manifesto
It has to be music.
It has to scream out from the shelves
and never allow dust to settle.
It has to shake loose from the page,
stop conversations at the bar,
leave trails of itself hanging in the air
like ribbons of spot-lit cigarette smoke.
It must be capable of writing itself on walls,
able to paint city skylines
in glorious Technicolour
or a million shades of gray.
It has to take root in the cracks between paving stones
and spread its fingers out against the canvas of the sky.
It has to keep rhythm - an everyday rhythm.
It has to mark time.
It has to make news rhyme with actual fact
and truth rhyme with beauty.
It has to speak,
has to put words in people’s mouths,
make new shapes for tongues to hold,
open tired eyes to new ways of seeing.
It must birth its own language
with lips capable of kissing scars,
and it must stand -
stand as testament to the fact
that words can draw blood
and make that blood sing.
- Jacob Sam-la Rose
Sunday, August 26, 2007
-10:48 PM
The Long Road Back By: Caitlin MoscatelloArticle URL: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/08/20/katrina.ninth.ward/index.htmlTwo years down the road from Hurricane Katrina, residents of New Orleans are desperately attempting to rebuild for themselves the place they once called home. Large parts of New Orleans are still in ruined shambles and any significant progress cannot really be seen in the foreseeable future. In the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, sports seem to be the driving force behind the entire rebuilding process of the sector. However, in actual fact, it is the teenagers who engage in these sports who are giving themselves and their city a second chance at life. Ron Gearing, the athletic director for New Orleans public schools mention that “teenagers are more resilient than we give them credit for.” In light of the series of events in New Orleans, I can agree with the truth in this statement. As more public schools are being reopened in New Orleans, the sports arena is slowly showing signs of progress. Football teams are being introduced into the various schools with teenagers hungry to play on those teams. These teens have put behind them the turbulent past of the city and have been mentally strong to move on with life, even though it may not be the same.
Teenagers should be the ones who set the tone for the developmental process of New Orleans. They are the future of the city and are the ones who have the potential to provide a spark into the Lower Ninth Ward. True to the title of this article, the road back to the circumstance in which New Orleans once was is a long one. Perhaps the change would not happen in this decade. Still, with teenagers so hungry for sport again and with the implementation of High School football set to breathe new life into New Orleans once more, anything can happen from here. With only one fourth of the population of the Lower Ninth Ward back so far, this improvement in sports activism would surely serve as a platform to draw more of the original residents back. However it is foolish to only rely on teenage sports to reignite the life in this town. The government has to continue playing its part in providing supplies and physically rebuilding New Orleans. Recovery schools have to continue opening and measures must be implemented to ensure life was as close to what it was before. The government has also to ensure that the current implementations are properly funded, and has to play its role in the expediting of the redevelopment process.The entire process may take a long time even with teenagers boosting the government’s work. If only each and every member of the community is willing to really chip in and initiate the physical and human redevelopment of the Lower Ninth Ward, there is no reason why the pace at which New Orleans grows cannot be doubled or tripled.Although some scars from two years back cannot be erased, the only way for New Orleans to go now is up.(500 Words)
-6:38 PM
How Washington Missed 9/11
By: Robert Baer
Article URL: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1655995,00.html (TIME Online)
“We missed 9/11 because no one in Washington talks to each other.” Those were the painful words from the US CIA Inspector General’s report. As hard as it is to swallow, that is the undeniable truth. One would only stand in retrospect and realise how a single unsent message could have impacted the course of history.
Better communication could have saved thousands of lives, helped avoid a national disaster and most importantly, saved the United States from turmoil. Better cooperation between the CIA and the FBI could have halted the 9/11 attacks. All that was needed was for communication between two of the most crucial defence agencies in the US to be functional in times like these. It was not.
Why couldn’t the US take ownership of her own defences? In letting selfishness and carelessness creep in, the FBI and CIA have inadvertently become the cause of a colossal number of lives. How was it even possible that terrorists were allowed to travel to the US without any interception?
However, one may also argue that this lapse was not the cause of the 9/11 attacks. Well, I acknowledge we are making an assumption that this incident was a root cause of the attacks. Like the CIA IG also mentioned, “there was no "silver bullet" that would have prevented 9/11.” Still, is not the job of national defences to snuff out any possible cause of harm to the nation, no matter how small? We can, by no means, consider terrorists a small threat. Even with the country on alert at that point in time, the terrorists merely slipped right through their fingers. Surely the blame on the CIA and FBI cannot be totally absolved. Some of the fault would definitely have to lie on their shoulders.
In order to prevent another such incident from occurring, the US has to do something about the way various governmental organizations communicate with each other. It would be hard to blame another disaster on a communication error again as then, it would mean that no lessons were learnt from their mistakes and all creditability of the US system would be lost. The systems of the CIA and FBI must accommodate each other, intelligence must be shared and communication must beef up at least by a few folds in order to succeed.
