FREEDOM OF SPEECH?

Recently I wrote about free speech and the Muhammad cartoons published in Denmark. I mentioned that Muslims must realize that the West believes fervently in the principal of free speech and they need to learn that fact and accept it if they want to move forward out of their culture of ignorance and superstition; they need to be allowed to see the light of progress.

Then, Austria arrest and jails the British historian DAVID IRVING for denying that the HOLOCOUST is a historical reality. It appears there is a law in Austria that says people that deny the holocaust can be jailed – they waited till Irving arrived in Austria and they arrested, tried and jailed him.

I may disagree with Irving. I may think he is a nut case. I may think he is totally wrong about history BUT I have to respect his right to state his views!

This makes the whole West look bad and is totally unacceptable. I hope the governments of the West tell Austria to get a brain.


Janusz

IRAQI CIVIL WAR?

Some time ago, I expressed my views about the problems in Iraq and why Bush would have problems accomplishing his goal of democratizing Iraq and then the whole Middle East.

I mentioned that civil war was inevitable and lo and behold Iraq is on the brink of one.

Al Qaeda is very smart and knows how to get a civil war started in Iraq. Just a few days ago they blew up the holiest site of the Shiite Muslims who took their revenge by killing every Sunni they could find – Bingo! If the Kurds are smart they will just wait till both sides annihilate each other and then just take over the whole country.

You do understand that the United States is getting blamed for everything. The whole Arab world is blaming us; aren’t we in charge of security. How could we have let this happen? We cannot win here and that is what I was trying to say.

Look at Northern Ireland – those bozos are still killing each other and both sides are Christian; in Iraq, both sides are Muslim.

Bush is trying to change what took centuries to make – good luck!

One thing Bush may do that has never happened before; he may unite all the Muslims in their holy goal of once and for all, destroying the great Satan – USA. Here, Bin Laden would be the victor and probably elected god.


Janusz

DEATH PENALTY AND DISCOMFORT

Recently, an execution of a man who brutally raped, stabbed and strangled a young woman 20 years ago, was postponed because the governor of California wanted to make sure that the man being put to death for a heinous crime, does not suffer any pain or discomfort while being put to death by lethal injection.

The governor asked a doctor (Anesthesiologist) to monitor the administration of a sedative to the criminal and to attest that the sedative worked (no pain) before the lethal cocktail was injected. The doctor in the execution chamber refused citing professional conflict (Oath to save lives, etc……).

I agree with the doctor’s decision but I have trouble with the whole concept of sparing the criminal any discomfort or pain; if you are putting him to death (the ultimate discomfort) why should you worry about a little pain.

The eighth (8th) Amendment to our Constitution, based on the English Bill of Rights (1689), prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment”. OK, I can see that but the interpretation of cruel and unusual has me baffled.

First, let me say that I have always agreed with the death penalty for deserving crimes. My views have been somewhat tempered by the fact that many men on death row were shown to be innocent by DNA technology. I have also been convinced that federal, state, county, etc. prosecutors do not give a shit if someone is guilty or innocent. Cases have shown where prosecutors as well as police officials have lied and framed innocent people JUST TO GET A CONVICTION AND CLOSE THE CASE. The more cases closed, the sooner they can run for governor.

The reality of our legal system should sober everyone up as to the reality of the death penalty – we should be ABSOLUTELY, 100% SURE OF A PERSON’S GUILT. I do not know if we are at that point yet.

There are cases where the state is 100% sure of a person’s guild. The California case is just such a case.

I feel that trying to prevent ANY DISCOMFORT before killing someone has entered the absurd state. Shooting someone in the back of the head would spare the person any and all discomfort – death would be instantaneous – why don’t we do that?.

I guess my problem here is not the method of execution but the caring for the welfare of the crime perpetrator. he obviously did not care about the discomfort of his victim or the discomfort (forever) of the victim’s family. Why in the hell should he be afforded such consideration? Let me know.

Janusz

SHIPPING PORTS' SECURITY & ARABS

This is probably quite a shock to some people but I actually agree with BUSH on allowing an UNITED ARAB EMIRATES’ company manage a number of U.S. shipping ports – GASP! The ports in question are currently managed by a BRITISH company. The British company, Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, London is being bought by Dubai Ports World, U.A.E.

