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Kuwait: Zero Hour for Elections

Abdullatif AlOmar — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:07:01 +0000

Kuwait is all set for its National Assembly elections on Saturday (May 17). A total of 246 male candidates and 27 female candidates are running for 50 seats in the hotly contested elections, which should be held every four years. Elections are however held earlier if the Emir (Ruler) exercises his constitutional power to dissolve parliament and that is what happened on May 21, 2006, when the Emir dissolved the National Assembly through constitutional means and Kuwait held national elections on June 29, 2006. On March 19, the Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, dissolved parliament again after constant clashes between the government and the elected MPs, and called for new elections on May 17. With the election date so close, it is no wonder that Kuwaiti blogs are full of election material.

Amer over at Hilaliya gives his reason why he is so into the elections this year:

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not 'social' individual, not social in the Kuwaiti ‘political animal' sense of visiting diwaniyas, campaign headquarters, and ‘getting out the vote'

“What's gotten into you?” relatives and close friends ask.

But the answer is simple really…The country is in a severe state of gridlock, buffered by corruption, waste and inefficiency. Now we have no control over who the government appoints to run the country but we do have the power to make the right choice on May 17.

Forzaq8 over at 5-Q8 writes his final thoughts on the elections:

Election should be taken seriously , it is not a game
Tomorrow your Vote decide your future and your sons future
for example don't ask why didn't they build a new hospital when the member you voted for didn't approve the funding for it , and more example could be said

Still on the topic of the elections, Aggz The Aggressor writes a brief history of democracy in Kuwait:

Many may argue against this post, though I hope it ‘at least’ makes sense to most readers.

We’ve come to realize that democracy in Kuwait is something of a unique experience, especially to those of us that never saw Kuwait in it’s infancy

Away from the elections, Dr Mahbob brings us news of an agreement between the government and Knet (Knet is a national company providing electronic banking services to all the banks in Kuwait) and what he thinks of it.

I think this is big step toward e-payment and I hope hackers don’t show up when the smell chance of stealing money online.

Q8Ba7th writes about his experience going to P2BK2008:

P2BK is a new youth initiative to organize annual forum for small and startup businesses. A healthy and definitely needed concept I say for startups and small business who can’t afford to take place in big expos like Info Connect and others.

And finally Ducatiq8 explains his feelings when he abides by the new law of not using his cell phone while driving:

اليوم كان اول يوم يطبق فيه قانون منع استخدام الهاتف النقال يدويا أثناء القيادة
طبعا ديكاتي مواطن صالح وملتزم و تقي وورع وكل الصفات الزينه فيني
اليوم اول ما ركبت المركبة(أخييه يا انا يا ابو مركبه) المهم حطيت عدتي
وطلعت السماعه وقعدت اضبطها لإن وايراتها متعربكه فقعدت اطلعهم وحطيتها على رقبتي

Today was the first day for the implementation of the law that forbids using mobile phones while driving. Of course, Ducati is a good law abiding devout committed citizen and all the good things are in me. As soon as I got into my car today, O got my kit out and the earphone and started setting them up because wires were tangled and then put it around my neck.

ووصلناها بالتلفون واستلمت القياده
الواحد واهوه يطبق القانون يحس بشعور حلو يعني وانا اسوق واطالع يميني ويساري يعني شوفوني ترا مطبق القانون
المهم وصلت الكلية ونزلت من السيارة وانا معلق السماعه
والناس تشوفني الله شوفوا ديكاتي مطبق القانون والبنات يأشرون شوفي شوفي مطبق القانون

I then connected it to the phone and started to drive. When a person follows the rules, he develops a good feeling. I was looking left and right, trying to show others that I was abiding by the law! I then arrived at the college and got out of the car, with the earphone dangling around my neck and people were looking at me and saying to themselves: ‘Oh look! Ducati is abiding by the law! Even the girls were pointing at me.

وصلت عند المحاضرة والربع واقفين سلمت عليهم والكل يقولي ها ديكاتي مطبق القانون
اقولهم اي والله شسوي طبقت القانون
دشيت المحاضرة وبدأ الدكتور بالكلام وافتتحها بالكلام عن القانون واخذني كمثال جيد لتطبيق القانون
يقولي الدكتور ها ديكاتي اشوفك مستانس شكلك اول مره تطبق القانون
وانا اضحك اي والله شنسوي يا دكتور طبقنا القانون

I arrived at my lecture location and found my friends standing there. I said hello to them and everyone was saying: ‘Oh Ducati, you are implementing the law?' I told them I had to. At the lecture, the professor started his talk speaking about the new law and set me out as an example of someone who abides to the law. He then told me it looked as if it was the first time for me to implement the law. I laughed and said: ‘What can I do Doctor, we followed the law?'

تدش الجمعيه ويشوفك الكاشير ويقولك طبقت القانون اتقوله اي
تروح ستاربكس يطلعلك الفلبينو هاي سير يو سيم ذات يو طبقت القانون او الرول
وانا اقوله يس يس مي طبقت ذا قانون
تروح المسجد تصلي ويقولك الشيخ احسنت جزاك الله خير انت مثال يحتذى به لتطبيق القانون
ترجع البيت ابوك يشوفك يقولك عفيه على ولدي انا ربيتك على تطبيق القانون وتربيتي ما راحت بلاش وهذا انت طبقت القانون

You enter the supermarket and the cashiers see you and asks: ‘You are following the law?' and you say yes. And then you go to Starbucks and the Filipino there says: ‘Hi Sir. It seems that you implemented the new law!' and you reply: ‘Yes, yes, I did.' You go the the mosque to pray and the Imam tells you: ‘May Allah reward you for being a good example and abiding by the law. And finally you return home, where you meet your father, who tells you: ‘Congratulations to you my son. I raised you to respect the law and I have not failed in that as I see you implementing the law!'

Caucasus: Creative Commons

Onnik Krikorian — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:30:04 +0000

Social Science in the Caucasus posts more details, including a video, on Creative Commons and comments on the importance of introducing the licensing concept to the South Caucasus. My Caucasus Knot also weighs in on the significance of promoting Creative Commons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Jamaica, Barbados: Human Rights

Janine Mendes-Franco — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:14:41 +0000

Jamaican Geoffrey Philp is joining in Bloggers Unite's awareness campaign for human rights, “especially in Jamaica where the rights of our gay men and women are denied almost daily”…while Barbados Underground chooses to “highlight the plight of many women in our own backyard.”

Guyana, USA: Speaking With Soul

Janine Mendes-Franco — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:03:44 +0000

Signifyin' Guyana is enjoying reading a book about Ebonics, but says: “If I ketch any one of my students writing that way, he or she gon get a straight up F.”

Chile: Meeting with Ministry of Planning for One Computer Per Child Project

Eduardo Avila — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:00:25 +0000

Luis Ramírez of Audentes Fortuna Luva [es] writes about his meeting with the Chilean Minister of Planning regarding the One Computer Per Child project. Ramírez writes that it was suggested that the Ministry establish “technological policies for equality.”

