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OV Newsflash (2/6/2010): Bombings Again!!!

February 6th 2010 05:56
: When will the carnage stop?
There have been bombings in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The bombings occured during a major religious ceremony. The idiocy of it all boggles the mind!!!

In Iraq, pilgrims were attacked at the Holy City of Karbala. Bombings caused deaths in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city. Public funerals are being planned right now. 31 people lost their lives. They were mostly women and children. After the first attack, a second attack occured at the hospital that the victims were taken too. Even worst, I am monitoring reports that a third bomb was defused by the Pakistani Authorities.


As for Afghanistan, coordinated bombings yet again caused death and carnage. The people who do this in the name of religion truly do not understand religion at all. When will this stop? Why women and children? When will this senseless carnage stop?
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What I've learnt from Haiti

January 15th 2010 06:38
: I wonder if the World will have the courage
The World right now continues to be focused on Haiti. The focus is so right in light of the utter devastation going on. The desparation is evident and the scenes are heart breaking. I cannot even comprehend what Kerry Sanders, the NBC News Correpodent is reporting right now:

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy




What I worry about is California. As a member of my local City's Public Safety and Emergency Prepardness Committee, I wonder whether we can deal with the big one. What I know is that the big one will happen in California in light of the tremendous resource challenges it has right now. As I wrote about Haiti, though, all of us will do our part. The recovery will take a long time. The whole country has to be literally built from scratch. It is great to see that this massive moblization effort is across ideological lines.

As I continued to survey the devastation, I thought about France. Despite the ugly colonial history, I commend France for stepping up as they have. For Haitians, the world will insure that there continues to be hope and the will to live has to be brought back ever more. I also commend President Obama has done in asking President Clinton and President George W. Bush to get involved as President Clinton and President George H.W. Bush did after the tragedy in Indonesia.

This tragedy needs to be a wakeup call for us all to come together as humans to realize how fragile life is. We need to overcome the prejudices in order to be able to come together. I wonder if the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan understand that. I wonder if the ubber-rich in India understand that as the untouchables in India continue to suffer. All of us must remember this admontion from Joseph Addison as quoted by Dr. Stephen Covey in his Book, the Seven Habits:


"When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me; when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tomb of the parents themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those who we must quickly follow; when I see kings lying by those who deposed them, when I consider rival wits placed side by side, or the holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind. When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday, and some six hundred years ago, I consider that great Day when we shall all of us be Contemporaries, and make our appearance together." (Covey, The Seven Habits, p. 97)

When will we all learn?



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OV Week-End (1/2/2010): Never Dull...

January 3rd 2010 05:09
: Always Exciting!!!

The New Year celebrations is over. It is back to reality. I personally dread it but I am still very hopeful beyond words despite all the challenges at hand.

As I saw this ITN clip on the celebrations in Dubai, I knew that things were going to be OK. Dubai is in trouble, but it seems as if it has not lost its' luster, yet. There is of course the continued state of Flux in Iran that I have written on here and I think that for the first time there may well be light at the end of the tunnel. I believe that the regime still has a lot of fight in it and will not give in. Unfortunately, people will die. I view Moussavi's statement as quite significant. He has drawn a line in the sand and reminded the gang currently in charge of Khomeini's admonition that, "...as you kill us, we will grow stronger...". I have also been listening to Hashemi Rafsanjani's interview with France24. He deftly avoided the question on the domestic political turmoil. This is as the Official State Organs and the so called principlaists within the regime continue their cold war campaign against him and his family. Rafsanjani figures prominently in another prominent list of those who have profited handsomely from the Islamic Republic. Rafsanjani is reportedly worth around a Billion Dollars. That's Billion with a B!!!!

In the same "honor role" there is one more name that I wrote about a while back: Motjaba Khameini. He is the son of the Supreme Leader who had supposed designs to succeed his father. This is to introduce him to the world:

The "Crown Prince"


There are many others. I wonder how they can sleep at night knowing how they have stolen the billions that they have stolen in the name of Islam and have been the culprits behind such action:

Why?!??!?


Beyond that, there is of course Yemen. The US and the UK are talking about helping Yemen and Somalia. I wonder if throwing money at the problem is going to solve the problem. The only thing that the first decade taught us was that the old way of doing business simply will not work. Whether policy makers will actually understand and embrace this remains to be seen.




