JULY 3, 2008

BAD HOLLYWOOD, BAD BAD HOLLYWOOD:
It is unfortunate how so many times in these action movies, there has to be a blond face at the end with a come hither look who promises more to come. Sad trend. Have to keep those contractually obligated starlets employed in some way, I suppose.

AFRICA:
It’s amazing to me that when it comes to African affairs, apparently it’s leave it to the Africans when it’s time to intervene. This is destroying the continent. We have to help them with everything else from irrigation to innoculation. But when it comes to their governments who cause these problems in the first place, something that would truly help the people of Africa, we have to leave it to them.

This is a failed policy towards Western Africa. Non interventionism is copping out. Zimbabwe is a case in point. The protection of the people is an empty doctrine.

Millions of people have died over thousands of year to prove the principles of good government, liberty, law, business, trade and freedom. This means nothing at the UN where they continue to debate them, don’t apply them and show contempt for them. It’s like if someone went to the New England Journal of Medicine and tried to publish an article saying garlic is a cure for AIDS because all the other treatments are western concepts.

Dams aren’t made of concrete because it’s a western concept. We don’t dress astronauts in cardboard because someone from the west designed spacesuits. Some principles are timeless and universal regardless of where they came from. Many of us admire Confucius and don’t care if he came from the East.

But at the UN, real debate is replaced with hatred and hypocrisy. When we catch a state in the act, we shouldn’t consult with some of that state’s friends and allies to decide what to do with it. I guess it’s time for the US and the UK and perhaps France to do something real. The UN has failed yet again. What is the point of this organization anymore? Someone else can run its programs and probably do a better job.

It’s good to talk, but there’s a limit. At some point, something has to be done. The only thing not done against Mr. Mugabe (except very severe sanctions which would have hurt the people more than him) was military intervention, arrest and prosecution of Mr. Mugabe. Now there will be people around the world who will follow his inspiration to become just like him.

What would Winston do indeed. The lot of the tyrant should be a relic by now. Winston would be shocked that the UN doesn’t stand up for this principle. Even Nelson Mandela can’t comment against Mugabe.