Segacs's World I Know |
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Blog about politics (mideast and pro-Israel, Canadian and local Montreal), world events, and random thoughts.
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23.11.02
According to CAMERA, National Geographic has been up to more these days than simply counting the percentage of Americans who can't pick their own country off a world map. Namely, printing a ten-page article by Andrew Cockburn entitled "Lines in the Sand: Deadly Times in the West Bank and Gaza", which appeared in the October 2002 issue and spent, apparently, most of the time bashing Israel and misrepresenting its history. The ten-page National Geographic piece, filled with maps, chronologies and anti-Israel dogma, casts that nation as either overtly or indirectly guilty at every turn for the Arab-Israeli conflict, while Arab aggression is almost entirely omitted.I remember back more than ten years, to the Gulf War. I was eleven and in the fifth grade, and, like most fifth-graders, more preoccupied with friends and schoolwork than international politics (although I remember being terrified that Saddam Hussein would launch a missile through my bedroom window). My Hebrew teacher was trying to explain why Iraq was launching missiles at Israel, and why Israel wasn't fighting back. She said something like (and forgive the paraphrasing) "historically, Israel's always been the "good guy" at war but the "bad guy" in world opinion. By exercising restraint this time around, Israel's becoming the "good guy" in world opinion and the "bad guy" at war."" I was very confused at the time, because since I was old enough to remember, Israel had been riding a high in terms of international opinion, and I was yet unaware that there were people who hated Israel. Sadly, it appears she was right. By reading the National Geographic piece, one could easily forget that Israel was defending itself against annihilation in 1948, 1967, 1973 (the article doesn't even mention the Yom Kippur War on its timeline), and now again. It seems that Israel's act of goodwill in the Gulf War was quickly forgotten by a world with an extremely short memory, and all that Israel accomplished by not striking back was to look all that much weaker to its enemies. The following comment is from the Canada-Israel Committee's Q&A: The Jerusalem Post recently observed that "If the Palestinians put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence; if Israel put down its weapons today, there would be no more Israel." Palestinian terrorist groups work from a different set of rules, viewing Israeli concessions as signs of weakness. Previous experience suggests no reason to believe that unilateral Israeli concessions will end Palestinian violence.Whenever I hear people comment that Israel doesn't consider world opinion enough, or that it is too aggressive in its policies, I need only remember all the concessions that Israel has made, and how they have been met by rebuffs and step-ups in violence. If anything, Israel is being far too restrained - much more so than, say, the United States's reaction to September 11th. Had Israel reacted to earlier terror attacks by launching all-out military incursions against the Palestinian terror groups and hunting down Arafat the way the US is hunting down Osama Bin Laden, there would surely have been an international outcry that far surpassed what we are seeing today. There would also be no more terror attacks against Israel. And, with the terrorist networks disbanded, the stage would be set for real negotiations with the Palestinian people. This National Geographic article is hardly unique, but serves as a bitter reminder of how the history of the past 50 years has been rewritten. | In yet another sorry example of mob rule, the Miss World Pageant has quit Nigeria in response to riots. It will now be held in London, where presumably it will offend less fundamentalist Muslims. Now, I'm no particular fan of beauty pageants, but rioting against this one cost 105 people their lives. The cost was even higher when you factor in the fact that this is yet another victory for those who choose violence as a means of expression. Like the cancelled Netanyahu speech at Concordia, it seems that the only people left with freedom are people who riot. If they keep winning, they'll keep resorting to violence, and sooner or later the whole world will be under Sha'ira (Islamic law) because nobody had the guts to fight back. It is okay to object to something. It's NOT okay to violently force everyone to think the way you do, or to act according to your wishes. | Hilarity defined: anyone ever try watching a Kevin Smith movie with the swearing censored? Chasing Amy was on TV tonight - but all the swear words were replaced with, I suppose, what the people who decide these things considered more genteel words. But Chasing Amy, like all the Kevin Smith movies, is all about the dialogue, of course. And censoring it just plain ruins it. As my friend's bro, Richard, says, "The movie starts, they're signing comic books. The movie ends, they're signing comic books. But where's the rest of the movie? Where's the whole middle?" I mean, try watching an entire scene where they debate the definition of the word "fuck" but they can't actually say the word. | 22.11.02
