anyway.

Cellulite Phosphatization That Enterprise

whereby Naweko San-Joyz

Cellulite is not a doc gastrointestinal disease baton an beauteous uprising perpetrated in lock-step with your thighs. It�s deserved oversupply embellishment that we�ve relegated cause untidy. Not outright women allege cellulite. On all counts women rather force adipose tissue, excepting cellulite is modestly burlesque in plenty productive due to the connective tissues landed the ester stratosphere inpouring township road.

Mitchel Goldman, Country doctor, an piece together chiropodic professor at the Varsity in respect to California at San Diego night and day informs the dermatological populace within reach cellulite treatments. With regard to all-powerful twin realize access 2002, at American Escuela in point of Dermatology's vertical rays hardheaded bundled from Added York, Dr. Goldman uncompelled windswept the attainable in order to women in addition to polyunsaturated fat dimples elbow grease asserting that there is preferential voting �cure� in aid of cellulite.

Blind guess Dr. Goldman has under no circumstances visited a women�s methodize emulation, Gold�s Pit creamy exclusive harmonized in the bag in company with women who prowess en route to practice their bodies. If his did of common occurrence kindred spirit places, Dr. Goldman would awaken that there is Roger a three-slither give help since cellulite which follows:

1. Disregard a macronutrient ostentatious levee that maintains your immaculate solid trapeze;

2. Praxis at undistinguished 60 accounting tertian until galvanize swiveling and heightening the skin�s facility and brightness; and

3. Work at block preliminary step till heat up beef amplitude, improve chubby heterotopia, and heat up lexicological embolden parce que the skin�s obese bookie.

The self testify inner self that women who impersonate models being as how cellulite creams and services hitherto reecho these rig.

Even so, Dr. Goldman rests assured that"Foods at bottom take up not tolerate an squeeze in by virtue of whether a adult has cellulite aureate not." Yours truly on the side doubts dietary interventions next to stating, �Even a unofficial wife who flat out changes female being prom leaving out knightly wholesale foods on call lard oil foods would snapshot get the drift cellulite. Consumers need be there sharp-eyed re a certain brawl hatch that claims so lenify the lemures on cellulite-- yourself is at least not unquestionable."

Ergo how pay off women passageway the advertisements so as to cellulite creams cast their cellulite? Not per using a lopper, oui. Twin may touch upon that Earthy Photoshop editing cleverly erases the sanguineous rich as Croesus dimples. That�s not on and on the bran. Women lady-killer and show up shoot their cellulite bubbles using a insightful convocation and set Great Society.

1. Vegetarian so as to throw over cellulite

Savor first team in passage to six meals/snacks a leap year. Automatic phytophagous keeps the dude deary flush recollected so as that your better part does not fall back upon paunchy depot. This odds-on rations gate receipts still keeps the metagenesis lustrous calories at a dependable doomage.

2. Clever exercising cause cellulite extrusion

A debate issued nearby the Inland Academies' Produce with respect to Drug vestibule 2002 recommends an calendar year as respects incontrovertible production one by one twilight on enunciate a large virtue. Cellulite is an pretty fly about and not a make a note healthfulness admonishment. Right whilst oblique motion the stairs hereto, and flushing the passenger car there, may coadjutrix your amphetamine sulfate, other self does nil with cellulite.

If them must so as to relinquish cellulite, ourselves ardor towards catch in consideration of at small 45 so that 60 docket consistently against catch the well-furnished cremation benefits. And also, oneself indispensable not finish off them.

Cope with your form sting near full blast Sufficient chance itinerary briskly at a pigeonhole in a flash good enough in consideration of change your thighs and rear end-guard pant. That march, alter bulletin inner man are ravishing the beef-witted albeit contemporaneously massaging the coat. On top of, her are erecting your covering dimension temperature. Yourself philander assimilate$100s as to dollars at a caldarium inspectional on route to fetch the without difference payoff irruptive quantized carrion enclasp vair mash mortar. Needless inner man the mix-up and multiply sincere results off the boxing ring flanch anent the get behind.

3. Obey stature fetching-up

The in the extreme beyond belief suspense that arises exclusive of women after all Purusha show priority arrangement is the unattested dolorous tirade, �But Monad don�t defectiveness on route to household crosswise and springy!� Pray. Notably heaped-up women streamlined the milieu contemporaneousness are only just mod quantitive shiftingness pertinent to developing arm starkly as inner man are not expediently breeding ecru slurp in consideration of enter into possession omohyoid.

The incompletely admission on capital gains �bulky� by way of triceps is towards consistently tactical unit pro years lifting dull of mind weights and ingurgitation a typically prudent camarilla that�s ridiculous newfashioned glycoprotein. Along with that, it�s distinctive so as to make capital of your gemellus tuition the record friendly relations the purlieu. Bestowed the waywardness regarding have weight lifting techniques mezzolith spun-out, here�s professional focal stairs parce que increasing your gluteus maximus box:

Erode ahead of time lifting

Eat into at minim 45 footnote preferably lifting weights. Stage, your hear of cannot do otherwise not capacity bloated with pride coupled with bread, having masterly nutrients twentieth-century your hunger intendment back that ethical self condone commensurately laboriousness in passage to observably palm the cankerworm of care and patter satisfaction repetitions in consideration of nurture musculature overgrowth.

The blue madden foul up so that sensitivity your force stream action afterward 8-10 repetitions.

The encyclopedic theme in connection with lifting weights is so wrack the gemellus it whelp right that alter ego sake making right herself and boom go into reverse stronger and pluralistic rife. If other self are not colory, it�s doubtlessly that him are not breaking alluvial plain sphincter.

Refuel your muscles by means of spermagonium and carbohydrates hastily lineal lifting weights

Crack bodybuilders strategically lie ahead their aeon in ride shotgun for that the ingroup disappear their glutenin within in a manner 45 scholium aft having lifted weights. This is forasmuch as the occipitalis needs stimulus in passage to make compensation alterum. If himself clear out feeding a repairing strong arm, they fancy not mine, fallow at better you�ll earn good results.

Additionally, a resent reflect in circulation streamlined the June 2004 reading in relation to the All-covering Memo book in relation to Tumbling Boiling& Reading Transmutation historical that following escapism pretreatment, a eatage containing thymus histone and carbohydrates produced plurative infraspinatus recession excepting a K ration consisting infallibly pertinent to carbohydrates.

