Monday, December 19, 2005

Watchman in our bedroom!

I am quite disturbed by the revelation that the Bush administration has been spying on U.S. citizens without any court authorization. I very well understand that it is necessary to discreetly monitor the activities of suspected terrorist supporters in USA. But there is a proper way of going about it. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, under the judicial branch, was established to give secret approval to such surveillances, assuring that there is a valid reason for it, and the power is not misused. It is completely bypassed in the name of protecting us from terrorists. I hope that there is sufficient uproar to stop this practice immediately. To me, the best analogy to the current sitauation is having a watchman to protect our house at night from robbers. We do not authorize the watchman to walk into our bedroom any time he pleases. There may be exceptions when he really has to search the bedroom. He better get permission for it first.

I am annoyed to hear that some leaders of the Congress were aware of this wire-tapping for months. It required the public outing of this practice, by New York Times, for those hypocrites to come out in the open criticizing it. I feel the gutless the opposition party (Democrats) has a lot to do with the excesses of the Bush administration. It has let us down.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Wishing for the next ‘In Thing’

I feel good about the Time magazine’s selection for the ‘2005 Person of the Year’. Finally, there is recognition of ones work for the betterment of humanity. (I dislike it when this honor is given to dictators and corrupt politicians who hog the news). I admire Bill and Melinda Gates not only for the stupendous amount of money (over 25 billion dollars) they have given for humanitarian causes, but also for the active roles they play in making sure that the money is well spent **. Musician Bono ‘raises hell’ as an advocate of the poor countries - not as a rocker high on drugs!

I hope helping the weak and the needy will become an ‘in thing’ for a few years.

**The workings of Senator Bill First’s charity is a nice contrast!

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Don’t blow this chance!

I think California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a great opportunity to redeem himself in the public eye, if he grants clemency to the Crips gang founder Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams, who is scheduled to be executed next Tuesday.

Arnold made a promising start after winning the recall election which displaced Governor Greg Davis, a Democrat. He reached out to Democrats and Independents, and accomplished a few things which included pushing through a bond measure to reduce the massive budget gap. His popularity rose to the 80% range, and whispers started about changing the U.S. Constitution to allow him to run for U.S. President! The ambitious Arnold could not resist this temptation. Like the crow in the Aesop’s fable, he tried to sing to please the mainstream of national GOP. He started openly disdaining the Democratic lawmakers he once partnered with (‘the girlie men’), and endorsed only Republicans in the 2004 legislative elections. His bipartisan support started plummeting, and he made things worse by his thinly veiled attempt to break the unions, and to reduce the job benefits of teachers and nurses. Recently, the California voters gave a hard slap to Arnold’s face when they voted down all his proposals (propositions) to remake 'Khalifornia’. This has woken him up, and he has gone back to his old ways of working with the opposition. His surprise selection of a Democrat as his Chief of Staff, was a first step.

How would a controversial clemency of Tookie Williams, help Arnold? First, it will show that he is bold, and will do things based on his belief and principles, instead of pandering to the conservatives. Second, he will quickly establish a loyal support among the Blacks, who are carefully watching how one of their own is treated. Third, he will strengthen his support among the circle of Hollywood celebrities and the liberal media, who are campaigning to save Tookie’s life. Of course, there will be some angry reactions from the conservative Republican base. But he does not have to worry about them crossing over, and voting for a Democrat in the next Governor election.

So, Governor, go and do the right thing!

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Knee-jerk reactions

I am upset and angry to hear that today in Miami, U.S. air marshall shot and killed a mentally unstable person for running out of a plane with a backpack. The story is that he threatened he had a bomb in his bag, and did not listen to the commands of the law enforcement officers**. The wife of this suspected ‘terrorist’ had actually run after him explaining to everyone that her husband is bipolar, and has not taken his medication. Nobody bothered to listen to her. Instead they simply shot him down. Can anyone explain to me the logic behind believing that this was a suicide bomber or a terrorist? Will a trained terrorist or suicide bomber suddenly jump up from the seat of a plane about to take off, and run towards the terminal with a bomb? Should it not be the other way? Why should a terrorist call attention to himself by running and screaming? What about the wife who is running after him, telling everyone that he is mentally unstable? Was that a ploy? I think the air marshal took the easy way out by killing this innocent man. I actually do not blame the air marshal. He is doing what he is trained to do, and would have been 'fired for not firing', even if his judgment was proven right. But I am angry at the knee jerk reactions we have in the name of preventing terrorism, while conveniently ignoring the big risks. The recent report of the 9/11 Commission is an eye opener. We are getting more and more vulnerable to massive terrorist attacks, while the airport security gropes women, and worries about mothers carrying bottled breast milk!

** I suspect that the story of him threatening that he has a bomb in his backpack, is something made up to justify the killing. Most probably the poor man just ran out of the plane due to acute paranoia or claustrophobia.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Shut him up, please!

The trial of Saddam Hussein was expected to boost the support amongst the Iraqis for the new democracy USA is establishing there. So far it is having the exact opposite effect! The defendant Saddam Hussein appears to be in total control, using the trial, watched by millions of people in Middle East, as a platform to exhort Iraqis to unite against the illegitimate foreign intruders. I just cannot understand how USA can let this happen. Why do they allow the defendant Saddam to address the court frequently, and to interrupt proceedings whenever he wants? In the courts in USA, the defendant gets a chance to speak only once -- in the witness stand, usually towards the end of the trial when the charges against him are well established. Speaking out of turn or interrupting the court proceedings is harshly dealt with. Nothing like that is happening in the Iraqi court. Saddam gives advice, and even gives orders to the judge sometimes. Before things get out of hand, I hope someone stops this melodrama.

I remember the Chicago Eight trial in 1969, when Bobby Seal was gagged and handcuffed for interrupting the court proceedings. That was an extreme step. But come to think of it, not a bad thing to happen this cruel dictator!