I will admit, the Bush administration really screwed this issue up and that is why it is SUCH A BIG DEAL to everyone – both parties. Bush did not know about this, it was approved by his department heads without letting Congress or anyone else know about this – as is their usual modus operandi. They really needed to SELL /EXPLAIN this beforehand since it is such a sensitive security issue. It may be too late for them to pull this off and even Bush’s threatened veto may be overridden – he has NEVER used a veto.

United Arab Emirates is a country my company has dealt with in the past. It is small, Arab and has always supported the U.S. They also invest a lot in this country. They would assume “management” of the port facilities. The security of the ports is handled by American agencies like the Port Authority, Coast Guard, Customs Department, local police authorities, etc. The workers are also American since the Longshoreman’s Union controls the labor part (for better or worst). The management could have some UAE workers but the president of the company is British.

Anyway, the big brouhaha is about national security. Everybody that is opposed to the deal see the management company sneaking in nuclear or biological weapons – this is bullshit.

Number one, they are not in charge of port security. They are not in charge of inspecting cargo – we are and we are doing a rotten job of it. Any jackass could sneak anything they want into this country because we HAVE NO REAL PORT SECURITY.

In my mind, Dubai Ports World would do a better job at managing these ports because now it has something to prove to Americans.

Scrapping this already approved “business” deal would send a bad message – Americans think all Arabs are bad and we are really paranoid (stupid).

I can understand the concern and I hope cooler minds will prevail once they have heard the facts and are convinced this has NOTHING TO DO WITH NATIONAL SECURITY but…………………

If this becomes a POLITICAL ISSUE and Democrats see a chance to attack Bush and Republicans see a chance to distance themselves’ from Bush to improve their chances at the next elections, then logic and reason will take a back seat and political reasoning will take over. If this happens I feel the United States will be worst of for it and we really could use some positive happenings.

The Bush administration could have handled this differently (even though they followed established law and protocol). Maybe new laws will be enacted setting requirements for the prior involvement of Congress or something (even though that may not be wise) but in this age of insecurity and Arab phobia, it would probably be helpful.

Janusz

LOCATION OF ABORTION CLINICS

Tuesday, February 21, 2006


To:     The Detroit News
Re:     “Stop racial profiling of abortion clinics”, Feb. 21


In answer to James Teela’s article “Stop racial profiling of abortion clinics”, Feb. 21, a majority of abortion clinics are located in areas populated by African-Americans because that is where the demand is. It is as simple as that.


Janusz M Szyszko

CARTOONS AND SACRED SYMBOLS

Saturday, February 11, 2006


To:     The Detroit News
Re:     “Stop making fun of sacred symbols”, Feb.11



Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi calls the Danish cartoons of Muhammad irresponsible, unethical and unacceptable. I call the violent reaction of some Muslims to those cartoons as uncivilized and also unacceptable.

For too long, so called leaders of Muslim nations have kept their populations mired in poverty and ignorance so as to better control them. The violent over-reactions to mere satiric cartoons shows us that the chasm between our cultures is very wide and will continue to widen unless Muslims, worldwide, are allowed the opportunities available to the rest of us to improve their lot in life.


Janusz M Szyszko

DRUG WAR CANNOT BE WON!

Friday, February 10, 2006


To:     The Detroit Free Press
Re:     “Change hard at coca farms”, Feb. 10



John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy says his strategy to eradicate drug production in Colombia is working, “Change hard at coca farms”, Feb. 10.

He sites an increase in the U.S. street price of cocaine as evidence that supplies of the drug have contracted and that fact will somehow save lives.

Does he realize that increasing the street price of cocaine will just force addicts to rob more people and houses and in so doing, kill or maim more of the populace, to cover the increase? Does Mr. Walters think that addicts stop using drugs when the price goes up?

Mr. Walters would save lives in the U.S. and the preserve the livelihood of Columbians by just admitting that the war on drugs cannot be won and only by decriminalizing drugs will the public good be served.


Janusz M Szyszko

MUHAMMAD CARTOON REVISITED.

Friday, February 10, 2006


To:     The Detroit News
Re:     Caricature controversy


Having now learned that the Koran does not expressly forbid images of Mohammad and that images of Muhammad are routinely found in the Muslim world, the violent reactions of Muslims to the Danish cartoon of Muhammad are even more ludicrous and reprehensible.

