'The Controversity'

In response to:Amnesty International:South Korea

2009-11-01T08:39:33+01:00

Thank you Alec. I have seen that blog and tried commenting on something. We had a discussion where he was quite rude ,then the next day he deleted the comments. While asking for free speech you also have to be willing to give others a chance to speak and
disagree when they want. So,with that I got the message that the blog isn't open to discussion.

Basically my view remains that the maps they show above are a bit exaggerated. According to the maps,they plan to establish Kurdistan in the whole South Eastern part of Turkey,which then continues through Iraq,Syria and Iran. I don't know how that will be possible and I certainly do not think anyone will be willing to give up any part of their land. What extreamist/fanatic Kurds do through the Kurdistan Workers Party(PKK) is promote Kurdish nationalism and engage in violent acts of resistance especially in Turkey. I may be a bit biased on the issue but I do not agree with this PKK movement as they usually target innocent civilians in Turkey. However,I am aware that the Turkish armed forces are not angels either. Neither do I believe that a good enough democracy and the kind of freedom for them exists in Turkey and the region. Therefore,I think there should be discussions and attempts to solve their problems peacefully which would benefit all. Possibly with the help of organizations such as Amnesty.

Kurds may feel a need for more independance,rights and freedoms but the fact that what they are asking for takes away innocent lives,freedoms and rights of others is not acceptable at all. I am in favour of a peaceful solution and an ABANDONMENT OF NATIONALISM (AND IF POSSIBLE EXTREAME RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY) FROM THAT PARTICULAR REGION OF CONFLICT.

This is a very current issue I think and will be watching on further later.

I will also bring my readers up to date on another issue...that is the human rights violations in the other part of Korea...north korea and their problems with basic human rights...

thank you...back soon

In response to:Amnesty International:South Korea

2009-11-01T06:51:01+01:00

I wish you all the best with you blog.

There is also an East Kurd blog on Blog,co.uk which is very interesting. Kurds do get a raw deal in Turkey with many killed.

But your question is pertinent. One coutry's gain is another's loss.

Also you are right about the Amnesty report on the exploitation of migrant workers. If Amnesty don't draw attention to the issue, who else will?

In response to:Amnesty International:South Korea

2009-10-28T23:03:20+01:00

Ok. I looked at these maps. Very interesting. Question I want to ask you my friend. In the maps Kurdistan cuts through Turkey,through Iraq and goes through the borders of some important states. How do the Kurds plan to achieve this? Politically-diplomatically?or through war? How will it happen? and why are Kurds not happy with their current status?

In response to:Amnesty International:South Korea

2009-10-28T22:55:53+01:00

For kurdistan map:just copy the link

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4A7bY24I0Yc/R9klRZGLx8I/AAAAAAAAAl8/FNzop4fxtyo/s400/kurdistan_map.jpg
http://northerniraq.info/maps/albums/userpics/10001/democracy_turkey_kurdistan.jpg
http://northerniraq.info/maps/albums/userpics/10001/normal_kurdistanmap2.jpg
http://www.tothepointnews.com/images/stories/kurdistan_map3.jpg
http://vsotirovic.home.mruni.lt/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/newroza_kurdistan.jpg

In response to:Amnesty International:South Korea

2009-10-25T16:42:13+01:00

Looking back at Amnesty's history,one would get the idea that its work is only limited to a certain area of human rights. However,the loss of effectivity,according to some,came when they widened their area of work and started working with the lot of it. Unfortunately,the state of human rights around the world is in such terrible state that a human rights organization seriously would not be able to distinguish which cases to deal with and which of them to leave to other human rights organizations.

Others may have different views but I think this issue of degrading humans:'workers in South Korea are beaten, trafficked for sexual exploitation and denied their wages for long periods despite the introduction of rules to protect their rights' is a serious human rights problem. The problem may arise that the matter of migrant workers and their labour condtions is a huge problem all around the world (South Korea being one of the worst cases). What I think should be done is a better control and implementation of international laws on the matter. So,while exploiting South Korea on the matter human rights organizations all around the world should also be investigating other countries for similar abuses.