If US$1 billion is to be spent on private intelligence contractors, the US had better ensure that their systems can live up to expectations. If well managed, this could be US$1 billion well spent. However, if the US chooses to be passive over this issue and never take the initiative to make changes, the US$1 billion would just be as wasted as any previous funds pumped into this area.
No matter at what cost, the US cannot afford to let such an error occur again. If lightning does strike twice, we can be sure that the repercussions of a second incident would be much more adverse and detrimental to the country than the first.
(500 Words)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
-2:26 AM
“Zero Tolerance” in High Schools
By: Michael Crowley
Article URL: http://www.rd.com/content/thats-outrageous-no-mercy-kid/ (Readers Digest Online)
Tom Hutton, an attorney for the National School Boards Association mentioned that educators should have "zero tolerance for the behaviour (of students) but not zero common sense for the consequences (of the actions)." This cannot be put better. In US schools, students are suspended and expelled from school for doing the most trivial and innocent things such as accidently bringing a pocketknife to school, misdirecting a fired paper clip or even writing a violent story. With due respect to any system put into place, this is just too absurd as it is merely “mindless application” of the zero tolerance rule.
Thus, with the government adopting such a stance, how will it prove to affect and impact teens?
The government seems to have drawn the line for the zero tolerance rule in the wrong manner. Instead of accomplishing its purpose of preventing potential “security threats”, the rule seems to have created paranoia amongst students. As a result of “schools nowadays wildly overreacting to any behaviour with a whiff of danger or controversy”, a constant “state of fear’ could possibly be built up amongst teens. In a nation which appears so liberal and democratic, the fear of making an accidental mistake is not the ideal in teens’ mindsets. This will subsequently curb their potential creativity and action simply due to a fear which is not meant to exist. Almost conversely, the policy may also create a lack of respect for authority amongst some of the youth as some may find it childish for elders to impose punishments over things which seem so trivial to them. This should never be allowed as the consequences are obvious.
However, the government may indeed have legitimate reasons for implementing such a harsh system. In an increasingly unsafe world with countless cases of juvenile delinquency and severe teen crime, the natural response is to step up precaution. Although circumstances depicted here may seem extreme, it could be seen as a precaution on the part of the state to cover up any existing loopholes in the system.
Still, is this approach working? Take for example the recent shooting at Virginia Tech University. The zero tolerance policy, which was a response to incidents like school shootings, did not serve to help in any way. Although it might just be a one off case, it nevertheless still highlights another loophole in the system which needs to be rectified quickly to prevent adverse consequences.
What then can be done? “Get involved in the political process” was the advice by a parent as he claimed that remaining silent would not change the system. To an extent, this piece of advice holds water. By getting involved in the process, citizens are in effect letting the government or any ruling body know that there is a change needed to be made. Any citizen should not merely sit back and let the law run us. We should take the initiative and choose how we want to be run.
Therefore, please, make this policy more tolerable!
-12:11 AM
Asian Gangsters Drive African Elephant Slaughter, Report Says By: James Owen
Article URL: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/05/070511-elephants-ivory.html (National Geographic Online)
A haemorrhaging of elephant ivory is on the rise in Central Africa, creating “major conduits for trafficking illicit ivory from the region to international markets.” As a result of increasingly high demand for ivory in the Asian market, trade intensity between parts of Africa and Asia has increased by much. This massive importing and exporting process has also resulted in a near double of ivory seizure, an increasing number of traffickers being clamped down upon and the deaths of many more elephants across Africa. Truly, this is quite hard to imagine. To see the way “Asian Gangsters” have dominated this black market trade, and brought it to such a stage is indeed rather worrying.
Has human nature evolved to such a stage that men only care about their own wants? To what extent are men willing to go to achieve these set of goals? Whatever the answer, this cycle must be curbed.
The problems which this illegal trade process causes are far more than breaking the law. In the process of seeking after selfish desires, man has failed to realise the impact these actions have not only on the law but on the environment and society as well. Evidently, greed is the cause of this blindness. The statement that “money is the root of all evil” has never been so real than in the context of this current world as the quest to gain more monetary benefits, through whatever means, picks up.
In this case, it certainly seems that the people in question seem to have little regard for everything around them. I can only pity the elephants that stand victim to the countless massacres of these poachers. As I cannot even fathom how such inhumanity can be committed, these poachers do not care much about the repercussions of their actions. I guess no one has ever paused to consider how cruel it is to actually kill an elephant just for its tusks or to extract ivory for use in a money making industry such as ivory carvings. Inhuman. There are no two ways to this issue as the impacts are just too drastic.
Why must these people stoop to such a low level?
Fortunately, measures have been implemented to control the situation. In Africa, a crackdown on poorly regulated and illegal domestic markets looms. In China, the policing process seems to show some improvement. “It is imperative that China reaches out to the growing Chinese communities in Africa with a clear message that involvement in illegal trade will not be tolerated.” This is so important. I feel that the problem has to be prevented before worsening and that this sort of direct approach will yield results. It is so crucial now that proper systems are implemented so as to prevent more illegal activity and more importantly, more cruel deaths. As citizens of the world, it is our duty to ensure the preservation of its inhabitants, which does not only constitute humans.