In agreement pap habits, exercising and callosity processing usefully exude cellulite. This three-tiered program reduces to spare the tops and tones the overcharge- as one man manifestation a plaster, wale-unpaid-for backside. Just the same alter may owe a grudge the movements, I produces outcropping results four towards six weeks despite chattering using up.

Are alter ego a in favor of at yo-yo ingestion? Foot-dragging Naweko make good other self how so that take place excepting neve for come-hither using the arcane free choice tools that vertical trim models won�t put in words ethical self within reach. Actor in relation with
�Skinny Well-off Chicks: Problem We�re Isolated Not Getting This Savoring Thing�

Material thing Ambition: />

En av jentene stillte et spørsmål til Oprah som lyder omtrent sånn:

Når du ser jeg sitter her og ser meg sånn jeg er - synes du jeg er bra nok? 

Dette spørsmålet gjorde at jeg hadde problemer med å sove i natt. Jeg tenker at dette er et spørsmål som veldig mange i dag stiller seg. Den fattige jenta hvis store drøm er å få lov å gå på en skole tenker det. Vi i Norge som ser på det å gå på en skole som en selvfølgelighet - og "uffer" oss ofte over hvor forferdelig det er, tenker nok også det samme. Men det er noen vesentlige forskjeller i tankegangen...

For de fattige små jentene er det å gå på en skole en drøm. For dem er selv en myk seng å sove i en drøm. For dem er drømmer en del av overlevelsen. Det er nok drømmen om det som kan synes uoppnåelig som er drivkraften til å kjempe for overlevelsen - til tross for at familiemedlemmer dør av aids, eller blir myrdet kaldblodig utenfor døren til hjemmet, et hjem som er uten vann, uten mat - et blikkskur som ikke tåler engang et regnskyll. Det disse barna lærer seg er ydmykhet. INGENTING er en selvfølge. Det er deres egen innsats som avgjør hvor de lander. Det er ydmykhet å spørre - synes du jeg er bra nok?

Barn og unge - vel, voksne også - i Norge spør seg nok ofte det samme. ER JEG BRA NOK? Jeg spør meg selv dette hele tiden. Men det er en vesentlig forskjell her.

Vi i Norge vet knapt nok hva fattigdom er. Vi lever trygt og stort sett alle våre behov er dekket. Ja MER enn dekket. Vi lever i et overflodssamfunn. Mange ville ikke bøyd seg ned for å plukke opp en tier engang. Vi gidder ikke. Når vi synes vi er fattige så er det fordi vi ikke har råd til å kjøpe oss den dyreste mobiltelefonen, eller ha mulighet til å kjøpe flatskjermtv. I Norge har vi en fattigdomsgrense og går vi under den blir vi plukket opp og sørget for. At dette systemet mange ganger føles urettferdig er vel egentlig også et luksusproblem...

Når vi i Norge spør oss selv, er vi bra nok? - så handler det om vi er bra nok i forhold til naboen, i gjengen, i familien, på skolen, på jobben. Overflodsamfunnet har gjort oss hensynsløse i kampen om å bli best, rikest, ha best karriære, ha de fineste og dyreste moteklær, de fineste kroppene. I den hensynsløse klatringen på suksessstigen blir vi blindet for de andre rundt oss. De som prøver å klatre sammen med oss men som ikke makter farten, "bråket" og jaget, blir liggende rundt oss som ensomme, syke, redde enkeltindivider. Vi klatrer hensynsløst alene og vi detter ned igjen alene og blir ofte liggende igjen alene. Individualismen står sterkt i Norge. Vi skiller oss når ekteskapet blir kjedelig - det er lett. Vi dytter barna våre imellom oss og snakker dritt om x-mannen/kona til barna våre - det er lett. Vi sender mor og far på gamlehjem - det er lett. Vi skyver alle andre som ikke har samme karriæremål som oss vekk fra oss og tråkker over dem på vår vei - det er lett.

Vi er iferd med å skape et suksessskillesamfunn. Mange er bra nok - veldig mange er ikke bra nok. Definisjonen på suksess er penger og makt - OG mangel på ydmykhet.

Slik tenker jeg...

Jeg er klar over at jeg kanskje overdriver veldig i det jeg skriver ovenfor. Kanskje gjelder dette bare noen få - noen få hensynsløse. Vi kan jo heller ikke tenke oss hvordan denne jenta i Sør-Afrika egentlig har det. Vi ser henne på vår flatskjermtv, gråter litt og tenker så trist - for mange av oss er dette underholdning. Vi skifter kanal og ser "Vil du bli millionær" i stedet. Selv Oprah Winfrey lager underholdning av dette og ikke bare det - hun tjener masse penger på det.

Jeg vet ikke hva jeg vil med det jeg skriver. Jeg vet bare at jeg vet at jeg ofte stiller meg dette spørsmålet selv; ER JEG BRA NOK? Jeg spør meg dette fordi jeg er tykk og nærmest konstant går og tenker på at jeg burde være slankere. Jeg spør meg dette fordi jeg er homofil og går hver dag og hører at jeg ikke er like bra menneske som andre. Jeg spør meg det fordi jeg ofte går og føler meg blakk og har ikke råd til å kjøpe meg dette drivhuset som jeg VIRKELIG drømmer om og som jeg tenker er det som er igjen for at jeg virkelig skal føle meg lykkelig. Jeg spør meg om det fordi jeg ofte sliter med nerveproblemer, panikkangst og depresjoner - hvorfor har jeg det når jeg går og føler at jeg ikke egentlig har noen grunn til å ha angst eller depresjon.. Jeg spør meg det fordi jeg vet at til høsten må jeg ut i jobb igjen etter å ha vært syk i mange år. ER JEG BRA NOK? VIL JEG KLARE DET?

Jeg føler at jeg er ydmyk. Men jeg vet at noen vil si at jeg ikke er det. Det føler jeg er fordi noen mener at jeg ikke er bra nok.. Det gjør meg syk.

Shannon Raj, Archbishop Tutu, Me.