In the long run this does not have anything to do with a 'perfect world' or 'utopia' but to help make the lives of struggling people who are subject to such abuse while working with the hope of making the necessary money to keep alive! Amnesty is here To remind us that the values,integrity,respect and care for each human should be kept at its highest. No one deserves to be treated in this way. And if other human rights organizations do have a better grip on such matters,it does not mean that Amnesty should not work on it but rather that they get help from all human rights organizations who can help implement such laws on the areas which have such problems.

So Yes in our globalized/capitalized world ,labour,labouring conditions and rights of workers are a big issue which must be addressed.

Sorry,I could not attend the Amnesty meeting I was supposed to last night to bring perpectives of other members but I will keep you all informed and try to attend in the future.

Thanks.

In response to:Amnesty International:South Korea

2009-10-25T15:44:18+01:00

There was a time when Amnesty worked well and effectively to protect the rights of prisoners of conscience. While it is no doubt very interesting to monitor the failure of the South Korean government to create a perfect world in which all their laws are always obeyed at all times, I wish Amnesty would concentrate on doing well what they are good at and leave this kind of thing to organisations which are able to get to grips with the issues because they specialise in them. Mission creep is nerv good in the long run.

In response to:Music Break:Tracy Chapman

2009-10-08T21:47:08+02:00

yeah,much more meaningful songs than black eyed peas,pussycat dolls,beyonce or britney right? or u might want to try lady gaga lol...lets see what I feel like listening to next...

In response to:Music Break:Tracy Chapman

2009-10-08T11:48:25+02:00

She is great.. I love all of her songs :)

In response to:Article and Discussion on Human Euthanasia by Mahjabeen Hassan

2009-10-02T11:59:31+02:00

Yes,I wrote about religion awhile back(you can find my views on religion somewhere in this blog also! . Certainly all religious people do not have the same ideas. Not only on euthanasia but some of the most crucial moral issues are also the subject of much debate amongst believers. This could have something to do with the fact that the bible is a book. As all books with readers,the readers may have different interpretation,views,understanding and give a different meaning on what is written in there.

Most religious people believe that matters of life,death and after life are directly related to god and religion(of course,the degree of how much and which areas of it are related are debated) and this is why they associate a topic such as euthanasia to religion. As I stated before I do not agree with the debate being a religious one...

If I remember correctly,I had argued the point of human responsibility on the matter. I mean to say...According to my understanding and common sense,if a person is very ill,in pain,with no cure,no treatment and is causing sadness and difficulty for all,all including the patient,must AGREE to a euthanasia solution to be taken. The methods and various other details must be debated within the medical community. I agree that this should be done in order for better care of those patients who do have a chance to live and to better treat them.

It is no matter which prespective you take a very sad subject...

In response to:Article and Discussion on Human Euthanasia by Mahjabeen Hassan

2009-09-08T07:06:37+02:00

I would like to make a point here.
Not every faithful religious person is opposed to legalizing euthanasia in fact many of us can see that as stated by another blogger god does not have anything to do with the time and place you die, if you pay any attention to the bible instead of flying of the handle you would know this. Euthanasia can be used to alleviate pain to the seriously ill. Not only pain to the patient but also the patient's family. And what about the new patients that could then be taken into the hospital and treated. There are thousands of people dying every year waiting for life saving treatment while those that are incurable are laying in a hospital bed until their excruciating condition takes over and they die.

In response to:Music Break 2:Lenny Kravitz

2009-08-31T17:04:14+02:00

Yeah,Lenny Kravtiz is great! Older generation Rockers wouldn't agree though. Even my mum who was a rocker 'back in the days' says today's rock musicians are nothing comapred to what she used to listen to Jimi Hendrix,Ted Nugent,Led Zeppelin,Fleetwood Mac,Queen,Rolling Stones etc etc so she makes fun of my music :)

By the way,your photography rocks! You really have talent in it. Thanks for the comment....Back after the break...