Let the inhumanity stop and elephants live!
(499 Words)
Friday, March 02, 2007
-6:46 PM
South Africa May Kill Elephants to Manage Population
By: Leon Marshall
Article URL: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070301-elephants.html (National Geographic Online)
South Africa is in a dilemma as overpopulation of elephants has raised the need for culling. It is hard to imagine that in 1931, this was unthinkable. Now, the South African government has come to a point where they portray the situation as one in which they must cut the population no matter what the cost, although they have raised various alternative methods which they do not seem inclined to take. Even as the population of elephants in national parks such as Kruger has almost doubled, is there no way out? Was this mismanagement on the part of the government? Let us not point fingers, but first, examine the feasibility and impact of this old idea once again thrown out.
“Our conservation efforts have been too successful” were the words of Graham Kerley. Perhaps, this is too true. In 1995, when South Africa ceased conservation methods, did they even weigh the consequence of letting the entire population grow freely? Although stopping the culling was indeed the moral thing to do, I feel that the government just did not do enough planning or preparation, which has now resulted in literally too many elephants in too little space. Attempting to cull the immense population would only serve to disrupt the environmental balance, upsetting the habitat of these elephants. This impact of this change is so unpredictable that the repercussions may cause further spread problems.
Is this too cruel?
I guess one would never fully understand how an elephant feels. What is their stand? Are they crying out as a result of the overpopulation which we presume? Or are they happy the way they are? Either way, culling is no method to solve problems. Let’s put it into a different perspective to understand why. Put yourself in the shoes of an elephant. The truth is no one wants to be culled, the act itself being inhumane in the first place. Just spare a thought for all the elephants. If contraception cannot be implemented due to the lack of understanding of it “long-term social, physiological and emotional impacts on elephants”, what lighter consequence would culling bring about?
Still, South Africa is in reality not a resource rich nation. Various constraints, financial among others, have caused them to be placed in this predicament. It does seem that, from the government’s point of view, culling seems to be the best and most cost-effective choice. Indeed if nothing is done, “survival of the fittest” may kick in due to lack of land, food and other reasons. This would cause further problems. The consensus now is that the problem should be resolved at its root, thus making it difficult for us to totally disagree with the government.
Either way, the government has to act in the manner which is most beneficial for both its nation and its people. Practicality is placed before morality. Some may dispute, but in actual fact, there is never a perfect solution.
Just remember that elephants too have a mind of their own.
(499 Words)
-6:28 PM
Taming the NFL's Bad BoysBy: Mark StarrArticle URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17405864/site/newsweek/ (From Newsweek Online)NFL Players’ Union leader Gene Upshaw mentioned that “it was the player’s responsibility not to assault the golden goose that is today’s NFL.” This “golden goose” not only represents the income that the massive league generates, but more importantly, the allure and influences the football league and its players have on the current generations. How true Upshaw’s statement is in light of the events in this article.
Seeing the NFL degrade to such a situation in which, “players not only don’t expect to be held to a higher standard but, increasingly it seems, to any standards at all” is depressing. Slowly but surely, the game’s rich history as well as its reputation could be in jeopardy as the players themselves choose to tarnish that image. But maybe what is more worrying is that as the “players hold their mainstream in contempt”, one can only wonder what kind of message is being carried to the public, especially when the NFL itself is failing to curb internal social issues.
The truth is, although personal views may be deemed biased due to blind spots, in this kind of situation, there are no two ways about it. Actions stand for the character of the players, which in turn represent what the football league stands for. The view through the eyes of society is how the NFL is going to be portrayed, whether it likes it or not.
The way I see it, players have to be more conscious of their actions before too many repercussions are caused. Crimes are a result of personal outbreaks and ill discipline rather than anything sports related. Nevertheless, because of the iconic status, some of these players have major flaws which could be picked up by the public. Does this then teach the public that what the players do is the right social attitude to adopt? I rue the day when this happens because of the great social repercussion this will cause if fans start following in the footsteps of their football idols, more off than on the field.
What then do these players teach young teenagers aspiring to follow in their footsteps? Definitely, these players will be a stumbling block to the progress of the teens. If I was a aspiring player wanting to follow in Tank Johnson’s footsteps, seeing him get into trouble with the law would not only demoralize me but furthermore, discourage me from the game. Is this how the players want the sport to turn out? Becoming an ugly facade instead of the beautiful game it is meant to be.
It is in this way that athletes are assaulting the golden goose itself.
In view of this, I am in support of the three strike approach to justice in the NFL, knowing fully well that this approach would curb the “bad boys” as well as send out a strong message to the public that the behaviour some NFL stars have been adopting is totally unacceptable.
Here’s to a better future of the game!(499 Words)
Monday, February 05, 2007
-10:50 PM
the start of this portfolio ...Hi All. From this point forth, I shall use this as a (compulsory) channel for my reflections. Check back for more updates (hopefully once every two weeks)!