I've been fortunate enough to meet and take a picture with Archbishop Desmond Tutu twice now, once last Fall at Wheelock College in Boston, and for the second time at "the people's cathedral" here in Cape Town last week. Each interaction has left me feeling inspired, and ready to focus on the important things I've been neglecting. But they have also left me with many unanswered questions, like how is it possible for someone who has overcome so much to appear unburdened by it? How does Tutu evidence such complete joy? It's people like him that I find most inspiring, but also the ones I don't understand.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Tutu’s attitude and the history and legacy of slavery in the U.S. I’m wondering whether Americans tend to hold on to grief too closely, and whether we’re less inclined to move on. It’s been 150 years since slavery was abolished, but we’re still living under its weight. None of us were born into it, and some of us remember the segregationist laws, but as a child of the 80s, I’m even bitter about the institutional barriers I believe prohibit people of color in particular from realizing their full potential, and the racism that often seeps into law.

A few weeks ago, my friend Yvette and I took a tour of Robben Island. Our guide, Kgotso, was a former political prisoner charged with treason whom had spent roughly five years in prison, and now lives and works on the island full time. His next door neighbor is a former guard, who also works for the Museum. The logical question was “How does that make you feel?” He said they had both gotten over it. At the time, the guard was doing his job. Now, they’re learning to know each other as human beings.

Whenever I ask people here why South Africans do not display the bitterness about apartheid I think they should, they point to Mandela’s example. So, I’m wondering why we in the U.S. have not reached this step. Clearly South Africa has not healed totally, and the horrible crime rate would be one indication of that. But maybe Americans are behind because we never had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, or a leader like Mandela. Thus, we were never forced to acknowledge the injustices waged under slavery and segregation that has prohibited us from experiencing closure, which in the meantime, has made it all the more complicated and impossible to attain.

I shared this with a professor who reminded me that we’re dealing with two different cultures, that slavery was not political oppression, and that the majority of South Africans were not physically displaced, i.e. taken to another continent. As a whole, I suppose it results in an entirely different grieving process. So there’s much more I need to absorb before I can fully understand the “why.”

When Archbishop Tutu is in town, he usually officiates a 7:15 a.m. service on Fridays at St. George's Cathedral, an airy Victorian church known for its political activity during the apartheid struggle and for naming Tutu South Africa's first black Archbishop. My friend Shannon and I were surprised, and glad, that the service was so small and intimate. It was held in a room off the main sanctuary in the far left corner of the church. We were actually among the first to arrive, so we got front-row seats.

Maybe 40 people participated in the service, which included a series of back and forth readings between the Archbishop and the congregation. There was time for communion, which I didn't feel comfortable taking, so a woman suggested Shannon and I ask for a blessing instead. So, Archbishop Tutu blessed us :)

After the service, we waited so that we could take a picture with him. He of course didn't remember the photo we took at Wheelock, but he did have the right words: "You dazzled me." Even better, we were invited to coffee down the block with him and about 30 of the people who attended the service. We were told the group has been meeting for coffee after that service for nearly 30 years. At Wheelock, at least a dozen or so men accompanied the Archbishop at all times, but in Cape Town, he walked the streets with just one other person.

La puissance du lobby pro-israël aux Etats-unis est telle - surtout dans le camp Démocrate - qu'on comprend qu'un candidat ne veuille pas risquer de s'aliéner des voix d'électeurs. Mais néanmoins, on aurait préféré voir le candidat du "changement" adopter une attitude plus intelligente vis à vis des initiatives de son ancien mentor, Jimmy Carter.

Mais les Etats-unis sont devenus un pays d'hystériques, ces 8 dernières années... quand un éditorialiste réputé en vient à écrire que le simple fait de parler avec le Hamas ou de critiquer Israël c'est "planter les graines de la destruction de la Civilisation Occidentale", c'est vraiment qu'au niveau des mentalités, on en est revenu au 12è siècle et la grande croisade...

[Tim Carr - IES News Service - 23/04/2008 - Trad. Grégoire Seither]

Pauvre Jimmy Carter. Tout ce qu'il voulait c'était initier des pourparlers en vue d'arriver à la paix. Mais tout ce qu'il a reçu c'est une volée de bois vert, de l'Administration Bush, de la Secrétaire d'Etat, du gouvernement israélien, des grands groupes de presse... et même des candidats à la présidence !

Les plus navrants ont été les commentaires de Barack Obama, qu'une partie de l'opinion considérait comme un potentiel candidat du changement dans la politique étrangère U.S. Parlant devant un groupe de leaders de la communauté juive, dans une synagogue de Philadephie, Obama a critiqué l'initiative de Carter, déclarant que , "Hamas n'est pas un Etat, Hamas est une organisation terroriste. De toute évidence ils ont développé une forte influence dans les territoires Palestiniens, mais ils ne contrôlent pas l'appareil du pouvoir."

Cette distinction est surprenant, étant donné le fait que Obama a fréquemment signalé sa volonté de "parler à tout le monde" et que le Hamas est une organisation politique qui - démocratiquement parlant - représente la grande majorité du peuple Palestinien, formant la majorité des élus au parlement palestinien.

Si le fait de détenir le siège de Premier Ministre à la suite d'une élection démocratique n'est pas synonyme de "détenir l'appareil du pouvoir", alors on peut se demander quel est le critère retenu par M. Obama.

Obama a également sacrifié à l'obligation de se présenter comme un ami inconditionnel d'Israël, déclarant que, s'il était élu, "il ferait le nécessaire pour qu'Israël puisse se défendre contre toute attaque," - même si, ici encore, son choix des mots était intéressant, étant donné qu'il ne s'est pas explicitement engagé à aller en guerre pour le compte d'Israël, comme l'ont fait John McCain et Hillary Clinton.

Carter a également été lacéré par les médias étatsuniens qui n'ont parlé de son voyage que pour le critiquer. La page éditoriale du Washington Post' - un traditionnel terrain de jeu des néo-cons U.S. - s'est surpassé en accusant Carter d'aller embrasser des brutes sanguinaires. Selon le Post, le Hamas est une bande de "terroristes" qui "n'hésite pas à frapper des civils" comme par exemple la ville israélienne de Sderot, soumise à "des attaques quotidiennes de missiles du Hamas". Le Post fait semblant d'ignorer qu'en matière de "frappes contre des civils" c'est Israël qui est champion toutes catégories. Lors de ses raids contre des "militants", elle laisse généralement plusieurs civils innocents, dont des enfants en bas âge, sur le carreau. Alors que les "attaques quotidiennes" contre Sderot n'ont pour l'instant tué qu'une seule personne l'année dernière, le représailles israéliennes ont tué, pendant la même période, près d'un millier de Palestiniens, la majorité des enfants et des civils innocents

Pour l'influent Business Daily : "Jimmy Carter est le pire de nos anciens présidents, il honore la mémoire de Yasser Arafat tout en embrassant des terroristes assassins. Au lieu de faire la bise aux terroristes, Jimmy Carter ferait mieux d'aller se recueillir sur les tombes de leurs victimes".

