If the Malediction comes from the Sky

The day before yesterday (10/11), we heard a news saying that an aircraft had crashed in one of New York's towers. The first reaction was to think that a terrorist attack had hit again. We had no means to check the information at the time because lights were off as it has usually been every three days since the beginning of September

One day later (10/12), I visited the BBC website to know what could have happened. There was this lead 'NY air crash kills baseball star'. From personal conversations and related interviews by the media, September 11 is still alive in memories.

Terrorism of all kinds has been omnipresent in television programmes, especially from America: films, series, news. Currently, there's the threat that Pyongyang (capital of North Korea classified by Bush on the 'axis of evil') owes the nuclear bomb. Most of the international community - nuclear powers first - is alarmed and warns the 'rebel'.

I wonder how this focus will shadow other events and parts of the world like Africa. When there is death and destruction, people look interested, but when human beings try to help others, they say their actions are hypocrite.

NY Horror from the Sky again

The title of this post is adapted from ‘NY Horror from the Sky again’, http://www.newsdissector.org/blog/. Here, I touch on some cogitations that can highlight the paradox embeded in the USA communications and actions.

You may do not know that US is very present in Africa. The amount of their international aid arrives first amongst all countries: more than 8 billion pounds but still less than the UN requirement of 0.7% Gross National Income to achieve the Millenium Development Goals to halve world poverty.

American TV programmes are on the top list of numerous viewers as USA rice is to consumers. Therefore, Ghanaians, like many others in the rest of the world, embrace American values and take up their apology.

Some people, who have less power or State support because they do not act in the dominants’ interests, cannot use the medias so ostensibly than Rupert Murdoch with CNN and have to be subtler.

Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away’

When I watched this Japanese cartoon one year ago, I did not think that there would be so much to say.

David Edwards retells us the scenario of ‘Spirited Away’ interpreted as abhorrence of greed, and praise of kindness and love to overcome suffering. (David Edwards, ‘To the Power of a Gentle Heart’, http://www.medialens.org/cogitations/041106_COG_Power_Gentle_Heart.php)

“According to this version of the world, ‘evil’ is life traumatised and blocked by suffering and confusion. The solution is not to add to the suffering with hatred and revenge – like throwing dirt in the wound – but to relieve the suffering that is the underlying cause.” (Idem)

In contrast to the kindness of Chihiko, heroin of the film, we can mention the war in Irak on which the controversy is still raging. Recently, the BBC reported on a survey stating that ‘Iraqi Death Toll Exceeds 600,000’. The article quotes Buch saying that the number of deaths is more or less 30,000!
(http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2006/10/from_the_iniqui.html) .

Here are some of the quotes that can be found at this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3962969.stm:
- “[The] Lancet says the risk of death by violence for civilians in Iraq is now 58 times higher than before the US-led invasion.”
- “Violent deaths were mainly attributed to coalition forces - and most individuals reportedly killed were women and children.”
- “Human rights groups say the occupying powers have failed in their duty to catalogue the deaths, giving the impression that ordinary Iraqis' lives are worth less than those of their soldiers for whom detailed statistics are available.”

Media coverage, in particular images, reflects the same trend – “All [humans] are equal but some are more than others.” (George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’). I let you search for your own example.

Today (Friday 13), I hope that nobody is targeted. If the Malediction comes from the Sky, Bush & Co should start rethinking quickly their politics and propaganda because it is clear that Goodness is neither on their side.