In the News

Listening to NPR, this morning, I heard a news piece about food banks in the western part of my state. They are dispensing more food than ever before. Literally. And begging for more food donations. People have been using the food banks for longer periods...up to two years...and it doesn’t look as if that’s going to stop any time soon. It seemed like an appropriate story for a bleak and rainy Tuesday. Life is growing bleaker for many Americans. I wonder how long before we see tent cities spring up and how long before it’s impossible to ignore the problems people currently face. Trickle down economics doesn’t seem to be working. Big surprise.

--------------

Also heard this morning: Parts of Florida ravaged by each of the 4 hurricanes now have another problem. The good governor of the state has announced that he will delay the schools’ mandated state testing (FCATs) for some schools in the afflicted areas. For two weeks. But teachers say a delay is pointless in the face of the destruction they are dealing with. Many schools are still closed. The people in their areas still wander around with the hollow glazed eyes that spell shell-shock. More than two thousand homes destroyed in the afflicted areas means a bunch of homeless kids for whom tests don’t currently register on the life-o-meter. How about just waiving the stupid tests this year? Oh no, can’t do that. The tests, that will have long lasting consequences on the students’ lives, must go on. Compassion courses through the Bush family’s veins, doesn’t it? Or maybe it’s just plain horse sense that they lack.

--------------

I meant to post this earlier. Last week I listened to a BBC interview with Hamid Karzai in the run-up to Afghanistan’s elections. I’d never really heard him speak at length before and he is quite candid. The interview is available here. The interviewer is Lyse Doucet and she’s tenacious. Karzai offers an instructive view of Afghan democracy. Definitely worth a listen.

--------------

A reminder:
“Saudi women have limited freedoms. Without written permission from a male guardian, they may not travel, get an education or work. Regardless of permissions, they are not allowed to drive, mix with men in public or leave home without covering themselves with black cloaks, called abayas.”

Saudi women are also not allowed to vote or hold office. Where are the activists who deplored Afghan women’s treatment? Perhaps as long as Saudis don’t beat their women in public, it’s okay to institutionalize non-violent oppression.