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PHILIPPINES: CHRISTIANS FEAR FAILED PACT INCREASES RISK OF REPRISALS

Particular Kev — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:51:15 +0000

Frustrated Muslim demand for larger autonomous region in Mindanao could lead to war.

DUBLIN, October 6 (Compass Direct News) – Militant Islamists in the southern island of Mindanao have stepped up their attacks on majority-Christian villages following the failure of a peace agreement that would have enlarged an existing Muslim autonomous region there.

With Muslim commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the southern Philippines yesterday saying ongoing support from the international community was necessary to prevent a full-scale war breaking out in Mindanao, both Muslim and Christian residents in the disputed territories were fearful of what the future might hold.

“The problem is that many people living in these areas don’t want to be part of a Muslim autonomous region,” a source in Mindanao who preferred to remain anonymous told Compass.

“The closer you get to these zones, the more nervous people are,” he said. “The town of Kolambugan, where most of the fighting took place in mid-August, became a virtual ghost town for a while. It had a population of 25,000. But people are slowly returning to their homes.”

A Christian family from the area said many people were afraid to sleep at night because they kept hearing reports that they would be attacked at midnight.

“When MILF forces attack Christian villages, Muslim neighbors are afraid that Christians will retaliate against them, even though they have nothing to do with the violence,” the source added. “This has happened in the past.”

He also explained that some moderate Muslims are drawn to support the MILF because the rebels claim the Christians have stolen their ancestral homelands. Communities in Mindanao often struggle with extreme poverty.

“If MILF is successful in gaining control over these lands, the people assume that their economic situation will improve,” he said. “So although they want the fighting to stop, they sympathize with the MILF.”

While the conflict is primarily political, religion plays a significant role. As a member of the Moro Youth League stated in an Aug. 5 national television interview in the Philippines, “As a Muslim, in order to live in a righteous way, you need to be living under sharia [Islamic] law and with an Islamic government. We believe we have the right to fight for this.”

Other Youth League members on the program agreed that sharia was a primary objective of autonomy, and that Islam was the only “real path of doing anything in this world.”

Violence Erupts

Some 2,000 MILF supporters yesterday held a protest march in Marawi city, Lanao del Sur, appealing to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to compel the Philippine government to revive the aborted peace agreement that would have enlarged the existing Muslim autonomous region in the south.

Breakaway MILF commanders on Aug. 18 attacked several majority-Christian villages after the Supreme Court prevented the Aug. 5 signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). The agreement potentially would have given the MILF power to establish an Islamic state governed by sharia law.

Christian leaders in Mindanao appealed to the Supreme Court when they realized that if they voted against inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), their majority-Christian villages would become small islands in the midst of MILF-administered territory. As a result, they feared, they would be forced to move elsewhere.

Incensed by the 11th-hour stalling of the agreement, three MILF commanders on their own initiative led attacks against towns in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte provinces on Aug. 18, burning homes, seizing livestock and killing at least 37 people. Another 44,000 residents immediately fled the area.

When some Christian residents armed themselves in defense, Secretary of Interior Ronaldo Puno warned that anyone carrying weapons would be disarmed.

The MILF has only 11,000 active fighting men, according to local estimates. But by Aug. 20, the National Disaster Coordinating Council had reported a total of 159,000 people displaced by the rebel attacks.

The Philippine army quickly retaliated, sweeping villages in an attempt to seize the rebel commanders.

After two weeks of violent clashes, the Philippine government officially abandoned the MOA-AD. Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would seek a new agreement based on consultation with legislators and local politicians rather than negotiations with the MILF.

Furthermore, the government would concentrate on the “disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation” of MILF cadres, Fajardo said.

In response, MILF leaders rejected any renegotiation of the peace deal with Arroyo’s administration.

Overcoming Prejudice

An opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Aug. 7 stated that the MOA-AD would only reinforce prejudices between Christian and Muslim communities.

Under the agreement, WSJ claimed, the government would further divide Mindanao into Muslim and Christian enclaves, increasing the likelihood of territorial disputes. Separating Muslims from the rest of Philippine society, it stated, would encourage a vision already held by MILF to help create a pan-Islamic state covering several countries in the region, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Finally, the WSJ said, less Philippine control of Mindanao would “invite even more terrorist activity in an area that already has strong ties to al Qaeda.”

While there are proven terrorist leanings in groups such as the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf, not all area Muslims approve of or engage in such activities.

Camilo Montesa, a key figure in peace negotiations, in his blog on Aug. 30 described an encounter with a young man who believed that Muslim residents would readily seize property from Christians once the BJE were formed.

Others told Montesa that, “Muslims were scouting and marking the big houses of Christians in Cotabato and staking a claim over them in anticipation of the signing of the peace agreement.”

“The hearts and minds of the people are the battlefields, and not some hill or base camp,” Montesa concluded. “There is a limit to what arms and war can produce ... It is unfortunate that we are so divided as a people at this point in our national life.”

Reclaiming ‘Ancestral Domains’

As Islamic identity strengthened in the Middle East after World War II – and as many Philippine Muslims traveled to study in Middle Eastern countries – certain sectors of the Bangsamoro population became committed to reclaiming “ancestral domains.”

Their claims dated back to the rule of the Sultanate of Sulu, which existed prior to Spanish colonial rule in the 1500s, and the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935. When the last sultan died in 1936, the fledgling Philippine government refused to recognize his heir, effectively eradicating the traditional Bangsamoro power base.

When the Philippines became a republic in 1946, its constitution allowed for the establishment of an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. Initially the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fought alone for this autonomous territory; in 1977, however, MNLF member Hashim Salamat – who had studied in Saudi Arabia – and his followers seceded from the movement and founded the rival MILF.

The Philippine government signed an agreement with the MNLF in January 1987, and territories were added to the resulting Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) through a series of plebiscites or referendums in 1989, 2001, 2002 and 2006.

