Vote for Santorum?

Volume 2, Issue 43- October 28- November 3, 2011

International Tribune

Named as one of the “Most Ambitious” American politicians by PoliticsPA.com, a political junky-insider site in 2002, Rick Santorum is not giving up his dream of someday making it to the White House.  And just like what he said this time, “he is in it to win.”   Let us give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he will. 

 

Who is Rick Santorum?

A true patriot, Santorum wants to defend America no matter what it takes.  He supported the war in Iraq and was very sure that weapons of mass destruction were being produced by Saddam’s government.  And maybe he still adamantly believes so after a wasteful gargantuan defense spendings that cost American tax-payers billions of dollars and spawned an inevitable graft and corruption that extended from the bank of Euphrates to the shores of America.  He introduced the term Islamic Fascism and blamed Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates for engaging in a dialogue with Iran and Syria.   During his last campaign stop in Greenville, South Carolina this week Santorum also made an announcement for his support of selective assassination of foreign scientists working on nuclear weapons.  Santorum was especially forceful regarding countries who pose a nuclear threat advocating for the selective assassination of scientists from countries such as Russia, North Korea and Iran.  He has conveniently forgotten that America also has the most extensive nuclear arsenal in the world and employs countless American scientists working on this particular project.

In terms of religion, Santorum is a devout Roman Catholic.  He is a son of Italian and Irish immigrants.  He was listed at one time by Time magazine as one of the most influential evangelists in the country.  During the Boston Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, Santorum blamed the liberal city of Boston as the cause and effect of the scandal and said: “It is startling that those in the media and academia appear most disturbed by this aberrant behavior, since they have zealously promoted moral relativism by sanctioning private moral matters such as alternative lifestyles. Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.”  

Rick Santorum is also known as one of the most daring political figures in America today for his ‘in your face’ type of politics.  A conservative right-wing Republican presidential runner, Santorum has been perceived as the candidate who speaks the most about social issues that are ailing the nation such as abortion, gays in the military, gay marriage, immigration and many more.  His overwhelming stance on such subject is very simple-he is completely against all of them.  Santorum has openly stated his strong opposition to amnesty for undocumented immigrants. He supports the construction of a barrier along the U.S.–Mexican border.  He promotes healthy, stable, and traditional family therefore, homosexuality and gay-marriage is out of the question.  Santorum voted to outlaw abortion for any reason, with the exception when his wife Karen was going to die if her pregnancy was not ended.  So, at 20 weeks, one month before what doctors consider ‘viability’, Karen Santorum labor was artificially induced and the infected fetus was delivered.  “Abortion in any form is wrong,” said Santorum in 2000, three years after the tragedy.

With the Republican primaries looming on the political horizon and many of its runners are trying to get the social conservative voters to push them forward over other GOP candidates the big question remains, can this eventually help or hinder Santorum's quest for the GOP presidential nomination?  For Rick Santorum, it is that time to sing the tune and dance the step whether right or wrong– to remain competitive in the race.  

Seriously, will you vote for Santorum?  

Let's talk about sex

Volume 2, Issue 42- October 21-27, 2011

International Tribune

How can you satisfy frustrated conservative French Parliamentarians?   

This is a tough one to discuss.  The frustration is growing.  The scene is becoming dirtier.  This time it involves gender and politics.  

Since September this year, a new chapter in life science books on gender theory and sexuality sparked a nasty debate between the French conservatives and the Minister of Education, Luc Chattel.   About 80 members of the Assemblée Nationale wrote to the Minister of Education to remove the chapter that introduces the subject of gender theory and sexuality in the school curriculum.  The conservative majority view this to be of a private matter between the student and his or her family, and not the public school system.  French conservatives adamantly called for the withdrawal and see this as another way to mix homosexuality and politics, which has become a thorny issue in France since President Sarkozy opposed the legalization of gay marriage. And what is equally important for the conservative wing is that gender theory is not based in real scientific evidence, and therefore, do not belong in a science text book.  

Illustration by Søren Laursen

Where does the frustration lie?  Hachette, a publishing giant for French scholars added a new topic in their life science text books for high school students, a chapter of gender theory and human sexuality.  In the new book published this year, students will be discussing the topic of, “Becoming Woman or Man”, which introduces the idea that “biological sex identifies us as a male or female”, but is not in itself enough “for us to describe ourselves as masculine or feminine.”  The chapter also makes a distinction that, “sexual identity, constructed throughout one’s life, is a constant interaction between biology and the socio-cultural context, yet is decisive in our positioning in relation to others.”