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As We Continue 2 Say Goodbye to 2009....

December 26th 2009 02:08
: Lessons 4 Us All........


As I plan for 2010 and beyond, I have been continuing to reflect upon a very trying year and a very tough decade. I have been particuarly thinking about Obama's story. I remember him being in Los Angeles during the 2000 Democratic National Convention. He was denied entry. I remmeber him going to get money from his ATM and his ATM bounced. 9 years later, he's President of the United States flying on Air Force One for 10 days of vacation


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As We Embrace & Celebrate Christmas

December 25th 2009 01:22
: Reflecting Upon the Future.....

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OV Week-End Notes: Reasons to Celebrate

October 10th 2009 06:15
: ..and why not??!?? What are we afraid of?? That we actually would like our life!!!
In the midst of all the political debate and the hot tempers, I always try and look for reasons to celebrate why we are here. One thing that truly excites me is the International Space Station. I just got done reviewing a dispatch on the founder of Cirque De Soleil hosting a Circus Show from the Space Station. Whenever we lose sight of where we are in the Universe, we should really go to the International Space Station Site and see these majestic scenes: Really Long Link

I continued exploring NASA's site and when I saw this picture, I nearly fell off my chair in awe


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President Obama is Speaking in Cairo

June 4th 2009 10:57
: A Lot to think about....


President Obama is right now speaking at Cairo University. Before he began his speech, he spent a few hours at Sultan Hassan Mosque, one of the centers of teaching in the Moslem World. He reached out to all and underscored America's committment to move forward. He noted that Violence is a dead end


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News Flash: Obama has landed in Cairo

June 4th 2009 06:14
: Anticipation is Building


As I write this, Al Jazeera is showing live scenes from Cairo showing Air Force One arriving. Cairo is pretty much shut down and been given a face lift in anticipation of the visit. Security is as tight as it gets


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The Continued Happy Talk About Iraq & Afghanistan

May 1st 2009 09:51
: And the Truth???????????!!!!!!??????
I caught the program, Empire, that Al Jazeera's Marwan Bishara hosts talking about U.S. Foreign Policy and the future. The analysis done is chilling. The session he hosted had Seymour Hersch, Lakhmar Brahimi and Tariq Ali. Tariq Ali and Seymour Hersch are considered "lefties" by the Conservative Community. But, sometimes lefites have words of wisdom that should be listened to.

In Iraq, there is some consesus that there is reasonable security. Hannity, in his radio interview on Thursday with Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania, said that the United States won the Iraq war. My reaction was, really? How? The fact is that Suicide bombers are back in fashion as America begins to withdraw. If the United States did in fact win, then why do we still have 150,000 troops in that country? Why are people dying


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As We Celebrate Easter

April 12th 2009 08:02
: A Renewed Committment.....
Today is Easter. It is a day to celebrate and to remember. As all of us pray for those who are in harm's way, we ought to also remember those who did not live to see this blessed day. I especially am mindful of those who lost their lives in Italy during that terrible earthquake. I am also reminded of those who continue to lose their lives everyday to hunger and disease despite all the abundance in our world.

We must make a renewed committment to find hunger, disease, homelessness and injustice anywhere. We must work to embrace creativity and embrace the new while remembering the best of the old. I view this as a solemn responsbility especially for those who have the bullypulpit. As someone who has the privilege to teach and to write, I wanted to do my small part to live up to this committment. We have to continue to think about our future so that we can emerge stronger. It was in this spirit that I decided to launch Outsider Views and to take on moderating Kitten Politics here within the ever-growing Orble Community. It has been a journey that I will continue on. At times, I have felt that the struggle is a lonely one. But, the prospect of doing nothing is something that I refuse to do


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The Middle East: A New Dawn......

January 21st 2009 23:36
: I hope so....
.
Secretary Clinton
America's New Top Diplomat


Mrs. Clinton has now been confirmed as Secretary of State. I am anxiously some truly earth-shattering annoucements on the foreign policy front over the ensuingd days. I am very, very excited about George Mitchell being appointed Middle East Envoy. The man helped bring peace to Northern Ireland. Although his record on the Middle East was not as effective, I still think he can do wonders. I also do fondly remember how he put Baseball on a solid footing after the scandals that has engulfed Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire and many others. I view it as a sign of things to come


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As The First Day of The Obama Adminstration Begins....