MILF commanders later laid claim to a further 712 villages outside the ARMM.

Negotiations between the government and the MILF began in earnest in June 2001. Both parties were to formally sign the resulting MOA-AD on Aug. 5, a deal which could have led to the creation of the separate Bangsamoro Juridical Entity, or fully-functioning state, replacing the ARMM by 2010.

When details of the agreement were leaked to the press, however, Christian politicians in regions of Mindanao affected by the agreement appealed to the Supreme Court, which in turn issued a temporary restraining order on the signing of the agreement on Aug. 4.

Report from Compass Direct News

Deputy public security minister’s view on land disputes

Viet Nam — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:35:17 +0000

The main reason behind the recent land disputes related to religion in Hanoi is poor awareness of law amongst the catholic demonstrators, according to Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Huong.

In an interview with a Vietnam News Agency correspondent on the ministry’s viewpoint on solving the land disputes, Deputy Minister Huong noted that, for Vietnam and many other countries in the world that have experienced wars, land ownership is a very complex problem.

The Deputy Minister said: “In the last century when the country was under the colonial regime, the French-occupied land that was maybe originally owned by the Buddhist religion, organisations and individuals was used for other purposes. Once the country gained independence, Vietnam’s law states clearly that all land belongs to the people, under the unified management of the State.”

He affirmed that a subject can have the land use right only when permitted by the State. “Through historical upheavals, land-use right holders have also changed due to various reasons. The cases of the 178 Nguyen Luong Bang and 42 Nha Chung are an example,” he said.

Deputy Minister Huong noted that another reason behind the recent land disputes is that a few leaders of the Hanoi archdiocese have abused the policy of freedom of religious belief of the Party and the State to claim unjust and illegal interest.

They hoped that support for them would cause disorder, but they forgot that the world now lives in the spirit of respect for law, Deputy Minister Huong said.

When asked about the authorities’ solution to this issue, Huong said that the Vietnamese State has always attached great importance to social affairs and economic development policies are always abreast of social policies, in which beliefs are acknowledged, paid attention to and respected because they form the aspirations and spiritual lives of people.

He affirmed that beliefs were regulated in the Ordinance on Religions and Beliefs, therefore, citizens’ aspirations must be addressed on the basis of the enforcement of religious policies and ordinance.

The land-use right problem is very complicated and addresses the fact that land demands of all organisations and individuals, including religions, must be based on Vietnamese law, he said.

“Organisations or individuals who need to use land must take all necessary steps in accordance with the State’s regulations and then the State will consider addressing any legitimate demands,” he noted.

Regarding the recent acts and the statement of Hanoi Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet, the deputy minister said that Kiet himself has lost his prestige due to those acts and statement. As a senior dignitary and the Hanoi archdiocese’s archbishop, he must be well-informed about law and, none better than him, behave according to the motto of “doing good for both the religion and the nation”.

“It is regrettable that he has not yet done so,” the deputy minister said.

“What are the people’s views on the Hanoi Archbishop Office following the archbishop’s deeds?” The deputy minister raised this question while affirming that the Hanoi archdiocese holds an important position in the country.

Deputy Minister Huong also said that this is no longer an issue related personally to Ngo Quang Kiet and that Kiet’s deeds have lost the Hanoi archdiocese’s prestige.

“More particularly, Kiet has damaged relations between the church and the Hanoi authorities with his non-cooperation with and calumniation of the administration, as well as his instigation and organisation of illegal activities for parishioners,” Huong said.

Kiet has damaged the solidarity between religious and non-religious people, Huong said, adding that the image of pious and good-natured parishioners has been replaced by the persons who cruelly demolished common property and placed sacred objects of the denomination at sleazy sites for worship.

“Finally, I would like to say that it is archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet who has triggered difficulties in relations between the Vatican and Vietnam,” the deputy minister stressed.

According to Huong, the Hanoi authorities and the Hanoi Police have addressed the issue in line with the Party and the State’s guidelines, views and policies. They have been patient and cooperative with the Hanoi archdiocese, having accepted the opportunity for public dialogues to seek appropriate solutions, he further said.

However, the deputy minister added, when a number of religious dignitaries and parishioners violate laws, the administrations and police must deal with them accordingly to ensure justice for all people.-

Vietnam backs peaceful settlement of disputes

Viet Nam — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:22:24 +0000

Vietnamese representative to the UN Security Council Ambassador Le Luong Minh has affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes.

“We support every effort to settle disputes, by peaceful means, including mediation, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter,” the Vietnamese ambassador said at the UNSC high-level meeting on mediation and settlement of disputes, held in New York on Sept. 23.

He noted that to produce lasting solutions, mediation must be conducted with full respect for national independence, sovereignty and territorial of States, impartial, non-coercive and with the consent and full participation of all parties concerned.

Minh highlighted many successful mediation efforts in dealing with disputes in many places in the world, and cited as an example the success story of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which owes much to its adherence to the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes.

“Vietnam is and will do its utmost to contribute to ASEAN’s mediation efforts to find peaceful solutions of dispute amongst its Member States in accordance with the Association’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation,” Minh said.-

SHARIA COURTS OPERATING IN BRITAIN RECOGNISED BY BRITISH LAW

Particular Kev — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:08:54 +0000

Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Church of England, said he was shocked at the furor that arose after he told an audience earlier this year that he thought it "seems unavoidable" that some accommodation for Islamic sharia law would be implemented in Britain. However, Williams' statements evidently were prophetic, as a report in the Sunday Times has revealed that the Islamic law is already operating in Britain, not only in domestic disputes, but also in criminal cases, reports Hilary White, LifeSiteNews.com.