Paraguay: Universities for Change in the Country

Eduardo Avila — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:29:33 +0000

“The universities should become an important pillar for president-elect Fernando Lugo on his quest to bring about change in the country,” writes Viviana Benítez Yambay of Panambi News [es]. She writes that the new Paraguayan president, as a former professor himself, should recognize the importance of higher education and provide more funding for research.

Jamaica: Alluding to the Fact

Janine Mendes-Franco — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:09:06 +0000

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp explores the question of how to use allusions in creative writing.

Kuwait: The Elections and Phd Holders

Amira Al Hussaini — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:30:19 +0000

Purgatory, from Kuwait, notes that many of those running for seats in the May 17 parliamentary elections hold Phds and high degrees.

Uruguay: Community Meeting for OLPC Information

Eduardo Avila — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:14:05 +0000

Fernando da Rosa was in Guichón, Uruguay where the community assembled to discuss the Ceibal Project [es], and which will be one of the sites to receive the OLPC laptops. The meeting was to exchange information and to answer any questions from the excited public.

PangeaDay: Impressions from Brazil

Paula Góes — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:45:13 +0000

The post below is a full translation of Ricardo Jordão Magalhaes' live updates from PangeaDay in his BIZREVOLUTION blog. Despite having to look after his 5 month old soon, the Brazilian blogger managed to capture the emotion and poignancy of the event in a very comprehensive wrap up.

Pangea day was broadcast this Saturday, May 10 2008, and the world watched together a selection of films intercalated with live broadcast in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro. The full program is now available.

Lindo! Lindo! Lindo! Vou tentar escrever o que puder por aqui enquanto assisto. Não é mole com o Alexandre de 5 meses no colo querendo brincar. Vamos lá.

O evento começou com um discurso show de bola de uma líder de projetos da NASA onde ela mostrou pela primeira vez uma foto da Terra visto de Saturno no momento de um eclipse total do Sol.

Sábado: 15:15 hs, Na foto nós podemos ver a Terra flutuando em um raio de Sol. Linda!

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! I will try to write whatever I can here while I watch [PangeaDay]. It is not easy considering that 5 month old Alexandre is in my lap and wants to play. Let's go.
It started with a spectacular speech from one of a NASA project manager who for the first time showed a picture of the Earth viewed from Saturn at the time of a total eclipse of the sun.
Saturday: 15:15 (Brazilian time), in the picture we can see the Earth floating in a light ray. Pretty!

Em seguida rolou um filme rápido narrado pelo fantástico texto de Carl Sagan.

Next there was a quick film, a narration of a fantastic piece of writing by Carl Sagan.

“Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every 'superstar,' every 'supreme leader,' every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.” Carl Sagan

Depois de Carl Sagan, rolou um filme sobre a criatividade das crianças de Mocambique em criar uma bola de futebol a partir de uma camisinha. LINDO!!!

After Carl Sagan, there was a film about the Mozambican children creativity to turn a condom in a football. Beautiful!

Sábado, 15:25 h, depois rolou um filme sobre aquela vontade que todos nós temos de falar com uma pessoa que não conhecemos mas encontramos no meio da rua. SHOWW (Espero que todos os filmes estejam disponíveis no site depois do evento).

Saturday 15:25, after that there was a film about the desire that we all have to talk to someone we don't know but we met in the middle of the street. Fantastic! (I hope all films will be available on the website later)

Sábado, 15:36 h, fantástico filme sobre o que é ESPERANÇA para dezenas de sociedades do terceiro mundo no planeta.

Sábado, 15:42, o antropólogo Donald Brown mostra que não importa onde tenhamos nascido ou quem sejam os nossos pais, todos os seres humanos são iguais, tem os mesmos atributos, sensações e tudo mais. Pangea, para quem não sabe é o nome do continente original do planeta, antes que tudo se separasse.

Saturday 15:36 - A fantastic filme about what HOPE is for dozens of societies in the underdeveloped parts of the planet.
Saturday 15:42 - Anthropologist Donald Brown shows that it doesn't matter were we were born or who our parents where, all human beings are equal, have the same characteristics, feelings and everything else. Pangea, for those who don't know, is the name of the planet's original continent, before it got separated apart.

Sábado, 15:48, um curta francês, meio comédia, meio triste, super real sobre o mundo cruel que vivemos onde as pessoas zoam com a cara das outras mesmo sobre os assuntos mais profundos, como o amor. SHOW! Um cara entra no mêtro e começa a dizer que está procurando por uma esposa ou namorada. Ele parece super sincero, super real, super profundo, mas…

Saturday 15:48 - A French short film, a bit of a comedy, a little sad, very real about the cruel world we live, where people take the piss out of each other about serious issues, like love. A good show! This guys comes into the tube and starts to say he is looking for a wife or a girlfriend. He looks very honest, very deep, but…

“A subway in Lyon: “Ladies and Gentlemen, ever so sorry to bother you. Don’t worry, I’m not here to beg for money. Let me introduce myself. My name’s Antoine. I’m 29. I recently read in a magazine that there are about 5 million single women in France. Where are they? I’m looking for a lady aged between 18 and 55 who‘s also had trouble meeting someone in a conventional way and who wouldn’t mind giving a honest relationship with someone a shot…”

Sábado, 15:35 h, o evento é rápido, o Alexandre chora, a Bibi chegou de volta de festinha para as mamães na escola, agora a coisa vai complicar para acompanhar. O filme que está passando é sobre relacionamento conjugal, um depoimento sincero sobre o que é o casamento para um casal marroquino.

Saturday, 15:35, the event is fast, Alexandre cries, Bibi comes back from the mothers' party in the school, now it will be complicated to keep track. The film which is going on now is about marital relationship, a sincere testimony about what marriage is like for a Moroccan couple.

Sábado, 15:56, já mudou o filme, agora sobre refugiados em Serra Leone, “Vivendo como refugiados”, um regaee muito legal cantado pelos refugiados. O filme mostra um refugiado, o seu braço foi amputado pelos rebeldes em alguma forma de tortura. O mundo tem hoje 50 milhões de refugiados no mundo. Além dos tradicionais refugiados de guerras, hoje existem os refugiados do clima, especialmente na Ásia.

Saturday, 15:56, the film has now changed, it is about refugees in Sierra Leone, “Living as refugees,” a very cool reggae sung by refugees. The film shows a refugee whose arm was amputee by rebels in some form of torture. There are 50 million refugees in the world. Besides the traditional refugees from wars, nowadays there are environmental refugees, especially in Asia.

Sábado, 16:02, durante as quatro horas do evento vão rolar 24 filmes escolhidos entre 2.500 filmes.

Por que Pangea é importante para mim ou BIZREVOLUTION?

TODO MUNDO quer ser feliz. TODO MUNDO quer ter um trabalho digno. TODO MUNDO quer LIBERDADE para escolher que tipo de vida quer viver. TODO MUNDO que está assistindo ou fzendo esse dia QUER UMA VIDA igual a minha ou a sua.

O crescimento do mundo está ligado ao crescimento de todos nós.

TODO movimento que procura AUMENTAR A RIQUEZA DO PLANETA é um movimento BIZREVOLUTION.

