Blog about politics (mideast and pro-Israel, Canadian and local Montreal), world events, and random thoughts.

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The World I Know is updated on a semi-regular basis by segacs.

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2:03 AM
It's a mixed-up world

Can anyone imagine a world in which this backwards statement would not obtain the support and agreement of most of the countries of the world? Me neither.

The United States and Israel represent the real nuclear threat to the world, not Iran, Tehran's chief envoy to the United Nations said on Friday after an abortive conference on controlling nuclear weapons.

Now we can watch the United Nations do what it does best: pander to Iran and condemn the US and Israel.

Sometimes I feel like Alice in Wonderland, reading this stuff.

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11:00 PM
Our tax dollars at work

$12 million dollars was committed to the Palestinian Authority by Paul Martin today, after meeting with Mahmoud Abbas who's on a fundraising tour for his government band of terrorists:

Martin said Friday the money was targeted towards helping the Palestinians build democratic institutions, such as an independent judiciary, and to improve housing.

[ . . . ]

"It is just a down payment," Martin told a news conference in Ottawa.

"Canada and the international community must clearly do much more at this crucial moment in the Middle East," he said, explaining that any additional money will be contingent on Abbas following through on promised reforms.

Yeah right, cause the Palestinians have had such a great track record on that front in the past.

Mind you, Canada's money pales in comparison to the $150 million aid package that Bush offered Abbas earlier this week. I guess now we know how the next round of bombs will be funded.

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11:18 PM
Just For Laughs

Summer's almost here and that means festival season in Montreal is nearly upon us again. The Jazz Festival starts in just over a month, and I'm looking forward to taking in some free outdoor shows. The Comedy Festival is always good for some laughs; so far I've got my tickets for the Nasty Show and the Aussie and Kiwi show.

I must say I love living in a city like Montreal, where we have an endless string of world-class festivals and things to do. There's no place quite like Montreal in the summertime. I know this sounds like a shameless advertisement, but every so often it occurs to me to be really really happy that I live here. I guess now is one of those times.

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11:11 PM
AUT boycott overturned

The British Association of University Teachers voted to reverse their boycott of Haifa University and Bar-Ilan University, after getting a severe amount of egg on their face.

Of course, the Palestinians are reacting predictably:

Meanwhile, Palestinian professor Sari Nusseibeh, who last week urged an end to the boycott, has been under attack by many Palestinians who have been calling for his dismissal from his job as president of Al-Quds University.

Several Palestinian political and academic groups issued statements strongly condemning Nusseibeh, accusing him of normalizing ties with Israel and acting against the interests of the Palestinian people.

Leaflets distributed in some areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip branded the widely respected Nusseibeh a "traitor" and "collaborator."

Nusseibeh co-signed a letter with the president of Hebrew University calling for an end to the AUT boycott, which is what some think was the deciding factor in the reversal. The letter called for "problems to be resolved through dialogue". Needless to say, those passing out leaflets branding Nusseibeh as a "traitor" don't agree with that statement.

(Hat tip: Lynn).

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11:09 PM
Go Yoda!

Since I know you all care so much... Star Wars Episode III was pretty much as I expected. In other words, the dialogue stank, the plot was ludicrious, the acting was painful to watch... but Yoda with a light sabre ruled!

By the way, I wonder if you'd hear laughter in a theatre anywhere other than Quebec at the lines about "killing the separatists".

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11:55 PM
Around the Blogosphere

Autonomous Source has a story that's getting little press coverage but could have widespread implications.

Debbye warns us that Carolyn Parrish may be staging a comeback, now that Paul Martin's so desperate to inflate his ranks with just about anyone. Why can't she just disappear?

Imshin and Lisa both share travel tales.

And over at Peaktalk, a strongly-worded post criticizing the Liberals of playing politics with human lives in Darfur. On principle I agree, though I have to sadly admit that there's precious little that Canada could do even if we were honestly committed to trying.

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11:47 PM
More pointless quizzes

This quiz seeks to go "beyond red or blue" and classify American voters according to 9 different political categories:

Contrary to the widespread impression of a nation only divided into two unified "red" and "blue" camps, our latest survey finds important cleavages on values and basic attitudes within each party. As a result, both parties face internal challenges as well as opportunities to expand their constituencies.

Anyway, the quiz stubbornly insists that I'm an "enterpriser", which it classifies as Republican, Conservative, rich and male. Er... not exactly accurate. I tried to tell it that I was against government meddling in religion or morality, in favour of gay rights, and that I probably would've voted for Kerry if I were American, but it didn't listen. I guess I have to win the lottery and get a sex change operation now.

Then again, reading the 9 categories I have to conclude that I don't fit any of the descriptions. "Canadian", unfortunately, was not one of the choices.

(Via Mike Silverman, who the quiz didn't listen to either).

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10:53 PM
Giving up the game

David Janes agrees with Jay Currie, who thinks Quebec ought to just separate already and get it over with... and he's wishing us a good riddance:

For a long time I have thought it would be best for Quebec to just go. Have a referendum on a clear question without the feds violating Quebec election laws and, if the soverigntists win (which they almost certainly will), go.

[ . . . ]

Indeed, can anyone provide me with a reason why we should not be encouraging Quebec to stand on her own two feet and moving on?

Gee, thanks a lot guys. So nice to know that you'll be defending us and leading the federalist fight.