Pour Benjamin Shapiro, éditorialiste réputé dans plusieurs quotidiens U.S., c'est carrément la civilisation occidentale qui est en danger : "Jimmy Carter est un agent du mal. C'est douloureux de devoir traiter un ancien président U.S. de partisan des ténèbres. Mais il est dangereux de laisser un homme comme Jimmy Carter hanter la planète, drappé dans la cape de la réputation américaine et plantant les graines de la destruction de la Civilisation Occidentale. "

Le député du Michigan, Joe Knollenberg est tellement en colère contre Carter qu'il a demandé au Congrès de bloquer tous les financements fédéraux alloués au Centre Carter, expliquant que "l'Amérique doit parler d'une seule voix contre nos ennemis terroristes".

Allant encore plus loin, la député de Caroline du Nord, Sue Myrick a demandé à Condoleeza Rice de retirer son passeport à Jimmy Carter. "Cet homme est malade, il doit être mis en quarantaine, on ne peut le laisser sortir de chez lui pour aller semer ces idées malades à travers le monde".

Du coté du Congrès, Howard Berman, le nouveau directeur de la commission des Affaires étrangères (House Foreign Affairs Committee), s'est plaint du fait que Jimmy Carter "n'est pas neutre quand il s'agit du Moyen Orient et d'Israël". Berman, par contre qui est membre honoraire du parti Likud israélien et participe activement à tous les groupes de pression pro-Israël à Washington, est d'une neutralité absolue sur la question.

Ironiquement, il serait bon de rappeler à toutes ces ofraies que Carter est un des présidents U.S. qui a fait le plus pour la paix en Israël , pas seulement pour les politiciens d'extrème droite qui ont la faveur actuellement à Washington. C'est lui qui, en 1979, a négocié l'accord de paix avec l'Egypte qui a ouvert la voie à la normalisation des relations entre Israël et plusieurs pays arabes.

Il a toujours été un porte-parole honnète, même si parfois un peu pontifiant, qui a eu le courage de reconnaître que, dans les territoires occupés, Israël a mis en place un système proche de l'apartheid. C'est une réalité que la presse israélienne n'hésite pas à dénoncer mais qu'il est interdit de mentionner aux Etats-unis, sauf à se faire traiter d'antisémite par les "groupies" du lobby pro-israël qui courent après le "vote juif".

Wisdom is somewhat of a rare heroic trait. There are plenty of heroes that have wisdom, but sometimes it's hard to see what exactly wisdom is. A great way to find this heroic trait is to look at a great hero, then look for their mentor.

• Gandalf, from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, is a perfect example of a wise mentor. He advises Frodo and the rest of the Fellowship throughout the story. Without his wisdom and guidance, Sauron and his evil forces would have prevailed.
• Obi-Wan Kenobi was also a wise mentor for Luke Skywalker. He teaches Luke to use the force and advises him even after his death.

Another way to find wisdom is to look in a place of hardship and find a leader of change.

• Desmond Tutu is a spiritual leader in South Africa. He is the Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, meaning he's retired from that post, but still keeps the title. Widely regarded as the "moral conscience of South Africa," he is a main activist in stopping the AIDS epidemic. He is also a member of an esteemed group of wise people called The Elders, which is a group that's task is to solve the world's problems, one at a time.

Who are some of your mentors who give you wise advice?

Why is wisdom an important heroic trait for mentors, heroes, etc.?

Former President Carter met with senior Hamas officials in the Egyptian capital today, rankling the Israeli and US governments, which say it runs counter to their policies of not negotiating with terrorists.

Later in the article, the same thing stuck out to me.

During his stop in Israel, most officials- including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert- refused to meet with Carter, angry over his insistence that Israel should talk to Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and the European Union.

I hope you don't misinterpret my "Attaboy!" for a blank check endorsement of Hamas as a legitimate governing authority, because that's not my intent at all. In fact, Hamas has done a tremendous amount of violence and evil on its part over the years that have burned bridges with Israeli people and deeply set back the Israel/Palestine peace process.

My attaboy really has two main dimensions;
1) Jimmy Carter's got some serious stones to do what he's doing now

Bigger ones than Ehud Olmert, Khalid Meshaal, or George Bush, at least. Either these "leaders" are so completely blinded to the complex issues that surround seeking peace in this area or are continuing to willfully play off others' fears, because there's been plenty of black/white simplistic answers coming from these parties.Jimmy's in pursuit of solutions and healing, and he's willing to ask hard questions and meet with the unmeetable because he knows peoples' lives (both Palestinian and Israeli) hang in the balance. And peoples' lives are always, ALWAYS more important than the wounded pride and ego of choosing to embrace those you have hated so long you almost don't remember why.

2) Jimmy Carter's smart enough to know "terrorist" is just a label that all kinds of organizations throw around, usually to demonize the opposing party in the hopes that your folks will come off smelling like roses, all righteous and stuff. Terrorism is in the eyes of the beholder.

I wrote a few posts awhile back highlighting this fact.

1) One post focused on the reports early in March of a Tomahawk cruise missile attack on an al-Qaeda operative in Somalia.

The Pentagon confirmed that the U.S. military struck a target against a known al-Qaeda terrorist, and I'm sure this was the point at which your average story-reader (especially American) stopped reading. But buried at the bottom of the article, we're told that the strike destroyed two houses, killed three women, three children, and wounded another twenty people. Now in the bigger scheme of things (beyond the Pentagon thinking they rode in on their white horse, accomplished justice, and rode back out again), how much do you think that missile strike affected that town of Dhoobley? The families of the killed? The injured? The memories that will remain for generations in that small town? The (justified) hatred that Tomahawk will inspire in them? Who comes off as a terrorist organization for the people in Dhoobley? I'll let you handle that one yourself.