The Times said this weekend that the government had officially accepted the existence of sharia law courts to officiate in Muslim civil cases. The rulings of a network of five sharia courts, in London, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester with the network's headquarters in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, are now enforceable "with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court."

Sheikh Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi, a barrister and head of the Muslim Action Committee, told the Times that the Arbitration Act 1996 allows rulings by his Muslim Arbitration Tribunal to be enforced by county and high courts.

"The act allows disputes to be resolved using alternatives like tribunals. This method is called alternative dispute resolution, which for Muslims is what the sharia courts are," he said.

Siddiqi said he expected the courts to handle a greater number of "smaller" criminal cases in coming years as more Muslim clients approach them. "All we are doing is regulating community affairs in these cases," said Siddiqi.

The Times said that these Muslim courts started operating in August 2007 and have dealt with more than 100 cases, ranging from Muslim divorce and inheritance cases as well as six cases of domestic violence, normally a criminal procedure under British law. The Times quoted Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, who said that since Jewish tribunals operate in Britain, parity should be given to Islamic courts.

Dominic Grieve, the opposition's shadow home secretary, told the Times that courts operating in criminal and family law cases outside the regular system would be "unlawful." "British law is absolute and must remain so," he said.

Melanie Philips, writing on her blog at the Spectator, wrote that "confusion abounds" over the report, because there is "nothing new here at all" and said that the story is "overheated and misleading." Decisions of sharia courts, she said, have always been enforceable under the Arbitration Act.

But, she said, this does not "dispel the serious concern about the spread of sharia law and the scope of these courts." Philips is the author of "Londonistan", a book that examines the incursions of violent Islamic extremists into British society with the assistance of British government and courts.

She said the comparison between Islamic courts and Jewish tribunals were misleading, since the latter operate completely within the framework of British law and do not seek to set up an alternate judicial system.

Moreover, she said, "given the inferior status of Muslim women under sharia, any sharia arbitration in respect of domestic violence can hardly be viewed with equanimity."

"The key point," she said, "is that sharia law is not compatible with English law or the principles of equality and human rights that it embodies. The result ... is that Britain is allowing the development of a de facto parallel legal system in Britain, thus destroying our society's cardinal principle of one law for all."

She added, "Indeed, if this continues Britain will break up as a unitary state governed by one law for all ... This is the way a society fractures - and then goes under."

Damian Thompson, the editor of the Catholic Herald, wrote on his blog at the Daily Telegraph website that he not only agreed with Dominic Grieve that the idea of a parallel Muslim system of law was "unlawful", but that it is an "outrage."

"There's something creepy about the way the police allow sharia 'courts' to persuade women to withdraw allegations against their husbands."

A BBC Radio 4 report found that the cases covered by these tribunals are not restricted to domestic disputes. Radio 4 quoted a Somalian youth worker who lives in London who said that in one case a group of Somali youths were arrested on suspicion of stabbing another Somali teenager. The victim's family told the police it would be settled out of court and the suspects were released on bail. The matter was considered settled when an unofficial "court" ordered the assailants to compensate the victim's family. Scotland Yard said they had no record of the incident.

In his book Islam in Britain, Patrick Sookhdeo, director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity, wrote, "Sharia courts now operate in most larger cities, with different sectarian and ethnic groups operating their own courts that cater to their specific needs according to their traditions."

Report from the Christian Telegraph

Express Newspapers

steve1917 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:36:33 +0000

Branch members at last week's meeting were shocked to hear the latest developments at Express Newspapers - the statement below has now been posted on the NUJ national website:

Journalists at Express Newspapers have warned that proposed redundancies at the Daily and Sunday Express threaten the very future of the papers.

An NUJ chapel resolution passed on Wednesday (10/09) said:

“This chapel views with anger the proposed redundancies which will herald the immediate demise of the Daily Express and Sunday Express as national newspapers. The chapel reiterates its longstanding and absolute opposition to compulsory redundancies and five-night working weeks and asks its officials to return as soon as possible with full details of the proposals.”

The company has proposed cutting up to 69 editorial jobs, including more than 30 sub-editors.

NUJ National Newspapers Organiser Barry Fitzpatrick said: “We have serious concerns about these cuts – about what they mean for people under threat of losing their jobs, but also that they will impose lower editorial standards and damage quality on these historic titles.

“We are due to meet management next week, when we will again press for information about how management intends for these proposed changes to work – information that they haven’t been able to supply to date.”

11 September 2008

I Must Have Been Bored

someknowledge — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:30:38 +0000

I just spent the last hour reading about libel and sedition laws. I must have been really bored to have read legal documents like that. Still, it was fairly interesting. I don't know if I actually learned anything, but there was a lot of information there.

I found some kind of law site by searching for the first amendment. It seems we live in a country with at least some freedom of speech. We can even criticize the government, which is how I found the whole sedition issue.
It seems in 1798 congress passed something called the sedition act, which made it illegal to talk about overthrowing the government. So, the courts had to rule on some cases and found that yes, you are allowed to criticize the government as long as you don't incite anyone to start shooting. At least that's what I got out of reading like ten pages of arguments. It's hard to get any useful information out of an argument, but that's all lawyers write about, so it's what I had to work with.

Libel seems to be trickier. Apparently it matters in a libel case whether you're a public figure or a private person. It seems you can be more critical of public figures, because a lot of people talk about them. Still, you can't go around telling malicious lies about people. It seems to matter as well what your motivation is. If you are intending to hurt somebody's reputation it is different than if you just repeat wrong information in good faith. Figuring out why people do something is why we have a court system, I guess.

So, I read and read and it all seemed so logical. None of the words were spelled wrong, and although the sentences got a bit convoluted, they all seemed to close up nice and logically. There were some tricky issues with the whole fighting word thing. It seems you can piss people off enough to make them attack you just by speaking words to them. Of course, we all know this is true, but just who should you look to for judgment when some random person is standing there calling you all kinds of insulting names? It's hard to make a rational decision when you are blinded by anger. Usually it's best to walk away, or run, depending on how bad the person insulting you is trying to get you to start a fight.