In response to:Music Break 2:Lenny Kravitz

2009-08-30T18:08:27+02:00

now thats-ROCK & ROLL!

In response to:Book Review Sunday:HOW TO WRITE A BOOK REVIEW

2009-07-01T21:07:53+02:00

Thank you for the great article. It was very helpful. Good writing tips are crucial.

In response to:Euthanasia:THE HUMAN ALIVE!

2009-06-24T13:45:41+02:00

Thank you very much, this was a position of great equilibrium and most of all you helped people to think about it!

In response to:Feminism:Quiet Rumours by Lynne Farrow,Rebel Press(2)

2009-06-24T13:44:00+02:00

A bit of local wisdom from an Ukrainian priest yesterday: before feminism, the man was master and the woman was servant. After feminism, they have both become master. Instead, the thing to do would have been to become both servants :)

In response to:ESSAY :)

2009-06-19T23:14:10+02:00

Yes,I certainly will be discussing hyperreality as it is very relavent to Philip K. Dick's novel. In fact,that quote expalins our modern and postmodern dilemma perfectly. I will also watch the film again this week for things that I may have missed. The essay must be perfect. I apologize in advance that I will not post the whole essay becuase I will send it somewhere. After I send it,and have it approved,I will certianly think of posting it. Thanks Seasideman.

In response to:ESSAY :)

2009-06-19T22:58:12+02:00

As Baudrillard put it, “In our virtual world, the question of the real, the referent, of the subject and its object can no longer even be posed”

I hope you will be discussing hyperreality...

In response to:Article and Discussion on Human Euthanasia by Mahjabeen Hassan

2009-06-13T14:49:37+02:00

I am gathering up my thoughts on the issue. The person who will receive Euthanasia must agree to it. Although it also confuses me if a person's loved one who can no longer watch the pain of the person they love decides to take it in their own hands. We must think about it some more because some say in articles I have read that the doctor's job is to keep that person alive until they die due to some kind of organ failure or natural cause. This is the oath they have taken some say,not to kill them.The rational ones who oppose it say they are the protectors of human life.

I am serious about this subject and now because I have dificulty with making my decision on my views. First time on this blog this has happend...Also,I am aware many are watching and I even got an email subsciption to this blog which makes me feel responsible for what I am writing and reminds me to think about the issues more seriously than before. I think I will have book review tomorrow then write my views on Monday.

Have a nice holiday. Hope to see you around when you are back...

In response to:Article and Discussion on Human Euthanasia by Mahjabeen Hassan

2009-06-13T13:36:02+02:00

Hey, it took me a very long time to read it all but it really helped me to undersand the problem more deeply. However, my main point is still there: killing is a bad thing if the killed person did not agree to it. But if the killed person asked for it, it is just a matter of respecting his free will about his life! But I have to thank you for your so serious work!

PS I will leave tomorrow to holiday in Ukraine and come back on the web for the end of June! Best greetings to everybody!

In response to:Article and Discussion on Human Euthanasia by Mahjabeen Hassan

2009-06-12T18:15:22+02:00

In this article,Mahjabeen Hassan,who I am assuming is not a doctor or medical person,does not explore the medical stand point or the patients point of view at all. In fact,from reading it I understand that he did everything he could to avoid it,the language he used to descibe the cases of euthanasia were all in oppositon. Hassan took the religious arguement. I purposely chose this one. It is a moral and ethical issue. To most human beings this means religion. I posted a religious answer because I want to ask my readers(mainly believers):In some cases will you accept to go beyond religion? and can we put the influence of religion behind us? Can doctors and other related medical people go beyond religion? At least argue about the issue outside of relgious norms and values? In relation to this,I also want to ask my readers can you look beyond the fact that this name Mahjabeen Hassan is a Eastern(Muslim) sounding name although many Western Christians would also choose to answer in the same 'God loving pain' manner? Once we can break away from certain barriers of our mind,then we will have a healthy discussion about facts,ideas and views according to human truths.

Yes,this article is a perfect example on most of the articles I found but it is a perfect example of how the topic should not be debated. As for my views:I will write them very soon...Thanks for visiting..

