Category Archives: Government Oppression

The Rastafarian Flag; Image by dubdem sound system, CC BY 2.0

On April 4, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness made a historic apology for the grave injustice of an attack made on Rastafarians between April 11 and 12, 1963 the year after Jamaica gained its independence from Great Britain. Alexander Bustamante was the countrys prime minister then, and he headed the Jamaica Labour Party the same party that Holness leads today. Eight Jamaicans were killed in Coral Gardens (near Montego Bay) on what has come to be called Bad Friday, since it was Easter at the time.

As many as 150 Rastafarians were rounded up, arrested, beaten and abused; their dreadlocks, which have religious significance, were cut. The series of events that led up to the attack were part of an atmosphere of systematic oppression, discrimination and open hostility towards Rastafarians that had begun prior to independence, all of which were documented in the 2011 film Bad Friday.

The actual apology came later that afternoon in parliament; several media outlets shared the full statement.

The prime minister announced that six lots at a historically relevant property at Pinnacle in rural St. Catherine would be declared as a protected heritage site by the Jamaican National Heritage Trust; he also promised assistance for the Coral Gardens Benevolent Society and said a trust fund of no less than J $10 million (just over U.S. $75,000) would be established for the benefit of survivors. The Pinnacle property has been the source of some controversy. It is regarded as the first Rastafari settlement in Jamaica and the former home of Garveyite Leonard Howell, who is widely considered the founder of the Rastafari movement. After Howells death legal battles began over the ownership of the land.

Holness also acknowledged public defender Arlene Harrison Henrys investigation and subsequent report on the matter, which was submitted to Parliament in December 2015. In it she recommended an apology and reparations for the survivors.

There was more praise for the prime ministers statement. One Jamaican referred to a recent unpopular announcement about property taxes:

For Andrew Holness to take the responsibility, and apologize in his tenure to the Rastafarian community is another step towards sharpening our independence. Its the same way children must take responsibility for the ills of their parents, just as they took the harvest of prayers and unmerited blessings so they can alleviate held over bitterness. Well done servant First Minister. History will absolve you for hiking property prices when they find out you were a true statesman. The world is not going to the devil, it is going to God. #thoughtsonimproving

While Peter Phillips, who had just been formally welcomed as the new leader of the opposition in parliament, welcomed the move, one Jamaican cynically referred to Phillips younger days as a practising Rastafarian:

So our PM has done more for Rastafarian in the 18 months he is in power, compared to the leader of the opposition who himself was a Rastafarian. #leadership #coralgardens #goodgovernance

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Jamaican Government Issues Apology, Reparations for the 1963 Brutal Attack on Rastas - Atlanta Black Star

WASHINGTON:A bipartisan group of lawmakers have urged US President Donald Trump to raise the issue of human rights violations in China, in particular, those related to Tibet when he meets his Chinese counterpart this week.

Simultaneously, influential US lawmakers have introduced legislations in both House of Representative and the Senate to promote access by Americans to Tibetan areas, which is routinely denied by Chinese authorities.

The Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Marco Rubio and Tammy Baldwin, while in the House of Representative it was introduced by Congressmen Jim McGovern and Randy Hultgren. Trump will host his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida from April 6 to 7.

"The crackdown on civil society and deterioration of rule of law in China in the past few years appears to signal a systematic effort by Chinese Communist Party leadership to tighten its controls on free expression and undermine the will of its own people," Senator Ben Cardin and Rubio wrote in a joint letter to the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

They said the US should not simply stand idly by as these universal rights are abrogated and the Chinese people suffer the consequences. A failure of US leadership on these issues is not a good message for the United States to send to China, its allies in the region, and the world, they said.

"We hope you will urge China to do more to improve the cultural and spiritual plight of Tibetans, not just their economic status...Just like in Tibet, China appears unwilling to comply with its international human rights commitments in Xinjiang, where Uighurs continue to report systemic torture, and restrictions on religious freedom," they said.

In a statement, McGovern said America needs to stand up for human rights at home and abroad. "If the US is serious about protecting human rights in Tibet, we need to do more than talk the talk we need to walk the walk. This bill will ensure there are consequences for China's repressive policies," McGovern said.

"The Chinese government's oppression of Tibet includes keeping it off limits to Americans, journalists and others who can shine a bright light on the human rights violations committed daily against the Tibetan people," said Rubio, chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

"We should not accept a double standard where Chinese officials can freely visit anywhere in the US while they block our diplomats, journalists and Tibetan-Americans from visiting Tibet," he said, adding that the bipartisan bill will hold China accountable for its oppression and make it clear that if Chinese officials want to enjoy the privilege of entering the US, they must allow equal access to Tibet.

Welcoming the Congressional legislation, Matteo Mecacci, president of International Campaign for Tibet, said this bill is another example of the consistent support the US Congress has for Tibet.

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Trump urged to raise Tibet and human rights issues with Chinese ... - The New Indian Express

Editors column: This is the second commentary in a three-part series on the First Amendment.

