Various stuff...
Jan. 16th, 2004 10:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misscamSo a Norwegian channel has apparently made a Scandinavian version of Joe Millionaire. *rolls eyes* Whee. Only not.
The trial of the killer of Anna Lindh (Sweden's foreign minister at the time) has started. He's admitted to doing it already, but claims he heard 'voices' telling him to do it. Not sure that defense will hold up too well, it all depends on his psychiatric evaluation.
BBC looks at the consequences for Sweden. Norway is very much the same as Sweden - open society, unprotected ministers... It may sound foreign to some of you, but that's how it is in Norwat. When my father worked as a minister, he had no bodyguard. It never even occured to me at the time that he might need one. But if things like these can happen in Sweden, they can happen in Norway - and that has rattled Norway slightly as well.
In other news, it seems that there are children held at Guntanamo Bay. Of course, it shouldn't really be a surprise to me, as the US is one of the few Western countries who have refused to sign the UN's Rights of the Child - this because some states in the US execute people for crimes done when they were minors.
Okay, I know some people will just shrug their shoulders at this and not care because they see these people at Guntanamo Bay as terrorists. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. How can you say if they have not been tried? But that is not even the point. Human rights are easy to defend when it's people you like. The real problem comes when it's people you hate. David Irving, who I detest with every cell in my body, has the same human rights as me, as much as I may seceretly wish it otherwise. If we start thinking human rights is something *deserved*, not something you're born with... Well, then we are on very treacherous ground indeed.
And just as I was muttering dark things about Bush, I found in my inbox a delightful little forwarded e-mail with the topic of 'Let Us Be Thankful We Are Americans'. (I know who it's from, and she does know I'm Norwegian, so why the smeg is she forwarding it to me? She's not really the kind to send stuff just to provoke.) Also contained gold statements like 'I hope you are proud and thankful to live in the greatest country that has ever existed' and 'If you're not, please Email me back and let me know of a greater nation or place on earth you would rather live. I don't think there is even a close second'.
Yeah, and you wonder why the rest of the world is not feeling the US-love right now? Right there is a good place to start. Everyone should be entitled to love and be proud of their country. But you should have the good grace to realise that your neighbouring country is also a good place that people love and are proud of (yes, even Sweden - I kid, of course. Sweden and Norway just like to pick on each other in good fun). I don't think any country in the world can claim to be the greatest nation - it depends on what you will define as great, and that will vary. And not even a close second? Charming. Real charming.
And finally, I managed to almost break my toe when walking up the stairs. I'm such an idiot sometimes.
The trial of the killer of Anna Lindh (Sweden's foreign minister at the time) has started. He's admitted to doing it already, but claims he heard 'voices' telling him to do it. Not sure that defense will hold up too well, it all depends on his psychiatric evaluation.
BBC looks at the consequences for Sweden. Norway is very much the same as Sweden - open society, unprotected ministers... It may sound foreign to some of you, but that's how it is in Norwat. When my father worked as a minister, he had no bodyguard. It never even occured to me at the time that he might need one. But if things like these can happen in Sweden, they can happen in Norway - and that has rattled Norway slightly as well.
In other news, it seems that there are children held at Guntanamo Bay. Of course, it shouldn't really be a surprise to me, as the US is one of the few Western countries who have refused to sign the UN's Rights of the Child - this because some states in the US execute people for crimes done when they were minors.
Okay, I know some people will just shrug their shoulders at this and not care because they see these people at Guntanamo Bay as terrorists. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. How can you say if they have not been tried? But that is not even the point. Human rights are easy to defend when it's people you like. The real problem comes when it's people you hate. David Irving, who I detest with every cell in my body, has the same human rights as me, as much as I may seceretly wish it otherwise. If we start thinking human rights is something *deserved*, not something you're born with... Well, then we are on very treacherous ground indeed.
And just as I was muttering dark things about Bush, I found in my inbox a delightful little forwarded e-mail with the topic of 'Let Us Be Thankful We Are Americans'. (I know who it's from, and she does know I'm Norwegian, so why the smeg is she forwarding it to me? She's not really the kind to send stuff just to provoke.) Also contained gold statements like 'I hope you are proud and thankful to live in the greatest country that has ever existed' and 'If you're not, please Email me back and let me know of a greater nation or place on earth you would rather live. I don't think there is even a close second'.
Yeah, and you wonder why the rest of the world is not feeling the US-love right now? Right there is a good place to start. Everyone should be entitled to love and be proud of their country. But you should have the good grace to realise that your neighbouring country is also a good place that people love and are proud of (yes, even Sweden - I kid, of course. Sweden and Norway just like to pick on each other in good fun). I don't think any country in the world can claim to be the greatest nation - it depends on what you will define as great, and that will vary. And not even a close second? Charming. Real charming.
And finally, I managed to almost break my toe when walking up the stairs. I'm such an idiot sometimes.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
A little something to cheer you up. George W. Bush's CV
Date: 2004-01-16 05:25 am (UTC)It's funny, and scary at the same time.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-16 05:47 am (UTC)Fine, that's fantastic; could we have a trial to show this, now? If the Pentagon is so certain they're right, why not give them a fair chance at representation?