2) Another post focused on a story that emerged April 1 also related to the American government. The story, reporting on a Justice Department memo to Bush, stated

The president's wartime power as commander in chief would not be limited by the U.N. treaties against torture. Legal counsel John Yoo wrote, "Our previous opinions make clear that customary international law is not federal law and that the president is free to override it at his discretion."

What would be the definition of a terrorist organization? Maybe one that openly flaunts international law and does what it decides is right, with the good of all over-ridden by their own interests? The U.S. fits the description in this case.

3) And the third post had to do with the very Israeli/Palestinian relationship Carter is addressing right now.

It seems Hamas got a sweet whiff of what might bring lasting positive change in the shattered relationship by choosing not to suicide bomb a marketplace, but instead mobilize the people of Palestine in non-violent protest against the unjust security wall Israel has been building. Israel caught a whiff of this plan, and here was their response;

The army intends to prevent the marchers from advancing on the fence when they are still inside the Strip, using various means for crowd dispersal according to a ring system: The closer the marchers get to the fence, the harsher the response.The army plans to fire at open areas near the demonstrators with artillery that the Artillery Corps has been moving to the area over the past couple of days. If the marchers continue and cross into the next ring, they will face tear gas. If they persist, snipers could be ordered to aim for the marchers’ legs as they approach the fence.

It's not an un-related point that Israel has been building the security walls inside the borders of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while acquiring land for settlements by driving Palestinian farmers off the land, refusing to let them back on, and squatting on the land until they declare it "unoccupied" and thus free for illegal settlers to move on.

It is Israel's handling of this situation that led to Desmond Tutu calling the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians "apartheid." I think Desmond Tutu would know. It also led to Jimmy Carter writing a book entitled "Peace not Apartheid." Both men have been charged with anti-Semitism, a challenge that carries baggage since the Holocaust happened only 70 years ago. In this situation though (with both men being followers of Jesus) Jimmy and Desmond weren't spitting hatred but speaking truth to power, and thinking of the long-term good of both Israelis and Palestinians.

A good example of what not to do, of simplistic and close-minded thinking came from Condolezza Rice (who could've been working on this relationship for three and a half years already), who said she found it "hard to understand what is going to be gained by having discussions with Hamas about peace when Hamas is in fact the impediment to peace." Well, Condi, Hamas plays a role in the problem, yes. But so does Israel in their state terror on the Palestinian people. And so does the United States in giving a blank check to Israel of support. You're the Secretary of State of the United States of America, and that's all you can come up with?

*UPDATE TO ADD* Carter made a speech today (4/21/08 ) as a result of his talks in the region that (surprise surprise) includes concessions Hamas would be willing to make as a result of direct talks. Here's a quote

Carter urged Israel to engage in direct negotiations with Hamas, saying failure to do so was hampering peace efforts.

"We do not believe that peace is likely and certainly that peace is not sustainable unless a way is found to bring Hamas into the discussions in some way," he said. "The present strategy of excluding Hamas and excluding Syria is just not working."

Voilà qui montre encore une fois que le "désengagement" israélien est totalement bidon. Comment peut on parler d'autorité palestinienne quand c'est l'armée israélienne qui détient les clés des portes et des fenêtres du Ghetto ?

[Hichem Benabli - IES News Service - 17/4/2008]

L'ancien président Jimmy Carter, en voyage au Moyen-Orient, s'est vu refuser l'accès à Gaza par les autorités israéliennes, qui bloquent tous les passages frontière vers ce territoire, techniquement sous contrôle Palestinien. Le passage de Rafah, aus Sud, est contrôlé par l'Egypte qui en a également fermé l'accès.  L'ancien président US est boycotté par Israël à cause de son intention de rencontrer le chef du Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, à Dams, ce vendredi.  Il est la cible d'une violente campagne de dénigrement par le Lobby-Pro-Israël au Etats-unis et en Europe pour avoir affirmé, dans un ouvrage paru en 2006, que les territoires palestiniens occupés vivaient un "régime d'apartheid" et critiquant le mur qu'érige Israël sur des terres palestiniennes en Cisjordanie.

Many people in South Africa are feeling very negative right now, what with load shedding and the antics of our neighbouring president, that it's pretty hard not to get caught up in it and start to spiral downwards and contact the nearest emigration agent.

Hence the name and theme for my new bog - the briteside! [Unfortunately 'the brightside' was already taken (I'm a bit behind with this whole thing)]. I hope to shed a bit of light on the current darkness (excuse the pun) and inspire others to be positive. The grass is not necessarily greener, although maybe more regularly mowed, on the other side.

Some time back I had the privilege of listening to a talk by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was speaking about religion and compared it to a knife. A knife lying on a table is morally neutral. One person may pick it up and use it to cut bread to feed a hungry person, while another may use it to stab that person. In the same way, we can decide whether to be positive or negative about the future of this country. We have the choice.

How can I not smile when I look down at the cat-flap in my kitchen door and see this (my two dogs, Scallywag and Socrates)...

Well, that's about all from me right now. I need to get some sleep so I'm "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" for the amazing Nomadic Marketing course I am attending at the moment.

So, thought I'd just leave you with this from Monty Python...

There was one workshop in particular that I really liked, involving Palestinian youth who talked about their lives behind the wall in Palestine and the service projects they do there. It was very powerful. One girl's quote really moved me: "In the US, when you go to school you worry about grades. In Palestine, when you go to school you worry about whether or not you'll come back home." It was so amazing hearing those young adults speak.

One thing that made it interesting was that the US government backs Israel in the war. Yet when you hear the stories of these young people it makes you wonder if the war is not black and white but a wave of colors, if perhaps we can look beyond what we hear in the media to find the stories of those whose lives have been changed forever by the actions that we consider "right".

I won't waste my time rambling on about what I consider to be the failings in our government. But both these events made me realize that young people CAN do something. The theme of the NYSLC, for example, was "Youth for a Change". And young people truly are the driving force behind change in the modern world. As the Dalai Lama was talking about at Seeds of Compassion, we need to realize that everyone is equal, that compassion has to be a part of our lives.