If you look to the text of the Bill of Rights, the very first thing you will find affirmed in the First Amendment is freedom of religion: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. It precedes freedom of the press, the right to petition the government, the right to fair and reasonable punishment, and even to due process. If youre like most people, youve probably seen the Bill of Rights numerous times without this ever striking you as something of special importance.

Yet, the primary place of freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights is no accident. Democratic governments of all varieties are committed to the ideal of political liberalism: that the government, as far as possible, should remain neutral regarding conceptions of the good life, allowing its citizens to pursue the good as they see it, consistent with their respecting the equal rights of others. It was an ideal developed first by the social contract thinkers of the 17th and 18th centuries out of the recognition, still best stated by John Locke in his Letter Concerning Toleration, that a government which fails to respect neutrality engages in oppression and sometimes even in outright violence. This was a recognition powerfully demonstrated to them by the experiences of the Wars of Religion and the English Civil Wars.

What political liberalism promises us is the right to formulate our own understanding of the good lifeof what we find valuable, what we believe right or wrong, and what makes our life meaningful and valuable to us. It places the meaning of our lives into our own hands; politically it makes our lives our own. These understandings of the good life are produced by what the American political philosopher John Rawls calls our comprehensive doctrines, our basic world views. For many of us, this will be the religion weve been raised within or adopted. For some of us, those world views are unconnected to any religious tradition. Either way, without government neutrality regarding these comprehensive doctrines, the very meaning of our lives is taken from us, to be determined by political or bureaucratic fiat.

It is for this reason that violations of government neutrality, such as the endorsement of religious doctrine by proclamation, practice or institutionalization, or by allowing the religious rights of one group to restrict the equal rights of others, is so pernicious. When a government demands that we declare allegiance to some conception of the divine (or declare oaths to a particular claim to revealed truth) to be considered trustworthy citizens (especially if it punishes us for refusing); when it speaks entirely through the concepts and images of one religious tradition; or treats us as suspect due merely to our religious adherence (or lack thereof), it assumes for itself the ability to decide for us and enforce on us the meaning of our own lives.

Freedom of religion is placed first in the Bill of Rights because without it we are not free to think and act for ourselves, voiding the significance of all other rights. In the maintenance of freedom of religion (which must include the right not to adhere to any religion to be meaningful), nothing less is at stake than our basic autonomy that justifies all other rights.

Jason Beyer is a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Illinois Valley Community College. This commentary is his own and does not necessarily reflect the views of IVCC. It has been submitted by Voices from the Prairie, a local citizens group that is committed to upholding the values of tolerance, fairness and inclusion in American society and political life.

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Freedom of religion - Bureau County Republican

The Students for Justice in Palestine held a rally in July denouncing the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Courtesy of SJP

Anti-Semitic. Hateful. Divisive. Disgusting.

These were all words I heard as descriptions for the Associated Students of Madisonresolution targeting companies that profit off the oppression of black and brown bodies. Over and over again, Ive heard how this resolution would divide our campus, how it would bring about hatred and how it would particularly ruin job prospects for business students.

I could not help but notice the perpetual hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance exhibited by critiques of the resolution.

How each person whohad a qualm with the resolutionscritique of Israeli companieshad no words for the companies that profited off free labor from black menin our prisons. How no one who thought the bill was hateful addressed the hateful and brutal treatment of our Latinand indigenous brothers and sisters who face oppression at the hands of companies building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico borderto the Dakota Access Pipeline. How few people who described Israel as a beacon of light and a democracy addressed the very true and real dehumanization of Palestine people by the Israeli government. Time and time again, these narratives ignored the marginalized communities.

Students for Justice in Palestine speaker on postponed divestment proposal: Vote yesAfter a series of performances centered around social justice, Palestinian-American poet and writerRemi Kanazi discussed this weeks proposal to the Read

I, as an ally to my Palestinian brothers and sisters, should not be labeled as an anti-Semite for challenging the policies in place that demonize Palestinians each and every day. What about acknowledging and condemning police brutality, restrictions on mobility, building of illegal settlements and countless other human rights violations in Israel makes me an anti-Semite? Am I hateful for condemning the treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli court system? It is alarming that any critique or voice opposition against cruel policies is faced with erasure and silencing.

As a blackwoman, empty messages of solidarity with the blackcommunity to justify arguments echoed across the room repeatedly. The hypocrisy of those who cheered and clapped when speakers hollowly chanted Black Lives Matter after ignoring the oppression of blackbodies in the resolution was blinding. Individuals lectured a black council member on how Israel invented the Black Lives Matter movement when the systematic oppression of Ethiopian black Jews through police brutality and forced sterilization of women is well-documented.

As a minority student on this campus, I have seen this divisiveness play a role in every situation that arises when marginalized students voice their concerns. When students marched on campus after the police-involved shootings ofMike Brown and Eric Garner, other students opposed it, saying Black Lives Matter was hateful and divisive to our campus and to white students.

