With Friends like These…

In global politics there are often numerous words and terms been thrown around to describe supposedly undesirable elements – state sponsors of terror, rogue states and dictator among other things. But recently I’ve been thinking about a very simple word that is seemingly easy to understand – enemy. But what is an enemy?

One definition I came across suggests that an enemy is “a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent” or more generally speaking it is “something destructive or injurious in its effects”. Now I look at the state of global politics and economics (after all, we can’t separate those two) and I have to wonder who the real enemies of freedom are? Sure there are countries who perhaps don’t live up to the expectations of others within their own borders, but whose economic and other policies keep the rest of the world on the back foot? Yes it s true that this is a complex issue but at the very least there are those who claim to be on the side of freedom and democracy whose actions can at times be regarded as “antagonistic activities” and or are “destructive or injurious in its effects” even though they claim benevolence.

When then hear terms like “leaders of the free world” or “defenders of freedom” I can’t help but laugh (at the very least) at the gall of those using these terms. And, I have to ask the question: who are the real enemies of global freedom and human rights? After all, with friends like these who needs enemies?

On this day in 2008; yes TODAY…

Today, across the USA and possibly parts of the world too people are remembering the tragic and arguably preventable events which occurred on Tuesday, 11 September 2001 and which resulted in the deaths of nearly three thousand people. Without a doubt many of us remember those images of the Twin Towers and perhaps even remember where we were when we first heard.

But I thought I’d take on this opportunity to remember another tragic and preventable occurrence taking place today – the death of 16,000 children due to poverty, hunger, malnutrition and everything else that goes with it. But I guess that’s not really news-worthy, not to mention that those children are somewhere else out of sight so probably out of mind, not so?

Anyway, I just wanted to get that off my chest and air this sense of frustration I feel with the systematic impoverishment of those who don’t seem to matter. Some might ask me what I’m doing about this. Well, nothing directly at the moment but I guess I’m increasing my awareness; I’m educating myself, for now. But, for now I’ll close with something from a well-known (and occasionally controversial) 21st century leader…

"where you [are from] should not decide whether you live or whether you die..."

PS: There will be another 16,000 tomorrow…