Bam AWOL on Vets Day
Charles Hurt
November 11, 2010
New York Post
WASHINGTON -- Today is Veterans Day. Do you know where your president is?
With his feeble flame of "hope" thoroughly doused here in the United States by last week's elections, President Obama has set out around the globe in search of throngs still enthralled by his flowery rhetoric.
He found them, of course, in Indonesia this week by telling them about how Americans must stop mistrusting Islam.
So that is why your president is halfway around the world instead of being here in the United States to celebrate the sacrifices American soldiers, sailors and airmen have made around the world to keep the real, still-burning flame of freedom alive.
Obama honored our veterans from afar by laying a wreath during a ceremony at an Army base in South Korea last night.
That is a distance from here matched only by the chasm that has opened up between him and the voters who elected him two years ago.
This aloofness of his really is becoming a problem.
Not that Obama doesn't appreciate the sacrifices of veterans. He absolutely does. Just ask the Indonesians.
He was in Jakarta for their Heroes Day this week to honor their veterans "who have sacrificed on behalf of this great country."
"This great country," of course, being Indonesia.
"When my stepfather was a boy, he watched his own father and older brother leave home to fight and die in the struggle for Indonesian independence," Obama told the audience.
And the White House wonders why so many people think there is something foreign about this guy.
In the same speech, Obama gave voice to a harsh criticism he has heard about freely elected governments.
"Today, we sometimes hear that democracy stands in the way of economic progress," he said.
The shocking statement raises the question: Where has Obama heard this fatuous claim and with whom has he been talking politics?
Thankfully, your president tepidly disputed this calumny against democracy, but the alarming questions remain. He went on to tell the Indonesians, "Democracy is messy."
"Not everyone likes the results of every election. You go through ups and downs," he said.
At least it sounds like Obama is starting to get the message voters sent him last week
Obama
Showing posts with label Indonesia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indonesia. Show all posts
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sex Tapes and Lies in Indonesia
Indonesia sex tape sparks call to control Internet
Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:47pm IST
By Sunanda Creagh
Reuters
JAKARTA (Reuters) - The release of video clips appearing to show top starlets having sex has sparked renewed calls for tighter Internet controls in majority-Muslim Indonesia and more use of a controversial anti-pornography law.
The anti-porn law, passed in 2008, was seen by many as a sign of the growing influence of conservative Islam in policy-making in traditionally moderate Indonesia, a worry for some investors hoping for pro-market reforms.
Police are now considering invoking it in an investigation into the release on the grainy clips that appear to show pop singer Nazril "Ariel" Irham having sex, in one clip with television star girlfriend Luna Maya, while in another with actress Cut Tari.
The stars have denied it is them. Local media reported Irham as saying his laptop was stolen last year and police have called the stars for questioning.
Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring has expressed disgust at the clips, which have dominated Indonesian news since being leaked earlier this month.
"Why would anyone tape such a private thing?" Sembiring was quoted as saying by local newspaper the Jakarta Post, which also reported him saying new rules were needed to ban "negative" Internet content.
Sembiring's Islam-based party PKS, seen as one of the most conservative parties in parliament, is a key member of President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono's ruling coalition and pushed earlier this year for more Internet censorship controls. The plan was dropped after public outcry.
The party's president, Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, told Reuters the clips showed inappropriate material was too easily accessible.
"To protect a community, there must be control, we cannot have total freedom," said the Saudi Arabia-educated politician. "To create comfort and overcome negative effects on communities who are not ready and not supposed to consume certain material, then controls are a very good idea."
When asked if he would support limiting access to sites like YouTube or Facebook, Ishaaq said he would "if it was in the national interest". He expected the anti-porn law, used to charge nightclub dancers this year, to be used more often in future.
If letters to the editor are any judge, reactions from ordinary Indonesians to the country's first celebrity sex tape scandal have varied from voyeuristic interest to irritation.
"I think corruption is worse for society than a few sex videos," one scribe, "Peter", wrote to the Jakarta Post.
sex tapes Islam
Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:47pm IST
By Sunanda Creagh
Reuters
JAKARTA (Reuters) - The release of video clips appearing to show top starlets having sex has sparked renewed calls for tighter Internet controls in majority-Muslim Indonesia and more use of a controversial anti-pornography law.
The anti-porn law, passed in 2008, was seen by many as a sign of the growing influence of conservative Islam in policy-making in traditionally moderate Indonesia, a worry for some investors hoping for pro-market reforms.
Police are now considering invoking it in an investigation into the release on the grainy clips that appear to show pop singer Nazril "Ariel" Irham having sex, in one clip with television star girlfriend Luna Maya, while in another with actress Cut Tari.
The stars have denied it is them. Local media reported Irham as saying his laptop was stolen last year and police have called the stars for questioning.
Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring has expressed disgust at the clips, which have dominated Indonesian news since being leaked earlier this month.
"Why would anyone tape such a private thing?" Sembiring was quoted as saying by local newspaper the Jakarta Post, which also reported him saying new rules were needed to ban "negative" Internet content.
Sembiring's Islam-based party PKS, seen as one of the most conservative parties in parliament, is a key member of President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono's ruling coalition and pushed earlier this year for more Internet censorship controls. The plan was dropped after public outcry.
The party's president, Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, told Reuters the clips showed inappropriate material was too easily accessible.