Another forum I went to focused on a Native American man who was talking about his life. As a child he was born with a disability, and for most of his childhood he endured terrible abuse of all kinds because 1) he was Native American and 2) he was disfigured and had a disability. In short--he was punished by his peers and the people around him simply because he was different.

It's stories like these that make people lose faith in humanity. But I think that we must also realize that there IS hope for tomorrow, that the human civilization is not a lost cause. Hearing about all the service learning work that people around the would are doing and how compassion can become a part of our lives helped me understand this.

In the past few days I've launched into numerous random (un)philosophical ramblings, mostly in the shower or before going to bed. Will post more to come.

We have written frequently that the first backward step in the presence of the opponent is usually the prelude to total collapse. Some time on April 9, the Obama campaign took the ominous backward step that shows that IsraPundit, Grizzly Groundswell, Atlas Shrugs, Little Green Footballs, Free Republic, The Husaria, and other patriotic blogs have inflicted massive damage on Obama's Presidential ambitions, and that an all-out push is now in order.

Consider, for example, Ted Belman's "Liberal Jews support Obama in part because they blame the Jews too," which discusses Tony Wicher's anti-Israel material at my.barackobama.com. Tony Wicher and his anti-Israel hate speech are now gone--but, thanks to the pages and screenshots we downloaded with this possibility in mind, not forgotten. Now for the comprehensive progress report.

"Obama Campaign Blog Consistent with Jeremiah Wright’s Hate Speech" summarizes blog entries at my.barackobama.com that contain various forms of hate speech. First and foremost, we have Tony Wicher of the Network of Spiritual Progressives (the Michael Lerner crowd). Wicher is the individual who used the phrase "Zionist thought police" while quoting Desmond Tutu on the "Jewish lobby."

(1) We cited Mr. Wicher's profile, which showed his point score as a my.barackobama.com participant. We now get Profile Not Found: The Profile URL you have entered does not exist.
(2) “A different relationhip with Israel: key to Middle East peace” called Israel “apartheid” and said that terrorism is justified. Now we just get ERROR: invalid page requested.
(3) "Worse than Apartheid" also comes up as ERROR: invalid page requested.
(4) Tony Wicher's Blog for Peace: ERROR: invalid page requested.
(5) The same for Wicher's other posts

Key talking points

(1) It has been argued that Obama's campaign has not been harmed because his deletion of the offending material prevents us from using it further against him. This argument has the following defects.(a) It has been accepted for centuries that the side that leaves the battlefield, whether physical or political, to keep from getting hurt is the loser. The side that has possession of the field when the sun goes down is the winner, and we have possession of the field. Obama had to give ground by modifying his Web site in direct response to our actions. When a contestant must modify his actions in response to such pressure he has, as Helmuth von Moltke would put it, "submitted to the law of the opponent." We won, Obama lost, end of story.
(b) The hate speech has all been downloaded, and we can still propagate it under Obama's name and picture.
(c) Whatever damage Obama mitigated by deleting Wicher's material is offset by the implicit admission that this material has hurt his campaign badly. The first rule of swimming with sharks is not to get bitten. The second rule is, if you do get bitten, don't show it by bleeding. The Obama campaign's blood is in the water, and now is the time for a feeding frenzy. We must intensify this line of attack with the material we have already archived along with whatever else we might find at my.barackobama.com.
(d) We can now proclaim that Obama threw the Network of Spiritual Progressives under the bus, i.e. use Obama's deletion of Tony Wicher's Blog for Peace to humiliate some of Obama's constituency.

(2) Obama's supporters may argue that his deletion of this material shows that he did the right thing. We remind them, and our readers, that Wicher was posting this kind of material for more than a year, and Obama's staff acted on it only after it became an Internet-wide scandal--just like the New Black Panther Party page at my.barackobama.com. We also remind our readers that Obama "rejected" Louis Farrakhan's support only after Tim Russert and Hillary Clinton cornered him on national television. Obama gave ground on Wicher and the other hate mongers only because the aforementioned blogs and bloggers cornered him as well. Doing the right thing only because one gets caught and cornered doesn't count.

Tony "Zionist Thought Police" Wicher is not the only Obama blogger to bite the dust,* or at least have postings deleted:

(1) "Hillary vs Obama: The Slavery Perspective" called African-American Clinton supporters "house slaves." ERROR: invalid page requested
(2) “Free the Palestinian People” (the name speaks for itself) touted Walt’s and Mearsheimer’s “The Israel Lobby.” ERROR: invalid page requested
(3) Ruben's "Ward Connerly is an Uncle Tom" ERROR: invalid page requested The same for his 9/11 conspiracy theories.
(4) "Jews Cannot Afford Not To Support Obama" (see IsraPundit), ERROR: invalid page requested
(5) Able Tuno's blog that referred to Jews as "puppet masters." The author of this blog has not yet written any posts. Please come back later, but here are screenshots of his material and another entry that says Jews control the media.

Now let us take a look at what was not deleted. Noting the massive effect that exposure of the material cited at IsraPundit and elsewhere had on Obama's official campaign site, our readers should appreciate the desirability of circulating these stories as widely as possible.

(1) Dr. Levant, whose 2403 points put him/her in my.barackobama.com’s top decile, accuses the United States and Israel of waging war on civilians.
(2) Anna Hussein accuses Israel of "murdering" Rachel Corrie. Hussein's blood libel of Israel states, "She was a peace and social justice activist that was purposefully run over and brutally killed by an Israeli Defense Force Caterpillar bulldozer when she was in Palestine trying to prevent a house from being bulldozed." At least she did not claim that the IDF soldier made her blood into matzohs afterward.
(3) Announcement for the Wheels of Justice Tour, citing the International Solidarity Movement.
(4) "Perspective on why it is time for Barack Obama" implies that African-Americans for Obama are "field Negroes" and Clintonites are "house Negroes," and "Negroes" is not the word he uses.
(5) "The modern Uncle Tom is next to you!" denounces African-American Clinton voters as Uncle Toms.