In response to:Article and Discussion on Human Euthanasia by Mahjabeen Hassan

2009-06-12T13:32:04+02:00

Hassan argues that doctors, whose role is to help, should not be tasked with deciding if a patients life is worth living. However, he fails to acknowledge that doctors can determine when palliative care is exhausted, and the fact that many pro-euthanasia activists propose careful assessment by a psychologist alongside the doctor, to determine if the euthanasia applicant is in a sane/stable state of mind to make the decision themselves. Hassan contradicts himself on numerous occasions, such as in one paragraph, he impassionately calls Jack Kevorkian (an infamous euthanasia supporter) a lunatic murderer, then states how Kevorkian simply helped others to commit suicide. Another example of this is his use of Nazi Germany's intentionally mislabeled 'euthanasia program' in persuasion against euthanasia, despite having earlier defined euthanasia as killing in compassion/helping someone to die, thus contradicting that Nazi Germany's actions were in fact euthanasia at all. A final, yet potent addition to these contradictions is Hassan's statement in defense of illegal euthanasia “Medical advances in recent years have made it possible to keep terminally ill people alive for (sic) beyond a length of time even if it is without any hope of recovery or improvement”, conflicts with his religiously charged mention that “...such an action (euthanasia) on the part of a person is to be considered as a rejection of God's sovereignty and loving plan”, as it is highly controversial whether medical science “unnaturally” extending lives (Hassan's defense), can be part of “gods loving plan”.

In response to:Yeah,For the Record....

2009-06-05T08:03:08+02:00

Exactly,analyzing what is going on around the world also means listening to everyone's point of view,analyzing our own experiences,carefully and in an informed manner coming up with our own ideas,thoughts and opinions. This is part of what I am practicing here in this blog. We must practice what we preach! It is undoubtedly depressing and many people who critisize world affairs and injustice are called pessimists because some see this mission of change and improvement as impossible endevours. However,I only called this particular issue as depressing because it about illness and death. Of course,it is not something you want to think of very often as we are busy living. I find death a difficult topic to write about.

Have a good time in your holidays. I look forward to hearing about your travels :)

In response to:Yeah,For the Record....

2009-06-04T16:38:23+02:00

Yeah, unfortunately, if we want to improve the worlds, we must take a look at what is not going well in it, and this may in facts be depressing. However, also about European affairs, the next week I will leave for a holiday in Ukraine, maybe I will find some also to write in English about it! See you

In response to:Yeah,For the Record....

2009-06-04T11:21:29+02:00

Hmmmm...This is a controversial topic and a depressing one! I think it is called or related to the topic of Euthanasia? It seems the arguements as you have mentioned an order from the Pope,will at some point be linked to religion. Can you imagine?the Pope has the ultimate authority when it comes to moral issues in society. In this case authority over the medical community. This is interesting. You have reminded me to focus more on European affairs,maybe at some point I'll get to the controversial topics in the U.K...But I will try to keep it as global as possible. I'll have a look about this issue. Hope the election goes well. Thanks.

In response to:Yeah,For the Record....

2009-06-04T04:51:42+02:00

Eheh! What about our right to die naturally? As an Italian, I lived with horror what happened this year, when our Premier, on an order of the Pope, made a law to ensure that a patient cannot refuse invasive therapies even if he is conscient and asking to be let free. Hospitals should just enforce therapies on patients without their consent and if necessary even using military strength to keep the patients prisoner! I think that this is the most terrible thing ever happened in our society, and this Saturday, for the European elections, I will vote the candidate more linked to this matter: the wife of a man who died refusing therapy in spite of the pressure that the Italian government made against him!

In response to:Yeah,For the Record....

2009-06-03T17:33:18+02:00

Someone left me a message of insult and threatening actually and I noticed two people are missing from my members. Something must be going on. However,I do not plan on taking them seriously because this is where I can be myself without any pressure on what to say and not say. We are already faced with such pressure in our real life. Why can't they at least let our voices be heard here on the net.