ASM indefinitely postpones divestment resolution after hours of heated debateAfter six hours of heated debate, the University of Wisconsin Associated Students of Madison voted 13-12-1 to postpone aresolutiondemanding the Read

While I agree with the sentiment that hostility will not be the solution to these polarized problems, I am quite fed up with the hollow cries of dialogue and discussion. When our well-being and life is not valued on a basic level, no amount of dialogue or coffee discussions will fix the problem at hand.

When a speaker could not even utter the name Palestine and essentially erased the narrative and experiences of my Palestinian brothers and sisters, what form of dialogue will move that situation forward?

Black and browncommunities constantly have to play safe when addressing issues pertaining to their own well-being and survival. My Palestinian brothers and sisters cant critique the very government that treats them like second-class citizens without being labeled as an anti-Semite. My blackbrothers and sisters cant chant black lives matter without being labeled as radical or divisive. My indigenous brothers and sisters are often left out of the narrative entirely and met with the same labels of divisiveness.

Time and time again, our oppression is left on the back burner for being too divisive, too controversial and too much of a burden to handle at the current political time. We are constantly told now is not the time, this is not the appropriate place, this is not the appropriate strategy.

Naman Siad ([emailprotected]) is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin law school. She also sits on ASM.

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Anti-BDS ideas are latest in long trend of oppression - The Badger Herald

The government continues to confuse its role as public servant with demigod status, evidence of a tyrannical style of leadership says Malcom J Strachan . . .

The era in which we exist today allows us to participate in a more informed society.

Regular citizens have become active in voicing their opinions about the issues plaguing the country.

During the current administrations tenure, we have certainly been plagued by more than our fair share of issues.

We are watching our beautiful piece of paradise become a wasteland - under siege from a crime wave, corruption, hopelessness, rising unemployment, a failing economy, decrease in home ownership and an education system that is failing our youth.

Bahamians are understandably irate at the decline of their overall quality of life.

With most of the world climbing out of the ruins of the 2008-09 Great Recession, the Bahamas is still trying to stagger its way back to economic stability.

The former opposition party and now governing Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) blazed the campaign trail with a laundry list of promises that was music to the ears of many Bahamians who desired change. The PLPs promises to essentially be the anti-Free National Movement government is what led to them becoming its replacement.

Retrospectively, despite the majority of the electorate buying into the PLPs vision for the Bahamas circa 2012, we have been taken for a ride.

Crime has gotten considerably worse. Murders under the PLP have far eclipsed the 490 that were plastered on billboards around the island during their previous campaign season - Saturdays fatal shooting in Freeport, which was the 40th murder in the first three months of 2017, took the total under the Christie administration to 609, according to The Tribunes records.

While there may be a direct correlation between the level of youth unemployment and the rise in crime, the government has been more concerned with throwing national parties, costing in excess of $60m through Carnival and other distractions.

This is a far cry from the party that proclaimed that they believed in Bahamians. The mortgage relief programme designed to reverse the effects of mortgage foreclosures and save the middle class, per the PLPs 2012 Charter for Governance, has failed miserably.

The PLP implemented Value-Added Tax (VAT) and promised that revenue from it would be used to reduce our national debt. Oddly enough, after accumulating $1.14bn in VAT since 2014, the national debt that was projected to be $5bn after the 2012-2013 fiscal year is now a whopping $7bn. The Prime Ministers most recent report on VAT has not satisfied most thinking Bahamians. However, Mr Christie would dare say that his report should silence those that lack confidence in his words. The countrys self-proclaimed economically savvy government have crashed this ship into four credit downgrades - highlighted by a weak economy, still overly-dependent on tourism and shuttered hotel projects. Despite these realities that Bahamians experience every day, the government still arrogantly suggests that it has done a good job.

It continues to confuse its role as public servant with demigod status; either patronising us with more undelivered promises or becoming hostile under questioning from the public.

The latest to suffer under this governments tyrannical style of leadership is political activist, Omar Archer. Archers unfiltered and controversial style of exposing the government has led him to becoming quite popular in the country of late. Prominent members of society, particularly the Prime Minister, have been in Archers crosshairs, as he has been leaking startling information and threatened to expose more officials from the PLP, as well as the Democratic National Alliance. We knew it was only a matter of time before this was all going to come to a screeching halt.

On Friday, Archer was arrested. A warrant was put out for his arrest for allegedly being in possession of an unlicenced firearm. The warrant was issued after a photograph of Archer was posted on Facebook holding a shotgun in 2013. To think that the photo, which had been online for four years, would only provoke police action at this time after Archers trashing of the government should concern Bahamians throughout this country. The firearm, as Archer had previously posted, was licenced, but that did not stop the authorities from seeking his capture.

While we would not seek to infer any political motives to the actions of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, it is concerning that Archers arrest has taken place at this time. After all, he, like all of us, should be free to speak our minds, to challenge authority and speak truth to power.

Article 23. (1) of our Constitution speaks to our right of freedom of speech:

Except with his consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, and for the purposes of this Article the said freedom includes freedom to hold opinions, to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his correspondence.

Those on the frontlines have not been the only people that the government has been trying to suppress. Facebook activism has become one of the mechanisms by which many groups of regular citizens voice their displeasure with the way the country is being run.