Sábado, 16:05, filme “A Rainha do Baile”, filme de 2 minutos feitos com a câmera de um celular. SImples, delicado, não vou contar o final, ASSISTA.

Saturday, 16:02 -During the four hour event there will be 24 films selected from among 2,500 movies.
Why is Pangea important for me or for BIZREVOLUTION?
Every one in WORLD wants to be happy. ALL WORLD want decent work. ALL WORLD want FREEDOM to choose what kind of life they want to live. EVERYBODY who is watching this day or making it possible wants A LIFE like mine or yours.
The world growth is linked to our own growth.
ALL movements that seek ENHANCEMENT of the PLANET's WEALTH is a BIZREVOLUTION movement.
Saturday, 16:05, “Dancing Queen”, a 2 minute movie made with a camera phone. Simple, delicate, I will not tell you the end, WATCH it.

Sábado, 16:08, filme curto mostra o depoimento as pesosas sobre os seus sonhos. Todos, da Tanzânia a Europa, todos querem coisas simples, que eu tenho, você tem.

Agora o filme é “More”, uma animação daqueles com massinhas, SHOW!! GET HAPPY!!! Trilha sonora do New Order, nada melhor. Animação sobre um operário que vive uma vida massacrante, e derrepente descobre que dentro dele existe luz e um mundo novo colorido e bonito. LINDO! SUPER CABEÇA!!! O cara consegue sair da mesmice, cria algo novo, mas no final, volta a ser pior do que era, MARAVILHOSO!!! ASSISTA ASSISTA ASSISTA!!! O MAIS LEGAL E REVOLUTION ATÉ AGORA!!!

Saturday, 16:08, a short film shows people telling us about their dreams. Everyone, from Tanzania to Europe, people want simple things, things that I have, and you have.
The film now is called “More”, a VERY COOL stop-motion animation! GET HAPPY! The soundtrack is by New Order, it couldn't be better. It is an animation about a worker who lives a terrible life, and suddenly discovers that within himself there is light and color and a beautiful new world. BEAUTIFUL! THOUGHTFUL! The guy manages to go away from the usual stuff and makes something new, but in the end, it goes back to be worse than what it was, wonderful! WATCH it! The most cooler and revolutionary up to now!

MORE NA CABEÇA!!!

Sábado, 16:14, Estamos em Cuba, Havana, na Cuba dos malucos, CUBA LIBRE SE FAZ COM COCA-COLA!!! (recebi trocentos emails de esquerdistas descontentes com o meu texto).

O filme mostra um cubano que foi viver nos EUA para ganhar dinheiro e volta para Havana. O cara volta bem apessoado, a famiília continua pobre, vivendo em um apartamento caindo aos pedaços.

A famiília se reune para comemorar a volta do filho. Na mesa do jantar o irmão cubano que ficou começa um debate sobre capitalismo versus comunismo. A típica conversa de pobre de esquerda despeitado com o sucesso de quem trabalha INDIVIDUALMENTE. Dureza, show de filme, tudo a ver, ilustra perfeitamente o debate sobre SER DONO DO SEU PRÓPRIO NARIZ ou depender do governos corruptos e estruturas arcaicas para viver.

Saturday, 16:14 - We are in Havana, in crazy Cuba, CUBA LIBRE IS MADE WITH COCA-COLA! (I got thousand of emails from leftists unhappy with my text).
The film shows a Cuban guy who was living in the U.S. to earn money and go back to Havana. The guy comes quite handsome, his family is still poor, living in a falling to pieces flat.
The family gathers together to celebrate its kid's return. At the dinner table, the Cuban brother who stayed began a debate on capitalism versus communism. The typical left wing conversation from a poor, jealous guy envying the success of those working individually. This was hard, a wonderful film, spot on, which perfectly illustrates the debate on doing something on your own account or depending on corrupt governments and archaic structures to live.

A verdade é CHEGA DE RELIGIÃO, CHEGA DE IDEOLOGIA, CHEGA DE TEORIA, CHEGA DE PAÍSES, viva o INDIVÍDUO, NINGUÉM DEVE VIVER O SONHO DE OUTRAS PESSOAS, NINGUÉM DEVE SE SUJEITAR AS MALUQUICES DE ALGUÉM QUE VIVEM UMA TORRE DE MÁRMORE!

Sábado, 16:22, filme americano mostra uma partida de vôlei de praia usando o muro que separa os EUA e o México como rede. SHOW!!

The truth is, it is enough of religion, of ideology, theory, countries. Long life to the individual, nobody should live other people's dreams, nobody should be subjected to the madness of those who live in a marble tower!
Saturday, 16:22, an American film shows a volleyball match using the wall that separates the U.S. and Mexico as the net. SHOW!

Sábado, 16:24, agora é a vez do Brasil, Gilberto Gil ao vivo direto do Rio de Janeiro. Gil canta em FRANCÊS!!! É isso aí!!! FORA COM TODO TIPO DE BAIRRISMO!!! VIVA O PLANETA FORA OS BAIRROS!!! (Com certeza algum bairrista ignorante deve ter achado o Gil esnobe por saber cantar em francês. ERA POBREZA CEREBRAL!)

Saturday, 16:24, it is now Brazil's turn, Gilberto Gil is live directly from Rio de Janeiro. Gil sings in French! That's it! Out with any kind of localism! Cheers to all of the planet's neighborhood! (Certainly some ignorant must have found that Gil was snobbish for singing in French. Cerebral poverty era!)

Sábado, 16:30, primeiro filme da Ámerica do Sul, do Paraguai, uma animação. É a história de Fred, que mostra a nós que é possível mudar o mundo como nós quisermos. LINDO!!! (Eu sei que eu tô falando várias vezes as palavras lindos e maravilhosos mas é isso mesmo).

Saturday, 16:30, the first South American film, an animation from Paraguay. It is the story of Fred, that shows us that it is possible to change the world if we want to. Beautiful! (I know what I'm overusing the words beautiful and wonderful but that is it).

Sábado, 16:33, um curta mostra pessoas do mundo inteiro falando sobre “chorar”. Entra agora um filme sobre um Líbano que não existe mais. A mensagem é linda, mostra filmes caseiros de pessoas que desapareceram, e afirma “Se você tivesse conhecido essas pessoas, vocês nunca teriam tido coragem de nos atacar”. QUEBRA TUDO!

Saturday, 16:33, a short film shows people around the world talking about “crying”. There is now a film about a Lebanon that no longer exists. The message is beautiful, it shows home movies of people who have disappeared, and says “If you had known these people, you would never have had the courage to attack us.” Heartbreaking!

PangeaDay é sobre INSPIRAÇÃO! Nessa primeira hora e meia o meu reservatório de TESÃO TRIPLICOU.

Sábado, 16:41, Christiane Amanpour entrevista dois ex-soldados libaneses que contam como eles mudaram a maneira de encarar os inimigos. Eles estão falando sobre a jornada do ódio fundamentalista contra o inimigo até a sua redenção e pedido de perdão para as famílias daqueles que eles mataram durante a guerra.

Sába, 16:43, filme inglês, “Música no Elevador”, mostra que os verdadeiros líderes são aqueles que sabem usar com humanidade o poder que tem. SIMPLESMENTE FANTÁSTICO!!! IMPERDÍVEL!!! SHOW!!!

