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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30.10.04
The noisy neighbour Three months ago, the noisy neighbour moved in next door. You know the one I'm talking about. You probably have one of your own. Every building does. The one who blares the TV at 2am. The one who feels the need to clean out her closet at 7am on weekends. The one who is constantly receiving phone calls or having visitors at the specific hours when you are finally able to grab a few hours' sleep. The noisy neighbour is a prototype. Or maybe more of a stereotype. But she has an uncanny way of knowing those days when you need to wake up at 4am to catch a flight for a 14-hour day of business meetings, and she picks those days to keep you up till 3am the night before listening to her taste in music. She also has an uncanny way of knowing exactly when you were looking forward to sleeping in after a week of 14-hour workdays, and picks exactly that Saturday morning to set her alarm clock so loud that you can listen to the 7am news along with her. It's ever so thoughtful of her to assume that you need to know what's going on in the world right then. I was spoiled when I moved in here because the previous occupant of the apartment next door was quiet as a mouse. But then the noisy neighbour moved in, forever shattering my notion of a good night's sleep. So now I'm debating whether to fight back. Do I subject my noisy neighbour to my taste in music at hours when I'm awake and she's asleep? Of course, that strategy risks backfiring... as it would turn me into the noisy neighbour of the people on the other side. Oh well, in absence of sleep I guess I'll turn to the second-best idea: coffee. | 29.10.04
You just can't parody this stuff anymore Bin Laden Accuses Bush of Deceiving Americans: Osama bin Laden accused President Bush of deceiving the American people and said the Sept. 11 attacks would not have been so severe if the president had been alert.This is too funny to not be an elaborate spoof. Especially since I still believe Bin Laden's been dead for two years. Some lookalike probably wondered if Reuters would be fooled and report this verbatim. In any case, I bet in next week's Onion, we'll see the logical comeback: Bush Accuses Bin Laden of Attacking Americans. | 28.10.04
Let the revisionist journalism begin Arafat's "condition", which probably is nowhere near as serious as the reports are making it out to be, is inspiring articles that predict how Arafat's "legacy" will be rewritten by the press. Reuters can always be counted on to lead off with a shining example: Foreign doctors rushed to Yasser Arafat's side on Thursday to tend to the seriously ill Palestinian leader, who for decades has symbolized his people's struggle for statehood. [ . . . ] The ex-guerrilla, loved by most of his people and reviled by many Israelis, has had stomach pains since last week.Let's deconstruct that short, seemingly innocuous excerpt, shall we? Symbolized his people's struggle for statehood - is that so? Then why has he repeatedly not only rejected every single offer that would have led to Palestinian statehood, but done everything in his power to sabotage them? Why did he walk away from 97% of the West Bank, all of Gaza, and half of Jerusalem at Camp David in 2000 without so much as a counter-proposal, and instead launch a 4-year campaign of terror? Because he doesn't symbolize the Palestinian "struggle for statehood", he symbolizes the Palestinian struggle to wipe Israel off the map. Ex-guerrilla - really? In one sense, Arafat is still a guerrilla, strictly speaking. He's not the legitimate leader of a state, because he has no state. He's not reformed. He hasn't renounced violence - in fact, he encourages violent guerrilla tactics. In another sense, he was never a guerilla, because that term implies that he's fighting a war against a military enemy. By directing his fight against innocent civilians, Arafat never earned the description of guerilla. Isn't it time to call a terrorist a terrorist? Loved by most of his people - only in his own mind, perhaps. Certainly not according to a recent PCPSR poll, which puts his popular support down at around 35%, and support for his Fatah party at about 25%. Anecdotal evidence suggests widespread disgust with Arafat among Palestinians, belief that he led them astray, and contempt that his Palestinian Authority is corrupt and lines its own pockets. Many believe he isn't extreme enough, and cast their support with groups like Hamas. But to suggest he's "loved by most of his people" is a gross misrepresentation, to say the least. Reviled by most Israelis - I suppose Israelis revile him for the colour of his keffiyah. Yeah, that must be it. The thousands of Israelis who he was directly responsible for murdering must have nothing to do with it. Look for more of this nonsense