"To protect a community, there must be control, we cannot have total freedom," said the Saudi Arabia-educated politician. "To create comfort and overcome negative effects on communities who are not ready and not supposed to consume certain material, then controls are a very good idea."
When asked if he would support limiting access to sites like YouTube or Facebook, Ishaaq said he would "if it was in the national interest". He expected the anti-porn law, used to charge nightclub dancers this year, to be used more often in future.
If letters to the editor are any judge, reactions from ordinary Indonesians to the country's first celebrity sex tape scandal have varied from voyeuristic interest to irritation.
"I think corruption is worse for society than a few sex videos," one scribe, "Peter", wrote to the Jakarta Post.
sex tapes Islam
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Indonesian Traditions
Indonesians appease volcano gods with sacrifices
Nov 2, 2008
By DITA ALANGKARA
Associated Press Writer
MOUNT BROMO, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian legend has it that six centuries ago, a princess hurled her youngest child into a fiery volcano to appease mountain gods who had granted her fertility.
Today thousands of pilgrims flock to Mount Bromo on East Java each year to offer the spirits food, live animals and money and ask for prosperity and health. Bromo, a 7,641-foot volcano, is one of Java's most popular tourist attractions.
The poor arrive days ahead of the ceremony, carrying fishing nets to catch money and anything edible. They camp under tarps in the crater atop the mountain's chilly slopes.
Yadnya Kasada, as the ritual is known, started in the 15th century in the final days of the Majapahit Hindu empire. As the story goes, Princess Roro Anteng and her husband, Joko Seger, settled in the foothills of the volcano.
Unable to have children, the ruling couple went in despair to pray to the mountain gods who, according to the tale, agreed to help in exchange for the ultimate sacrifice of their last child.
The couple consented and had 25 children. But when the time came to give up their son, they refused and the gods became furious. They threatened disaster and the destruction of the village unless the couple made good on the deal.
Kesuma, as the boy was named, was flung into the depths of Mount Bromo. The dying child is believed to have called out to villagers to visit the mountain each year and bring gifts to express their gratitude.
Indonesians
Nov 2, 2008
By DITA ALANGKARA
Associated Press Writer
MOUNT BROMO, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian legend has it that six centuries ago, a princess hurled her youngest child into a fiery volcano to appease mountain gods who had granted her fertility.
Today thousands of pilgrims flock to Mount Bromo on East Java each year to offer the spirits food, live animals and money and ask for prosperity and health. Bromo, a 7,641-foot volcano, is one of Java's most popular tourist attractions.
The poor arrive days ahead of the ceremony, carrying fishing nets to catch money and anything edible. They camp under tarps in the crater atop the mountain's chilly slopes.
Yadnya Kasada, as the ritual is known, started in the 15th century in the final days of the Majapahit Hindu empire. As the story goes, Princess Roro Anteng and her husband, Joko Seger, settled in the foothills of the volcano.
Unable to have children, the ruling couple went in despair to pray to the mountain gods who, according to the tale, agreed to help in exchange for the ultimate sacrifice of their last child.
The couple consented and had 25 children. But when the time came to give up their son, they refused and the gods became furious. They threatened disaster and the destruction of the village unless the couple made good on the deal.
Kesuma, as the boy was named, was flung into the depths of Mount Bromo. The dying child is believed to have called out to villagers to visit the mountain each year and bring gifts to express their gratitude.
Indonesians
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Indonesian beheadings
Teenagers beheaded on the way to school
By Ade Rina and Tomi Soetjipto in Jakarta
October 31, 2005
Indonesian police stepped up security patrols yesterday in the Poso area of Sulawesi, plagued by sectarian violence [Do you understand that sectarian can mean a LOT of things and nothing at the same time!!] for years, after three teenaged Christian girls were beheaded.
Six machete-wielding men attacked the 16 to 19-year-old students as they walked to school on Saturday on the eastern island, police said.
"So far no witness has been questioned and no suspect arrested," a police spokesman, Made Rai, said from Poso, about 1500 kilometres north-east of Jakarta. A fourth student survived and had described the attack.
Mr Rai said about 1000 police, including reinforcements from other parts of the country, were securing the remote regency of Poso, with another 300 officers due to arrive yesterday.
The three headless bodies of the girls, dressed in brown uniforms, were left at the site of the attack. Residents found their heads at separate locations two hours later.
********************************
Read the article and then ask yourself - what is the glaring issue that is ignored!
Islam
By Ade Rina and Tomi Soetjipto in Jakarta
October 31, 2005
Indonesian police stepped up security patrols yesterday in the Poso area of Sulawesi, plagued by sectarian violence [Do you understand that sectarian can mean a LOT of things and nothing at the same time!!] for years, after three teenaged Christian girls were beheaded.
Six machete-wielding men attacked the 16 to 19-year-old students as they walked to school on Saturday on the eastern island, police said.
"So far no witness has been questioned and no suspect arrested," a police spokesman, Made Rai, said from Poso, about 1500 kilometres north-east of Jakarta. A fourth student survived and had described the attack.
Mr Rai said about 1000 police, including reinforcements from other parts of the country, were securing the remote regency of Poso, with another 300 officers due to arrive yesterday.
The three headless bodies of the girls, dressed in brown uniforms, were left at the site of the attack. Residents found their heads at separate locations two hours later.
********************************
Read the article and then ask yourself - what is the glaring issue that is ignored!
Islam
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