PangeaDay is about inspiration! In this first and half hours my excitement has tripled.
Saturday, 16:41, Christiane Amanpour interviews two ex-Lebanese soldiers who tell us how they changed the way they face the enemies. They are talking about the fundamentalist hatred journey against the enemy until redemption and they beg forgiveness to the families of those they killed during the war.
Saturday, 16:43, an English film, “Elevator Music” shows that true leaders are those who know how to use humanely the power they have. Simply fantastic! Unmissable! Spetacular!

Sábado, 16:47, os filmes que estão rolando no Pangea são uma espécie de comerciais de televisão, mas, o legal é que no final não aparecem pastas de dente, latas de cerveja ou carros a gasolina. Os filmes terminam com sorrisos, abraços, e uma super ultra mensagem de otimismo.

Saturday, 16:47, the films that are being broadcast in Pangea are a kind of TV adds, but the cool thing is that in the end there isn't a tooth paste, cans of beer or petrol cars. The films end with smiles, hugs, and a super ultra message of optimism.

Sábado, 16:49, psicólogo Robert Kurzban explica que hoje nós sabemos que o ser humano pode mudar, todo ser humano pode mudar, e que somos os grandes responsáveis pelas decisões que tomamos.

Um pequeno aperitivo para o próximo filme.

Saturday, 16:49, psychologist Robert Kurzban explains that today we know that human beings can change, every human being can change, and that we are the major responsible for the decisions we take.
A small appetizer for the next film.

O filme agora é alemão, “Telephone Game”, SIMPLESMENTE SHOW, e mostra durante uma brincadeira de criança que uma pessoa PODE, SE QUISER, mudar tudo. Realmente muito lindo, fantástica idéia.

The film now is German, “Telephone Game”, simply cool, and shows in a children play that a person can, if they want, change everything. Really very beautiful, a fantastic idea.

Agora o filme é sobre a guerra do iraque. Simplesmente o mais triste de todos os filmes até a gora. Um acidente no Iraque, morte de um cidadão, ódio que vai crescer, história que vai se espalhar boca-a-boca, sobre o mundo ocidental, no Iraque. Dureza…

The film now is about the war in Iraq. Simply, the saddest of all the films up to now. An accident in Iraq, the death of a citizen, a growing hatred, a word-of-mouth spread story about the western world, in Iraq. Hard.

Para fechar o assunto das diferenças entre americanos e iranianos, entra a Hypernova, uma banda de rock do IRÃ!!!! Antes que algum cabecinha chame os caras de “colonizados” ou qualquer classificação estúpida que cria bairros, os caras da Hypernova SIMPLESMENTE gostam de rock, e não interessa se nasceram no Irã, eles tocam ROCK, falam INGLÊS, vestem JEANS. Eles são cidadãos do mundo e não habiantes de um lugar chamado Irã.

Somente nos mapas políticos existem as divisões entre os países. As divisões não existem na natureza.

To finish off the subject of differences between Americans and Iranians, there is Hypernova, an Iranian rock band! Before some clever one call the guys “colonized” or any stupid classification that creates localism, the Hypernova guys simply like rock, and no matter whether they were born in Iran, they play rock, speak English, wear jeans. They are citizens of the world and not habitants a place called Iran.
Only in the political maps there are the divisions between the countries. The divisions do not exist naturally.

Sábado, 17:00 hs, final da segunda parte do PangeaDay, estamos na metade do evento. Avaliação até o momento, de 1 a 10 = 10!!!!

Imagino que os melhor ainda está por vir… emoções a flor da pele.

REVOLUTIONS IN THE AIR!!

Saturday, 17:00, it is the end of Pangea Day second part, we are in the middle of the event. Evaluation so far, ranging from 1 to 10 = 10!
I imagine that the best is still to come … emotions are under the skin.
Revolution is in the air!

Sábado, 17:05, o filme agora é iraniano…. Muito bom!!! Se você não conversar diretamente com uma pessoa, você nunca saberá o que ela sabe de verdade. PENSAR NÃO ADIANTE, FALE!

Saturday, 17:05, the film now is Iranian …. Very good! If you do not talk directly to someone, you will never know what she trully knows. Thinking doesn't help, talk!

Sábado, 17:10, Jonathan Harris mostra We Feel Fine, UM WEB SITE FANTÁSTICO sobre as emoções humanas. SIMPLESMENTE FANTÁSTICO!!! O site reune os pensamentos emocionais de 20 milhões de blogs, coletados segundo a segundo, de todo o planeta. LINDO, uma super exposição do que é o ser humano. Visite agora, WeFeelFine, a interface do web site é super inovadora, LINDO!

Saturday, 17:10, Jonathan Harris shows We Feel Fine, a fantastic website about human emotions. Simply fantastic! The site gathers the emotional thoughts of 20 million blogs, collected every second from the entire planet. Beautiful, an over-exposure of what the human being is. Visit it now, WeFeelFine, the website interface is super innovative, nice!

Sábado, 17:13, primeiro filme brasileiro do PangeaDay, “Meninos”. O filme fala sobre o medo que temos quando crianças de ser aceitos pela “galera”. Medo, um dos piores sentimentos que podemos ter nas nossas vidas.

Saturday, 17:13, the first Brazilian film in PangeaDay, “Boys”. The film talks about the fear that we have when we are children of not being accepted by “peers”. Fear, one of the worst feelings we can have in our lives.

Sábado, 17:19, crianças são tiradas da escola para lutar contra alguém que não conhecem. Filme mostra o treinamento insano de crianças para morrer. A ONU estima que existam 250 mil meninos soldados em todo o mundo.

No palco agora Ismael Beah, um ex-menino soldado, que foi forçado a lutar aos 13 anos de idade. Ele lutou por 2 anos. Ele fala sobre como uma criança pode perder todas as suas emoções quando sujeita a uma guerra. Ele conta que depois da guerra ele teve que passar 8 meses em uma organização da ONU para poder voltar a sentir algum tipo de emoção. Ele está sendo aplaudido de pé.

Saturday, 17:19, children are taken from school to fight someone who they do not know. The movie shows the silliness of training children to die. The UN estimates that there are 250 thousand child soldiers around the world.

On stage now is Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier, who was forced to fight when we was 13 years old. He fought for 2 years. He speaks about how a child can lose all their emotions when subjected to a war. He said that after the war he had to spend 8 months in an UN organization in order to have again any kind of emotion. He is met with loud applaud.

Sábado, 17:23, a apresentadora avisa que o filme a seguir tem momentos intensos.

Vamos ver…

Caramba… forte… o filme é sul-africano, chama-se “Inja” (Cachorro), fala sobre sacrifício, amizade, liderança, submissão. SIMPLESMENTE MARAVILHOSO!! É dando que se recebe. Toda ação terá uma reação. QUE FILME!!! QUE FINAL!!!
Os apresentadores acabam de anunciar que todos os filmes já estão disponíveis no site do PangeaDay. Confira!!