French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir wrote in 1949, “One is not born into a woman, one becomes one.”  For an outsider, one would think that the French would be more practical and not oppose such topic.  Believe it or not, the subject of gender studies, which has been a regular course in most colleges in America, is just arriving in France.  For the first time this year, Science Po, one of France’s top universities in social science, will offer a course on gender studies.   The school of thought has been pioneered by American sociologists and feminists such as Judith Butler.  But the French have also been involved in shaping the theory with psychoanalysts such as Jacques Lacan.  However, it never made the text books in the public schools.  

Sex or gender talk, let’s face it, is the most dreaded challenge for every parent to discuss with their children.  Why would politicians stick their nose in it?  At times, some parents will purposely forget to talk about the ‘birds and the bees’ altogether.  Why not let a chapter or two about gender theory to be part of the school curriculum- just like how we have opened the learning and exploration of the sun, the moon, the nine planets, and the stars.  Once they read it, it does not mean they will head there.  

Be that as it may, this is a sign of progress, whether you live in France or in America.   Our society is becoming more sensitive and conscientious about human sexuality and its role in our community as a whole.  This is a good path we are heading.  We have to start talking to prevent a topic from being a taboo forever.  So let’s keep talking.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of challenges ahead for the French conservatives.  Not only are they expected to lose the majority in the government next year, but they are also likely to lose the Elysée.  How can you help such a frustrated group?  I am just glad that the guillotine has long been illegal. 

Occupy Paris

Volume II, Issue No. 41- October 14-20, 2011

International Tribune

Finally!  There is a reaction.  Wall Street bankers and your cahoots in the Capitol, beware!   

They are the real enemies of the state and, for that matter, even of the common people.  They knew the ins and outs of what were happening and what could possibly happen.  But still, they continue - in an unholy alliance - to deceive a hapless and, oftentimes, helpless nation.  It was a gentlemen's club of different and dubious pedigree starting with the banker-thieves with their pin-stripe dark navy suits and the ivy-league economists that they pay to endorse their financial strategies.  And equally repugnant of the latter two are the professional politicians who masterminded the heists through their deregulation policies that are now leading to the perilous path of an economic downfall of the United States and a global recession.

Just like what they say, when America sneezes, the world catches a cold.  Everywhere one goes today, governments are going bankrupt, currencies are depreciating, inflation is soaring, and unemployment skyrocketing.  It all began when the tip of the domino fell in Wall Street.  The tremors were felt in all parts of the globe.  The American dream has turned into a nightmare in Main Street USA.  What are the precursors?  Let us highlight what is ailing the American economy today.  

Source:  Anonymous to Occupy Wall Street on September 17th, Expect Us | David DeGraw.

Deregulation was the name of the game. It was the economic strategy of the Republican administration made worse in the George W. Bush years.  Wall Street was left unchecked, unregulated, and, at the end, became untouchable.  They were gambling with America’s future endorsed by the political elite in Washington.  The first killer of the American dream started when China opened its market.   Jobs were outsourced in the cheaper labor force in the Far East.  The second killer, the housing bubble that burst with a vengeance- housing prices fell, interest rates went up, leaving many a homeowner unable to pay his or her monthly mortgage.   Finally, when everything hit the fan, thanks to deregulations, the Dow Jones took some of the wildest swings in its history. The nation is now suffering one of its longest-running economic recessions in its history, and the end of which is still anybody's guess.

For the last couple of years, all you hear in the media are bank bail-outs, threats of government shutdown in America, and insolvent nations all over the European Union.   America’s credit rating has been downgraded by Standard and Poor- a grim sign that the US dominance in the international economic and financial stage is seemingly and painfully coming to an end.  In today’s geopolitical arena, economic might is everything.  A nation can have its aircraft carriers, its nuclear arsenal and modern military technologies, but if it doesn't have the money and investments to run them and a loyal and empowered citizenry, the state is almost next to nothing.  

French citizens storming the Bastille during the French Revolution.

 In reality, it is the average people that are deeply affected and arguably bear the onerous burden of the financial crises.   It is about time there was a reaction to the elite’s conspiracy that could and should have been prevented.  On October 13th, for the first time, a group of fed-up French and American expatriates will gather in the historic Bastille to get their voice out and support the Occupy Wall Street movement that started in New York.  Let the history of Bastille be a stark and powerful reminder of what took place in the same area more than two centuries ago and how it changed the political landscapes of many freedom-loving republics in the four corners of the world. To paraphrase the words of an eminent philosopher of long ago - if man refuses to heed the lessons of history, then he is bound to suffer from it.    