But since you asked so nicely, Jay, here are a few reasons why not to encourage Quebec to separate:

• Most Quebeckers want to stay in Canada. We voted that way... twice (even despite the rejected ballot scandal). Even 56% of people who say they would vote yes think so too. They aren't really sovereigntist... they're just not too bright.
  
  
• Sovereignty wouldn't work. Idealism aside, even most nationalists recognize that a sovereign Quebec would be a practical and economic disaster.
  
  
• We're Canadian, dammit! I'm a fourth-generation Canadian who is not part of the "Quebec nation" by any means, but is certainly part of the Canadian one. You seem awfully callous about the idea of stripping me of my citizenship.
  
  
• Come to Montreal or Quebec City or the Laurentians or even the Gaspé once in a while, visit for a bit, and remember that you'd be giving up some of the nicest places in Canada.
  
  
• Relinquishing Quebec is just admitting that Canada's a failure. Next would be the West, and maybe Newfoundland if it ever gets control of its oil revenues. Hey, I know some of you lament Canada's problems day in, day out... but at heart, you must recognize how great this country is, and realize that it's worth fighting for.
  
  
• You know you don't really want to give up poutine.
  

Really, I'm getting quite tired of trying to convince you guys to want us and to defend our right to stay in our own country. A little Canadian solidarity would be nice now and again, you know?

So instead of pushing us out the door, how about helping out and joining the federalist campaign? We're feeling awfully lonely and unwanted these days, and we could sure use some support here.

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10:33 PM
Speaking of New York

Unlike last year, I didn't walk into the middle of any Israel Day parades. And no, I did not see Ariel Sharon. I did, however, see some people wearing the "Gush Katif Forever" t-shirts entering a subway station in Midtown. Personally I prefer the "I love NY" t-shirts, but hey, that's just me.

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10:22 PM
Seen on a Times Square billboard

The website www.petakillsanimals.com was promoted on a billboard that I walked by at least a dozen times this week while in New York. I admit, it worked, because it stuck in my head and I went to check it out.

The site is run by a group that seems to be a thinly-disguised cover for the meat industry. Despite this, it is actually good for a laugh. In particular, see the lawsuit fabricator game and the cartoons page.

Someone should let them know about International Eat an Animal for PETA Day.

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10:17 PM
Simard will sue

Yesterday, Nathalie Simard revealed that she was one of the victims of Guy Cloutier's sexual abuse. Now, she's announced that she's suing for damages:

Former child star Nathalie Simard, trying to heal from years of sexual abuse at the hands of a man she considered a second father, is suing disgraced entertainment czar Guy Cloutier for $1.2 million.

This has been a major story in Quebec since it broke, mostly because Cloutier, and his daughter, mega-vedette Veronique Cloutier, were so well-known before on the Quebec entertainment scene. Nathalie Simard's decision to go public is sure to keep the story going for even longer.

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10:12 PM
De facto NDP government

Coming soon to a Canada near you: a de facto NDP government:

The NDP could seek a long-term agreement to prop up the Liberal government in exchange for a handful of concessions, party officials said Wednesday.

Fresh from winning $4.6 billion more for its priorities in return for helping the Liberals survive a confidence vote, the NDP is upping the ante and contemplating a more wide-ranging deal. The party inched closer to holding the balance of power in the House of Commons after this week's Labrador byelection gave the Liberals another seat.

Some Conservative bloggers such as Damian Penny are lamenting the fact that the Liberals' one usual saving grace - a balanced budget - will now be a thing of the past.

To all those who voted Tory and cheered the fact that the Liberals were reduced to a minority in the last election: starting to miss that Liberal majority government yet?

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10:02 PM
Amnesty International's broken moral compass

Amnesty International just keeps sabotaging its own mission again and again. The latest episode is today's report on human rights, which blasts countries around the world for violations, singling out - you guessed it - the United States:

Amnesty singles out the United States for shirking its responsibility to set a better global example for human rights protection.

"The U.S.A., as the unrivalled political, military and economic hyper-power sets the tone for governmental behaviour worldwide," said Secretary General Irene Khan in the foreword to Amnesty's annual report.

The report calls the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay -- which holds some 540 prisoners from about 40 countries -- "the gulag of our times." Detainees were being held there, some for more than three years, without access to legal representation.

Pictures of abuse of Iraqi detainees at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison are also cited in the report. Amnesty says the photos were never adequately investigated.

"When the most powerful country in the world thumbs its nose at the rule of law and human rights, it grants a licence to others to commit abuse with impunity," said Khan.

The report talks about violations by the worst offenders, including North Korea, Zimbabwe and China. But these are mentioned in the same breath as free, democratic countries like the United States and Australia... and of course, Israel.

Amnesty claims that human rights should be universal, and the same standards ought to apply to everyone. Its mission states clearly that:

AI's vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

Sure, equal and consistent standards, right? Except when they're countries they dislike, such as the U.S. and Israel. Then, the standards are different.

Anyone who can call Guantanamo Bay the "gulag of our times" with a straight face, while essentially ignoring the true gulags of our times in places like North Korea, has squandered all credibility. Amnesty International lost theirs a long time ago.

Update: As if that wasn't bad enough, Lynn has more on Amnesty's seemingly incurable obsession with targeting Israel.

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9:08 PM
Too busy to blog

In the meantime, here's a random New York City photo:



Back soon!

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