So, I was reading about the whole legal issue of free speech and all to pass the time, and you know, you have to consider these things when you write anything for the net. You don't want to get people angry at you, but then, you are entitled to speak your mind. I know on a lot of forums and comment-enabled sites there are people who will leave abusive or threatening posts. It's the perceived anonymity of the net that makes people think they can get away with being nasty. It's best just to be careful. If you want to say somebody's an idiot, perhaps suggest that they lack education. If some person has a different opinion than you, leave your own opinion instead of an insult. Communication is about an exchange of ideas, not attempts to enrage your opponent.

We live in a world where people accept violence and anger as forms of entertainment. Perhaps it's not surprising that so much animosity finds its way into the popular media. It's sad that we need courts to settle people's disputes, but then, it gives the lawyers something to do. Maybe I was bored to be reading up on the law, but the world might be a better place if more bored people decided to learn things instead of getting into arguments with each other.

I Don't Fight Dirty With the Walking Wounded

thatcouple — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:31:13 +0000

The Boy and I fight. Not a whole lot, but enough for us anyway. Along the way, we discovered things that work for us that might work for others, too. Of course, every couple is different. I have a cousin who fights constantly with her husband. I mean name-calling, light slapping (she hits him), and refusing to talk to each other afterward. The kind of couple who insists on dragging you into their argument and there you are, left with a blank stare and a hope that they won't keep asking you a question you don't want to answer. And yet, they're a complete and total unit, happy together.

We've actually talked about things we hate in our own arguments and have tried to learn to remember them when in the midst of a discussion. Here are a few of ours:

No Name Calling/Yelling
This seems like a given, right? But how many times have you been on the verge of saying, "You, idiot!" and then have to stop yourself? It's not easy in the heat of the moment to control all the things that comes tumbling out of your mouth. The Boy in particular has made it known that he has three things he never wants to hear. One is "Shut up." Number two is "You're stupid" or "That's stupid." And the last thing is "I hate you." All are within in reason, at least to me. Now, I've had to teach myself to not say "Shut up" or "That's stupid" even if it's meant in a joking sort of way. You have to respect boundaries that your significant other presents to you, especially if you can see how reasonable they are. I've told him that I don't like the terms bitch, whore, or cunt. And if our arguments ever resorted to that, it's over.
Don't Turn Your Back on the Argument
This is also a request of The Boy. He hates when I shut down and refuse to talk. I know that I've needed a lot of work on this, too. On the other hand, he also knows that I need time to calm down. If I make it known that I need a little bit of time before discussing things, he's willing to do that, as long as I don't ignore the problem and try to sweep it under the rug.
Don't Bring Up the Past
I am a women and I remember everything. All these things I remember come in handy when fighting with The Boy, right? Wrong. It's such a classic woman move in my opinion and I've always despised it, swore that I wouldn't be that woman who brings up past transgressions, one after the other until I don't even remember what pissed me off in the first place. As an added bonus, if you actually confront things, then you never have to bring up the past.
Do Touch Each Other
Not that way, perverts. Just holding hands keeps you connected and less likely to focus on your anger, which prevents most of us from arguing effectively. Even maintaining eye contact works for us. It's a great way to remind yourself why you're in this relationship in the first place.
Don't Use "You" Sentences
For instance, "You never help out." is accusatory. While it may be true, you immediately put the other person on the defensive. If you want to get your point across, try an "I" sentence. I tend to prefer the "I wish" sentence myself. "I wish you would pick up your PS3 controller after you finish playing" or "I wish you'd clean those dishes now. It's been three weeks." Okay, maybe you don't want to add the three weeks in there, but you get the gist.

These are just a few things that have helped us keep simple disputes from exploding into catastrophic blowouts. Obviously, there are more, and their effectiveness varies depending on the situation and the couple. Nonetheless, these are the pillars that hold up the ceiling of our sanity as a couple of very different people.

California secession

shaide — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:04:41 +0000

Ages ago...or months ago, i cant even remember now, but it's been awhile. I mentioned in a comment on this blog about the desire for secession of California. Someone had some interest in it, and asked for some links...I finally got off my lazy ass and got it up...OORAH!

Free the Bear Website

The Petition

California Secessionist Party

That's a few...If there's more interest I can scrounge through my bookmarks later.

Dream Big.

pinkstilettos11 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:29:00 +0000

Last night I had an interesting dream about my old roommate, Kaydee. She was crying and a bunch of her friends were around but they were all ignoring her. She went over to a few of her friends and they turned their backs on her. Watching this happen, I felt bad and went over to her. I asked her what was wrong and she just kept crying. I tried to comfort her and tell her that everything would be okay, but she kept crying. I told her I wasn't going to leave until she told me what was going on and that she could talk to me if she needed someone. She finally opened up, but I can't remember what she told me.

I think that my dream says a lot about the relationship Kaydee and I had. She was very self-conscious and sensitive to the way other people viewed her. I think that may have been her biggest problem; she was paranoid and believed people did not like her, even if they didn't even know her. My other roommate, Elle and Kaydee did not get along at all and I was stuck in the middle of their disputes. Elle said that Kaydee was messy and loud and she never cleaned up after herself (this is actually true, Elle and I spent countless hours cleaning the kitchen because she left bread crumbs and jam stains on the counters and left the stickers from peaches on the sink and peas on the floor). Kaydee said that Elle was too quiet and kept things bottled up and refused to buy toilet paper for the bathroom they shared (this was somewhate accurate - Elle bought toilet paper but it was the generic kind so Kaydee refused to use it, but Elle did keep things bottled up and never spoke to Kaydee unless she was forced into it).