The PLP has had to double down on their public relations efforts and deploy operatives in the social sphere to disparage those who would dare to speak ill against the Emperor and his court. Much to the fury of the people, the government sought to quietly table the Interception of Communications Bill under the guise of a crime fighting measure. Most fair-minded Bahamians see this as a ploy by the government to allow them to legally spy on our phone calls and emails without our knowledge or permission.

We are living within a system that allows for the oppression and punishment of its citizenry for challenging the autocratic PLP-styled leadership, despite our constitutional rights.

We, as a people, need to remove the veil from our eyes. Perry Christie has been in political office for as long as half the country has been alive, and he still wants to add another five years to his resume. The PLP is proving to be relentless in its mission to retain power. Technology has allowed information to circulate around the country much faster than in previous election cycles, presenting an obvious difficulty for a government that is not transparent and accountable.

Therefore, the PLP has one weapon at its disposal - it must tarnish the image of anyone that dares to challenges it. That is why the work of civic groups and activist groups, such as We March, are so important. That is why you, the average citizen, are so important. You control this country - not the politicians. We must remind them of this fact, over and repeatedly, before its too late.

Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net

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Insight: The Oppression Of Expression Under Emperor Christie - Bahamas Tribune

The Trump administration recently reversed the official interpretation of Title IX, effectively removing protections for transgender youth in public schools. This action demonstrates President Trumps utter disregard for the rights and freedoms of these young people and the LGBTQ community as a whole. A few weeks ago, the US Supreme Court refused to hear the case of Gavin Grimm, a transgender high school student in Gloucester, Virginia, who is fighting his school board for the freedom to use the restroom fitting with his gender identity. I cannot stand by in silence as the federal government attacks my LGBTQ brothers and sisters. We must all stand together, united in our diversity, to support, protect and empower one another.

We live in a society where LGBTQ individuals and transgender people especially are routinely harassed and bullied for being true to who they are. From national tragedies like the Orlando shooting to everyday bullying, discrimination and violence have become something that this community is forced to deal with on a regular basis. As a lesbian, I understand what its like to be targeted for being different and how challenging it can be to be yourself in a society that doesnt always embrace diversity. It breaks my heart to imagine what this feels like for a transgender teen who is still trying to figure out who they are.

Being a teenager is tough for everyone youre emotionally vulnerable, youre under pressure to perform well in school and make friends, and youre trying to make your way in the world. Now imagine being LGBTQ with the looming threat of harassment and discrimination for being different. Growing up as a lesbian in Missouri, I was called a dyke more times than I can count and on a high school trip to an amusement park, my girlfriend and I had garbage thrown at us by other kids just for holding hands in line. Its so disheartening to know that over ten years later, LGBTQ teens are still facing intolerance at multiple levels.

Knowing my own experience, I can only imagine what it must be like as a transgender teenager today with this added threat of the federal government undermining their rights to feel safe and empowered in school.

While at times I faced blatant harassment, the government wasnt able to diminish my existence by mandating where I am able to be myself. This administrations agenda isnt just about bathrooms its about marginalizing an already targeted community by taking away their basic freedom of expression and devaluing their experience.

Without the support of the government, LGBTQ people, transgender people and transgender youth especially, need the support of their peers. Its devastating to see the rates of suicide among transgender teens (41%) compared to that of the overall population (4.6%). We as a community have to stand up for one another and we as a nation have to support everyone, especially those marginalized.

Advocacy is about standing together in the face of oppression. Regardless of personal experience, we have a responsibility to join as allies, friends and supporters with those bravely fighting for justice. Without the governments backing, its up to each and every one of us to stand with Gavin, transgender people and all communities facing discrimination. We must raise our voices, advocate for our beliefs and demand better.

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'Advocacy is About Standing Together in the Face of Oppression' - Huffington Post

3S Artspace is pleased will present a special screening of the film "1984" on April 4, the day the protagonist of George Orwell's iconic and prophetic 1948 novel, "1984," Winston Smith, starts his forbidden diary. In this chilling film adaptation of the Orwell book, Winston rebels against his oppressive and controlling government and Big Brother.

3S Artspace is one of more than 100 independent cinemas in the U.S. that will be screening this classic and timely film on April 4, 2017. Executive Director Beth Falconer is thrilled to have 3S Artspace participate in this national effort to bring "1984" to the screen.

The arts and freedom of expression go hand in hand," Falconer said. "Music, dance, theater, film, written and spoken word - they all provide avenues to greater empathy and understanding.

Each theater participating in this screening day has chosen a non-profit to share their net proceeds with and we have chosen Arts in Reach, a non-profit organization that helps teen girls in Rockingham and Strafford counties develop confidence and gain key life skills such as collaboration, goal-setting, leadership, and communication while discovering new and creative means of self-expression through the performing and visual arts. AIR spends two weeks at 3S Artspace each summer and we see first hand the impact that they have on youth," Falconer said.

