Since the media world seems to be inordinately preoccupied with the race for the presidential nomination, I’ve decided to illuminate several recent occurrences, both here and abroad, that I found interesting.
The obvious immediate news focuses on several storms that ripped through the south of the country on “Fat Tuesday.” Some 50 plus people from several states perished as a result of the storms. Hopefully federal aid and support will be swift in getting to the victims.
This January Genarlow Wilson started college. You might recall that this is the young man from Georgia who was sent to prison for having consensual oral sex with a 15 year old classmate when he was 17. You might also recall that the law that put Wilson behind bars was an old one that actually forbade oral sex, even between married adults at one time. Even though the law was overturned as a result of his case, Wilson was kept behind bars at the behest of some very cruel state prosecutors. I’m glad that the young man can actually move on with his life now, and I wish him all the best in the years ahead. For a full account of Wilson’s dilemma, see the July 2007 post “A Grave Miscarriage of Justice” here at the Vortex.
On the economic front, the stock market continues to be on a super roller coaster ride. Unfortunately the ride headed down a steep hill this week. The Dow Jones Industrial average lost some 370 points on Super Tuesday and the trend continued downward the next day with the Dow losing over 60 points. The Nasdaq isn’t doing well either; it has lost some 13% of its volume since the start of the year. The unstable market, along with housing market troubles, credit woes, and a very weak US dollar are fueling fears that our economy is headed for an economic recession. Indeed, some critics think we’re already there…sadly.
Briefly, on the foreign front there continues to be unrest in Kenya following a disputed and unpopular election late last year. And although the violence briefly assuaged, tensions remain high and hostility persists. Where is the international community on this one?
On a positive note, I was pleased to see that when the newly elected parliament of Australia opens their first session next week, they will do something quite admirable: The government will offer a formal apology to the Aborigine population of Australia. The Aborigine’s are the indigenous people to Australia; they also happen to be the poorest member’s of Australian society. Strain between the Aborigine population and the general population has persisted for centuries. The apology is not only a kind gesture, but is seen as a huge step in mending tensions and righting injustices exacted on Aborigine’s. A formal government apology…now there’s a novel idea!
Till next time!
-Maelstrom
1 comment:
Vortex,
your blog should not be an attempt to be as neutral and cold-as-fish as the news statement from Reuters. In the Australian and news from Georgia you stated your oppinion. Great. Kenja was like a Reuters news.
Second and even more important: there is a male presidential candidate for the democratic party who has a good chance of winning. And you have less opinion about that than about the events in Kenja.
Kenja: It is a difficult situation for the international community. The two guys fighting were best friends at one time. Now both sides keep on fighting and blame the other for starting it and cheating during the election. Whom can you trust in a region of the world were tribal identification is so important? I think the Annan being there is the best thing that could be done and I hope that he will reduce the violence.
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