Being friends with both of them, I tried not to talk about it one way or the other. Elle and I had been roommates since freshman year and we played soccer together, so Kaydee sometimes thought that I was leaving her out. At one point, right before spring break (Kaydee was going on spring break with her other friends), Kaydee decided to stop talking to me. I admit, I didn't do much to try to talk to her because on the last day of school, I had a huuuuuge debate that was worth half of my final grade in one of my classes. I spent my time the last weekend before spring break and the days leading up to it (spring break started on a Thursday) studying, researching and writing talking points.

That weekend ended up being the best weekend of my life. I went out Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Elle and my friend Nessee. I went home on Sunday and stayed until Sunday and by the time I got back from spring break, Kaydee had completely stopped talking to me. She also stopped talking to Nessee, who had gone out of her way to comfort her in the situation. Kaydee moved out. At that point, she was telling anyone who would listen that she could never forgive me for what I had done - which was ridiculous because I hadn't done anything except my homework (and I admit that I rarely opened a textbook in undergrad, so it may have been weird for her to see me studying, but whenever I had a project or a paper I usually could sit down and get it done).

Since she moved out, I have considered writing her an email or a card trying to figure out what she was thinking, but I decided against it because I don't think I deserved to be treated that way. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I really didn't care for her too much anyways. I used to get sick all the time, and whenever I was ill she would try to one-up my illness. It was as though no one lived a life harder than hers. And she also made comments about how I was spoiled, which I'll go ahead and admit. I am spoiled, but I know that my parents can support me. Her dad was working two jobs to send her to school (and by 2 jobs I mean two factory jobs...) and her thanks to him was complaining that her car wasn't good enough. So what does he do? Get her a new car for Christmas. You can't tell me that two facory jobs can afford to send her to a $34,000 per year university AND get her a brand new car AND support himself and his stay-at-home wife who is undergoing all sorts of medical treatments for lupus. I'm sorry. But even I don't ask my parents for new cars and my dad makes over triple what her dad made from his 2 jobs. And my car is a 2001 Buick that has well over 100,000 miles on it. (Ohhhh how I love my Stuttering Stan the Man.) It's better for me to get the selfish people out of my life because I'm trying to fix myself and become less spoiled and start becoming more self-sufficient.

So I guess the moral of the dream was that no matter how much I reach out to her, she will take her time in "forgiving" me. So it's not worth it. She'll just ignore the efforts. And I am NOT all about wasting my time.

Part one of many: The Montessori life: Guidelines for setting up a classroom

sesasha — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:45:44 +0000

There are lots of teaching approaches for all age and ability groups. The most popular is the lecture idea, which involves having a professorial-type individual standing at the front of the room delivering a semi-prepared speech about a particular subject. Some of these types of classroom settings are appropriate for asking questions, and some are not quite so conducive. I'm a big believer in kids having the opportunity to explore their environment and working within it to learn how it works. It seems to me to be the most effective means of teaching very small children, as well as those who have trouble sitting still. Since I've been known to dose off, doodle or read novels during lectures, it appears that a hands-on approach works better for me, too. I'm a fan of the Montessori classroom because it's a safe, clean environment that helps children to develop learning skills about their practical life as well as math and language. So, I have put together some pointers for the parent who wants to have a section of their home devoted to the Montessori learning method. This might also be practical advice for teachers who haven't gotten trained in a Montessori setting and want a new way of organizing their classrooms.
-Keep your classroom clean. This is meant to be a safe, clean and practical learning environment, and you as the teacher or parent have to take responsibility for that. That doesn't meant that you walk around picking up after your kids though. Teach them to treat the works and the other children respect by putting them away neatly when they're finished so they're ready for the next child to use. Cleaning up is a huge aspect of practical life and it helps immensely to have a dustpan and broom the right size for the children to use. This works with children as young as 18 months. It might be a constant struggle to keep your classroom clean, but it makes all the difference in the end.
-Group like things together. There are lots of different ways to perform the many works in Montessori, and the children are constantly thinking up new things to do with them, so there is a lot of crossover between works in different learning areas. However, in the interest of keeping the classroom clean, keep the works designed for math together, and the sensorial works together. The order of the groupings within the classroom doesn't matter much, except for ease of access. You need to gauge that. Order the works on the shelves within the groupings to go from Left to Right and Top to Bottom, the simplest to the most complicated.
-Encourage the children to respect each other and the works. Use your whisper-voice in the classroom during work time so they do the same and avoid disturbing other kids. Teach them to resolve disputes or tension between each other without aid from you. Show them the proper way to handle works with two hands and either a table surface or a mat (never on the bare floor) and remind them to store the works correctly too, so they're ready for the next child. During work time, Montessori classrooms should be peaceful and quiet. This means kids need to use their walking-feet and their whisper-voices.
-All children lose their tempers at one time or another. Being upset is ok, but there is a responsible way to deal with it and the kids need to learn that. Having a peace symbol in your classroom can make a huge difference during an argument. Each child involved has to sit at the peace table and is only allowed to speak when they're holding the peace symbol. (Mine is a rock that says "peace" on it) They each get to share their feelings about the situation and then they get to give ideas about solutions. You might need to mediate these discussions and help offer advice in the beginning, but after awhile, they will do it themselves.

Some of these pointers work well for organizing your home too, and helping resolve issues between your kids. They might even be helpful between adults who lack people skills.

War-what is it good for? Absolutely nothing...

teachthemasses — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:15:33 +0000

Kuwait ,home and base for 1000s of US troops, has again asked the US and Iran to resolve their nuclear differences peacefuly. As alarm bells ring and tensions rise, the people of Kuwait again live in fear of another military onslaught which could prove fatal to its inhabitants.......nuclear fallout does not discriminate between the guilty and the innocent.