At the screening, 3S Artspace will also be announcing an upcoming summer exhibit in the gallery directly related to the Orwellian themes of privacy and power. Trevor Hughes, president and CEO of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, will join 3S for this announcement just before the screening.

The film takes place in April of 1984, in post-atomic war London, the capital city of the repressive totalitarian state of Oceania. Here the government completely manipulates the masses by controlling their thoughts, altering history and even changing the meaning of words to suit its needs. Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a government bureaucrat whose job is rewriting history and erasing people from existence. While his co-worker Parsons (Gregor Fisher) seems content to follow the states laws, Winston starts to write in a secret diary despite the fact the Big Brother is watching everyone at all times by way of two way monitors. He silently suffers and tries to comprehend his oppression, which forbids individual human behaviors such as free thinking and romantic relationships. He meets Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), who works for the Ministry of Truth, and they engage in a stoic love affair. They are soon found out, and Winston is interrogated and tortured by his former friend OBrien (Richard Burton in his final film appearance).

The film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Michael Radford was released in 1984. It is the second adaptation of Orwells book (a previous one was released in 1956) and was the winner of two Evening Standard British Film Awards: Best Film (Michael Radford, Director), Best Actor (John Hurt).

For more information, please visit http://www.3Sarts.org.

Go & Do

What: Screening of '1984'

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 4

Where: 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth

Tickets: $10, $8 for 3S Artspace members

More info: http://www.3Sarts.org

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'1984' to screen at 3S Artspace April 4 - Seacoastonline.com

Introduction: Who Really Is Zanu?

A political organization that timely took an opportunity to talk right language at the right time on the need to fight in order to gain independence. She fought along side other liberation movement organization in the frontline to liberate the country. All Zimbabweans, black and white, one way or other supported the liberation struggle because of the language spoken THEN which resonated with Independence FOR THE MAJORITY. Reality demands that we acknowledge that after thirty-eight years, the same condition exists where black elites, by forced consent, oppress majority using the army and agencies of state security more than the electorate. The sad reality in NATIONALISTS is that founders are made heroes. Since often time they neither engage in battles nor their children, Nationalists often live to distort the narrative of the struggle, so did Robert Mugabe and his cohorts in Zanu.

Today Zanu is an organization politically divorced from the masses she claims she fought to uphold. Zanu is not the few in the hierarchy of the party, the army, intelligence service agency, police and/or prison services. Consider how all these individuals in the hierarchies of all the government and party institutions have amassed wealthy to themselves. Zanu is a corrosive corrupt organization using history of torture and violence to further few individuals interests an advantage. Because she has got away with it without punishment for lack of concerted leadership in opposition politics, a parasitic idea runs in many Zimbabweans that forming a political organization may be an opening to opportunity that Zanu met with at independence to date. Both the narrative and conception including context is wrong and needs urgent changing

Contexting Perceptions on Constitution and Democracy

Many Zimbabweans, in my view, when it comes to elections in the country remain in denial for fear of standing up and confronting Mr. Mugabe's Zanu system as a collective than as a fractured bunch of individuals projecting their ambitions under cover of opposition political parties. We all know that unity commanded from outside the goal of National Interest, but on selfishness and individualism than from a national focus always fails. We further have witnessed, in the last thirty-eight years of Zimbabwe independence, of people driven by a presumed collective ambition to remove oppressive government of Mr. Mugabe Zanu who, however, were used to benefit Zanu instead. That said, an observation has to be made that putting faith in solutions ON CONSTITUTIONAL change of government through election with Zanu entrenched in power control as is and has been, needs as a REALITY CHECK, in order for people to cease have false hope. What is relevant is that Zimbabweans anywhere ought to move and effectively organize for an ANTI OPPRESSION MOVEMENT to which every Zimbabwean has cause and reason to affiliate. In a movement we act together on an issue. In Zimbabwe OPPRESSION, in form and spirit; spearheaded on a Zanu ideology of self enrichment through corruption practices keeps destroying life pattern of citizens seeding instead the spirit of DIVISION, GREEDY AND CORRUPTION. These three evil spirits are a cancer that has paralyzed any government in the world if not attempting to take full control. At least 95% of Zimbabweans of all walk of life agree WE HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED FAR TOO LONG BY ONE MAN UNDER ONE PARTY beyond measure.

An open threat that faces Zimbabweans outside today is that in her desperation to reduce strong MOVEMENT pressure on itself, Zanu may try and get away with a legislation that arbitrarily remove citizenship from Zimbabweans who have stayed away FROM ZIMBABWE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS through NON CONSTITUTIONAL but threats on their lives so they do not come back home. To the extent that many talk of if you want to meet with peace in Zimbabwe do not talk against the government, this is death to democracy and an almost successful BLACKMAIL to a people experiencing political fatigue I understand and believe in one thing, namely, DISPUTE on BIRTHRIGHT & LAND are two issues that can cause permanent political instability to any country, region and hamper growth, even of the Africa Union (AU). Consider the case of Israel as a geographical entity from inception and see how the world has spin and rotate on it at heavy costs to life and resources. Building economic welfare for people including the development of the country, TODAY 2017, offer better prospects for political solutions in Zimbabwe than to lean on political views and ambitions of individuals. GREEDY sits at the center of one big setback to politics of achievement in Zimbabwe. Too much politics of INGRATIATION leads the way to CORRUPTION marring the already suffering image on perception and contexting of NATIONAL INTEREST in Zimbabweans vocabulary, culture and language. At worst, National Interest is undefined, therefore, does not guide the culture of doing things. A culture of wild competitiveness founded on selfishness and avarice, instead, dominates the intelligence of most people.