In the post-9/11 U.S., firefighters have become heroes, showered with media worship. But in England, their pedestal is considerably lower. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has been on strike. They want more money, and I guess they don't care who fights the fires while they fight for a raise.  Granted, the Brits seem to love to strike. From the day last July when I arrived back in London to witness the absolute chaos caused by an Underground workers strike, to the teachers, to anyone else who thinks their paycheck is too small, it seems that nobody over there in jolly old England ever goes to work. But firefighters??? Whatever happened to the concept of an "essential service"? Labour law may have its own quirks around here, but it would only take about 30 seconds for the government to order striking firefighters back to work. Just as they did nurses, and teachers. After all, who else is going to fight the fires? Apparently, the army: About 19,000 army, navy and airforce personnel -- a tenth of the country's forces -- have been drafted in as cover, using outdated "green goddess" fire engines up to 50 years old. So now they can't even use modern fire trucks??? London's a great city, but something's sure screwy over there. (Thanks to Jon and Tom for input on this one.) | Good terrorists and bad terrorists? I was pretty upset at the recent news of talks between Hamas and Fatah, that were reported in the international media in such a way that made it seem as though Fatah wanted suicide bombings stopped. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the militant (read: terrorist) wing of Fatah, is strongly in favour of suicide bombings, but only within what they refer to as the "occupied territories". Hamas sees all of Israel as fair game, and doesn't draw territorial distinctions. Well, neither do I. Since when is it okay to kill innocent people in some zip codes and not others? Lynn at In Context phrases it better than I ever could: There's this thing, this distinction, going around about terrorist attacks that happen "in Israel" versus attacks that happen "in the territories." Or between attacks on "civilians" versus attacks on soldiers or "settlers." There are no "good terrroists" and "bad terrorists". There are only bad terrorists. | Tommy Schnurmacher gives his take on Françoise Ducros, PM Jean Chrétien's communications director who reportedly called US President Bush a moron: She's the communications director for Chrétien, the man who said that 'a proof is a proof is a proof is a proof'. I guess she knows a thing or two about morons. Point taken. Granted, she was probably voicing her own opinion with the "moron" comment and expected it to be off the record. But by refusing to reprimand her, Chrétien is tacitly approving - or at least not disapproving - of her comments. Remember, this is Canada's equivalent to (West Wing character) C.J. Cregg that we're talking about, not just some random citizen. it's her job to watch carefully what words come out of her mouth - especially in a room full of journalists, for crying out loud, while representing Canada in an international summit. This is what taxpayer dollars pay her a salary to do. I mean, fine, if you don't want to fire her on principle, at the very least, fire her for severe and total incompetence! | 21.11.02
Via Stephanie: Our idiot PM now says that he doesn't think Dubya's such a moron after all. Apparently, Jean Chrétien's communications director made a comment to that effect, speaking at a NATO summit in Prague. I guess Chrétien realized that maybe it's not such a great idea to go around trading insults with the leader of the world's most powerful nation, because he countered with this statement: "He (Bush) is a friend of mine, he is not a moron at all". Great. Some apology. Remind me again how this guy got elected THREE TIMES??? And remind me again what I was thinking by actually VOTING for him last time around . . . I mean, this guy doesn't know his ass from his elbow, and has the worst case of foot-in-mouth disease of anyone I've ever heard . . . shouldn't we expect better from our politicians? I admit to making my share of Bush jokes - who hasn't - but at least he can get a sentence out without lauding terrorists, calling presidents names, or inciting back-bench revolt among his own party. Somebody put this guy out to pasture. Fast. | The United States says it has captured a top Al Quaeda member. Al-Qaida leader Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the