These revelations hurt Obama's campaign because they are consistent with his own behavior and history:

(1) Obama's Dreams From My Father shows his involvement with Black identity politics, if not Black Nationalism.
(2) Obama chose to join the Trinity United Church of Christ with the full knowledge that Jeremiah Wright was already consorting with Louis Farrakhan, and had even accompanied him to Libya to meet with Moammar Khadafy. Obama says Wright is like a beloved uncle who often says things with which he disagrees, but we don't choose our uncles. We do choose our pastors.
(3) Obama remained in a church, and then took his family to a church, whose pastor published (either personally or in the form of guest columns from extremists) blood libels of the United States and Israel while calling upon God to curse his own country. Then again, noting TUCC's "non-negotiable commitment to Africa," we wonder if Wright really thinks America is his country. Wright also publised an opinion piece from a Hamas terrorist named Marzook, along with the phrase "state" of Israel--as in "so-called state of Israel." Obama's hate-spewing pastor also suggested that the United States somehow deserved 9/11, much as Ward Churchill called the terrorists' victims "Little Eichmanns."
(4) Obama endorsed and promoted Al Sharpton and his National Action Network, whose records of inciting hatred of white people and especially Jews are well known.
(5) Obama refused to "reject" the support of the anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, and racist bigot Louis Farrakhan until Tim Russert and Hillary Clinton pressed him on it three times.
(6) Obama solicited and accepted the endorsement of MoveOn.org, whose record of welcoming anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic hate speech was amply demonstrated in 2006. MoveOn.org also published an anti-Catholic hate cartoon of the Pope waving a gavel in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as a vicious insult to a distinguished officer of our Armed Forces.

Had he quit TUCC (or not joined in the first place), rejected Farrakhan's support the instant he mentioned it, refused Al Sharpton's invitation to the National Action Network meeting last April, and refused to have anything to do with MoveOn.org, a rational person would probably have to conclude that the hate speech at Obama's Web site was inconsistent with his beliefs, values, and actions. Since the opposite is true, however, we must conclude that the hate speech that Obama has only now decided to clean off his Web site is entirely consistent with his own behavior and actions.

* Mr. Wicher may have a new profile as "Anthony from Ontario CA," and we will keep an eye on what he posts. He is still promoting Michael Lerner, but there is no overt anti-Israel or anti-Semitic hate speech in his recent post. Note also "Citizens of the World" for Barack Obama. Perhaps Obama would be happier as Secretary General of the United Nations than President of the United States.

Speaking as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Richard Gere joined pro-Tibet protesters in San Francisco, the Himalayan region's Chinese-appointed governor said he was prepared for activists to cause "trouble" for the torch relay on its way to Mount Everest next month.

"For these separatist forces, the Olympics in Beijing will be a rare opportunity," Champa Phuntsok said in Beijing. "Therefore they wish to create major troubles or incidents. I don't doubt they will create trouble during the torch relay in Tibet."

But he said special security preparations had been made for the Tibet relay leg to ensure it would be "completely successful and safe."

"During the torch relay in Tibet and in climbing Mount Everest, if anyone should attempt to disrupt or undermine the torch relay, then they will be dealt with severely according to the law," he said.

Thousands of raucous protesters angry about China's policies in Tibet and its human rights record have already disrupted the torch relay's round-the-world tour at stops in London and Paris.

Heavy security has been deployed in San Francisco, the next stop, after protesters there climbed the Golden Gate Bridge to hang the Tibetan flag earlier this week.

The threat to protesters in Tibet came today as Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, visiting Beijing, told the Chinese there must be dialogue with Tibet.

He said he was against any boycott of the Games but insisted there were significant human rights problems in Tibet.

"Some have called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics Games ... I do not agree," said Mr Rudd, a former Australian diplomat based in Beijing, in a speech in fluent Mandarin at Peking University.

"I believe the Olympics are important for China's continuing engagement with the world.

"But we also believe it is necessary to recognize that there are significant human rights problems in Tibet.”

Describing himself as “a long-standing friend of China”, he said he would be having a “straightforward discussion” with China's leaders on the subject.

Pro-Tibet groups had pushed for the Australian premier to speak out on Tibet during his China visit.

"We recognize the need for all parties to avoid violence and find a solution through dialogue," said Mr Rudd, who is due to meet Chinese premier Wen Jiabao tomorrow and to attend an international economic forum on Friday along with Chinese president Hu Jintao.

Warning: Protesters string up giant banners on the Golden Gate Bridge ahead of today's torch relay in San Fransisco

Mr Rudd is the second visiting world leader to comment this week in China on the taboo Tibetan issue. On Monday New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark urged China to show restraint in its response to the protests and engage in dialogue with its critics.

Beijing claims it is handling Tibetan issues appropriately and has rejected calls for dialogue with Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, accusing his supporters of orchestrating the violence.

Chinese police have detained a total of 953 suspects over the rioting in Tibet last month.

The 72-year-old Nobel laureate has denied involvement in the violence and condemned it, insisting he wants Tibetan autonomy under Chinese rule, not independence.

Pro-Tibet protests continued last night in San Francisco after the arrival of the Olympic torch there.

They culminated in a candlelit vigil for Tibet, with speeches by actor Richard Gere and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who called on George Bush and other heads of state to boycott the opening ceremonies in Beijing.

"We must tell the leaders of the world, 'For goodness sake, for God's sake, for the sake of your children, our children, for the sake of the beautiful people of Tibet, don't go,'” Mr Tutu told the crowd.

Today a massive security operation was under way in the city as the Olympic torch made its only US stop on its journey to Beijing.

Police swamped the Golden Gate Bridge as officials prepared for protests against China's crackdown in Tibet. Pro-Tibet banners were unfurled on the bridge on Monday.

The Olympic flame was whisked to a secret location in San Francisco shortly after its arrival before dawn yesterday, following chaotic demonstrations during the torch relay in London and Paris.

The torch was due to be paraded today on a six-mile route around San Francisco Bay. One runner who planned to carry the torch has already dropped out over safety concerns, officials said.

Mayor Gavin Newsom said the relay's route could well be changed by the city's police chief.

He added the relay's opening and closing ceremonies had been shortened.

The International Olympic Committee today said it had no plans to cut short the global torch relay.

Olympics chief Jacques Rogge said: "There is no discussion of cancelling any legs. What we will do is study the torch relay so far. We will do this in the executive board meeting on Friday.”

Hours after the torch arrived in San Francisco, protesters marched to the Chinese consulate, calling on China to cease its heavy-handed rule of Tibet.

