So I’m not one for world politics, well not normally anyway, but today I read a post on TA regarding a news article about a situation in Afghanistan.
Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women’s rights
By Kim Sengupta
Thursday, 31 January 2008
A young man, a student of journalism, is sentenced to death by an Islamic court for downloading a report from the internet. The sentence is then upheld by the country’s rulers. This is Afghanistan – not in Taliban times but six years after “liberation” and under the democratic rule of the West’s ally Hamid Karzai.
The fate of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh has led to domestic and international protests, and deepening concern about erosion of civil liberties in Afghanistan. He was accused of blasphemy after he downloaded a report from a Farsi website which stated that Muslim fundamentalists who claimed the Koran justified the oppression of women had misrepresented the views of the prophet Mohamed.
Mr Kambaksh, 23, distributed the tract to fellow students and teachers at Balkh University with the aim, he said, of provoking a debate on the matter. But a complaint was made against him and he was arrested, tried by religious judges without – say his friends and family – being allowed legal representation and sentenced to death.
The Independent is launching a campaign today to secure justice for Mr Kambaksh. The UN, human rights groups, journalists’ organisations and Western diplomats have urged Mr Karzai’s government to intervene and free him. But the Afghan Senate passed a motion yesterday confirming the death sentence.
Anyways, the debate began and one user posed this question:
you almost have to ask yourself after reading about something like this — is this what we should look forward to with Iraq as well?
for all the hype and rhetoric about getting rid of evil rulers and freeing peoples who have suffered a lack of freedoms and rights… are we allowing the old guard to be replaced with more of the old guard?
I thought about this for a moment and my views are as follows:
We all know by now that the US weren’t/aren’t there (in Afghanistan or any other country for that matter) for humanitarian reasons so they should stop pretending that they were/are. We should be asking who or what was being liberated?
Had the allied forces intervened and empowered the people to take control of their own government and fight for democracy/freedom then maybe it would have been a different scenario. It doesn’t appear that way.
Either way change needs to come from within.
I’m certainly not agreeing with the actions of the Afghan government on this case, and I’m rather disappointed by it, however I question the motives behind the occupation of foreign soil especially after the whole “weapons of mass destruction” debacle.
I can only hope that in time people will learn to treat each other with respect, love, and dignity and that religion ceases to be used the way it has been by certain groups.
Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion. — Gandhi
Ever since I started listening to trance in 2002 this track has remained one of my favourites. It evokes powerful, raw, emotion.
Listen for yourself.
Surprisingly I’d never ever seen the full video until today. Thank heavens for youtube!
Oh and if you like what you hear, I’d recommend you check out Chicane’s album Behind The Sun. If features Saltwater, original and equally popular Thrillseeker’s mixes, as well as a bunch of other amazing tunes.
On the afternoon of Saturday the 26th of January (Australia Day in Australia, but not so here in Toronto) a group of six Couch Surfers, wrapped up in warm clothing, and armed with a few home made posters, a camera or two, and a lot of love set out to send happiness and joy throughout the cold, wintery world that was the Queen St West entrance of the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto.
The crew comprised of Neesa, Drew, Ellaine, Nicole, Darrel and yours truly. Drew, Ellaine and Nicole were all surfing my couch over the weekend.
At precisely 14:30 the crew arrived at their target destination and despite nobody else being around (including the facebook event organiser) within minutes the signs went up. On the signs were two simple words “Free Hugs”.
For those unfamiliar with the global Free Hugs campaign I urge you to visit the official website immediately and watch the video of Juan Mann, the man that started all one fine day in Sydney Australia.
The message is simple - a simple hug can brighten somebody’s day.
What was to unfold over the course of the next three hours (1.5 hrs for this particular reporter) was nothing short of amazing. We were there to give free hugs, and give free hugs we did.
The fact that it was snowing made it that much more special for, like soldiers on a mission, we battled the cold and snow to deliver the warmth of human spirit, kindness, and fun.
The responses from passerbys were just as unique and varied as the people themselves. Some, particularly younger kids and adults, were familiar with the campaign and screamed “I’ve seen you guys on youtube!” whilst others asked “why are you doing this?”
Each hugger had their own response, ranging from “just for fun”, and “just because” to “everybody loves hugs” and more. No matter what the reason one simple fact was obvious, whenever somebody accepted or gave a hug, a smile would soon follow.
That was why we crazy folks were doing it.
For me it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in my adopted city. To realise just how amazing the group of individuals that I was surrounded by really were, and to feel connected to each and every soul that was involved by giving or accepting a hug that day, made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and incredibly grateful.
Here’s the thing - every day is free hug day so I encourage everyone to go and hug somebody they love, and if they should ask why you could respond “just cause”.
Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows
I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
“Tomorrow” I say! “I will call on Jim
Just to show that I’m thinking of him.”
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away,
“Here’s a telegram sir,” “Jim died today.”
And that’s what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.