network's chief of operations in the Persian Gulf, has been captured, senior U.S. government officials said Thursday. So now my question is, so what? I mean, do you really think that these guys don't have someone else waiting in the wings to take his place? What could this possibly do, except give a long-awaited promotion to the junior operations chief? The U.S. won't resort to torture, and this guy would probably prefer to die than talk anyway. So the likelihood of garnering any valuable intelligence from this arrest is slim to none. And, of course, the possibility of reprisal attacks against the U.S. just increased tenfold. Not that I'm saying he shouldn't have been captured, mind you. Obviously, this guy ought to be punished for the horrible things he has done. But anyone who thinks that it means the beginning of the end for Al Quaeda is being extremely naive. | Update on the Jerusalem bus bombing: the toll is up to 11 dead, over 50 wounded. One of the dead was a 14-year-old girl. Hamas claimed responsibility, according to Al Jazeera.  This stuff makes me sick. | Hey CSU activists, listen up: Benjamin Shapiro has some funny ideas for things you can do to spice up your protests. | There's been another suicide bombing in Israel. A bomber blew himself up on a crowded bus in the Kiryat Menachem neighbourhood of Jerusalem during the morning rush hour. At least three people are dead, and dozens more are listed as wounded, according to preliminary reports. I guess this is the kind of thing you never get used to. Maybe that's a good thing. But no matter how many times I hear this stuff, I just can't accept it as routine. I can't. I won't. It will never be acceptable to me that a person could get on a bus on the way to work in the morning and come home in a body bag. Bastards. | You gotta give the Link some props for being aware enough of its extreme editorial bias to laugh about it. The website's opinions page contains the following call to action: Are you a capitalist pig? Do you think NAFTA rocks the house? Are you sick and tired of Yves Engler going on and on and on? Duly noted. I raise my hand as exactly the kind of "other" they're talking about. Although I can't help but wonder how Yves Engler would have reacted had someone called him a "communist pig". | 20.11.02
LMAO! Only 89% of Americans could point out their own country on a world map. Now that's just sad. | Looks like the Concordia Board of Governers is caving to the pressure of the CSU and the leftist nitwits. According to breaking news on the Link, the moratorium on mideast events on campus has been lifted. This moratorium, you will recall, was imposed after a violent mob rioted on September 9th to prevent former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from speaking on campus. It was successful as far as that went - if you call shutting down free speech by rioting a "success" as pain in the butt activist Jaggi Singh says. (Note the publication: the Montreal Muslim News - claims that this protest had nothing to do with the Muslim community starting to ring a little hollow?). Since that day, those involved in punching, spitting, pushing, shoving, assault, flag-burning, window-smashing, desk-throwing, and crying "death to the Jews" have been trying to get the moratorium lifted, claiming to champion free speech. Hey CSU: Free speech means freedom for everyone, not just for the people you agree with. We'll take your lesson in civil liberty a lot more seriously when you stop being such hypcrites. As for the Concordia BOG and admin: show some backbone, for godssakes! This whole episode has only given the "activists" a convenient scapegoat, and then granted them a victory. That's about as spineless as it gets. Want to show some guts? Invite Netanyahu back to Concordia. There's a time to back down, and there's a time to stand up for what's right. Concordia has become an international symbol of mob rule, hatred, and violence. There are many kinds of lessons learned in a university, most of which get taught outside the classroom. One of them needs to be the lesson that freedom of speech applies to your friends as well as your foes, and that violence is an unacceptable means of protest. Every time we back down to those employing violence as a means, we encourage it all that much more. | Another brilliant episode of the West Wing tonight. On this one, the 15-year-old son of the Iranian Ayatollah sends his son to the U.S. for lifesaving surgery - and nearly sets off an international crisis by publicly denouncing it. The President refuses to get caught up in the game of using innocent people as political pawns, insisting that the boy be saved despite the potential poltiical fallout.  