if Arafat's condition worsens. In fact, most newspapers keep pre-written obituaries handy for public figures in poor health, just in case. I can't imagine what praises and glorifications the staff at Reuters, the Guardian, and the CBC are working on now. 11/01 - Update: I guess I don't have to wonder anymore what drivel the BBC will come up with. This makes my point nicely. Excuse me, I think I'm going to be sick. | Peace treaties on TV The ever-spiralling West Wing takes another plunge into freefall by presuming that a peace treaty between the Israelis and Palestinians is a simple matter of getting Martin Sheen and some actors together at Camp David for a game of basketball. Oh yeah, and throw in a blonde cute actress who thinks she can charm the Arafat-like character into renouncing the "right of return". Excuse me while I laugh hysterically. Tonight's episode kept hovering between propaganda and naivete, and left me too busy rolling my eyes to truly be angry about its portrayal. It wasn't even on-target enough to make me angry. An article in the Forward disagrees (link requires registration). But I'm not sure what TV show the article's writer was watching. Certainly not the same show I was. I've written before about how upset I am over the West Wing's plunge from brilliance to mediocrity. Now I can't help but sigh... and miss what was. | 27.10.04
In Brief The news keeps happening much faster than I can keep up on it. Funny how that happens, ain't it? At any rate, until I can successfully build my time machine that will allow me to "pause live reality" and catch up while everyone else is in freeze-frame, here's an in-brief recap: Sharon's Gaza disengagement plan was approved by the Knesset after some typically-Israeli political jockeying that's still ongoing. Netanyahu's threatening mutiny unless Sharon agrees to hold a referendum, but so far, Sharon's not budging. The settler fringe is of course up in arms - somewhat literally - and on the anniversary of the Rabin assassination, some can't help but wonder if Sharon is looking over his shoulder these days. Despite being uncomfortable with the idea of the plan being perceived by the Palestinians as a reward for terrorism, and my general overall pessimism about the whole conflict, I can't help but think that despite the mess, Sharon will land on his feet. He always does. For more, see Allison and Jonathan. The CJC has Issued another statement responding to the remarks by Canadian Islamic Congress leader Mohamed Elmasry that said that all adult Israelis are 'legitimate targets' for terrorism. The CJC statement called the CIC marginal and irrelevant, no matter whether Elmasry resigns or not. The CIC, you will recall, likes to believe it speaks for all Canadian Muslims. I personally am waiting to hear a huge outcry from Canadian Muslims who believe that this organization does not represent them. I'm still waiting. I think I'll be waiting a while. The police, by the way, are investigating Elmasry's remarks as a hate crime. Speaking of the CIC, they're the same group that issued an election report card urging Canadian Muslims to vote for or against specific candidates (seemingly based on how pro- or anti-Israel they are). Damian points to anti-American remarks by Liberal MP Yasmin Rantisi, the first Muslim woman elected to Parliament. Something tells me the CIC would give her an "A". Arafat's ill health continues to dominate the news. My feeling is that this is an overexaggeration designed to cause panic and an outpouring of sympathy for Arafat. Meryl's not betting on anything but she does have an interesting idea for a Magen David Adom matching fund if any Arab dictators croak. Arafat would be included in this, it seems. MDA is one of my favourite charities and the irony just seems deliciously appropriate. Less than a week before the US election and it's still too close to call. I'm thinking Tuesday might be a good time to actually get some work done, since everyone will be preoccupied with voting and watching the results. Hmmmm. There was a lunar eclipse tonight. I didn't get much of a view of it but I hear that people who had clear skies and lines of sight were wowed. Oh yeah, and the Red Sox won the World Series, breaking an 86-year "curse". | Arafat's deteriorating condition Ha'aretz reports that Yasser Arafat's medical condition is more serious than originally reported: A team of doctors, some from Tunisia, Jordan, and the director of the Ramallah hospital arrived at the Muqata in Ramallah to treat Arafat. Arafat's personal physician, Dr. Ashraf Al-Kurdi, is scheduled to arrive from Jordan.As doctors from Tunisia, Jordan, and Ramallah, "fight to save his life", there's one question that nobody's asking - because the answer is self-evident. That is, would Arafat see a Jewish doctor or be treated in an Israeli hospital to save his life. Because the Palestinian medical system leaves what to be desired, and the Israeli one is envied throughout the world for the advanced level of care that it provides. Hey, for all I know, maybe the best specialists for Arafat's condition are in Tunisia, Jordan, or Egypt. But something tells me that if they were in Tel Aviv, they would help Arafat if he asked them to. And that Arafat would rather die than accept their help. That, in a nutshell, says everything one needs to know about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | 26.10.04