For more information about the global movement, go to:  www.occupywallst.org

Deadly Doubled Bags

Volume 2, Issue 40- October 7-14, 2011

International Tribune

After living in Paris for the last one year, I have gotten accustomed to bringing my own eco-friendly reusable shopping bag to the grocery store.   Bringing your own reusable bags is just the norm in Paris and, for that matter, throughout Europe.  To my delight, I was happy to discover that my mother has her own eco-friendly reusable bag.  And that every grocery and clothing stores are now selling one at an affordable price.   This gives me the impression that Americans are now steering away from plastic shopping bags that are polluting the planet.  This is great.  Go New York!  

Why am I writing about this and you are probably wondering why I am beginning to sound like a blog?  After my two-week vacation in the Tri-State Area to visit my family, I was shocked!  The reusable shopping bags that one can find in every aisle do not serve their purpose.  So here I am, back in Paris after my recent sojourn in the United States, I thought this would be a good topic for my next article.  To my surprise, my city is not as environmentally conscious as it appears to be.  On my third day, I decided to go to the grocery store to do some shopping and cook dinner for my brother’s family.  Since I am in the US, I know that I am not going to be charged by using a plastic bag and this is free unlike in France- so I went to the shop without bringing my own.  Oh the generosity of American grocery chain, I was given free plastic bags, and not just one but two for each item I bought.  My purchases were loaded in double bags.  And each double-layered plastic bags, they would put one or two items and then start afresh with the next one.   I walked out with a total of ten plastic bags for five items.  This is unbelievable. 

I decided to do some investigative journalism by testing the field and bravely bringing my own reusable eco-friendly shopping bags in different types of stores within the Tri-State area.  I wanted to observe the action and reaction of the people around me.  And equally important, I wanted to see how my purchases would be packaged.  So here are my findings.

In the big chains of Chinese grocery stores in Queens, I was happy to see that they only use one big plastic bag and not double. This is a good start.   At eco-friendly and organic-haven Whole Foods in Manhattan, to my dismay, they were doubling their recycled paper bags for each customer.  Keep in mind, recycled papers are more expensive to produce- which probably explains why Whole Foods products are priced higher.  And then it gets worse, when I crossed the Hudson River to New Jersey where my brother lives, not only do they double their bags, but they also add a third layer of paper bags at Shop Rite in Carteret.   Quelle horreur!  Moreover, when I brought my own reusable eco-friendly shopping bags, each sales agent I encountered looked at me as if I came from a different planet bagging my purchase, in my own bag.  I even heard some laughter from the other customers behind me.  

Map provided by The Pacific Trash Vortex website.

Let us briefly talk about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or otherwise known as the ‘trash vortex’, a huge mass of floating debris that is almost the size of the continental USA circumnavigating the pacific.  This is a gyre of marine litter that has been collected overtime in the Pacific Ocean and it mainly consists of plastic goods and other non-biodegradable materials.  The trash vortex is not only toxic, it causes a great deal of disturbance to the marine habitat.  The floating debris can absorb different types of organic pollutants from seawater including PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls used in car transformers) and DDTs 

(also known as pesticides).   Some of the plastic wastes end up in the stomachs, wings, mouth or beaks of marine life preventing their free movement from their own ecosystem.  You may ask how does this affect us in our everyday lives?  Many of the fish we consume from the Pacific have a great probability that they have ingested the toxic chemicals produced by the garbage patch.  Overall, the trash vortex is bad news.   And unfortunately not one government wants to take complete responsibility for the clean-up because whose fault it is really?  This is a gargantuan and expensive project.   Thanks to environmental groups such as the Environmental Cleanup Coalition (ECC) and Project Kaisei, they are doing something about the mess. And I wish them the best of luck.

Photo from The Pacific Trash Vortex website.

Back to plastic bags and New York City, the "Big Apple" is the home of hundreds of environmental associations and advocacy groups- big and small.  From Environmental Defense Fund, Earth Day New York, from Friends of the Great Swamp and the socially-active Time’s Up, green campaigners are all over the city. Is there something wrong with this picture?  With all this advocates of how to be green, why are we not environmentally conscious and up to par with our European neighbors.  If the very expensive Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik shoes can be trendy, so can the affordable reusable shopping bags.  So what are we missing?  

The trash vortex is just one of the environmental degradations I have mentioned.  I have not touched upon the topic of the “dishwasher versus hand-washing” dilemma, and how most Americans tend to keep their parked cars running while waiting.  And then we complain about expensive gas.  Let us save that for another article.  

New York City is the cultural hub of the world where it prides itself of openness and daring innovation.  If gay marriage can start in the "Big Apple", New Yorkers can start the trend of reusable shopping bags for the rest of the country.  After all, there is a good chance that Americans are probably responsible for a good portion of the trash in the Pacific.