WikiLeaks or Al Bouazizi? Who set the fires of the Tunisian revolt?

"It is on everybody's mind that the Arab spirit is broken. The Arab spirit is down by poverty, unemployment and the general decline in the real indicators of development." Amre Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League

WikiLeaks' role in governments is very critical. They might be doing espionage, call it whatever you like, but like their battle cry, WikiLeaks opens governments. WikiLeaks keeps everyone on tiptoes which is a good thing. We no longer are ignorant of what these governments are doing or planning to do. No more lies however white.

The on-going revolution in Tunisia was otherwise triggered by technology some claims. The younger generation did their revolts in cyberspace, opening the eyes of Tunisians on the evil cause of poverty and injustice in their nation. With that info comes WikiLeaks exposure. WkiLeaks released diplomatic cables from the US embassy in Tunis "confirming" the Mafia-style regime of President Ben Ali. That diplomatic cable unveiled what Tunisians have already known and they were just waiting for the right move.

Burning issues

The right move came when an unemployed man, a college graduate who was selling fruits because he was unemployed but authorities seized his goods for lack of permit, set himself on fire right at the government's sight. Ben Ali's visit to his hospital bed was not able to faze off the 30 percent unemployed Tunisians. It gave them the voice. A fiery voice, indeed.

Heated demands

Tunisia is now inspiring its neighboring nations albeit acrid burning human bodies is not a good start. Already reports from Cairo confirmed that there are unemployed men setting themselves on fire in public to demand jobs, bitterly exposing long standing corruption in that region. Egypt's Mubarak is on alert and so is Sudan's Bashir.

Will Tunisia set the standards for Africa and the Middle East?

Read on-

• What's going on in Tunisia? 
• Tunisia revolt: Will it spread? 
• Tunisia revolt puts heat on Sudan 
• Excesses of Tunisia's "Imelda" fuel uprising 

We didn't start the fire / It was always burning

Since the world's been turning / We didn't start the fire

No we didn't light it / But we tried to fight it

~Billy Joel

Pic grabbed from CNN.com

Conspiracy theories on Obama's fight against terror and loss of his popularity

We're not gonna have a war, we're gonna have the appearance of a war. ~Conrad Brean, Wag the Dog

One night, while in Catbalogan, I met this British guy who has a diplomat of a wife. He was a sunny type of chap even if it was raining hard on that side of the globe.

Our discussions arrived at the news of packages as part of a terror plot against America. I liked the way he said DUH! I was never an Obama fan. I liked Hillary Clinton better because I would like to believe America is the land of the brave and the free and never in their history had they voted for a woman. It was supposed to be my kind of test for the Americans. But I disappointedly sighed. So much for gender equality. I am now convinced they are the most traditional just like any other countries around the world.

The intercepted package was in a cargo plane with a minute of a crew. Has it reached American soil? The Brit and I agreed more on the the funny side of our opinions. Was it to enhance Obama's losing battle for popularity in the US? Was it part of a drama to tell the world that they have more intelligence power therefore they are superior? Or was it again part of arm dealing business of America so they still can supply arms to other nations some of them are poor all in the guise of fighting terror? Go to war!

I was reminded of the film Wag the Dog starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert de Niro that tells about a spin-doctor and a film producer trying to fabricate a war in Albania to cover up the sex scandal committed by the president of America. Although Obama has not been into a sex scandal (Clinton, the president, has) but the plot seems likely familiar. Knowing the powers of America. Sometimes we can only sigh even if it's not a sigh of relief.

Well, we all have conspiracy theories. But always remember: When there is smoke, there is fire.

And note that the Philippine President seems to follow Obama's strategy albeit sans strategic directions towards Change.

We are all part of this comedy.

More readings:
Tony Bergonia: Aquino may follow Obama path, warns think tank 

Well, I have, too. Would you do it again...? Isn't that why you're here? I guess so. And if you go to war again, who is it going to be against? Your "ability to fight a Two-ocean War" against who? Sweden and Togo? Who you sitting here to Go To War Against? That time has passed. It's passed. It's over. The war of the future is nuclear terrorism. It is and it will be against a small group of dissidents who, unbeknownst, perhaps, to their own governments, have blah blah blah. And to go to that war, you've got to be prepared. You have to be alert, and the public has to be alert. Cause that is the war of the future, and if you're not gearing up, to fight that war, eventually the axe will fall. And you're gonna be out in the street. And you can call this a "drill," or you can call it "job security," or you can call it anything you like. But I got one for you: you said, "Go to war to protect your Way of Life," well, Chuck, this is your way of life. Isn't it? And if there ain't no war, then you, my friend, can go home and prematurely take up golf. Because there ain't no war but ours. ~Conrad Brean, Wag the Dog


Obama's picture from strangepolitics.com

Naming your child could be catastrophic

I was encoding a list of names for a yearbook project in some school when I encountered weird names of children and I was amaze at how parents could have thought of such names. One thing I am sure, there would be mixed reactions of course. Someday, these kids will be blaming their parents for their choice of names which they will suffer for the rest of their lives.

Been there.

My unusual name created a lot of teasing and other nicks I don’t want to hear. Worst, people would ask me to repeat what I just blurted out when asked for my name. People who are not Bible savvy would always think that Melchizedik (pronounced as mehl-KIHZ-eh-dehk) is a woman’s name! Melchizedik, by the way, was the first high priest and the King of Salem (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 5:10, 6:20). He was believed to be a foreshadowing of Christ.

Come again? What was that name? Ms Mechichi… Melch. Damn. How do you spell that? Are you foreigner? How do you call yourself?Frustrating indeed!

Nowadays parents baptize their children names that have no connection to the family. Why should you call your child Dreed? Is he dreadful? Or Bretch to remind you of your britches? Or Danthanian Lance because you misheard the name of one of the Knights? Or Quir Chloue because you expect your child to be queer when she grows up? Or Silver Krysler to remind your wish to buy that car you could not afford?

Those are real names, mind you.

I remember an article from Foreign Policy, a weird story about a Pakistani diplomat who has been denied his assignment in the Middle East for a simple reason that his name meant Biggest Dick in Arabic. Imagine the reactions of people when he would be introduced. I wonder if his assignment in that area was a punishment.

Strange that a name could make or ruin your future. So if you are expecting now, be sure to name your child right.

Picture from john.ellingsworth.org