About 40 percent of global oil exports leave the Gulf via the waterway off Iran’s southern coast and there are also fears that in any dispute, the Strait of Hormuz will be blockaded. Yes, yet another war about oil, as if we hadn't had enough this century.

' “We hope things will not develop for the worse, and that the language of reason and dialogue between all parties prevails,” His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah told daily Al-Rai in an interview published on Tuesday. “We think diplomacy is the best solution.” '

Is it all sabre rattling or should we be worried? Will we have notice? Do the US have the right to attack ''nuclear facilities'' and risk some Chernobyl type catastrophe ? Only time will tell if Mr Bush junior has the guts to choose the peace route.

Are we going to start another academic year with the threat of war hanging over us? Great incentive for the kids to 'get along' and resolve their own little disputes- look at how the big boys do it guys.

National Health Service Litigation Authority (Primary Medical Services - General Practice Systems of Choice Primary Care Trust - Practice Agreement - Dispute Resolution) Directions 2008

western4uk — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:09:49 +0000

National Health Service Litigation Authority (Primary Medical Services - General Practice Systems of Choice Primary Care Trust - Practice Agreement - Dispute Resolution) Directions 2008 issued by the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 7(1) and 8 of the National Health Service Act 2006(a).

We Disagree.

bryanniland — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:22:28 +0000

Lately I've found my self in conflict with another person in my life. These conflicts are never enjoyable because they seem to go no where. I have an opinion, and they have an opinion. Both of us stand strong by our opinions, we obviously both feel we have good grounds in which to stand firm on those opinions. Both of us tell each other we "understand" where the other one is coming from, but we disagree with each other.

Now I'm a firm believer in that either I'm right and they are wrong, or I'm wrong and they are right. There is the option in some cases where both are right and or wrong. I also believe for all you skeptics out there that I can be wrong ( Yes, I hate to be wrong who doesn't, but I'm willing to be wrong, and be corrected). It's unfortunate that if one has an opinion and a strong one, and they come across as if the other party is wrong, they are arrogant. When did we go that route. Let's rule out the tone, or patronizing issues that go with this and just stick to a person stating what to them is truth to a person who they understand to be in the false. Is this arrogance? I'm going to come back to this in a few...

How is ones opinion, or belief become validated to be true or false? Does it have anything to do with their age? I think not. (1 Tim. 4:12) If you've seen "Smarter than a fifth greater", you'd agree. Some adults are smarter than youth and some youth are smarter than adults, I think we'd all agree. Is being the smarter person (highly educated) the key to having your opinion/belief validated to be true/wrong? I think not. We've all seen or met those with high intelligence that have no common sense or as some say street smarts. We've all seen where the "intelligent" get it so wrong. ( Luke 7:36-50) Is sincerity what validates our opinion/belief to be truth/wrong? I think not. One could be sincerely wrong. ( See the book of Job and his friends diagnosis of his circumstances). Is experiences and or feelings about something the validity of truth/wrong? Nay, While personal experience should not be totally dismissed, it’s not the end all to be all. Many people base their truths on personal experiences. Their must be some outside source of truth. Other wise someone might hear a "voice" that says its O.K to go kill the neighbor across the street. Or one might just like the feeling from killing the neighbor. This is an extreme example, but its happened just watch the news or google it.

So if age, intelligence, sincerity, emotions, feelings and experiences don't validate someones opinions/ beliefs to be truth, what does?

All the above are examples of ones own sources. Truth as stated early must come from something outside of ourselves. A standard, an authority. There is one authority that ever existed that never needed something out side Himself to be the authority, standard or truth. He was and is the authority on all matters, His words were and are the authority and truth. When the Apostle Paul wrote he greeted in his letters starting off with by whom he is speaking. Where does his authority come from. See an example below:

"For I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me, is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).

"The things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 14:37)

These are just 2 examples of one man. His proclaimed his source to be something out side him-self, namely God, who is the Authority of, on, and over all.

It should be apparent by now were I am going. In all discrepancies, and disagreements does your opinion/belief come from a source other than your age, intelligence, sincerity, emotions, feelings and experiences. Though these are helpful, they are faulted and not the end all. God is the way, the truth, and the life...He is the authority, the Source that is pure truth. If you have an opinion or belief. Check it against the Word of God (the Bible), and go from there. If you have a decision to make filter it through the Word of God, leave all the impurities of your intelligence and experiences etc. to be secondary, and God's revealed Word and Will to be your guide in life and words in your conversations.

If you find the opinion/belief you have to not align with God's word...repent, throw it away, and accept God's truth.

If you find the opinion/belief you have to align with God's word...Don't let pride rear its ugly head, God has opened your mind and heart to truth. Don't bash people or hold it over their head like you know something. All has been given to you by God. Don't engage in heated disputes, but pray that you would:

"...be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, correctingopponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truthand they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will." (2 Tim. 2:24b-25)

It's not arrogant to speak with authority, as long as you are not the authority but God. Christ spoke of His own authority and was not arrogant. He gave us truth to tell and live by. Speak it and live by it.

That is where both parties must come to in disputes, they must go to the authority on the matter. God is the authority in our lives, he created us and set time into motion. If he doesn't have the answers to your disputes, questions, marital problems, decisions, etc. then no one does, and we are all in trouble.

One last thing: to help people take there focus off your imperfections such as your age, intelligence, emotions etc. Paul gave Timothy an antidote to help him in his situation. I think we can glean from that for our struggle (age, experiences, intelligence etc.) Listen below:

"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." (1 Tim 4:12)

So whats your authority ( your age, intelligence, experiences, feelings etc.)?

Which of the above in 1 Tim 4:12 do you need to work on?

For me I need to realize I'm just not as smart as I think I am, I'm much worse actually then I would admit freely. I am a Child of God yes, I am grateful for His choosing of me, I need to be in my Fathers lap, instead of trying to gain my independence from Him. I need God to help me in all 5 of those areas listed in 1 Tim 4:12. I am far from an example of those who believe.