Luca,you seem a receptive reader please tell about some important issues you are interested in for me to research and write an article on. Thanks for commenting. Back soon...

In response to:Yeah,For the Record....

2009-06-03T16:32:56+02:00

Eheh! I had no doubt you would have continued! By the way, I don't think that many people are hurted by your controversial points. At the opposite, I think the problem is that very often people are not enough receptive! I also started my blog in May 08 and it is now one year. I had no intention to create a blog at the beginning, I only used to read and comment the blogs of other people. When my comments became longer than their posts, I understood that it was the moment to start my own blog :) I also liked too much the idea of expressing myself!

In response to:Documentary3:'The God Delusion'

2009-05-20T00:57:12+02:00

On the contrary,I think philosophy goes well with a community of friends. It is much more productive to discuss philosophical issues in groups. This way everyone can contribute to eachother's thinking. Although,ideally,a group of friends should have more or less the same philosophical attitude in order to further their friendship.. This is how philosophical schools came about. I mean philosphical movements that such as Existentialism. You say:'philosophy does not have institutions'. I say thank God that they don't :) ...

I seem to understand your concern about the difference between philosophical research and philosophical practice. The reason for this is to talk about philosophy,I would have to go to an
educational institution. Educational institutions revolve around MONEY. Capitalism has unfortunately,taken over everything we consider human endevours and most sacred to us...Religion,phlosophy,art,music,literature,...Everything...everything is controlled by money and those who use the power gained from it!

No one wants us to discuss philosophy,no one wants us to discuss religion,no one wants us to think or strive...Espeically if you are FEMALE!My friend,philosphy does not evoke excitig feelings for a 'normal' person because it is not supposed to! Look at the media,look at educational institutions,look at the way modern socieites are functioning these days. No! There is no room for thinking...God forbid you want to think!!!I tell you want you get these days for thinking...The opposite of community of friends...you'll get a community of enemies...standing right in front of you :)

Thank you for visiting...come again soon... :) ;)

In response to:Documentary3:'The God Delusion'

2009-05-19T18:24:53+02:00

Eheh!! Yes. I agree with all that you said. The only thing I may add is that I like philosophy, but that, in the modern world, I don't know of any philosophy who may be lived within a community of friends, but only as individuals on books (not to speak about academical research which seems to me to be even more theoretical). In ancient Greece yes, a school of philosophy was a community of friends. In the modern worlds, this seems to happens only to religious institutions while philosphy doesn't seem to have institutions anymore. The other problem I experience with the word philosophy is that this word does not evoke very exciting feelings in a normal person. Maybe 'agnostic spirituality group' would match it better... or 'free spirituality group' for people not knowing the word 'agnostic'... Thank you, you just have given me some idea :) :)

In response to:Documentary3:'The God Delusion'

2009-05-19T12:09:01+02:00

I think either you have that faith or you don't. If there is one bit of doubt either way,you are not considered a full believer or a non-believer. To be agnostic is an interesting stance. It argues that there can never be evidence for or against the existence of God,that we will never know. To say this you must be very brave and it shows that you value this idea of evidence. It is a position of reason,rationality and science.

I would be against an Agnostic Church. Even the name with 'Church' does not suggest freedom from religion. Why not an agnostic mosque or an agnostic sinagogue? Agnostics claim to be free from religion and religous institutions therefore,I do not think it is necessary for a person with such a belief,the same way as there cannot be an atheist church.

Since I have started reading philosophical texts,I started to realize there are many alternatives to relgious thinking. It is philosophical or intellectual thinking. The general public turns to traditions for morality and ethical questions. I turn to philosophy for such questions. They just need questons not answers in my opinion.

Having said this,I want to mention that your interreligous group is a very good idea! Since the majority of people are believers,it is a brillant idea to help with religious tolerance. Whereby,everyone learns about eachothers beliefs and respects them. Places of religous conflict especially should consider such discussion groups. Also,I want to mention that the ones that go to the disco are mostly believers...Rockers are more inclined to be non-belivers living their life to the full :) ;) :)