The urgency of a Movement for Freedom in Zimbabwe (MFFZ) has never been more desirable. Appropriately articulated by both mature and upcoming persons who can support the birth to a mass movement with logistics and intelligence of street smart leadership will inevitably bring masses, workers, intelligentsia and certain levels of the security together. Study of intelligence necessary to convict poor governance practices that went uncontrolled for three decades only needs simple minded, honesty people of integrity who talk the language of PERSUATION to BELIEVE A RIGHT and STAND FOR THAT RIGHT. Automatically this nullifies history of rhetoric and sloganeering as cause for failure to deliver economic development policies conversant with creation of employment. Need for political, moral, corporate transparency and accountability has, of necessity, to permeate VALUES of a New Leadership intelligence and perception.

There is common understanding of the fear in many people to challenge the regime in view of how the regime has demonstrated ISOLATIONIST BRUTALLITY BORN ON VIOLENCE, PUNISHMENT and, IF NEED BE, MEMING and/or MAKING PEOPLE PHYSICALLY DISAPPEAR; has shaken many of us to disbelief, discontent and disgust shock. Our core values in Christian love have, as a result, suffered distortion and thrown many of us into denial. The resolve not to MAKE US SURRENDER OUR POWER OF COLLECTIVE WILL and POWER for PROTESTING ACTION and STOP VIOLANCE; and to RESTORE PEACE is inevitably the ONLY SOLUTION given the time it has taken us to be where we are today-mentally, socially, economically, morally, ethicallyyou name it. We are at the worst moments of the post independence era. Working as individuals, either in opposition political parties or persons THAN AS A MOVEMENT, has RENDERED US VULNERABLE, MANIPULABLE increasing aggression from paid mercenaries in the ranks of the army and civilians. With same determination we need to INTELLGENTLY rise and demand our right. We must respect the motives of the liberation struggle not the individuals contradictory and selfish, mercenary and small minded styles.

Intelligence in Good Timing

Time is opportune and events, even in Africa, are seeing a change of heart against Dictators from moderate human rights leadership. There are no governments today openly and willingly ready to risk supporting oppressive regimes given the stance taken by ECOWAS regional leadership who facilitated the taking out of the Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh as a response to the Gambian people's cry for freedom. (see among other readings the March 29, 2017 Freedom Newspaper, Gambia Premier Online newspaper) The only other problem that need undoing in Zimbabwe is to overcome Zanu propaganda in the public and its dissemination machinery in the country. Bearing in mind that land telephones are neither reliable nor useful anymore in Zimbabwe today, a plan that makes WhatsApp the best tool to communicate both inside and outside the country. Many people abroad are ready to return with or without the cooperation of Zanu hotheads. Need for working together comes into play as soon as we substitute our enemy number one-OPPRESIVE SYSTEM AND IDEOLOGY and replace it with RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRNASIPARENCY without affiliating to a political vacuum currently existing. People know and believe in the future and have will power and sacrifice to change government peacefully. SELFISHNESS is a mark of lacking in maturity among anyone who claims to leadership.

The Effects of History on the Present Turn of Events in Zimbabwe*

Nationalism in all its forms and awareness was, in part, after the second world war responsible for the exposure of black soldiers to the 'humaneness' of whites therefore changing the whole black people perception on historical notion that whites were some kind of 'gods' in superiority to blacks as false. That whites cried, felt pain and died too as well as having some fears like any other humans. This increased the sentiments for the demand of self government among blacks in the colonies and world over irrespective of whether they understood constitutional supremacy its rules and implications or not. Constitution was perceived, and still may be regarded so by some leaders, as a preserving mechanism to protect the colonial authority over the natives. African chiefs were viewed as appendages of the colonial masters causing divisions and disgust between African nationalists and African academics then outside the country receiving education. Ironically these contradictions also played into building temporary unite of purpose between people in colonies then.

The idea therefore that elections in Southern Rhodesia, for example, were a product of multi party politics would not strictly hold water. As black nationalism awareness rose so was the recognition growing on the politics of multiparty systems in order to win black votes and/or possibly to form a coalition in order that whites keep control, possibly even after the fall of colonial rule. We witnessed the Bishop Abel Muzorewa coalition with Ian Smith as back up to the formation of multiparty politics to retain control in the late 1970s. But historically in Southern Rhodesia when white liberals begun accommodating blacks into their political parties they became as vulnerable as black nationalists except that they were rarely detained and isolated as the case in South Africa. In the then Southern Rhodesia the detention of Sir Garfield Todd former British governor of Rhodesia by Ian Douglas Smith when he assumed power in a multi party electoral victory, attest to the ruthlessness or lack of multiparty system as a welcome development during colonial periods. However, it may have been done, these strategies were to calm black majority from claiming political independence. The idea was to keep coalition multiparty under white control defeating the concept of radical nationalism. It was a soon false proven strategy when after the Lancaster Conference in London Muzorewa/Smith coalition lost to liberation struggle call for fresh elections under the world supervision.