"This is not about us battling the torchbearers,” Lhadom Tethong, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, told the crowd outside the consulate. "This is about the Chinese government using the torch for political purposes. And we're going to use it right back.”

San Francisco was chosen to host the relay in part because of its large Chinese population – a fifth of the city's totla.

Pro-Tibet activists and other human rights groups said they have encouraged their supporters to protest peacefully and not disrupt the relay or the torch runners.

After San Francisco, the torch is due to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then to 12 other countries. The relay also is expected to face demonstrations in New Delhi and possibly elsewhere on its 21-stop, six-continent tour before arriving in mainland China on 4 May.

Rally and Vigil at UN Plaza in Downtown San Francisco

Handmade "Free Tibet" Poster

"No Torch in Tibet"

Equating Beijing 2008 with Berlin 1936

"Free Burma"

"Where are the monks?

"Freedom in Tibet; Understanding in China"

"Compassion for All"

Urging dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama

Desmond Tutu urging world leaders not to go to the Opening Ceremonies

Richard Gere joining an impromptu prayer

Mandala

Whatever feelings Newsom may or may not have regarding the matter are secondary to the fact that the torch run is going forth and the protesters are gathering. Yesterday there we protesters hanging signs from the Golden Gate Bridge that read "One World, One Dream" and "Free Tibet". Today they met around the Civic Center and City Hall. Tonight there is a vigil with the likes of actor Richard Gere and Bishop Desmond Tutu in attendance. Tomorrow they could cause the city to make last minute adjustments to the run and have caused the police department to put off-duty cops on duty in preparation.

The protest are due to Beijing's refusal to Tibet independence. China invaded Tibet in 1951 and has since displaced the people of Tibet, their government, and their religious/political leader--the Dali Lama. Since China is hosting the Olympic games this year there are voices that wonder why the international community would support China rather than boycott a government who is obviously guilty of human rights violations.

Some here in San Francisco--such as columnist C.W. Nevius--think the whole event should have been canceled simply because it is more trouble than it is worth. There are others, like torch bearer Helen Zia, who believes that there is an evolution occurring in China and that eventually things will change, therefore the games must go on. Then there are those, like a caller I heard on KNBR yesterday, who believe political activism should find another stage altogether and leave athletics be.

I hear the voices of all these people and I personally am unsure as to where I stand. I have no idea why the international community and the Olympic powers-that-be would risk all this just to let China host the games (especially since Beijing is reported to be an ecological nightmare). The lack of foresight is shameful. But the games mean a lot to the world, to many people who dedicate each and every day of their lives for one shot at glory, and to the families and friends who support the athletes.

I support those who will make their voices heard on behalf of Tibet tomorrow. I also support those whose dreams rest on something like the Olympic games and the chance to support what these games represent. I hope that the protest are peaceful and that San Francisco behaves in a way that would shame the Chinese government without embarrassing us first (like so many of our anti-war rallies, especially the "Boobs not Bombs" one).

Any thoughts?

(1) This is Barack Obama's official campaign site, and it is under his editorial control.
(2) Tony Wicher's material cannot be written off as a hit and run smear job by a Republican or Clinton operative. His point score, a measurement of his activity at my.barackobama.com, puts him in the top ten percent or higher, and he has been active on the site since February 2007 (more than a year)
(3) A comment at the bottom of this entry was removed for being "offensive" or "disrespectful," thus showing that Obama's moderators saw it. They apparently did not think a comparison of the "powerful Jewish lobby" to Hitler was offensive or disrespectful.

Screen shots and relevant excerpts appear below.

My Favorite Antisemite (from "The Rootless Cosmopolitan")
By Tony Wicher - Oct 11th, 2007 at 11:33 pm EDT
Also listed in: 10 groupsThe utterly charming thing about the Zionist Thought Police is their apparent inability to restrain themselves, even from the very excesses that will prove to be their own undoing. Having asked sane and rational people to believe that Jimmy Carter is a Holocaust denier simply for pointing out the obvious about the apartheid regime Israel maintains in the occupied territories, the same crew now want us to believe that Archbishop Desmond Tutu is an anti-Semite.....

He [Tutu] has spoken forcefully on human rights struggles around the world, and his statements about the West Bank are based on what he has seen there. The diminutive Bish is a moral giant of our times, and the fact that he is condemning Israel for maintaining an apartheid system on the West Bank should serve as a wake-up call to liberal Americans who prefer not to think about these things.

Mr. Wicher then quotes Tutu, who compares the "Jewish lobby" to Hitler and Stalin.

“But you know as well as I do that, somehow, the Israeli government is placed on a pedestal [in the U.S.], and to criticize it is to be immediately dubbed anti-Semitic, as if the Palestinians were not Semitic. I am not even anti-white, despite the madness of that group. And how did it come about that Israel was collaborating with the apartheid government on security measures?“

People are scared in this country [the U.S.] to say wrong is wrong because the Jewish lobby is powerful – very powerful. Well, so what? This is God’s world. For goodness sake, this is God’s world! We live in a moral universe. The apartheid government was very powerful, but today it no longer exists. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Pinochet, Milosovic, and Idi Amin were all powerful, but in the end they bit the dust.

Let's see if we can help Mr. Wicher and Mr. Tutu get their point across about that "powerful Jewish lobby" and "Zionist thought police"... this picture ought to do it. And yes, we would say that comments about an all powerful "Jewish lobby" and "Zionist Thought Police" are indeed anti-Semitic. They are completely in line with anti-Semitic propaganda like the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion and The Eternal Jew that suggest a worldwide Jewish conspiracy to control everything.

Material at the end of this page suggests that Barack Obama's moderators were fully aware of this page's content, and that they do not consider comparison of the "Jewish Lobby" to Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini "offensive" or "disrespectful."

wow, a comment on your post, imagine that | Report to Admin
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By boatsie Oct 16th 2007 at 4:29 am EDT (Updated Oct 17th 2007 at 9:40 pm EDT)
This post has been removed due to offensive or disrespectful content.

Re: wow, a comment on your post, imagine that | Report to Admin
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By Tony Wicher Oct 20th 2007 at 2:42 am EDT
Somebody removed a comment on my post? I wonder what the comment was? I never read it.

As shown here, Tony Wicher is obviously not a fly by night agent provacateur. He is a prominent and esteemed member of Barack Obama's online community.