Saturday, 17:23, the presenter warns that the next film has intense moments. Let's see…
Wow … Strong … it is a South African film called “Inja (Dog), about sacrifice, friendship, leadership, submission. Simply wonderful! We get what we give. Every action has a reaction. What a movie! What an end!
The presenters have just announced that all movies are already available on the PangeaDay website. Check it out!

Sábado, 17:42, Jean Paul Samputu, vítima do genocídio de Ruanda que matou 1 milhão de pessoas a pauladas e facadas, fala como ele sofreu durante 8 anos com o ódio dentro de si por aqueles que mataram seus pais e irmãos. Ele fala que somente ao perdoar aqueles que mataram sua família ele conseguiu sair da zona de ódio que tomou conta do seu coração.

Saturday, 17:42, Jean Paul Samputu, a victim of the Rwanda genocide that killed 1 million people, beaten up dead, tell us how he suffered for 8 years with the hatred within himself of those who killed his parents and siblings. He says that only by forgiving those who killed his family he was able to leave the hatred zone that had dominated his heart.

Sábado, 17:45, filme mostra o preconceito em Nova Iorque contra os muçulmanos. O fantástico é a sutileza do filme, e como a linguagem, as palavras e o jeito que falamos pode ferir uma pessoa. MÁGICO! Quanto de nós “acha” que uma pessoa é de um jeito apenas pelas roupas que elas usam ou suas origens? ASSISTA!

“Se você não sabe quem eu sou, e se eu não sei quem você é, nós vamos acabar imaginando que somos o que os outros pensam que somos.”

Saturday, 17:45, the movie shows New York prejudice against Muslims. Its subtlety is fantastic, and how language, words and the way we talk can hurt a person. Magic! How many of us “think” what someone is like only judging by the clothes they wear or their origins? Whatch it!
“If you do not know who I am and if I do not know who you are, we will end up imagining that we are what others think we are.”

Sábado, 17:48, um filme não pode mudar o mundo, MAS QUEM ASSISTE PODE! Todos os filmes até o momento são inspiradores, cheios de energia, emoção, para incentivar as pessoas a mudarem seus pontos de vista sobre o mundo.

O filme agora é sobre bom humor. “O homem não deve rir, o riso é o domínio dos deuses.” Platão. “Aqueles que riem sabem de algo que não sabemos. Eles pensam que sorrindo podem melhorar suas vidas. Eles pensam que são as pessoas mais saudáveis do mundo. Nós somos parte do Clube do Riso. Existem milhares de clubes do riso na Índia. O negócio deles é sorrir. O presidente do Clube do Riso indiano tem a meta de abrir 1 milhão de clubes do riso em o todo o planeta.

Saturday, 17:48, a film can not change the world, but those who watch it can! All films so far are inspiring, full of energy, emotion, to encourage people to change their views on the world.
The film now is about good sense of humour. “Men shall not laugh for laughter is the domain of the gods”, Plato. “These know something we don't. They believe laughter can change their lives. We are the happiest persons in the world. We are the healthiest persons of the world. We are Laughter Club members”. Today there are thousands Laughter Club throughout India. Their business is laughing. The Laughter Club of India president has a global mission of creating 1 million Laughter Clubs in the whole planet.

Sábado, 17:57, três horas de PangeaDay. Parece que começou 10 minutos atrás. MUITO BOM!

Entramos na hora final do evento. Emoções a flor da pele…

Saturday, 17:57, three hours of PangeaDay. It seems that it started 10 minutes ago. VERY GOOD!
We enter the final hour of the event. Emotions blossom…

Sábado, 18:06, Jehane Noujaim, idealizadora do evento sobe ao palco. Pangea Day surgiu na TED, aquele evento show de bola que eu falo o tempo todo. Foi na TED que a turma levantou a verba e os organizadores necessários para fazer a coisa toda acontecer.

Saturday, 18:06, Jehane Noujaim, the event creator goes on stage. Pangea Day derived from the TED prize, that very cool event that I speak about all the time. It was on TED that the guys raised the necessary money and organizers for the whole thing to happen.

O filme mostra agora como a morte das filhas em atentados terroristas, aproximou pais palestinos e israelenses no Oriente Médio. No palco, agora, familiares de palestinos e judeus que tiveram seus parentes mortos em conflitos no oriente médio. “O meu filho não queria lutar, ele fazia parte dos oficiais que se negavam a combater os palestinos. Ele não queria por nada lutar contra ninguém”, David, o filho, foi morto por uma causa que não era a dele.

“Eu perdi o meu irmão, vivi a vida inteira em campos de refugiados, desisti de grande maioria dos meus sonhos, mas eu não perdi a minha mente. O judeus não são os meus inimigos. O seu inimigo é o seu medo. O material consegue derrubar o material, mas o material por mais forte que seja não consegue derrubar o Ser Humano.”

The film now shows how the death of children in terrorist attacks, brought together Israelis and Palestinians parents in the Middle East. On stage now there are relatives of Palestinians and Jews who have lost their family in the Middle East conflicts. “My son did not want to fight, he was part of the officers who were were against fighting the Palestinians. He did not want to fight anybody for anything,” David, the son, was killed by a cause that was not his.”
I lost my brother, I lived all my life in refugee camps, I gave up the vast majority of my dreams, but I have not lost my mind. The Jews are not my enemies. Your enemy is your fear. Material can overthrow material, but that stuff is stronger that can not overthrow the Human Being. “

Sábado, 18:26, o filme agora é sobre soldados que resolveram lutar contra a guerra no oriente médio e fundam o “Combatentes pela Paz”. O filme conta histórias de soldados que desitiram de lutar quando perceberam que estavam lutando contra civis, e não contra algum tipo de mal. A entidade “Combatentes pela Paz” reune ex-combatentes de ambos os lados, palestinos e israelitas. Eles decidiram lutar pela paz, ao invés de lutar pela causa de um dos lados. “Temos que aprender a usar a nossa dor pela paz. Temos que acabar com essa guerra. Temos uma parceria pela paz. Precisamos viver em paz, a grande maioria que a paz, uma pequena minoria quer a guerra.”

Saturday, 18:26, the film now is about soldiers who decided fight against the war in the Middle East and founded the “Combatants for Peace.” The film tells us stories of soldiers who gave up fighting when they realized they were fighting against civilians, and not against any kind of evil. The “Combatants for Peace” organization gathers ex-combatants from both sides, Palestinians and Israelis. They decided to fight for peace rather than fight for the cause of one of the sides. “We have to learn to use our pain for peace. We must put an end to this war. We have a partnership for peace. We need to live in peace, the vast majority wants peace, a small minority wants war.”

Sábado, 18:37, Deve Stewart, fundador do Eurythmics, comanda um musical sobre paz, ódio e guerra. Ele canta America, que fez com Bono.

Saturday, 18:37, Dave Stewart, Eurythmics founder, commands a musical about peace, hatred and war. He sings America, which he did with Bono.

Sábado, 18:45, todo momento que eu faço um reload nesse post eu dou de cara com a foto da Terra dentro do raio de Sol vista de Saturno. Que coisa linda, minúscula, frágil. Quando eu olho isso eu penso, “Temos que fazer e acontecer, crescer, arrebentar. Somos um micro ponto super corajoso que contra tudo e todos decidiu viver. VAMOS ARREBENTAR!

