mccullochblog

The thing that really bothers me...

...about the tragedy unfolding in Tibet, is the inconsistency in the 'condemnation' of those events by the leaders of Western Nations in comparison with incredibly similar events elsewhere in the world.

Take Burma, for example. When monks protested in the country's streets and were shot dead or indiscriminately arrested, the BBC reported that "Mr (Gordon) Brown hoped that the Burmese regime would heed the calls for restraint from the international community...but once again they have responded with oppression and force. This must cease." Brown went on to say he was: "pressing for international action against the junta, including tougher EU sanctions."

And it wasn't just Britain's level-headed leader who 'dared' to challenge Burma's leadership on its handling of the protests. Condoleezza Rice also stepped in to the debate alongside the UK's David Miliband, and Germany's Bernard Kouchner.

(Together) they said that "the urgent need for progress towards a transition to democracy and improved human rights in Burma" should be a priority." They added: "It is now more than four months since the world was horrified by the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Burma," they said.

So...horrified...violent repression...urgent need...oppression...force...must cease...international action....EU sanctions....for Burma.

Now...to Tibet. What did Condy say?

"In a phone call to her Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged China to show restraint and enter dialogue with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists."

And what about Gordon? And George?

"I made it absolutely clear that there had to be an end to violence in Tibet," Gordon Brown said. "I also called for constraint and I called for an end to the violence by dialogue between the different parties.

“The White House said today that China's crackdown in Tibet is not cause for President Bush to cancel his attendance at the Beijing Olympics. At the same time, the administration interceded in behalf of Tibetan protesters and requested a firsthand look at how Chinese police were dealing with them.”

So...show restraint....constraint...dialogue...an end to violence....dialogue…enjoy the Olympics…and a firsthand look.

Well isn't that just a great example of total and utter two-faced hypocrisy!

Burma: no major trade. China: major trade. Therefore, totally different foreign relations stances and convenient overlooking of gross human rights violations.

Come on, people…get a grip.

Free Tibet

Home Sweat Home.

In the early eighties, when macrame was cool and Bucks Fizz were my favorite band, my grandmother become very attached to a "Home Sweet Home" wall hanging my mum brought her from England.

I'm not sure what it was about that crocheted design, but Oma loved it. "Homah Zweet Homah" she would say, admiring her decoration, not understanding exactly what the English words meant, and using the Dutch word for 'sweat' in place of the middle one.

I'd almost forgotten that moment in time, until I carried Emma over the threshold of our new home last Friday. We had crossed the same threshold six times before then, toiling with paint tins and brushes, but it was still a very happy moment when we finally claimed our new abode! Home Sweat Home, indeed!

And in the melee of moving - amid all the new utilities hook-ups, the unpacking and the search for illusive phone jacks - only one thing went wrong: we own too much stuff!! The movers did their best but we simply couldn't fit everything we owned into their truck...and so I had to pack (I mean PACK) our SUV three more times before every last monopoly set, side table and lamp made it to San Mateo.

And so here we are! Arrived. Unpacked. Introduced to the neighbors. Sprinkler system almost working, and we're REALLY liking the fact the sun shines a lot more here than it did in San Francisco! SO much so, that we managed our first bike ride today and even managed a little bit of basketball in the back yard.

Yes folks - Emma's housewarming gift to me was a basketball...because every American home has to have a baskbetball hoop, right!?