For far too long in history, women have been perceived as chattel, disposable and expendable. This past year we witnessed uprisings in the Middle East during their Arab Spring. Women often fought along side men to oust oppressive regimes. In Bahrain, however, women are still at risk of torture and rape. Yemen women played activists roles in toppling President Saleh, yet still fight vigorously to keep demands for their rights. Libyan women face a multitude of challenges in the face of change so that they may have access to education and basic human rights. Women in Egypt who protested during the Arab Spring now have forced virginity tests. They have been subjected to discrimination, violence, and harassment. And let us not forget the brutal rapes of women and children that continue in the DRC.  

The film, Women as Enemy, is a documentary report produced by Susan Sacirbey, directed by Muhamed Sacirbey for the UN Refugee Agency, and released by DiplomaticallyIncorrect.org. We can see some of these women and hear accounts from those who are seen as the enemy in their countries. Some are displaced without food, shelter, and without rights. All have aspirations of basic human rights for safety, education, and protection from violence. One line in this film was particularly striking, “When it was too hard to talk, they drew pictures of their worst fears: harassment, violence, abuse.”

This short film is brilliantly done, simplistic in its lack of drama as it allows us to absorb the voices of women who deserve to be perceived, not as the enemy, but rather as an integral part of their societies. Their need for obstacles against accessing education must be heard. Their need for social justice must be heard. And their cry against economic vulnerability must be heard. Please watch this short video and listen to them. Share this video, and with it the dreams of women in peril.

(Double click on the arrow for preview)
—cher

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Image by riacale via Flickr

We have witnessed an enormous protest in Egypt these past weeks and part of their issues with government officials involved human rights violations. Certainly these violations occur around the world and the voice of America often weighs in, denouncing them. Perhaps we need to get our own house in order before condemning actions of other countries so vociferously.

Today Representative A Green (D-Texas) will hold a press conference in Houston regarding an alleged police beating of Chad Holley, a fifteen-year old  Black youth who was a suspect in a home burglary case last March. There was a police chase of Holly and an arrest was made. Holly was found guilty in juvenile court of burglary and put on probation. The issue at hand is not whether Holly was guilty or innocent. That has been determined in the courts. The issue is whether he was profiled and beaten mercilessly by police after he lay on the ground and placed himself in a surrender position.

Too often, those of us who are White, pay give little attention to racial profiling. If, however, our government is going to condemn human rights violations on a global stage, they need to look at what is happening in our own country. Any time I do an article about police I feel this guilty compulsion to include a caveat that most police officers do a fine job and that an incident, such as what allegedly happened in this case in Houston is an exception and not the norm. Perhaps it is an exception. But we need to bring it to light regardless.

To date, four of the officers involved here have been fired and are scheduled to be tried on official oppression charges later in the year. One of the officers was also charged with violation of the civil rights of a prisoner. If the officers allegedly involved are convicted of these violations, each could face up to one year in jail and a $4000 fine.

We must be able to look to our police to protect and serve, even those whom they feel are guilty. We must look at the role racial profiling plays in our society and address these issues in every instance in which human rights violations may have been manifested. Then, and only then, can we voice our outrage at human rights violations in other countries. The following is a video caught by nearby surveillance cameras during the arrest of Chad Holley. You decide and let me know what your thoughts are.

—cher

Tuesday was a day of dichotomy for Egypt. The photo shows an estimated two million people in Liberation Square demonstrating into the night. Mubarak said in a televised statement that he would not seek re-election and would leave in September, a very long seven months away. President Obama then had a thirty minute conversation with Mubarak. Afterward, Obama made an address to the American people and the only statement that held any substance for me was Obama’s statement that the “orderly transition” of Mubarak’s government “must begin now.” Taking no questions for clarification, Obama walked off camera.

Where then, does this leave the Egyptian people who are running out of food and money? Since the people of Egypt already live well below the poverty line and have put their very survival on the line to force this regime change, it almost seems like a sleight of hand by Mubarak. Hold them at bay for seven months or let them starve.

Another question of import is who will take leadership. Throughout these demonstrations the people of Egypt have shouted that they want Democracy, an end to human rights violations and an opportunity for growth within their country. To whom can they turn after 30 years of oppression?

One of the most touching news items was learning that the people of Egypt linked arms and stood around Egyptian antiquities to make certain they were preserved.

The coming days, weeks and months will show us how this unfolds, but there is nothing more certain than the uncertainty of Egypt at present. Their resolve, however, has been inspiring.

—cher

It wasn’t so long ago, during the “Cold War”, that Americans viewed China as an impoverished, Communist  nation without much hope of feeding its burgeoning population, and without much export production to sell to the rest of the world.  How times have changed!  Over the last ten years China’s economy has surpassed those of Germany, Canada, Spain, Italy,  France, and now Japan.  While China has been becoming an economic powerhouse, the U.S. has been surpassed by a number of countries in areas such as consumer incomes, standard of living and health care.  The net result of it all is that China has now become the world’s largest creditor nation, and the U.S. has become the world’s largest debtor nation.  What went wrong?