The point is with people not being political educated but living under terror of victimization if found in disagreement with government, a host of ghost voters, controlled media, a callous secret intelligentsia that follows after those who voice criticism on government, how could anyone call this a democracy? When the spirit of sacrifice is personalized to mean segregation of the poor who bore the brand of sustaining the liberation struggle, the role of heroes become an adulteration of the meaning of sacrifice and liberation. Zimbabwe political condition and terrain in volatile, explosive and therefore very corrupt and easy to recruit corrupt men and women or face the wrath of a failing government with close to one third of the population outside the country who do not exercise their voting right, it is insincere to talk of electoral processes in Zimbabwe that are free and fair in any way or form.

Zimbabwe: a Civil but Militarized State

In 1980 Prime Minister Robert Mugabe then craftily neutralized Rhodesian forces, Zapu* forces and Zanu* forces forming them into one army under control of Zanu ex-combatant soldiers sharing authority with former Rhodesian and Zapu forces. Under this arrangement, the late Rex Nhongo then head of Zanlar forces, took over as commander of Zimbabwe army deputized by the late Lookout Masuku of the Zupu liberation forces.

The prior to 1980 London Lancaster constitutional talks were just a bridge to have peaceful transition, from a bitter armed struggle of close to a decade, by three contenting military forces as already referenced above. Elections, in my opinion, are free and fair when three institutions of government are independent from each other's influence except in the national interest. It is a fact that the army in Africa has continued to have increased direct or indirect influence of government affairs than the electoral process. Its ugly and heart breaking that few countries resists elections by boycotting the voting process. Reality has it that governments put up ghost voters and ferry unregistered voters to fill voting booths giving an impression major turn out took place. The hardest thing is to see so-called opposition political parties increase and going to participate even when its clear voting is rigged.

The Machiavellian manoeuvre of the military and the opposition politics of opportunism controlled by ZANU kept rendering Zimbabwe situation a political fiasco. No doubt the government is run by a group of craft corrupt nationalists backed by a cohesive hierarchy of military, Central Intelligence and Police service chiefs who give unbridled loyalty to President Mugabe. In spite of the President's ageing, his cohorts financially rewarded will stay him in power. It is not complicated to notice Zimbabwe does not need elections under Zanu supervision but extremely strong world supervision of the electoral processes beginning by overhauling the voter's role It is hypocrisy to say there will be elections and a waste of people's income tax to call the process an electoral process.

Zimbabwe is a defacto military regime, hence the refusal of Service Chiefs and commanders to accept a none liberation armed struggle fighter as the army commander in chief. While many other factors worked against MDC then and still worse now to win elections, the refusal to salute a none liberation struggle fighters discounted MDC leadership to being a president of Zimbabwe. These are not constitutional requirements yet they mattered. The Zimbabwe government registry department head is a strong Zanu member. In fact, some permanent secretaries in government ministries are also district Party chairpersons. Zanu government is assuming communist style of governance therefore degenerating into none accountable.

Zanu Political party and government control all media, all state machinery, Legislature and the Judiciary. How actually can we justify a call for and accept the government as capable of running an election at all, let alone a free and fair election? The question perhaps would be what motivates incessant political party formation and if this trend can help transition the country from Mugabe dictatorship to democracy? If not what is the alternative? Could this be an answer to why Zimbabwe has become too corrupt a system, people and country? It is justified to wonder if citizens think it feasible any longer to restore social justice and meritocracy in matters of governance in the country? Is the condition conducive to debating, open writing or is the country a prison glorified state? The above issues speak volumes for a tyrannical state under a dictator. To deny it simply because civilians are on the front running affairs of government is to deny influence and power of control Zanu has evolved over her thirty-six years of being in power.

Originally posted here:

In Zimbabwe Elections Will Never Be a Tool to Change Government ... - Bulawayo24 News (press release) (blog)

Rev. James OConnell The Rev. James OConnell of Camarillo Church of the Nazarene said that in the current political climate, its especially important for Americans to keep in mind the bigger picture.

Americans, he said, have the luxury of openly debating social and fiscal issues without serious recourse, whereas residents in more oppressed countries can risk death if they question the government.

The senior pastor isnt suggesting that Americans stop discussing tough topics, but when they do he feels they need to be more sensitive and empathetic.

We need to do a much better job of loving one another and being able to agree and disagree with civility, the pastor said. My mission is to love people, not convince them of all my opinions on everything.

OConnell said that such big picture focus is one of his many takeaways from The Heavenly Man, an autobiography by the exiled Chinese Christian leader Brother Yun.

