Having just returned from London, I was struck by the video below of tourists who cross the line with the famed Queen’s guard and force confrontations with these soldiers. For the most part, tourists were well mannered and respectful during my observation of the guards at Buckingham and the Tower. However, these videos show how some are incredibly rude and thoughtless.
Category: International
Conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe has reported that he was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents Monday when attempting to reenter the country. The reason appears his widely published video showing him crossing the border repeatedly from United States and Mexico while dressed as Osama bin Laden. The video succeeded in capturing what critics have complained about for years: that the border remain wide open and that the Administration is misleading the public on the ease with which potential terrorists could cross into the United States illegally. Whatever the merits of that video, it does seem to me to be either a form of journalism or political speech. It was also very embarrassing for Customs and the Administration. That makes the action troubling if O’Keefe was told, as he states, that he will be detained from now on whenever he tries to reenter the United States.
Continue reading “Controversial Filmmaker O’Keefe Detained At Border By Customs”
I have written columns and blogs through the years about the disturbing trend on U.S. campuses toward free regulation and controls. In the name of diversities and tolerance, college administrators and professors are enforcing greater and greater controls on speech –declaring certain views or terms to be forms of racism or more commonly “microaggressions.” The latter term is gaining support to expand the range of controls over speech and conduct to include things that are indirect or minor forms of perceived intolerance. The crackdown seems most prevalent in California where lists of “micro aggressions” seems to be mounting as a macroaggression on free speech. The new list of verboten terms out of University of California (Berkeley), headed by Janet Napolitano, captures the insatiable appetite for speech regulation. The school has asked faculty to stop using terms like “melting pot” or statements like “I believe the most qualified person should get the job.” They are now all microaggressions. Not only are school buying into the concept of microaggressions and speech regulation, but they are shaping a generation of students who seem to look for any possible interpretation of terms to take offensive at.
The Islamic State terror group (ISIS) appears to be preparing to destroy one of humanity’s greatest treasures: the ancient city of Palmyra. The Islamic extremists want to destroy any Western or non-Islamic forms of architecture or art or culture in their total devotion to the Koran. We have written about the past destruction of cities like Nimrod and Hatra that have left the civilized world in shock. Now, the group appears to have it sights on Palmyra, one of the most extensive and beautiful of the ancient cities left in Syria.
Continue reading “ISIS Plants Land Mines and Explosives Around Ancient City of Palmyra”
In 1991, President Bush announced the start of military operations to free Kuwait from the ravages of dictatorship after the invasion of Iraqi forces. He promised to restore Kuwait and its people to freedom. In the years following the liberation however Kuwait’s government has repeatedly shown that real freedom was confined to its ruling family and not average Kuwaitis. The sentencing in absentia of Rana Jassem al-Saadun is only the latest example. The female rights activist was given three years in jail for simply repeating parts of a speech by an opposition leader that was critical of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Kuwait’s authoritarian leader.
Despite heroic efforts of Chinese animal rights activists, the controversial Yulin Festival in China’s southern Guangxi province occurred on Sunday with the slaughter of up to 40,000 dogs and 10,000 cats — a practice widely condemned for its cruelty. Thousands of cats and dogs have been slaughtered at the Yulin Festival despite government promises to end the practice which has been condemned internationally on grounds of animal cruelty.
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
The vacuum brought forth by the absence of a strong state has led to increasing numbers of young women cast into forced marriages as compensation for perceived grievances between tribes. These marriages, called Fasliya Marriage for an Arabic word meaning marriages arranged for compensation, pose a serious threat to the civil rights of women in these tribes as they become pawns to be bartered between warring factions.
The increasing tribal tensions in areas of Iraq, and the absence of government law enforcement upholding federal laws banning the practice, has led to increases in frequency of these marriages through the resurrection of traditional tribal forms of conflict resolution.
The same week as Pope Francis’s historic encyclical warning of the dire dangers posed to humanity over climate change , scientists have issue new warnings that we are likely past the point of no-return to save humanity from catastrophe and possible extinction. Famed Australian microbiologist Frank Fenner, a key figure in the elimination of smallpox in the 1970s, now believes that humans will be extinct in 100 years after making the planet uninhabitable. Others have pointed out that the United States and other nations continue to adopt insufficient targets from carbon reduction and that our passing the critical “3C” threshold now appears all but assured due to opponents and deniers of climate change or reforms.
Continue reading “Scientists: Humanity’s End Is Now In Sight”
As widely rumored, Pope Francis has issued a historic papal encyclical that agrees with the vast majority of scientists that global warming is real, largely caused by mankind, and threatens the very future of humanity. He has called for emergency action to curtail carbon emissions by reducing fossil fuels and developing renewables.
We have often discussed the plight of women in Muslim nations as they fight virtual chattel status in some areas and religiously based discrimination. However, even with this long history of abuse of woman, Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, 21, could be forgiven for being a tad confused. Hadi wowed the audience at the Southeast Asia games with an amazing performance that garnered her nation six medals, including two gold medals. She was then denounced by a chorus of clerics and others for wearing a “revealing” leotard.
Regrettably, my seventh and final day in London has arrived. I made good use of the time before my afternoon flight but taking the Tube back to the Portobello district so that I could walk around and visit the antique stores when they opened between 9 and 10 am. I then went to visit the Hays Building and then finished with the HMS Belfast. For a military history nut, it was the perfect ending to a perfect stay in London.
On my occasional travel blog, I try to find an interesting hotel or hotels to offer my own review for our many readers who travel. It is of course subjective and the hotels can range from modestly priced lodging to more expensive options. On this stay, I opted for one of the more expensive hotels (due to a mix of business travel and discounts). I chose one of London’s newest and most discussed hotels: The Shangri-La at the Shard. The Shard is the towering hotel in the center of London (SE1). While I am very critical of much of the recent architecture in London which is truly hideous for the most part, the Shard is a beautiful building both inside and outside. (Photos published with permission of the Shangri-La).
Continue reading “London: The Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard Review”
The fifth day in London began (after a stop at the market for a “Scotch egg”) with a visit to Portobello Market and then went to Parliament to watch the debates before meeting with counterparts in the House of Commons. My only complaint is that I was unable to find a single station that showed the final game of Stanley Cup to watch my Blackhawks prevail over the Lightnings. Worse yet, two stations showed dart competitions again. Darts. Despite their artistic, political, and legal contributions of the world, England remains a terribly backward people when it comes to supports. First there is that “football” misunderstanding and then they show dart rather than hockey competitions. Nevertheless, I went on computer to check the results. If you listened hard in London, you could hear a cheer from near the top of the Shard early in the morning.
Continue reading “Day 6: London From Portobello to Parliament”
Today was another grand day in Londontown and then moved on to St. Paul’s Cathedral. That was the last stop for Leslie who is returning home today where I have to wrap up a few things in London.
Continue reading “Day Five: From St. Paul to Lord Nelson to Jeremy Bentham”
Day Four in London captured the wonderful diversity of London. We began at the lively flea markets of Camden and then went to see the antiquities of the renowned British Museum. Along the way was some great meals and we met some even greater people.
Continue reading “Day Four: From Flea Markets to The Elgin Marbles”