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misscamBarely had the energy today to get worked up over Australia's mandatory detension centres (program on SBS on a man that died while applying for a visa) and merely rolled my eyes at latest Shrub-actions and Howard-gloating.
Yes, I *am* sick. Sniffle.
Also getting mighty annoyed at certain moralising people. Feh. Holier-than-thou is not a virtue. In fact, is not even remotely attractive. Suspect my reaction is also partly connected to Norwegian culture, which tends to operate under what has been called 'Janteloven' (first coined by a Norwegian author). Janteloven says, among other things, 'don't think you are better than us'. Society and community has a strong hold and it is not as much about the individual (opposed to what tends to be case in the US). It has its drawbacks and it has its advantages, I suppose, but it is deeply embedded in my thinking.
Oops, derailed there for a moment. I'm missing home again. Soon, soon, my little Norway, I will be back. Thinking of buying mum this picture she loved when she was here (we went to a photo gallery) as a gift to her and dad to take hom with me. They don't really have anniversaries (never married, many couples in Norway never do), but this summer they'll have been together 28th years. And dad still gropes mum in the kitchen. It's cute in a slight 'didn't need that mental image, thanks' way.
Managed to write one whole sentence of OFUM. Whee.
Is it just me or has Western countries slacked on human rights of late? With Australia's new proposed terrorism laws and the mandatory detension centres, some European countries' new laws (Boo, Europe!) and the US detension of Taliban fighters (It's a violation of human rights. They could be holding Hitler or Osama bin Laden and the treatment and detension would still be a violation of human rights. They are after all called *human rights* not *rights for people we feel have earned it*), I'm slightly worried at the trend. Western democracies should be at the forefront at promoting human rights, not excusing themselves with 'yeah, but we're not the worst'. Lame, lame cop-out. If Europe, America and Australia find it fine to violate human rights every now and then, it becomes so much harder to advocate it in places like Saudi Arabia and Syria and Zimbabwe and China. (Of course, there are different degrees of disregard for human rights. Some violate them now and them, some make it a sport to ignore them wholeheartedly. My point is that commiting to honour human rights is just that - a commitment. It cannot just be discarded when it becomes inconvinient)
I guess part of the fuel of this trend could be the fear and response to 'the war on terror' but I keep fearing that we're losing something on the way in this mad scramble to regain some security. Will it be worth it? I don't know.
Or maybe I'm just paranoid and imagining things.
Some intersting tidbits:
Women and representation in legaslative bodies
Tobacco company sues anti-smoking campaign
Norwegian proverb of the day:
He who does not submerge himself in water, sees only the tip of the iceberg
Yes, I *am* sick. Sniffle.
Also getting mighty annoyed at certain moralising people. Feh. Holier-than-thou is not a virtue. In fact, is not even remotely attractive. Suspect my reaction is also partly connected to Norwegian culture, which tends to operate under what has been called 'Janteloven' (first coined by a Norwegian author). Janteloven says, among other things, 'don't think you are better than us'. Society and community has a strong hold and it is not as much about the individual (opposed to what tends to be case in the US). It has its drawbacks and it has its advantages, I suppose, but it is deeply embedded in my thinking.
Oops, derailed there for a moment. I'm missing home again. Soon, soon, my little Norway, I will be back. Thinking of buying mum this picture she loved when she was here (we went to a photo gallery) as a gift to her and dad to take hom with me. They don't really have anniversaries (never married, many couples in Norway never do), but this summer they'll have been together 28th years. And dad still gropes mum in the kitchen. It's cute in a slight 'didn't need that mental image, thanks' way.
Managed to write one whole sentence of OFUM. Whee.
Is it just me or has Western countries slacked on human rights of late? With Australia's new proposed terrorism laws and the mandatory detension centres, some European countries' new laws (Boo, Europe!) and the US detension of Taliban fighters (It's a violation of human rights. They could be holding Hitler or Osama bin Laden and the treatment and detension would still be a violation of human rights. They are after all called *human rights* not *rights for people we feel have earned it*), I'm slightly worried at the trend. Western democracies should be at the forefront at promoting human rights, not excusing themselves with 'yeah, but we're not the worst'. Lame, lame cop-out. If Europe, America and Australia find it fine to violate human rights every now and then, it becomes so much harder to advocate it in places like Saudi Arabia and Syria and Zimbabwe and China. (Of course, there are different degrees of disregard for human rights. Some violate them now and them, some make it a sport to ignore them wholeheartedly. My point is that commiting to honour human rights is just that - a commitment. It cannot just be discarded when it becomes inconvinient)
I guess part of the fuel of this trend could be the fear and response to 'the war on terror' but I keep fearing that we're losing something on the way in this mad scramble to regain some security. Will it be worth it? I don't know.
Or maybe I'm just paranoid and imagining things.
Some intersting tidbits:
Women and representation in legaslative bodies
Tobacco company sues anti-smoking campaign
Norwegian proverb of the day:
He who does not submerge himself in water, sees only the tip of the iceberg
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Poor Miss Cam. *hugs*
Date: 2003-05-08 04:23 pm (UTC)Really off-topic: It's Friday where you are already? That's so cool! It's still Thursday evening over here. *is highly amused, because she's been amused by anything lately*
~Claudia Beth King
no subject
Date: 2003-05-09 04:16 am (UTC)