Olympics king Michael Phelps gets ready to conquer Facebook
So some of you are aware of the unfortunate or fortunate fact, depending on your perspective that i have been inactive on facebook for the past week. The reason is simple - the Virus. My account was hacked and i have been temporarily locked out until the Facebook wiz kids fix the infection.
So it was by coincidence that i ran into the Biggest Online Social Story of the Month.
Will Barack Obama be overthrown as the most popular entity on facebook?
Several pundits believe so. And who is the man who will replace him? The Olympian and 8 gold medalist Michael Phelps.
Michael Phelps has already crossed the titanic million fan threshold. In fact at 7:47 p.m. Phelps had over 1,345,040 fans compared to Senator Obama’s 1,371,890.
We shall soon find out …
Well whatever the outcome.
I will like to congratulate Mr. Phelps for winning 8 Gold Medals, that is an accomplishment he should be proud of.
The Republicans and the Barackbook
Today I was reading a New York Times article named “R.N.C. Deletes Comments on Obama Parody Site”. I have to admit the Republican National Committee or otherwise known as the GOP (Grand Old Party) a.k.a the republicans are a creative bunch, but are they effective? Well you be the judge.
U.S Government apologises for Slavery
So on Tuesday, July 29th 2008, the United States of America’s House of Representatives passed a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for slavery and the era of Jim Crow.
This is a historic day of the historic 2008 year, where an African- American president could be elected as its first black president. Could this be part of a trend in North America?
Remarkably the executive branch of government is Republican but the House of representatives is controlled by the democrats. There has been no such apology from any federal branch of government for the approximately 211 years of recorded History of Slavery. It was between 1654 until 1865, that slavery for life was legal within the boundaries of the present United States.
The non binding resolution, which passed on a voice vote, was introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen, a white lawmaker who represents a majority black district in Memphis, Tennessee.
The resolution however does not address the controversial issue of reparations.
In passing the resolution, the House of Representatives also acknowledged the “injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow.”
This year, Canada also made an apology to a marginalized group and the native land owners of Canada, the Aboriginal Nations of Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the apology in a minority controlled parliament in Ottawa, in front of hundreds of ex-schoolchildren. The schools operated from the late 19th Century until the 1990s, although most of them shut in the 1970s.
Canada has apologized for forcing about 150,000 aboriginal children to attend state-funded Christian boarding schools aimed at assimilating them.
So could 2008 be the year of apologies? It surely seems so.
I would like to commend the politicians for making those heart warming apologies; however actions speak better than words. It is important for the victims of slavery, the current disadvantaged descendants of slaves be afforded the education, health care and access to well paying jobs that their forefathers were prevented from access. If no action is taken soon, modern slavery would continue to evolve within those marginalized communities and possibly in another 200 years, another bunch of well intentioned politicans will make an apology on behalf of the current governments.
Barack Obama calls New Yorker cartoon an ‘insult against Muslim Americans’
Earlier on last month, i wrote about the state of Islamaphobia that exist in North America and specifically in the political process.
Senator Barack Obama who is currently running for the highest political office in the United States reacted to the controversial satirical cover the famous New Yorker Magazine released earlier on this month.
Here is what he had to say on CNN’s “Larry King Live” last night to discuss the controversial New Yorker cover depicting him as a Muslim and his wife Michelle as a militant.
“Well, I know it was the New Yorker’s attempt at satire,” Obama told Larry King. “I don’t think they were entirely successful with it. But you know what, it’s a cartoon, Larry, and that’s why we’ve got the First Amendment. And I think the American people are probably spending a little more time worrying about what’s happening with the banking system and the housing market, and what’s happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, than a cartoon. So I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about it.”
When King asked if he was bothered by reports that some Americans believed that he is Muslim and was raised in a Muslim home, and how he would remedy that, Obama replied:
“Well, you know, by getting on Larry King and telling everybody I’m a Christian and I wasn’t raised in a Muslim home and I pledge allegiance to the flag and, you know, all the things that have been reported in these e-mails are completely untrue and have been debunked again and again and again. So, hey, all you can do is just tell the truth and trust in the American people that, over time, they’re going to know what the truth is.”
He also stated his belief that the cover was more of an insult to Muslim Americans.
“You know, this is actually an insult against Muslim Americans, something that we don’t spend a lot of time talking about. And sometimes I’ve been derelict in pointing that out. You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things. And for this to be used as sort of an insult or to raise suspicions about me I think is unfortunate. And it’s not what America is all about.”
I applaud his emphasis on the effects of the cover in demonazing American muslims. It’s a slow start in the battle against islamaphobia, but atleast there is a point of reference.
What do you think of Obama’s opinions?
Should the Sudanese President face charges of War Crimes?