January 21st 2009 20:51
: I am not surprised at the Republicans...
A Day in the Life....
The President Arrives For His First Day....A Busy One too!!!


The first day of the Obama Adminstration has begun. The President began his day by attending the National Prayer Service and got down to work. I saw him when he met with the White House and signed off on the new Ethics Rules. He has also been meeting with the Economics and National Security Teams. They have hit the ground running. Unfortunately, the Senate has not done the job by confirming the nominees. At least three key members are yet to be confirmed. A new Era has truly begun


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Witness to History: An Historical Inauguration

January 21st 2009 04:12
: ..and now the real work begins......
History.....
A New Dawn Has Arrived


Barack Hussein Obama is now the 44th President of the United States. Throughout my lifetime, I have had the privilege to read on the traditions and was finally able to be a true witness to this momentous transfer of power due to the power of technology. I have continued to marvel at how someone with so much power gives it up so willingly because the people are truly sovereign in America. This was quite moving when the President and the First Lady escorted Former Mr. and Mrs. Bush


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War on Mumbai (Cont'd)

November 29th 2008 00:53
: Still Going On
CNN-IBN has called this tragedy "War on Mumbai". It is so appropriate. It is a war. There are still terrorists held at at the TAJ. Someone was clearly behind this. I am convinced of it. Whether it was homegrown or foreign-bred, the Government of India truly has a challenge on his hand. Over 155 people have been killed so far.

still at war
It is not over yet.....

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Gaza......

November 28th 2008 07:00
: The Coverage Has Fallen off the Face of the Earth....
Gaza continues to be under siege by the Israelis. Israel has initiated the blockade with the support of Egypt because of the security threat from Hamas. Some have said that Gaza is the world's largest prison. I am truly trying to see and think through a solution that all can live with. Whatever ideas folks have had has only resulted in misery for all. Israelis have to continue to live in fear. Palestianians continue to suffer because they cannot simply have the basic necessities that is necessary. Israel pulled out of Gaza. But, it continues to control the Air, the Sea and Land borders of Gaza. I am sure Israel understands its' obligations. But somehow the suffering of the ordinary Palestianian that is neither a member of Hamas or any the families should never be forgotten. From what I have seen, it is in fact the case.

The plight of the Palestinians was discussed in this film showcased in Toronto last month


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The Prayer of St. Francis: A Personal Reflection

October 22nd 2008 05:19
: May all the saints be blessed.....
I had the good fortune to attend a ceremony at my local City Council meeting earlier tonight. It was to celebrate scouting. The innvocation was conducted by a local minister who began with the Prayer of St. Francis. It truly moved me. The lessons of the prayer is so true as the world is undergoing a profound sense of change:


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The Saddleback Civil Forum w/John McCain & Barack Obama (The Second Hour....Cont'd)

August 17th 2008 18:08
: An Interesting Discourse
The wide ranging discussions Pastor Warren and Senator McCain had continued on. One of the questions I felt was poignant. Pastor Warren noted that leaders are not stubborn and do change their minds. He then asked Senator McCain about a decision he had made and then changed his mind. He was quick to respond: Off Shore Drilling. He went on to note that we must attack the problem of energy on all fronts now. He reminded all of us that the United States is sending out 700 billion dollars a year to folks who are not at times that friendly and cooperative. Senator McCain's plan is dubbed the "Lexington Plan" and is available on his website. Leaders should be flexible and change their mind, while not forgetting their principles. George W. Bush seems to have understood that during the last months of his Presidency.

His response to the question of Abortion was to the point and without any reservations. His view is that abortion begins at the moment of conception. He told the world that he was going to be a Pro-Life President. As for marriage, Senator McCain was also adamant that it was a union between a man and a woman. Although an avowed Federalist, Senator McCain noted that he would back a marriage amendment if the States moved to force other states to accept their marriages. Evil must be defeated and the Senator brought up Osama Bin Laden. He committed to hunting him down. Osama is evil and evil indeed must be eradicated. I think his commitment is a bit over the top due to the realities on the ground in Pakistan and Afghanistan


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