Mirabel closing... finally Mirabel Airport, which was supposed to be a great international travel hub but instead spent most of its nearly thirty years of existence as a white elephant, is finally closing its doors next week. And it's about time: Montreal-Mirabel International Airport employees worked their last week on the massive site as the airports prepares for permanent closure at the end of the month.A veritable ghost town these past few years, Mirabel's greatest achievement was perhaps being the filming location of the music video for Our Lady Peace's "Life". Not one of the great structures of the city's history, needless to say. Mirabel Airport, like the Big O, will forever go down in Montreal history as a great gaffe in judgement. Adios! | 25.10.04
Arafat's poor health There are all kinds of reports these days about Yasser Arafat's poor health, including rumours of practically every disease that exists: There are conflicting reports about Palestinian president Yasser Arafat's health. Some say he's suffering gallstones and an intestinal infection while others say he has the flu.Under normal circumstances I'd never wish poor health on anyone. But this is a terorrist responsible for the murder of thousands upon thousands of Israelis, countless Palestinians, and who knows how many other people. Normal rules just don't apply. On the other hand, he'll probably blame Israel for launching disease microbes into his compound or something... and fifty million people in the mideast will believe him. | The worst place to be before an election Washington, DC, ten days before one of the most hotly-contested presidential elections in decades, is not a pretty sight. In fact, it's downright scary. Everywhere I turned were political messages. The restaurants, the coffee shops... it was just inescapable. While walking down the street, the same woman asked me three times if I wanted to "help elect John Kerry". Each time I smiled at her and said, "sorry, I'm Canadian". By the third time I just said "still Canadian" and kept walking. She didn't miss a beat. Being Canadian in Washington ten days before the election is kind of like being the only sober person in a room full of drunks. By being a step or two outside the action, you can afford a sense of perspective that most people don't have. Maybe that's why it's so obvious to me how bad things truly are. The truly frightening thing to see is how people are confusing political opinion with personality. These days, you don't just "vote" Republican or Democrat, you are a Republican or a Democrat - in a much more literal sense than ever before. People assume that if you're on the opposing side, you're lower than pond scum, definitely not worth speaking to or even the time of day. Everyone assumes the people they're speaking to are on "their" side, and that their favourite pastime is to bash the other side. It frustrates them to no end when you choose not to play along. I can't help but wonder what will happen the day after the election. I've never seen people so divided. But somebody's going to be elected, and the half of the people who didn't vote for him will be very disappointed. Will the country be able to reunite and get over this election and move on? I wonder how long the wounds will take to heal. A message to my American friends, if you're reading: I realize that, despite the impact that this election may have on us as your neighbours and on the rest of the world, it's really your election and your decision. I don't think we have any business butting in. I realize passions are running high and you probably think that catastrophe will strike if your side loses. But please, please don't lose sight of what's important. Whether Bush wins, or Kerry wins, life will go on. I'm just glad to be back home, where I can watch the rest of this boxing match from the sidelines. | This brings a whole new meaning to "road rage": An incensed Iranian motorist doused his car in petrol and set it ablaze with a match after picking up a parking ticket, media reported Wednesday.I'm not too sure what he'd hoped to accomplish with that one. I wonder if he still has to pay the ticket? | Loonie hits 81 cents Friday, the loonie closed at a 12-year high of over 81 cents. Might be a good time for a cross-border shopping trip... | |
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