If you'd like, send me (mailto:baronmind@wmalumni.com) that letter on being thankful to be American. I am American, and I'll shred that thing and send you back a copy with point-by-point refutations. Three, even two years ago, I was proud to be an American -- but these days, I am simply ashamed.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-16 01:57 pm (UTC)Actually, I was thinking about those "patriotic displays." And it's funny... They'd show these pictures of of crowds of people with pictures of their leader and stuff, and we're supposed to go "Those evil fanatics! Kill them!"
...And we do the same thing here, going on about how great we are. Right down to the pictures of our leader. I wish I could be something other than an American, these days. -_-;;
no subject
Date: 2004-01-19 01:52 am (UTC)Guntanamo Bay is a major issue in Europe at least, and it's not making the US look good at all.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-19 01:51 am (UTC)And interestingly, there has been people released from Guntanamo Bay. After being held there half a year and such, Pentagon discovered one guy was just a taxi driver who was 'sold' to the Americans (they did offer a reward for Taliban members. I guess some people saw it as an easy way to make money.)
It's disgraceful, is what it is. And the American Taliban fighter they caught, *he* got a trial.
Amen.
Date: 2004-01-16 09:58 am (UTC)These days, when I talk to someone I know from online and they ask what my nationality is, I'm always tempted to say I'm French.
Hell, ANYTHING but American.
--Nora
Re: Amen.
Date: 2004-01-17 04:23 pm (UTC)*shrugs* It's a long story. Just remember that it's the United States of America, and sometimes state pride wins. But that may just be because this is home.
Anyway, I lost my train of thought, so I'll just say that I didn't vote for Bush last time, won't vote for him this time, and will fight in a revolution should it come to that. Hell, I'll start the goddamned revolution personally. I'm a Rhode Islander, and we're like that.
Bast
Re: Amen.
Date: 2004-01-19 01:53 am (UTC)That Email...
Date: 2004-01-16 11:18 am (UTC)I'm not sure which came first, kitsch nationalism or rabid football fandom (the stupid game WE call football, anyway), but they're so often expressed in the same "WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!!1!!!!!" kind of terms.
As if anybody's keeping score.
Re: That Email...
Date: 2004-01-19 01:56 am (UTC)At least it's somewhat healthier to take your nationalism out on sports rather than military might and invasions (see: Germans, WW2).
Of course, Norway sucks at both football and military might, so we have to take it out on skiing.
Great to be American?? Yeah, whatever...
Date: 2004-01-16 05:19 pm (UTC)On another note, thanks for Galoum
Re: Great to be American?? Yeah, whatever...
Date: 2004-01-19 01:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-16 05:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-19 01:58 am (UTC)We also did a Norwegian version of The Bachelor. Gaaah.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-16 06:00 pm (UTC)But the whole kids in Guantanamo Bay thing seriously freaks me out. I mean, they're *my age*. When I first read that, I kinda freaked. Now whenever I hear anything about Guantanamo I picture guys I know there. . . Well, really one guy in specific. It scares the crap out of me thinking about Ahmed in there. I mean, he's one of those people who I know even if I don't talk to him much, he's his own person, he's rather insane, and just, well, oh, I dunno. *curls up in the corner and cries* And I've always empathized for terrorists anyhow . . . *shudder*
no subject
Date: 2004-01-19 02:01 am (UTC)The thing about kids is that when you're a certain age, you're easily influenced and shaped. I mean, if you're told from you're two from adults that Americans are the evil and you are fighting the just war... how are you supposed to think otherwise? (Or in case of Palestinian kids - the Israelis)
The whole thing is just a tragedy.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-16 08:15 pm (UTC)Really, it does. I've known it for years, I just never announced it publicly. And the ever-increasing 'American pride' disgusts me. I don't like to admit I'm an American sometimes. I don't like the label and I don't think Americans are morally righteous or even more intelligent than other people. In fact, Americans are lazy, apathetic, and (IMO) less attractive. You mix cultures and you either get a really good result or a really bad one.
By some strange twist of fate America became a nation, and grew to an alarming size by means of conquering and destroying, commercialism, and negotiating with gullible, naive countries.
Valar, I miss the UK. Oh...my heritage... *reaches for a tissue*
~Shada
no subject
Date: 2004-01-19 02:03 am (UTC)I can always declare you an honourary Norwegian, if that helps. I'm sure you have some Norse blood in there somewhere, given how much the Vikings went to Britian.
Your icon kicks ass, BTW.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-19 10:10 am (UTC)I wish I could take credit for the icon, but it was created by
~Shada
no subject
Date: 2004-01-20 07:49 am (UTC)As said yesterday, here is the link to the story http://w1.855.telia.com/~u85549749/original_01;01.htm it is directly to the story so you won't have to click your way through the entire webpage.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-21 01:40 pm (UTC)Can you forward me the email as well? I'm somewhat masochistic. sunspot1212@yahoo.com
The quoted email reminds me of a conversation I had with my homeroom teacher last year, right after the touching pledge of allegiance to our beautiful flag. It went like this:
Teacher: Are you going to say the pledge of allegiance?
Me: No.
Teacher: *gasp* But... aren't you proud to be an American?
Me: No!
Teacher: *gives me a hopeless, shocked look and sends me to the principal's office*
Eh, hope that wasn't too OT.
~Luhtarian
Really...
Date: 2004-01-21 03:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-09 11:05 pm (UTC)http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/000371.html
Re:
Date: 2004-02-10 04:14 am (UTC)(And anyway, these kids might suffer from Stockhold Syndrome, which would make them view their captors with sympathy.)
And you know what? If you have a point, how about you make it and not post anon, yeah?