Muslim passions were inflamed by people seeking political gain. The fact that Muslims can be so easily manipulated by unscrupulous, so-called leaders is unfortunate and will be problematic as the cultures interact.


Janusz M Szyszko

IRAN AND THE BOMB!

Iran is a big country. It has a storied history. After being taken over by Ayatollah Khomeini and his clerics and turned into a theocracy the country and its people appeared doomed. We kept hearing about how the people of Iran suffer under such harsh rules and yearn for freedom and Western ways.

Moderate politicians started to make headway against the clerics’ rule and we all thought that the country was on the verge of a renaissance but then the clerics tightened their grip, arresting and killing those that showed any signs of progressive actions or even thought.

The clerics drew up a list of names the people could vote for. All the people on the list obviously supported the rule of the clerics.

The people of Iran supposedly elected Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a real religious nut case that has proven, by his words and actions, to be a threat not only to his own people but to the world at large.

Now he wants to build nuclear weapons. He said that he wants nuclear technology for peaceful purposes like energy production even though Iran has enough oil to energize their country basically forever.

No one believes him and now the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency voted to refer the Iran case to the U.N. Security Council because it is now a security issue.

Now there are countries that have atom bombs and make people nervous like North Korea, Pakistan and India and Pakistan was actually caught selling nuclear technology to Iran but the thought of Iran, in the hands of the current nuts, with an atom bomb is very scary. Most countries are scared and voted to do something BUT NOT Cuba, Syria and Venezuela.

I think Iran should be offered a nuclear reactor for energy production if they quit all nuclear testing and ambitions and agree to inspections by the U.N.

But we know they really want an atom bomb to protect themselves from a BUSH attack – who can blame them!

So, we (United Nations) need to take whatever action(s) that will keep Iran from developing a nuclear bomb!

Janusz

PALESTINIANS VOTED FOR HAMAS - WHY?

Sunday, February 05, 2006


To: The Detroit News
Re: “Palestinians failed democracy, not the other way around”, Feb. 5



Although I have no reason to disagree with Nolan Finley, “Palestinians failed democracy, not the other way around”, Feb. 5, I would like to think the Palestinians voted for change, plain and simple.

The Palestinians could have voted for Yasser Arafat’s Fatah Party, the bloated, corrupt party, in power for decades with nothing to show for it or give someone else a chance.

We can always hope that Hamas, now finally in power, will realize that their old terrorist ways have to be abandoned if they really want to help their people. I think many Palestinians voted the way they did with this in mind.


Janusz

CARTOONS OFFENSIVE TO MUSLIMS

Saturday, February 04, 2006

To:     The Detroit Free Press
Re:     “Muslim leaders urge restraint over offensive cartoons”, Feb. 4


It appears that freedom of speech and expression should only go so far for some area Muslims, “Muslim leaders urge restraint over offensive cartoons”, Feb. 4.

In our culture, we may vehemently disagree with someone’s ideas but we will defend his or her right to express them.

I think some Americans need to become more sensitive to what offends others especially people of different cultures. On the other hand, Muslim Americans need to realize that freedom of speech and expression is a right that cannot be constrained to please any one group of people.


Janusz

CARTOON OF MUHAMMAD CAUSES A STIR!

Well, well now. We have ourselves a real brouhaha going on.

It appears a Danish newspaper published a cartoon of Muhammad, the founder of Islam and it was not flattering. It seems, according to the Koran that the image of Muhammad cannot be drawn, sculpted, painted, etc…………………….. This rule is for a very good reason, the prophet did not want his image to be venerated or prayed to. Catholics pray to, kiss and slobber over wood, steel, ceramic, etc. images of anybody considered holy by the Church.

History has seen a number of “iconoclastic” periods where certain religions and religious sects tried to end the use of icons (religious images of people) in worship. Some of these periods were quite violent so you see it is or can be a volatile subject, even today. See how bare some Protestant churches are compared to Catholic and Orthodox churches?

So the whole idea of religious icons, pro or con, has been around for many, many years. So what the hell happened this time!

Well it appears that Muslims have interpreted the Koran / Quran as to say that all images of Muhammad are forbidden and anyone making an image is to be put to death or something like that. This, it appears, applies to everyone in the whole wide world and not only to Muslims.

