Just caught the sad news of the death of Miriam Makeba, one of my favorites years ago. I have several of her albums and fondly remember seeing her perform in person at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT with Harry Belafonte many decades ago. To this day I find myself attempting the "click" song, unfortunately, still unsuccessfully.
It is difficult to say where we draw the line on imposing our beliefs on another culture. This is one of the ethical questions that plagues me; is it wrong for this father, in his firm belief (both religious and traditional) that his killing of his daughter in the name of honor is justifiable? In his own country and culture, it is. Do we then force our beliefs upon a country? One who believes that we are the evil force because we allow such dishonorable events to occur?
Man Regrets Not Killing Daughter At Birth: ”
Another person driven insane by religion: ‘My daughter deserved to die for falling in love’.
Two weeks ago, The Observer revealed how 17-year-old student Rand Abdel-Qader was beaten to death by her father after becoming infatuated with a British soldier in Basra. In this remarkable interview, Abdel-Qader Ali explains why he is unrepentant – and how police backed his actions.
For Abdel-Qader Ali there is only one regret: that he did not kill his daughter at birth. ‘If I had realised then what she would become, I would have killed her the instant her mother delivered her,’ he said with no trace of remorse.
Two weeks after The Observer revealed the shocking story of Rand Abdel-Qader, 17, murdered because of her infatuation with a British solider in Basra, southern Iraq, her father is defiant. Sitting in the front garden of his well-kept home in the city’s Al-Fursi district, he remains a free man, despite having stamped on, suffocated and then stabbed his student daughter to death.
Abdel-Qader, 46, a government employee, was initially arrested but released after two hours. Astonishingly, he said, police congratulated him on what he had done. ‘They are men and know what honour is,’ he said…
‘I have only two boys from now on. That girl was a mistake in my life. I know God is blessing me for what I did,’ he said, his voice swelling with pride.
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(Via The J-Walk Blog.)
Congats to 2008 Pulitzer Prizer winner Bob Dylan: Special Citation.
A Special Citation to Bob Dylan for his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.
Other 2008 winners are listed here.
(Via The J-Walk Blog.)
Absolutely amazing artwork by Mexican artist Francisco Toledo. The color, the life, the subject matter that juxtaposes human figures with those of animals, in particular, rabbits, the graphically sexual, the mix of realism with abstract, all eye-catching and inspiring of freedom to be. And in yet another coincidence of life, a son, born in 1972 named Jeronimo.
Thanks to Scott at Conversational Reading for the link.
…once again, our lawyers have dropped the ball. And frankly, they have none to spare.
I’m tired and cold; long day in the shop. So I’m not in the best of moods and therefore, can possibly get away with one nasty:
All I could think of when I saw him on the news was that he’s a natural with the kabuki makeup.
Watching on PBS: I’ve never seen anything like it; it looks like a highbrow rock concert. This famous violinist is playing a concert back in his homeland of the Netherlands, and he begins by leading in his musicians in a march through the audience, waving and smiling to the music. And, they don’t stop smiling as they play on stage. The music is upbeat and soul-lifting, the strings resonating deep inside and it makes you feel like you’re flying.
It is wondrous, the musicians are actually singing along and laughing as they play their instruments. The singers are nodding and grinning to each other. Rieu is smiling and dancing as he plays. The audience is up and dancing. There’s not a serious face in the house.
If there is any concert I’d want to be at, this is the one.
This is what makes you want to believe in a God, and why Boethius asks the question of his faith in The Consolation of Philosphy.
Just when you ached for the return of The Pink Panther and the incredible Peter Sellers, I see the remake advertised with Steve Martin in the starring role.
If anyone at all can carry the torch, it would be Martin. He will give us a different Inspector, but I’m sure that it will be just as phenomenal as the beloved one portrayed by Sellers.
You can read them all, Milton, Blake, Plato, all the way through Kant and Freud and more. The historians and the philosophers, the psychologists and the writers of the times and of the peoples. The questions asked and answers lie unfound: Will war cease to exist as civilization advances? Is it the people or the politics? Need or greed? Is man innately good or evil?
I watch the immediate aftermath of disaster, so many stealing what isn’t theirs. Opportunists taking advantage of their neighbors–not even with the distorted view that those in want are somehow granted rights to that of those in plenty. But hurting people who are no better off than they. I can understand the grief, frustration and the hunger–but on the very next day to drive one to such callous disregard for your fellowman? Why in God’s name do you need a television set now?To attack those who come to help–the ambulances, police and military is unconscienceable. To hold them back from helping others is a sin against mankind. To complain of not receiving individual assistance when there are thousands trying to help thousands on such short notice of such a major devastation of a place and population?
"I don’t treat my dog like that," 47-year-old Daniel Edwards said as he pointed at the (dead) woman in the wheelchair. "I buried my dog." He added: "You can do everything for other countries but you can’t do nothing for your own people. You can go overseas with the military but you can’t get them down here."
Well for Pete’s sake grab a shovel! Why is it up to the military–who are coming to help in full force–instead of you, Daniel, who are right there on the scene? All I can think of is that tv commercial out now where people stand around clucking their tongues at a piece of paper someone dropped outside of a trash basket. Until one man silently walks by and picks it up and tosses it in.
I realize that I am speaking from a safe and cozy home up North and haven’t been through trauma such as this. What would I do?
I hope to God, not what I see.
A great big Happy Birthday to Millie at My Mom’s Blog–she turned 80 today and is as active and interesting a blogger as ever there be!
I suppose I should add this under new media as well–Willie Nelson’s brand newly updated website is more interactive than ever.
Although personally I can think of some things I’d add…
He sits there unnoticed like yesterday’s coffee, leaving a mark on his space in the world. The cup he was handed, his name in gold letters, sullied by drips from his lips from his words. Mellowed to coolness, a bit soured by time. A layer of cream that floats on the top hides the punch of caffeine that came with the perking; the scent of it dissipates along with his youth. The steam of ideas has melted away with the time and the glow of the screen that he stares at for hours for days for years till retirement and a world that seems far, far away.
New Media Moment: It seems that my writing, especially any poetic thoughts, are being visualized since taking the new media course. Growing, changing the thought process with images. Adding the graphics, the background, the sound and the layers to the flatness of text.
I’ve been spoiled forevermore for one-dimensional thinking.