Saturday, 18:45, every time I reload this post I face the picture of the Earth within the sun rays view of Saturn. What beautiful thing, tiny, fragile. When I look at that I think, “We have to do something, to grow to make it. We are a courageous little point who decided to live against everything and everyone. Let's do it!

Sábado, 18:46, “A missão do ser humano é criar uma comunidade global. Todos nós temos que nos engajar nisso. Temos que nos engajar na regra de ouro, válida para todas as religiões: Não faça aos outros o que você não gostaria que fizessem a você. Na china antiga já diziam, “Você precisa se preocupar com TODOS”. Não importa a sua fé ou ausência de fé, reflita sobre a sua experiência de vida, preocupe-se com os outros, é sério, preocupe-se com os outros.” Karen Armstrong

Saturday, 18:46, “The human mission is to build a global community. All of us have to engage in it. We have to engage in the golden rule which applies to all religions: Do not do to others what you would not like to them to do to you. In ancient china they already said, “you must have real concerned for everybody.” No matter there are faith or lack of faith, reflect on your experience of life, worry about the others, it is serious, worry about the other.” Karen Armstrong

Sábado, 18:50, os apresentadores avisam que a diálogo sobre o PangeaDay continua na web, todos os filmes mostrados, e mais 25 outros que quase entraram na lista estão disponíveis na web para todos assistirem e comentarem. O evento está chegando ao final.

Mensagem final: “Faça algo, envolva-se em alguma CAUSA que muda o mundo.

O evento vai terminar com um super clip de IMAGINE de John Lennon, cantava por crianças do mundo inteiro que fazem parte da Anistia Internacional.

“Eu espero que a minha geração seja formada por jovens ativistas envolvidos em melhorar o mundo. Eu espero que a minha geração tenha a oportunidade por conhecer todas as civilizações do planeta. Eu espero que a minha geração mude o mundo.” Palavras finais de uma jovem chinesa.

CARA, se você chegou até aqui lendo o meu post, SE LIGA, FAZ ALGUMA COISA, SE MEXE, AJUDE AS PESSOAS, AJUDE O MUNDO A SAIR DA MISÉRIA DA POBREZA DA INDIFERENÇA dos medíocres que vivem nesse micro planeta flutuante desse imenso universo.

FAÇA ALGUMA COISA!! FAÇA HOJE FAÇA AGORA!!!

EU NÃO QUERO SABER DE IDÉIAS, EU QUERO SABER DE FATOS, DADOS, REALIZAÇÕES!!

TIRE A BUNDA DO CONFORTO DA SUA SALA E VÁ CONHECER QUEM VOCÊ NÃO CONHECE!!!

SE LIGA!!

VAMOS QUEBRAR TUDO!!! Foi para isso que eu vim! E Você?

E Você?

E Você?

E Você?

E Você?

Saturday, 18:50, the presenters tell is that the debate about PangeaDay continues on the web, all films shown and 25 more others who nearly entered the list are available on the web for all to watch and comment. The event is drawing to an end.
Final Message: “Do something, get involved in a cause that changes the world.
The event will end with the super-clip of John Lennon's song IMAGINE, sung by children worldwide who are part of Amnesty International.
“I hope that my generation is formed by young activists involved in improving the world. I hope that my generation has the opportunity to know all civilizations on the planet. I hope that my generation changes the world.” Final Words of a young Chinese lady.
Man, if you read my post all the way through, do your bit, band together, help people, help to put an end to the world's poverty, the indifference of those mediocre ones who live in this micro planet that floats on this immense universe.”
Do something. Do something now.
I don't want to know ideals, I want to see facts, now, data, realizations.
Shake your ass from the comfort of your sofa and go to meet those you don't know.
Watch out!
Let's do it now. That is why I'm here. And you? And You? And you?

China: Nationalism vs. nationalism in Korea

John Kennedy — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:17:18 +0000

It feels like trampling on an already well-trampled Chinese flag at this point as millions have begun their Olympic host celebrations on the mainland, but carrying on from an earlier post, here is how discussion over the actions of a few Chinese students who resorted to violence as the torch passed through Korea earlier this month looked on popular blogger He Caitou's May 3 post, ‘Nationalism vs. nationalism':

中国留学生在韩国奥运火炬传递过程中殴打了韩国人，原因据说是对方支持雪山狮子旗，而且撕毁了一面中国国旗。当天就有留学生把现场照片发上了网络，当事人迅速被韩国警方逮捕。目前，在韩国的部分中国留学生发出了SOS信号，请求帮助。因为这件事，他们遭到了警方的盘查，受到了韩国狂热民族分子的威胁。也因为这件事，韩国政府表示要在签证政策上更加严厉，危及了所有在韩华人和留学生的切身利益。

昨天晚上，一位大哥在MSN上问我：有没有可能政府出面把那个同学从监狱里弄出来？我说，看看克林顿当年。1993年，15岁的美国学生迈克菲在新加坡因破坏交通指示牌和在二十多辆轿车上喷漆涂鸦，被宣判鞭打6下、监禁4个月。该案在美国掀起轩然大波，当时的美国总统克林顿亲自恳请赦免这名少年。最后鞭刑继续执行，但减至4下。

Chinese international students in Korea beating Koreans during the Olympic torch relay there, the reason it appears was because they showed support for the Snow Lion Flag, and tore up a Chinese flag. Chinese students put pictures from the scene online that same day, and those involved were quickly arrested by Korean police. At present, some of the Chinese international students in Korea have sent out an SOS signal, asking for help. Because of this incident, they have been interrogated by police and threatened by Korean nationalist zealots. And also because of this incident, the Korean government has stated it will be making visa policies more stringent, which jeopardizes the interests of all Chinese and international students in Korea.

Last night, one buddy asked me on MSN, is there any chance the government will step in to get that one kid out from prison? I said, look what Clinton did in 1993 when 15 year-old American student Michael Fay was sentenced to six lashes with a cane and four months in prison for stealing road signs and spray-painting graffiti on over twenty cars. This incident created a huge uproar in the US, and Clinton himself requested this youth be pardoned. In the end the caning was carried out, but reduced to four lashes.

新加坡是主权国家，无论是国民还是客人，在它的领土上就必须遵守它的法律。美国是世界第一强国，但是无权更改新加坡的法律。面子可以给，那就是优惠两鞭，但是打还得打，否则新加坡就成为美国的一个州了。韩国也是主权国家，也有法律。客居此地的中国留学生在一次和平活动中出手打人，而且殴打的是本国国民，那么也就必须下狱，接受他个人行为带来的后果。对中国人来说，这种事情不好受。就像孩子在家里没有管教好，出门让外人教训。但是，这也是没有办法的事情。

在韩国，这个问题又要特别一点。韩国人的民族主义倾向在亚洲乃至世界都出了名，而中国又是它的强邻。现在发生这种事情，很难预测事情会朝什么方向发展。在韩国，在日本，突然出现无数面五星红旗，把奥运火炬传递变成了中国人展示本国强大的平台，作为主人怕都会有点想法吧？奥运是全世界的盛会，但是在伦敦和巴黎传递之后，所经之地都变成了红旗的海洋。这种对于火炬的“护卫”，演变成奥运专属中国，怕和奥运的宗旨有违背的地方吧？

Singapore is a sovereign country, so both nationals or visitors must obey its laws when on Singaporean soil. America is the number one strongest nation in the world, but it has no right to alter Singapore's laws. Singapore can give some face, ie. two less lashes, but the caning must still take place, otherwise Singapore would just be another American state. Korea is also a sovereign country, and it has laws. For Chinese students living there to go and attack people, attacking citizens of that country and during a peaceful activity at that, well then they must go be imprisoned, and accept the consequences of their own actions. For Chinese people, this kind of thing is hard to accept. It's as though you didn't raise your own kid well, so they go out and get taught a lesson by strangers. Although, there's nothing that can be done about this.