Yun, now 59, was instrumental in developing Christian house church networks in China during the 1980s and 90s.

In the book, he describes the religious persecution and oppression he faced as he attempted to lead people to Christ while living under a communist regime.

Yun refused to join a government controlled Christian church. That decision led to multiple arrests and torture at the hands of Chinese police.

In his book, the evangelist details receiving just one loaf of bread to eat per week while behind bars.

Despite the brutal conditions, he continued his ministry and shared what little food he had.

Yun eventually escaped from Zhengzhou Maximum Security Prison after many years behind bars and took asylum in Germany.

The evangelist, who was later imprisoned in Myanmar for seven months, now travels the globe with a translator to share his story and seeks to send thousands of missionaries from China into other counties.

OConnell said Yun shows what it means to live an obedient life, by not letting anything or anyone deter him from doing the will of God.

And even when those actions seem futile in the moment, the pastor said, it is important to realize their purpose may reveal itself down the road.

It is so easy in American culture to become success-oriented, OConnell told the Acorn. But when God calls you to do something and you do it, thats the win. The success is my obedience, not the outcomes of my obedience.

OConnell said Yuns story has marked similarities to that of Jesus.

Jesus wasnt purposefully engaging in political discussion, the pastor said. He was going village to village, town to town, healing the sick and preaching the good news. It was the religious (administration) of the day that really hated him . . . but his thing was never about fighting them. He was demonstrating and revealing the goodness of God.

OConnell said he, too, aspires to pursue Gods desire for his life, a call he said all believers should consider.

He also encouraged Americans to rise above the minutiae of divisive issues and remember that the person theyre disagreeing with is a real person with real feelings.

The oppression Yun faced is really radical, he said. It brings a sense of perspective to what is really important and what is really not important at all.

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'Heavenly' book inspires pastor - Camarillo Acorn

The Maccabees were brought to justice in a Cleveland courtroom on March 25, more than 2,000 years after killing two people, one Jew and one Syrian Greek officer.

At least thats what The People vs. the Maccabees would have one believe during Kol HaLevs humorous mock trial at Cleveland State Universitys Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

About 140 people watched as Lee Fisher, interim dean and visiting professor of law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, played defense for the historical Maccabees to the prosecution of Steven M. Dettelbach, BakerHostetler partner and former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Kol HaLev, a Reconstructionist synagogue in Pepper Pike, presents the annual event and the Cleveland Jewish News was a sponsor.

In the case based on historical events around 167 BCE, the Maccabees, led by Mattathias, were charged for killing a Syrian Greek officer of a government that oppressed the Jewish people and a Jew who obeyed his order. The trial was over whether Mattathias was guilty of both murders.

"Every life is sacred in our tradition and every life is sacred in our law, Dettelbach said, arguing the Syrian Greek was just a messenger for the repressive regime and the Jew who was killed was innocent and undeserving of death. Under our law you don't get to kill the wrong people because you have a grievance with somebody else. That's what the evidence shows that Mattathias did that day."

Fisher argued the Jewish peoples oppression made it a time of war, and thus Mattathias was innocent in the cases of both deaths.

"(The Syrian Greek victim) was far more than just a messenger ... it was a time of war not peace," said Fisher, who is a former Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Ohio Attorney General. "Jews were treated as if they were below the law during this time."

After the audience, which was also the jury, heard arguments from both sides, an interfaith panel discussed the relevance of the Maccabees case to todays world. Panelist Rabbi Steve Segar, rabbi at Kol HaLev, said there is still a divide among Jews about governance today.

In terms of the ways in which Jews are interfacing with our government of our larger society the American government I think there are a couple of significant examples of this in our contemporary period,"Segar said, citing Jewish divide on U.S. and Israeli relations and the extent to which the U.S. president works to combat anti-Semitism as some such issues.

Panelist Sr. Lisa Marie Belz, department chair for religious studies/graduate ministry at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, cited for Jews, the pressure on the Maccabees to assimilate in Greece is paralleled by later crises, particularly the Holocaust, where Jews faced potential loss of identity.

"If you assimilate you give up Torah," Belz said, at which point the moderator, the Rev. Leah C.K. Lewis, interjected that as an African-American, a group of people who was forced to lose their African cultural and religious identities, there is great pain experienced with such loss.

"I am in envy of the Jewish tradition and the ways in which you have been able to maintain theessence of your tradition and your faith throughout centuries of oppression, Lewis said. African-Americans have not been as fortunate.

Moreover, panelist Imam Ramez Islambouli, professor of Islamic law at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, argued the Maccabees story is relevant because religious extremists still try to speak and act on behalf of God.

"Even if your identity is challenged, you cannot murder," he said.

Presiding over the case was Judge Dick Ambrose, of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, who kept order in the courtroom and instructed the jury to vote the defendant guilty or not guilty on charges for each killing.

The audiences verdict?

Mattathias was guilty for the murder of the Jew, but not guilty for the death of the Syrian Greek officer.

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Jury splits over Maccabees' fate at mock trial - Cleveland Jewish News