Monday, October 28, 2013

--They've opened a computer center 3 mornings a week that I can use.  I've moved into my new apartment in senior housing near downtown Las Vegas this past month; and this is incredible that they re-opened the computer room which had been closed about a year. The housing complex is administered by the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority.

--I'm busy editing the social uplift topics, plus doing some other stuff.

--I've discovered that the African Union is informed about the Nigerian northeast violence, but I was listening to the BBC last night to those reporters based in Nigeria and they evidently didn't appear to consider the problem serious.  The Nigerian economy is incredibly strong; and that's a real plus.  I want to become up-to-date in the Kenyan terrorist recent attack, since there's obviously something the Kenyans are lax in doing to vouchsafe security against such disturbances that could be informative as to the state of security throughout.  Also, I've just heard that the terrorists were in touch with people in Norway about the time of the attack.

--The BBC has reported on Tuesday that the UN Forces in the Congo have chased out of the country terrorist group, "the 23" with the assistance of the US Military in a supportive and advisory capacity.   That's a vital role the military can do without placing combat troops in harm's way, in most cases, I think.  Dick Cheney, former Vice President, on the Charlie Rose Show last night also supports a training role for the US military and pointed out that there should have been left in Iraq military personnel to help out in this capacity.  I might add the comment that Rose made about the Iraq war: would that the war had not cost in lives a dear number and in dollars nearly a trillion to the US--what with a quick getaway at the end. 

--African leaders are saying, I am led to believe, that if they receive assistance to control internal terrorism, they will be in position to handle the corruption problems extant virtually throughout the continent!  Clearly, the message is getting through to them; and I applaud the foreign NGOs for their persistence in reminding these governments.

US military assistance to Nigeria

I am thankful that currently the Philippine government is receiving pledges to institute a peace from the rebel groups who have waged war over these several years.  I understand that the US military has had advisers stationed on the islands to lend expertise in achieving this success.  And let us make no mistake about it--this is a wonderful day in Filipino history.

Now, Nigeria is embattled in its northeast region--this conflict still remaining, after years of continued violence all over the country.  The Nigerian President appears to be well-meaning and deserving of help to rid the conflict in the northeast, possibly supported by rebels from other nearby lands.  But clearly, the reports of atrocities from Amnesty International accusing the government of horrible acts in the region upon persons--residing there and those in opposition alike--is an indication the government does not know how to handle the country's insurrection problem.  Its approach is, apparently, to liquidate the opposition--an approach not dissimilar to what Russia instituted against its Islamic uprising in mountainous regions-- until nothing is left today but the silence of the brutally-tamed resistors yet alive. 

I have confidence, that the US military could render assistance, given what miracles the US military has worked in the Philippines in supporting that government. (I also wish the US military had current bases in Iraq to sustain the peace it wrought among antagonist Islamic factions.) 

I have followed the Nigerians struggle to attain a lasting peace throughout the entire country; and I've spoken, somewhat recently, with Nigerians about their struggle to bring about peace.  I think they're trying, even today, to attain that end; but they simply are going about it wrongly. 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

--I'm re-using the topic "Action Item" under the rubric "What's Up John?"  Under this,  I'll be placing as items my hopes for action that will lead to the results I am urgently pleading for!  Usually, I won't advocate how to bring about an action that I'm recommending, save to wholeheartedly endorse it.  Perhaps, there's already a means in place to achieve the action I am supporting.

--I'll also be adding shortly to the Didactics 2 new items.  This blog really has only "interplay" as a sub-topic at this time.

--P.S.  I'm finding Las Vegas fertile ground for research and study!  A vast improvement from the places I've had to settle down...in for a time.

An International Rush toward Social Change

It started with the Arab Spring.  Suddenly, Islam was in re-insurgence.  Clearly, the Western powers had no inkling this would happen.  They, in response, have attempted to gain hold of the phenomenon, to control it as best they can.  In Libya, they supplied weaponry to the rebels to overthrow the dictatorship that was in existence.  In Syria, they're trying once again to control events.  Finally, their hopes lie with the Russian Federation  (of all the nations in the world to count on!) to provide them with a way into the fast-moving world of the Middle-East, spear-headed by Saudi Arabia, and other very wealthy nations in the area; and the struggling Iran, with its oil-rich reserves and regional influence.

The presence of the US navy in Africa (Parenthetically, I understand the navy has been given the especial task of assisting African countries.) is a major thrust to bring about social change.  In Somalia, the influence of alQaeda has been weakened by the navy seals' strikes.  Just as important, the NGOs have brought about remarkable curtailment in the spread of AIDs, a disease long plagued South Africa.  Then too, far off Indonesia is exhibiting Islamic leadership internationally.  And, rebellion is seemingly lessening on the African continent, as witnessed by the containment of violence in Nigeria to its northeastern region.

But the clear winner in the Arab Spring movement is Egypt, led by its military junta. 

The thought has arisen among intellectuals in the West that the European nations and the US may be in a decline.  This impression is bolstered by the refusal of England to offer anything but aid to the displaced Syrians in surrounding countries, declining to assert leadership posture; and in the United States an indecision to support the rebel moderates on the Syrian battlefields against the loyal Assad forces.

What is a driving force in the US to near neutrality in the Syrian conflict is its middle class, weary of war and of being trodden upon by the rising tide of penniless workers around the world who are vying for jobs and the quest for a good life.  Even the unions are motivated to reach out boldly in renewed ways to the working class in its never-ending struggle with wealthy entrepreneurs.

As noted by Fared Zakaria in his show of October 13 on FOX news, China is joining the frantic rush.  It's not only seeking to win favor on the African continent by offering aid to native countries to develop their infrastructure and improve their trade posture on the world scene, but (though not brought out in Zakaria's piece) it is colonizing throughout that continent, much like Japan has done in South America.  Because of its huge population surplus at home, it is nurturing the emergence of their own cultural meccas on foreign soils. 

So, what's the rush propelling social change at this time?  It's the growing masses of youths coming on the scene--without jobs, without comfortable living quarters--with only a demand they make along with the poor and neglected whatever their age--that those who have should see them, not as interlopers on the social scene, but simply as members of the human race no different from those who have.  So that in the end, they, the next generation, will become property owners, too; and they will live the good life, too (even as presented on the TV!).  That vision of a tangible good life currently inspires and carries these youth forth toward property ownership and toward an equal prosperity. That vision will be passed on to future generations, based on the fundamental fact of earthly existence: we are altogether a race of homo sapiens!
.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

--I'm reviving the blog-series Studies in Interplay to include my learning from encounters with the world.  I've changed the blog's title to Didactics in recognition of its greater inclusiveness.  First item,
"Tea Partiers vs. High  Rollers:"  the near-sighted politicos vs. the far-sighted industrial capitalists.

--I've moved already into a senior living housing project close to downtown Las Vegas.  I've gotten used to being here--having located a place for dinner--The Las Vegas Rescue Mission, serving a really fine meal nightly; a quiet and pleasant public library for Internet stuff and frequent night faire--The West Charleston public library--and as backup, the Clark County Library, that features special events; and now a very, very nice place to live with a view of the hills in the east.  I also take advantage of the area's pantries that enable me to benefit from more food than I could afford to buy.  And, then there's the "Fremont Experience," not far away, which nightly serves as a street parade of fun and fancy for Vegas visitors and residents alike.  I'm in the process of locating an Episcopal Church.  But even more, more, more, through COX cable, I now can watch programs on the C-SPAN 1, 2, 3 channels!  Still (thank God!) I've yet to need the local medical care facilities, though I wouldn't have come to Vegas without having first checked that they're really, really, really, really spectacular!!!