Because this was in Korea, this is a bit of a unique problem. Korean nationalism is well-known throughout Asia and even the world, and then you have China, its stronger neighbor. Now that something like this has happened, it's hard to predict which way things will go. In Korea, in Japan, countless numbers of Chinese flags suddenly appeared, turning the Olympic torch relation into a platform for the Chinese people to display the strength of their nation, so of course the hosts would be a bit edgy. The Olympics are an occasion that belong to the world, but after the torch passed through London and Paris, every place it has touched down in thereafter has become a sea of red flags. “Defending” the torch like this makes the Olympics effectively belong to China, and don't you think that violates the goal of the Olympics just a little?

这种情况下，事件升级为暴力冲突，客人殴打主人，韩国人会如何反应？对于打人的留学生，我觉得该怎么处罚就怎么处罚，只要保证他得到了应有的辩护就好了。但是，对于可能出现的针对华人和留学生的压力，政府应该要做应对的预案，以确保他们在韩的财产和人身安全不受侵害，合法权利不受威胁。相信韩国政府也应该明白这一点，在韩国固然有华人，但是韩国人在青岛、北京、上海的人数也不少。

在对伦敦“红衣大侠”暴力行为的一片赞誉声中，大家是不是滑得太远了一点？用拳头做沟通的方式，是不是放诸四海皆准？在这种喧嚣之中，本可以说话的人甚至转变态度去附和，而不是提醒和批评。我觉得这是不正常的，最终的结果还是所有人一起来买单。强大有很多种表现形式，但是弄到鬼憎神厌，鸡犬不宁，周围的邻居都反感，怕不是什么好事。

Under the current situation, with the incident having escalated into violent clashes, the guests attacking the hosts, how did you think the Koreans will react? For those students who attacked people, I think they deserve whatever punishment they get, just as long as they're guaranteed a proper defense. However, as for the possibility that pressure might be targeted at Chinese people and Chinese students, the government needs to be prepared to ensure that their property and personal safety in Korea not be infringed, that their legal rights not be threatened. I have faith that the Korean government knows this much, because just as there are Chinese in Korea, there are still plenty of Koreans in Qingdao, Beijing and Shanghai.

With all the praise for the “Red Knight's” violent behavior in London, could people be taking this a little too far? Fists as means of communication, does that really work in every situation? Amidst all this noise, people who used to have something to say have now changed tune and are just going with it, and not issuing warnings or criticism. I don't think this is normal. The end result will be that everyone ends up paying the price. Big and strong can be expressed in a number of different ways, but pissing everybody the hell off to the extent of agitating our neighboring countries, I'm afraid isn't such a good thing.

Selected comments on He Caitou's post:

1. 郭巨虾 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm

让此事冷下去吧。。再发展起来对谁都没好处

Just let this thing cool down. Setting it off again won't do anybody any good.

2. 壹杂志 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm

我们总是在自己的出发点很好的时候，做一些结果很坏的事情。其实看看香港的火炬传递过程，我们也许会发现，国内的民族理智进程还有很长的路要走。

It's always when we're off to a good start that we go and do stuff that ends really badly. Actually, if you look at how the torch relay went down in Hong Kong, we might notice that people on the mainland still have a long ways to go when it comes to being rational.

3. hehe Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm

我看＜朝鲜日报＞的社论，针对我外交部发言人的回应，感觉他们有点酸，意思就是＂如果中国留学生在美国、法国打人了，中国外交部肯定不会这样反应＂，另一方面又说要反省＂自己到底做了什么，让中国这样对待自己＂….

呵呵，总之感觉怪怪的，称不上他们有民族主义情绪，反倒像是小老婆被打了，觉得”如果我是大老婆就不会如何如何”，又反思”我是不是做什么对不起老公的事情了…

http://chn.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/05/01/20080501000016.html

I saw this editorial in Chosun, aimed at our Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson's response. Sounds like they're a little sour, it pretty much said ‘if Chinese international students have gone attacking people in America or France, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs would definitely not have this kind of response,' at the same time it said there needs to be some reflection, ‘just what exactly is it that we did to make China treat us like this…'

Hah, overall I just strange; it's not so much their nationalist sentiment as it is like the concubine, having just been beaten, saying ‘if I was the main wife, things wouldn't be like this, etc.,' and then wondering, ‘is it because my husband thinks I did something wrong…?'

6. buguanqita Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm

我觉得，红衣大侠的英勇行为是在向西方人生动地论证“汉人压迫藏人”的观点。

I think the Red Knight's bravery backs up Westerners' view that “Hans oppress Tibetans.”

7. 发情期？ Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm

为什么偏偏在韩国就打人，在美国和日本就未见打人事件呢？这是不是说他们生于淮北则为枳，被那里的人影响了呢？
我就很不明白留哪里不好为什么要留韩国呢？那里有什么好呀？

Why suddenly was there violence in Korea, but none seen earlier in America or Japan? Doesn't that imply that they've been influenced by the locals there?

9. yan50 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 pm

我不极端，但是我还是要说，说到底还是国力不够强大。美军士兵在韩国作奸犯科的不是一次两次了，韩国政府有这么叫嚣过吗？韩国人对于中国人踢了韩国人一脚，美国人强奸韩国妇女的反应似乎不太对称。

欢迎批评指正。

I'm not an extreme person, but I still have to say, when it comes down to it, it's still that China isn't strong enough yet. American soldiers in Korea have committed more than a few crimes there, and did the Korean government holler so much then? The way Koreans respond to a Chinese having kicked a Korean, and how they respond to Americans raping Korean women, just doesn't seem balanced.

I welcome criticisms and critiques.

10. 管智鹏 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm

在韩国，在日本，突然出现无数面五星红旗，把奥运火炬传递变成了中国人展示本国强大的平台，….所经之地都变成了红旗的海洋。……演变成奥运专属中国，怕和奥运的宗旨有违背的地方吧？
博主的话很对。试想如果日本举办奥运，全中国都插上小日本的旗子，国人肯定会有闹事儿的。

“In Korea, in Japan, countless numbers of Chinese flags suddenly appeared, turning the Olympic torch relation into a platform for the Chinese people to display the strength of their nation…every place it has touched down in thereafter has become a sea of red flags…makes the Olympics effectively belong to China, and don't you think that violates the goal of the Olympics just a little?”
The blogger is spot-on. Just think if Japan was hosting the Olympics, and Japanese flags started popping up all over China, without doubt some of us would start rioting.