The Quran also says that images of other prophets mentioned in the Book cannot be made. These include Jesus, Abraham, Virgin Mary, etc. It appears that is OK since we have many, many Christian images around and the Muslims don’t seem to mind.

Muslims say that to produce an image of Muhammad is an insult to them and their religion. This does not mean only insulting images like the Danish one but ANY image, no matter how nicely done. Remember Salmund Rushdi and the “Satanic Verses”?

I am all for respecting people’s religions and their religious practices. I think any one creating a religious image to insult certain peoples or their religions, because of a religious or ethnic bias should be criticized and newspapers should know better than to print such trash.

On the other hand, freedom of expression and opinion are fundamental rights in our culture. We may not agree with certain people and their opinions and expressions but we will surely defend their right to their opinions and expressions. The French newspapers that reprinted the offensive cartoon did so only to stress their freedom of expression, inflaming the matter even more.

I remember an art exhibit in New York many years ago that had a crucifix with Christ, sitting in a jar of urine. Now that image had everybody up in arms with total disgust but that so called, work of art is now in text books on art as an expression of one artist’s ideas. No one called for his death or rioted in the streets of New York.

I see this as a clash of cultures. Our Western culture is all about freedom, no matter how disgusting. Muslims of the Middle East have been isolated from our culture and taught that our culture and anything connected with it, is evil – this is unfortunate. I blame their religious leaders, politicians and academics; they keep them ignorant to better control them.

I don’t see an easy solution to this problem. The West will not give up freedom of expression; no way. We can become a little more sensitive to other peoples but that is a maybe. Muslim religious leaders need to open the window and let some light into the darkness of their minds and traditions.

Muhammad was only a prophet; not a God. He was human and made mistakes. Unfortunately he represents Muslims and what easier way to make a political statement about Muslims than a Muhammad cartoon.

Janusz

BUSH'S STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Listening to Bush speak last night I thought that the next morning pundits and normal Americans would characterize his speech as a bunch of lies, total bullshit, clever spin or the words of a great leader.

Those that pay attention to what goes on in the U.S. and the world, realize that President Bush, at this time, has no real options. He knows he has fucked up big time, but what do you want him to do, ask for forgiveness? No, he has to put a very positive spin on his message and make sure Americans believe him and history will bear him out to be a master spinner or master bullshitter (actually it is not him but his buddy Karl Rove that puts words in his mouth).

Just look at state of the union under Bush. He has not stopped terrorism; he can’t even catch a bunch of Arabs hiding in caves. His inability to take care of Al Qaeda means that this nation is in greater danger than it has ever been before. The 9-11 Commission has stated that nothing has changed since 9-11. The cops still cannot communicate with each other or different departments (fire department), our borders are a joke; in other words, Bush has done nothing to improve our safety except waste billions on the Homeland Security Department which has proven to be totally incompetent.

The Katrina mess showed more of Bush’s incompetence to handle our safety and welfare and he had the gall to stand at the podium and praise himself for doing such a good job.

Iraq is just making us look stupid as hell. Our soldiers continue to die every day. Our soldiers continue to be severely maimed every day. Iraqis die by the hundreds every month. The insurgents get stronger every day. The country will break into civil war any day now and HE wants us to stay the course – WHAT FUCKING COURSE!

He wants to attack Iran and Syria but he does not have enough soldiers. I bet he could convince the American public to support attacking those countries though.

He is fighting AIDS by giving billions to “faith based” agencies, read Churches. They will pocket the money, build mansions and buy limos and lecture people to abstain from sex or doing drugs and they will not get AIDS – they will not tell them to wear condoms because that is a form of abortion.

Bush is spending 7 BILLION in Iraq each and every month. He has asked for more. During his speech he told the nation that he has cut wasteful spending (in non security areas) a whole bunch; he stole from the needy to fund his war and enrich his corporate (Halliburton) friends.

History though, may see Bush is a different light. Yes, he is lying but to him the end justifies the means and his end is the salvation of the entire world and what could be better than that! Only history will tell if he has succeeded or not.

Just think about it, what sane person would go to war for no real reason except that it gives him a chance to introduce democracy into the Middle East and maybe change the course of history.

Is he a madman or a mad genius? I think he sees himself as a Christian Prophet on a mission to change the world order by hook or by crook. One think is certain; he is getting his way for better or worse.

Janusz