When one drinks, one acts stupid

alanachristie — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:28:37 +0000

Alright well last night all began well and then it all took an awful left turn right off the road! The friends and I were out and what not being your average teenage girls, and then when one of the friends had too too too much to drink and started acting really dumb!

I mean we are all the best of friends but what the one friend was doing was way out of line and nasty (that might not be the right word I'm looking for but oh well..)

When we finally arrived at this "party" she was already feeling her drinks and then she started drinking more and more and then she was desperatly out of control, I know she wouldn't think so but if the tides were turned and I was the one who was drunk and falling all over the place, I know she would think I was out of line!

Yes, i know when you're reading this your thinking to your self, man this girl needs to let loose and have a good time! Well hey! you know what I was having a good time until this stupid shit happend, me taking care of her!! ( I didn't sign up for that, but i guess that's what best friends are suppose to do right?)

Aside from her falling all over the place she wanted to DRINK AND DRIVE!!! she wouldn't let anyone of us drive home all of us were more sober than she was. Then this is where it goes all down hill, she was sitting in the drivers seat and would not move, and would not let anyone talk her into letting one of us drive. She was sitting there with this little victory smile on her face and then she told her best friend to fuck off and walk home, and so we did, walk home we did!

Well with that being said, What I would like people to take from this is the fact that when you go to parties with friends they're there to have a good time with you, and they're there to keep an eye on you even if you don't want it or think you don't need it.

Peace and Love

AlanaChristie

EU PLAYING HARD BALL OVER VISAS FOR NEW MEMBER SATES

rotenochsen — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:32:49 +0000

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

EU THROWS A TEMPER TANTRUM!

There are presently 27 Nations( they call them States to remove the appearance of sovereignty) that are members of the European Union. A union without a Constitution, because the Irish did not want to abrogate some of their sovereignty to this amorphous body in Brussels.

Of the 27 members, 11 nations that joined the Eu are from what was called Eastern Europe. Many were previously Communist countries. The USA, Japan, Singapore and Panama have refused to grant blanket immunity to citizens of these Countries that wish to visit the USA and the three other Nations.

Most of the EU's 27 members have visa-waiver deals with the US, allowing their citizens to enter the country for short visits without visas. However all but one of the 12 states that joined the EU from 2004 to 2007, most of which are in Eastern Europe, have no such deals. Neither does Greece, which has been an EU member since 1981. This is because of Our concern for terrorists entering our Country as tourists.The USA has in place a computer generated questionnaire that prospective passengers to this Country must complete no later than two days before their air travel.

Not unlike all rapidly growing Bureaucracies, the EU is slow in their process of obtaining visa immunity for new member states. Thus, Estonia and Latvia are taking a detour around Brussels in the quest for visa-free travel.
Impatient at the slow pace of European Union negotiations, two Baltic states are setting up their own deals with the US to provide visa-free travel for their citizens, despite protests from Brussels.
Estonia signed a bilateral visa-waiver deal with the US on Wednesday morning, with Latvia due to follow suit later this week.

This infuriated the proud "princes" of the Eu, who already have a "black eye" over the "no vote" in Ireland last month. So they are resorting to desperate measures to keep the USA from making separate deals with "member States".

The move by the Eastern European states is creating tension within the European Commission, which wants to be the single negotiator with the US on visa-waiver deals. The Commission, which has already tried to put pressure on the US to give citizens of all EU states visa-free travel, feels bilateral deals infringe on its authority over visa and border policy. It is also worried that such deals might allow the US to pressure individual countries to give US authorities additional data on air passengers on top of that stipulated in an existing US-EU agreement.
They also are afraid that bilateral deals infringe on its authority over visa and border policy. It is also worried that such deals might undermine their supreme authority over what once were sovereign Countries, in my opinion!

As an act of retaliation the EU announced that as of 2009;
In a report released Thursday on visa requirements in breach of the principle of reciprocity,"the European Commission is proposing "retaliatory measures" that would force US diplomats to secure visas before entering EU countries". source:jtw@Reuters

According to Diplomatic law established by the Vienna Conventions, Diplomats are include in International law. As such they are exempt from obtaining a visa to travel to or within the Country they are assigned to by their government.

Formally, diplomatic immunity may be limited to officials accredited to a host country, or traveling to or from their host country. In practice, many countries may effectively recognize diplomatic immunity for those traveling on diplomatic passports.

If the EU goes through with their obvious violation of International law. I believe the USA should make the diplomats from he EU pay their debts and traffic fines that they incurred in the USA.

The bulk of diplomatic debt lies in the rental of office space and living quarters. Individual debts can range from a few thousand dollars to $1 million in back rent. A group of diplomats and the office space in which they work are referred to as a mission. Creditors cannot sue missions individually to collect money they owe. Landlords and creditors have found that the only thing they can do is contact a city agency to see if they can try to get some money back. They cannot enter the offices or apartments of diplomats to evict them because the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act says that "the property in the United States of a foreign state shall be immune from attachment, arrest and execution" (28 U.S.C.A. § 1609).

Maybe it is time to revisit this policy if the EU wants to play "hard ball" with us!

261. Newlywed Bonding #7 — Look, then leap

GuyMaligned — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:02:11 +0000

Here’s more to help guide newlyweds. These principles, beliefs, attitudes, and convictions can be tailored to fit or rejected by each couple to help fulfill their hopes and dreams. Advice is labeled as such.

♂$♀ Budgeting comes easily if a couple focuses on building a successful mixture of spousal interaction. Lots of imagination, small bits of will power, negotiable cooperation, and frequent confirmation of mutual trust can all be energized through the budgeting process.

