Lighthouse:
- Much later the clarifying beam of hindsight would show that it wasn't any hundred-proof air that had undermined his better judgment; it was Douglas and Douglas's remark: "It's a place where a few people can make a big difference." Fitz wasn't immune to the desire that's in most people to spray graffiti on the cold rock of the world and say "I was here and what I did counted for something." For someone of his temperament, the mere notion of undertaking a dangerous endeavor on behalf of a desperate people held an irresistible appeal. ~ from Acts of Faith
Photo Albums
Television
June 15, 2008
June 06, 2008
March 27, 2008
Chinese Strike Back
Chinese Bloggers declare war on Western media’s Tibet coverage.
The Tibetan protests, the crackdown by the Chinese and the backlashes from civil societies around the world offer me a good opportunity to explore differing viewpoints. Essentially, I know so little of what is going on there that I hesitate to offer comments. But the link above struck me because it is very counter--philosophy.
I like going to Global Voices because they usually have excellent links to interesting prose and other voices. So running an article about how the Chinese Bloggers are defending their government and deriding the poor, peaceful Tibetan protesters who only want to get on with their Buddhist meditations adds an interesting twist to my thinking. Of course there are many sides to this story. Duh.
I associate Free Tibet Movement with other early 90s civil society ideas (which seemed to fail or remain stagnant more often than "succeed" however that could be measured) such as Save the Whales and Save the Rainforest and End Apartheid. My concept of the situation is shaped from voyeuristic understanding of the situation. I am more focussed on poverty and Africa rather than self-determination and Asia. At the end of the day, the Free Tibet movement is off my radar screen. That said I still find it fascinating.
The Global Voices piece could simply be exposing Chinese Government surrogates who "blog" neutrally, or it could be proffering a different view on the situation. I know not which it is, but still love the fact that it has added an additional, nuanced layer to the debate. Hopefully to the betterment of the Movement.
If the Movement takes this as an attack on its existence rather than an opportunity to engage in a good debate about what it is doing than I challenge it to stop playing by a conservative dichotomized playbook and join the pomo crowd who makes up much of its membership (I suspect).
~ # ~
February 03, 2008
July 25, 2007
September 15, 2005
What am I perusing?
What have I perused?
leland: why kerouac matters
Leland is a very good writer about pop culture. His other book, history of hip, was a fantastic journey. This was also a fantastic journey. Probably my first book of literary critique - a worthwhile road. (****)cain, et. al: emergency sex
Banal. Not very enticing. My favorite parts were the beginning parts of the book in Cambodia. My interest in reading and I'm pretty sure their interest in writing trailed off from there. (**)kapuscinski: shadow of the sun
Brilliant! This was even more enjoyable than Soccer War. Found this book more coherent and the stories less introductory. (****)kapuscinski: soccer war
Brilliant writer, great stories. A bit disjointed at first and not really sure what the theme is, but the stories were fascinating. He was a man I would have liked to have been. (****)mandelbaum: ideas that conquered the world
if read as a nice history, then informative. if read for other things, dubious. me thinks. (***)