To start off with, China has made higher education a top priority.  For example, Chinese universities will graduate 500,000 engineering students this year, while U.S. universities will graduate only 150,000.  In addition, China has now become the worlds largest internet market, as measured by the number of users.  In terms of personal income, China has gone through the early phases of  industrial development, where low cost labor has given the economy a much-need jump start.  They are now entering the next phase, where workers will be allowed to form labor unions and strike for better conditions.  In fact, a primary goal of China’s central planners is to continue to rapidly develop a consumer-driven, domestic economy in order to rely less heavily on the export business.  There is little question that the Chinese have been “eating America’s lunch” for the last few years, but does this mean China’s meteoric rise in economic power and influence is sustainable over the long run?  Is answer is probably “no”.

Chinese Communist Party officials have been quick to gloat over their country’s economic successes, and equally quick to blame the excesses of American-style capitalism for  the “great recession”, ignoring the fact that the introduction of capitalistic principles into their own economy was largely responsible for the economic boom they are experiencing today.   The sustainability of China’s economic boom will depend upon it’s ability to loosen the iron grip of the Communist Party, and to greatly improve its record on human rights.  It’s ultimate failure to do so will cause widespread social unrest, and ultimately, an unraveling of  China’s economic miracle.  I suppose that when the Chinese economy finally does collapse, at least they will still have a few trillion dollars of American I.O.U. ‘s to live off.

Rich

From time to time we feature other blogs. This is done to draw attention to particular blogs that impact us, challenge our thinking and force us to open our eyes. On this day, in this Season, I find it important that we focus on issues which draw us outside our own secure realms and into issues in parts of the world that have jagged edges. These jagged edges have produced shards of souls lost due to our lack of collective consciousness.

A Passion to Understand is written by Emm. She is a blogger who lives in the UK, but whose heart exposes us to issues of Genocide, AIDS and Human Rights in countries which include Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur/Sudan, Cambodia and Zimbabwe. Emm writes, “In this blog I’ll update about the various conflicts in the world but I’ll also post snippets from the news that I find interesting or disturbing. It is called “A Passion to Understand” because I have a passionate desire to understand how things like genocide can happen in our modern world and I need to know about these things.”

In response to a comment she received from a blogger regarding objectivity, Emm stated, “It is really interesting what you say about objectivity and passion. I don’t know if I want to be objective any longer. Our study of the world was so clinical in university. I think it is time to be more passionate.”

I admire her courage, her commitment and her depth of feeling as she pursues wrenching stories of inhumanity. She brings verbal images to her accounts of these plights, which make me feel at once horrified and guilty. Guilty because I have shown too little regard for the havoc heaped upon helpless individuals. In this Season of redemption and celebration, I would ask that you visit Emm’s blog for the awareness it brings and for the voice she gives to those who cannot speak for themselves.

This quote from Emm’s blog is indicative of her passion:
“First they came for the Jews
…and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
…and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
…and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
…and there was no one left to speak out for me”

- Martin Niemöller

Please visit Emm’s blog, then count your blessings.

—cher

Will someone please advise this man that his term has ended? Even when he was VP he became a bane that George Bush could not tolerate without cracking jokes. I held off writing about Cheney because I did not want to give him the attention he so desperately seeks or the appeasement he will never receive. I’m just a lowly blogger, but count me in on this verbal spanking of Dick Cheney. He is a danger to himself and others.

Against all evidence and public perception, Cheney still maintains that waterboarding is not torture. The other night I watched Larry King do an interview with Jesse Ventura, the former Navy Seal, turned surfer. Say what you will about Jesse Ventura, but when he feels strongly about something he frames his thoughts in a no-holds-barred grip. In response to a question posed by King regarding Cheney and waterboarding, Ventura stated, “You give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney, and one hour, and I’ll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.” Jesse Ventura, the former Navy Seal, had me on my feet cheering. Imagine that.

President Obama is traveling the globe in a valiant effort to re-introduce our American values. We care about other countries; we want to be part of the global community, and we have values. We do, in fact, believe in human rights. While Obama is like a stealth trying to ward off the disastrous consequences of our previous administration, Cheney continues the self-righteous promotion of his approval of torture and undermines the very issues Obama is trying to salve.

With his own Republican party fomenting in an identity crisis, Cheney continues to alienate. For him to denigrate Colin Powell, a four-star general who has served his country with bravery, grace and dignity, is an act which should be punishable by expulsion from any party. Lest we forget, Cheney received five deferments to get out of going to Viet Nam, yet he claims he condoned torture in an effort to keep our country safe. Where was Cheney when the snipers were killing our troops in Viet Nam and agent orange was coloring them with cancer?

Well, I’m all riled up now so I have just one thing to say to Mr. Cheney. Go to your room Dick.