Bartlet's quote: "Maybe if their citizens didn't spend so much time denouncing the damn infidels, they'd have time to build a medical school!" Did I mention how much I LOVE this show? | According to Jon, I am the greatest thing since chocolate-covered strawberries! Well, Jon, you're the greatest thing since Labatt Blue. :) As they say, there's no accounting for taste . . . | Where's Waldo? According to Margaret Wente in the Globe and Mail, the big emphasis shouldn't be that Canada is on Osama Bin Laden's terror list. In case we didn't already know that, she claims, Bali should have been a wake up call. Rather than operate under the delusion that Canada is safe, we need to wake up and find the incredible disappearing Waldo - er - Osama. The hypocrisy of our leaders is not an edifying sight. Every time Remembrance Day rolls around, they put on their poppies and pay exaggerated homage to the veterans who fought to keep us free. But it's so much sanctimonious sheep manure. They'll do everything to honour the warriors among us except treat the active ones decently. They pay lots of lip service to Nov. 11. But they're still acting as if it's Sept. 10. Right on! Unfortunately, too many Canadians seem to be labouring under the delusion that nobody will attack us if we "be nice" and don't piss them off. Riiiiiight. | Does anyone really need further proof of the Palestinian terrorist organizations' true aims? The following statement from Hamas was issued today in response to Labor's election of dovish Haifa Mayor Amram Mitzna (who has stated that, if elected, he will jump start peace negotiations as well as unilaterally dismantle settlements in the territories) as its party leader: "Our resistance will continue until we liberate our land and end this occupation. No matter who is inside the government of Israel, all of them are practicing brutal aggression against our people," Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said. Just more evidence that Hamas's true aim isn't peace, or the election of a dovish leader, or even statehood in the "occupied territories" of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. No, Hamas won't stop until all the land it considers "occupied" (read: all of Israel) is destroyed and handed over to Muslim control. Each Israel leader and Prime Minister is villainized, leading outsiders to believe that the root of the problem is Sharon, or Netanyahu, or Barak, or whoever . . . but the true root of the problem is Israel's mere existence. And no appeasement will make the attacks stop. Not until the terrorists are stopped. | Charlton Heston, former Moses and poster boy for the NRA, got his own statue. The statue, unveiled Tuesday night, shows the actor holding a lariat in one hand and a rifle in the other. It was donated by members of the National Rifle Association, an organization headed by Heston. Granted, I'm no fan of Michael Moore and his ultra-left wing idiot politics, but you kinda got to at least admire the way he exposes the gun nuts and the NRA for the idiots they really are. Mr. Heston, I sure hope you're proud of this honour, now be a patriotic American and go out and shoot someone! | If you had $117 million, what would you buy? Well, if your name is Ken Thomson, you might spend it all on a single painting. And then give it away - along with the rest of your art collection, valued at $300 million, to the Art Gallery of Ontario, whose staff are, I'm sure, dancing in the streets right now. Thomson, who stepped down in May as chairman of Thomson Corp., stood at 13th place in a ranking by Forbes magazine earlier this year of the world's wealthy. At the time, his family stake in Thomson Corp. was valued at more than C$24 billion. Now, granted, he's got more money than most of us could even count, let alone spend. I guess it must have come from all that penny-pinching on milk purchases. That does it: that's now officially my new savings strategy. | The Canadian Magen David Adom has successfully cut a deal that effectively reversed the CCRA's decision to strip the organisation of its charitable status under the tax act, thanks in large part to an online petition started by Steven Rosenshein that garnered over 46,000 signatures. Of course, the fact that there was absolutely no reason to deny the CMDA, which provides ambulances, blood, and emergency medical care to people in Israel, could have something to do with it as well. When Hezbollah is allowed to operate in Canada, but the CMDA is nearly shut down, then something's backwards. And I mean more than just Chretien's chronic foot-in-mouth disease. But then, Magen David Adom should be rather used to being ostracized and unfairly targeted by now. Despite having tried for years to join the International Red Cross/Red Crescent, its application has always been denied. Why? Believe it or not, because its emblem, the Star of David, was voted down as an acceptable symbol (while the cross, the Muslim crescent, and the Iranian Red Lion and Sun were all deemed acceptable). Yes, somebody needs to grow up. | 19.11.02
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