As a child who lived in the Sudan, which in my opinion is a beautiful country blessed with vast resources, a beautiful people and untapped potential. As a son of the Sudan with family and roots in the region, I am deeply concerned about the conflict in Darfur and the lack of progress in resolving this complicated crisis.
As a witness of the eradication of a legitimate political process in Sudan through the authoritarian control of the country by loyalists of President Omar al-Bashir in a coup in 1989, I should be the first person applauding the actions of the ICC on President Omar Al-Bashir, but I am not.
You might wonder why? Well my answer is simple and it can be summarized in one word - hypocrisy.
Nelson Mandela is no longer a Terrorist
The first president of post-apartheid South Africa and the greatest statesman of the 20th Century Nelson mandela will no longer need special permission to travel to the United States.
Why? He is being removed off the United States Terror Watch list.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner and international symbol of freedom - Nelson Mandela s was flagged on U.S. terrorist watch lists and needs special permission to visit the USA. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls the situation “embarrassing,” and some members of Congress vowed to fix it.
The requirement applies to former South African leader Mandela and other members of South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC), the once-banned anti-Apartheid organization. In the 1970s and ’80s, the ANC was officially designated a terrorist group by the country’s ruling white minority. Other countries, including the United States, followed suit.
Because of this, Rice told a Senate committee recently, her department has to issue waivers for ANC members to travel to the USA.
If the Occupation was to end in palestine and there is finally peace in the middle east, could leaders of HAMAS be next to get off the list?
Is it cool being Muslim in the U.S.A?
Apparently Not.
The fact that Islamaphobia is on the rise in the United States is depressing. The fact that political candidates distant themselves from the religion known as Islam for fear of political ramifications through association to terrorism has become a sad reality.
However not too long ago another religious group fell victim to this culture of fear, fostered by the government and media. The country was Germany and the religious group was Judaism. The result was millions of Jews being massacred while the world remained silent.
In 2008, the world decided to remain silent while the Muslim community in the West continues to be demonized by certain politician’s and civic leaders in private and public.
In the highly contested U.S elections, there has been no discussion or an acknowledgment of the existence of Islamaphobia by most of the candidates.
Will we continue to remain silent?
I chose to speak up.
Sugar Sammy - Rising Desi Comedian
Today, i got a facebook message from my friend Teji, who send me a link of a youtube clip of a rising comedian named Sugar Sammy, who in Teji’s opinion is the next Russell Peters.
“Sugar Sammy” is a really funny guy, i would be bold enought and suggest that Sammy will be more successful than Russell Peters, thanks to Mr. Peters who has opened the doors for young desi comedians.
If you would like to check out some of his material, please click on the links below:
WARNING: The content in this clips may not be suitable for a young audience. ( I always wanted to say that!)
Boston Celtics win 17th NBA Title
SEVENTEEN - BOSTON CELTICS DOMINATE … It has been a wonderful 24 hour.
Yesterday the Celtics won their 17th NBA title, something i wanted to blog about all day, however i had something more important to attend, my sister Azza Khogali’s convocation. I shall post up some pictures soon.
So back to the celtics … who would have predicted that the celtics after a 22 year NBA championship drought could take on the Lakers with their famous pint guard Kobi Bryant. I have to admit, i did, long before the skeptics came to the conclusion that the strong defence of the Celtics will dominate the lakers talented point guards.
Can i emphasize that the the Celtics did not just beat the Los Angeles Lakers, they crushed them – and left no doubt that the Larry O’Brien trophy belonged back in Boston after a 22-year hiatus. The turnaround for Boston this season was dramatic, after posting the worst record in the Eastern Conference just last year.
Some stats.
Paul Pierce, who averaged nearly 22 points per game, was named the series most valuable player.
The Lakers were trying to become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the title. But Boston has finished with a 13-1 record at home during the postseason to give the Celtics a new NBA record for the most home wins in the postseason.
Boston has played 26 times in the playoffs, setting a new record for the most games played in the postseason.
Unite for Change - NDP vs the Obama Campaign Machinery (OCM)
Today i was finally able to do my taxes today and had the rest of the day off. So during my free time - i was surfing the web and …
I ran into two different campaign strategies that i found thought provoking.
Both the NDP and the Barack Obama Campaign are running a campaign know as
“Unite for Change”.
Here are the links:
NDP
My Analysis:
The NDP’s focus is to seek financial conributions for the campaign.
The Obama model emphasizes on recruiting volunteers and building the movement across all 50 states. Volunteers are asked to host events across their neighbourhood, and discuss the countries priorities. A grassroot movement dependant on the strength of local organizing.
Different strategies by progressive campaigns in different political climates.
Interestingly they both have simmillar task - they both want to combat opposing ideologies from the competitive current leadership.
Which campaign will work more effectively?