♂$♀ Ignore what’s past. Assume decisions already made were sound at the time. Else, you would not have made them. Hindsight sees too many mistakes; those little buggers trigger spousal disputes. Why pay attention to what can haunt, irritate, and demotivate you or generate distrust for spouse or your budgeting process?

♂$♀ Pay yourself first: Save at least 10% off the top for long term savings for home purchase and retirement. Otherwise, late in life you will limp financially before physically. It’s best the other way around.

♂$♀ At the start of the year, allocate for church giving and short-term savings to cover Christmas and vacation spending. Then, commit to not overspending on the last two items.

♂$♀ This is ADVICE: Determine the level, develop a plan, and purposely live a lifestyle at considerably less than 100 percent of income. Doing it is critical; the percentage goal is less so.

Evil incardnate comes in next post.

[More about newlyweds appears at posts 257, 254, 247, 242, 230 and 224. Scroll down or search by number with dot and space following it.]

Vietnam calls on parties in Lebanon to resolve disputes by peaceful means

Bao Viet Nam — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:18:36 +0000

Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Vietnamese representative to the UN Security Council, emphasised the immediate need for ceasing all acts of violence in Lebanon and resolving remaining disputes by peaceful means.

At a UNSC meeting in New York on July 9, Ambassador Minh welcomed the commitment of all related parties to the full implementation of Resolution 1701, their enhanced cooperation with UNIFIL to maintain stability and security, and the efforts to initiate dialogues between Lebanon and neighbouring countries in border control, delineation and demarcation, as well as positive political developments in Lebanon since the signing of Doha Agreement.

The ambassador, however, expressed concerns about the challenges which may exert unpredictable implications on the implementation of Resolution 1701, including the continuation of targeted attacks against Lebanese civilians and UNIFIL personnel, Israel’s air violations and continued occupation of the village of Ghajar, the lack of technical strike data of Israeli cluster munitions, the unresolved status of Shabaa Farms as well as the issue of prisoner exchange.

He urged all parties concerned to build on the momentum of national unity, reconciliation and cooperation to further assert Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability, and contribute to an improved political and security environment in the region.

“We support efforts undertaken by Lebanon in advancing the political process and establishing the national unity Government. We urge all parties in Lebanon to exercise utmost restraint, fully abide by the provisions outlined in the Doha agreement, and search for compromise solutions with a view to promoting the country’s political stability, socio-economic development, and regional and international integration,” said the Vietnamese representative.

The ambassador also affirmed Vietnam ’s continued support of the full implementation of Resolution 1701, especially with regard to the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon , protection of assets and livelihood of civilians, and safety and security of international peacekeeping and humanitarian personnel, thus helping to achieve a long-term solution to Middle East conflicts.

The same day, Ambassador Minh in his capacity as the UNSC Chairman delivered a press release condemning the attack on military and police vehicles of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on July 8.-

Vietnam calls on parties in Lebanon to resolve disputes by peaceful means

Bao Viet Nam — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:07:43 +0000

Trade Disputes

Fessic — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:01:01 +0000

[gallery]

New July 2008 PayPal Amendments Impact eBay Sellers

thebrewsnews — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:32:09 +0000

eBay sellers need to take a look at the new amendments to the PayPal user Agreement (below is the exact wording from the PayPal site):

PayPal is a business that serves a new and exciting market. As that market changes, our business evolves. This page is dedicated to informing users in advance of important changes to the PayPal service, its User Agreement or other policies.

Amendment to the PayPal User Agreement

Effective Date: July 9, 2008

Beginning July 9, 2008 the PayPal User Agreement is being amended as follows:

Section 4.3 is amended so that eBay sellers must accept international PayPal transactions if the eBay listing offers shipping outside the US.
Section 13.1 is amended so that the Buyer Protection Programs do not cover Classified Ads on eBay.
Section 14.2 (Alternative Dispute Resolution) is deleted.

For Reference:

14.2 Alternative Dispute Resolution. If you are unable to resolve your issue by working directly with us, PayPal will consider reasonable requests to resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution procedures, such as mediation or binding arbitration as alternatives to litigation. Accordingly, you and PayPal agree to resolve any claim in accordance with this Agreement, or as otherwise agree to in writing.

224. Newlywed Bonding #1 —Intro

GuyMaligned — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:02:24 +0000

Marriages deteriorate more easily and become temporary, than they solidify and become permanent. Deterioration requires little else than inattention, sloppiness, carelessness.

Solidifying a marriage requires a lot of shared goals and planning to sustain mutual respect. Making the process habitual in the early years produces desired results later. (Grace and I didn’t get the shortcomings of our early marriage straightened out until our third decade together.)

First impressions last, and early marriage sets the stage for whatever follows. Jointly built successes bond a couple. Failures, weaknesses, and even good intentions do not bond and can smother love to death.

Consequently, newlywed success depends on preventing relationship harm. That’s where forming good habits comes in. It requires mutual devotion—not just commitment—to build new habits that stamp out premarital bad habits that lead to deterioration.

This Newlywed Bonding series covers four beneficial habits that chase bad habits away:

1. Virtue as relationship glue

2. Money as relationship slave

3. Separate but equal as teamwork

4. Custom as dispute avoidance

The first good habit will appear in a few days. The Table of Contents at the top lists many subjects pertaining to living successfully with someone of the opposite sex.

NOTE: A nice and classy young lady, Tricia, inspired this series of posts. I pray her pending marriage matches her public pleasantness, charm, and sense of responsibility.

Thomson Reuters job losses

steve1917 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:51:41 +0000

As a result of its recent merger, Thomson Reuters is planning on axing 140 journalists jobs with over half being in London. Management have so far refused to enter into any meaningful dialogue with staff and the unions representing them.

An Early Day Motion has been tabled encouraging management to start engaging appropriately with staff.

Encourage your MP to sign EDM 1640 by writing to them at http://www.writetothem.com.