11. KIA Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 6:48 pm

国家最多帮他出钱请个律师吧

The most the Chinese government can do is help him pay for a lawyer, right?

15. 看不惯 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm

我不极端，但是我还是要说，说到底还是国力不够强大。美军士兵在韩国作奸犯科的不是一次两次了，韩国政府有这么叫嚣过吗？韩国人对于中国人踢了韩国人一脚，美国人强奸韩国妇女的反应似乎不太对称。

同意9楼

旁观者的冷静有时候跟冷漠只有一步之遥
我非常能体谅打人者当时的情绪

试想,如果大街上有个棒子突然指着你说:你妈不守妇道.
你怎么反应
a.撸袖子干人
b.面带微笑的跟棒子坐下来,摆事实,讲道理,证明你妈其实基本上还是守妇道的
一个正常男人都会选a吧

同样,一个把祖国视为母亲,当面对有人抢夺撕毁国旗
你怎么反应

…….

“I'm not an extreme person, but I still have to say, when it comes down to it, it's still that China isn't strong enough yet. American soldiers in Korea have committed more than a few crimes there, and did the Korean government holler so much then? The way Koreans respond to a Chinese having kicked a Korean, and how they respond to Americans raping Korean women, just doesn't seem balanced.”
I agree with #9

Spectators' silence is only just a step away from apathy.
I can totally forgive those who hit people for their emotions at the time.

Just think, if a gook came up to you on the street and pointed at you and said ‘your mother lacks virtue,' how would you respond?

a) Roll up your sleeves and whack the person;
b) Keep smiling and sit down the gook, explain the facts, apply reasoning, and prove that your mother for the most part still maintains virtue?

A normal man would choose A

Similarly, if you see your country as their mother, and someone grabs your national flag and rips it up right in your face

How would you respond?

……..

16. 和菜头 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm

你有本事在韩国驻军的话，你的士兵犯事，一样是在你的军事法庭而非当地刑事或者民事法庭上审理。

此外，不要简单类比。如果2012年，日本举行奥运会。火炬经过中国，满上海街头全是日文人狂舞太阳旗。你上去举旗，要求冲绳和那霸独立，被日本留学生打了一顿，又会怎样？

If you had the ability to station troops in Korea, and one of your troops committed a crime, you too would hear the case in your own military court, and not the local criminal or civil court.

Furthermore, don't go making such simple analogies. Say it's 2012 and Japan's hosting the Olympics. The torch is passing through China, and the streets are completely filled with Japanese people crazily waving the red sun flag. You go and raise a flag demanding independence for Okinawa and Nawa, and get a beating from Japanese international students, what would you do then?

19. yan50 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm

我不是抬杠，你也别生气。我觉得你的类比似乎比我的更简单。

我不是说韩国人处理中国学生有什么不妥之处。我只是想说韩国人觉得中国人对待韩国与对待英美不平等的时候，他们内心就没把自己放在平等的位置上。

我也不赞成暴力行为。你说的伦敦“红衣大侠”，他在喷泉池里打那个ZD分子的时候，我就站在水池边上。我周围有很多中国人大声叫好，我没有，确切的说我很羞愧。但是我理解他们的行为，在那种万人集会的场合，情绪很容易失控，更何况对方的行为也不见得文明到哪里去。我觉得表达方式不同是一件正常的事情，有人本身就脾气暴躁，而有些人则不易激动。所以我不会对他们说你们错了，我只想对他们说以后不论做什么事别那么暴躁。

欢迎批评指正。

I'm not here to argue, so don't get angry. But I feel your analogy if far simpler than mine.

I'm not saying there was anything inappropriate in the way the Koreans handled the Chinese students. I just want to say that since the Koreans feel that Chinese people have treated Koreans differently from how they treated the British and the Americans, it's because they don't see themselves as being on equal footing with Britain or America.

I don't condone the violence either. The “Red Knight” you mention, when he was beating the Free Tibetter in the fountain there, I was standing right beside it. There were Chinese people all around me cheering him on, but I didn't, and to be more precise I was quite ashamed. But I can understand their behavior, with the tens of thousands of people gathered there, it's quite easy for emotions to go overboard, not to mention that the other side's behavior wasn't civilized in the least. I think it's normal for there to be differing means of expression, some people just have hot tempers, and others aren't easily agitated. That's why I'm unable to say that they were wrong, but I would like to tell them from now on to not be so hot-headed

I welcome criticisms and critiques.

20. yan50 Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 8:29 pm

试想,如果大街上有个棒子突然指着你说:你妈不守妇道.
你怎么反应
a.撸袖子干人
b.面带微笑的跟棒子坐下来,摆事实,讲道理,证明你妈其实基本上还是守妇道的
一个正常男人都会选a吧
————————————
15楼的比喻挺黑色幽默的。
当那个ZD站在高处洋洋得意地喊”China lie, people die”的时候，我想在场的所有中国人都憋了一肚子火。“红衣大侠”错在他不是高干，他也敢那么暴躁。

“Just think, if a gook came up to you on the street and pointed at you and said ‘your mother lacks virtue,' how would you respond?

a) Roll up your sleeves and whack the person;
b) Keep smiling and sit down the gook, explain the facts, apply reasoning, and prove that your mother for the most part still maintains virtue?

A normal man would choose A”
#15's metaphor, that's some dark humor.

When I see a Free Tibetter standing above righteously yellying “China lie, people die”, I think that all Chinese people there will be holding back a whole stomachful of fire. The “Red Knight's” mistake is that he's not a high-ranking official, but he still dares show such temper.

21. BlazingCD Says:
05月 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pm

其实，这个事件本身肯定没有问题，抓是绝对应该抓的

但是问题在于，中国人在国外犯事，肯定被抓，没有问题；而老外在中国犯事，无论大小，往往被淡化处理，甚至不处理，还封锁新闻等等，这又是为什么呢？那这样的国家，又值得去爱吗？

Honestly, there's nothing wrong here at all, he absolutely deserved to be arrested.

Where the problem lies, is that when Chinese people break the law overseas, they get arrested, and that's fine. But when laowais in China break the law, no matter how small or severe it is, it always gets handled discreetly, or not at all, and then the news gets cut or whatever. And why is that? Is a country like this really worth loving?

And the final comment on He Caitou's post at time of posting:

35. Bill Says:
05月 5th, 2008 at 11:05 am

Did anybody see the Olympic flag in these 奥运火炬 torch runs ? Is this a torch run about the Olympic Games or about China being the biggest and meanest ?

Did anybody see the Olympic flag in these Olympic torch runs? Is this a torch run about the Olympic Games or about China being the biggest and meanest?

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Unzipped features a guest blogger from the Armenian Student Association in California who reports on how Armenian-American university students remember the Armenian Genocide through art and performance.

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Learning by Living shares her experiences of teaching a class of 20-somethings in India.

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Doctors Mess Club reviews the medical training in Brunei

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Kampua Talk describes the different species of lecturers in Malaysian schools