Jousting with the Jedi's and Jediism

Hollywood films and stars have long induced a following of fans who relegated these creations as idols, cult figures, or classical favorites. But a phenomenon exists that takes this initiative several notches higher, perhaps into the realm of the ridiculous and the absurd, into that of a religion. A faithful flock has been growing that spreads the faith of Jediism - based on the Jedi code in the film Star Wars.

George Lucas' legacy has produced a level of lunacy unprecedented even by Hollywood standards. Not even the eccentric Scientology can compare with the determined advocacy of its flock. Followers are not cowed by hoots and insults and view the religious intolerance as a passing phase. There are members who take the faith very seriously and also those who joined merely to annoy other religious sects, but the spread of its adherents may be indicative of brain virus that hastens madness of the fanatical variety, or craziness that is hysterical in its ludicrous practice.

There are 70,000 declared Jedi faithful in Australia, 53,000 in New Zealand, 20,000 in Canada,and 390,127 in England and Wales. Thus far, no one has claimed that this heralds the second coming of Jesus Christ nor have its detractors say that it is the emergence of the ant-Christ; but a Labour Member of Parliament for Copeland in Cumbria declared himself the first Jedi MP in the context of debates on the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill. While the MP averred that instead of his maiden speech being taken as a serious statement of faith, but a joke, Conservatives sought to exclude Jedi Knights explicitly from the protection of the proposed Act. A move that betrays their regard for the Jedi Order, which reveals the confluence of logic and lunacy among lawmakers.

Recently, a man dressed up as Darth Vader, using a black garbage bag for a cape, assaulted the founders of Britain's first Jedi Church. He hacked founder Barney Jones, known as Jonba Hehol, with a metal crutch on the head together with his cousin who was injured in the thigh. The incident was recorded on the video set up for a light saber battle ceremony. This may well be the Order's first real case of religious intolerance from a Darth Vader wannabee who claimed drunkenness. But his intentions were apparent in that he had to wear a costume to execute the assault. It is a case of the mentally disturbed attracting the mentally and alcoholically impaired. The attacker received a suspended sentence, perhaps from a magistrate in suspended disbelief.

This "religion" may be an offshoot of an erosion of faith in the established churches, other institutions of society, and government; in their search for meaning, justice, and equality among men. Honor and integrity are valued and hungered for, but their search has led them to worship the "force" and seek to be with "it". Little do they realize that it is the force of insanity they have embraced, much like insatiably greedy businessmen and power hungry politicians have.

Its mantra is "May the force be with you". Perhaps it should be "May the Farce be with you".

Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Update: China's Crushing Calamity

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The state run news agency Xinhua reported that the death toll in the massive earthquake in Sichuan province has surpassed the 12,000 initial estimate. In Yingxiu town alone, 7,700 or three quarters of the towns population were confirmed killed during the earthquake. To date, more than 2,000 aftershocks have been recorded, some as strong as 4 to 5.3 magnitude sending residents scampering to the streets.

The aftershocks have caused panic and terror among the population who refuse to seek shelter in the buildings for fear of being trapped. People have gathered around open spaces and have set up tent communities despite the inclement weather. The rescue efforts are being disrupted by the aftershocks and pose great risks to those still alive and trapped beneath concrete rubble. Continuous rain has aggravated the difficulties as the water could loosen the shaky stability of the diggings.

Rescue workers have taken great risks crawling underneath crumbling walls to reach out to voices crying for help. Bodies of children bring wails of grief to parents and relatives. Despite the swarm of soldiers in all sites throughout the entire province, and the organized operations that have been put in place using mechanized equipment; the sheer size of the destruction and the undetermined thousands buried beneath rubble spread in many towns and counties in this vast province is numbing. A feeling of helplessness in the race against time persists. So many children, workers, elderly, and residents have yet to be rescued. With every lifeless body pulled out, hope diminishes for those still buried. Suffering and grief mount for those waiting, confounded by the tragedy and confused between seeing a loved one alive, or at least recovering remains.

Roads leading to the province and the epicenter are dangerous. Paratroopers have been used to immediately assist far flung areas unreachable by land and cut off by collapsed bridges. China's response has been exemplary and its transparency has gained the admiration of the international community. Its citizens are lining up to donate blood, but those in Sichuan province are too tired, and many have blood pressures shooting up, that their donations have to be rescheduled.

It will take some time before those directly affected by this calamity can find closure. Even then, the memory of this horror and its magnitude will continue to haunt them.

Harrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

China's Catastrophic Calamity

China's worst earthquake in 30 years is a colossal tragedy. The 7.9 magnitude tremor has such devastating effect on life and property that can stun anyone seeing its indifferently lethal aftermath of mayhem. In a country as hugely dispersed and heavily populated as China, the impact is multiplied 100 times over. Despite its economic power and enormous wealth, it cannot manage to cope with the scale of the disaster alone. China's vast territory and big population fuel its growth, but it can , during disasters, become a horrendous scene of death and destruction.

Disaster teams have been grouped in numbers of 3,000 each, but considering that in Mianyang City alone, 18,645 people are trapped in debris with about 8,000 presumed dead is enough to stagger all members of a team into disbelief - pulling out bodies, rescuing those still alive, ensuring that others trapped are not endangered by the rescue of those accessed initially. There are seven other cities affected within the epicenter with numerous counties and towns around each. All these areas have schools for children 7 to 14 years old, with each school having at least 3,000 students. Pulling out mangled and crushed bodies of young kids dying under the weight of the disaster is overwhelming, despite the size of their population. It is a demoralizing experience that can break one's spirit. Natural disasters do not choose victims. Men, women, children, young, elderly - all are subject to its deathly force.

The previous estimate of 12,000 casualties is conservative. Dujiangyan alone is a city of 600,000 people and it has been practically wiped out. Bodies are being lined up in the streets and schoolyards, and hopes for finding other survivors are slim. Some argue that the damage is not the same as the snowstorms that hit China in January and February that stranded 50 million workers. But that event did not see death and destruction as much as this, nor misery of this enormity. The brightest sign is that the Authorities have acted with dispatch and have admitted their inability to handle the rescue and relief operations alone. They have openly accepted relief from all willing donors, but have withheld entry to rescuers allegedly due to the risks involved. The rescue and relief efforts have been described as organized chaos. Under the circumstances, the massive scope of the calamity would render this description as an understatement.

The rescue efforts are being hampered by bad weather that triggers landslides. In the coming days, the smell of rotting corpses still buried under rubble will exacerbate the difficulties of rescuers. It will also threaten to spread disease. China has had its share of calamities, but nothing as yet can compare to this unraveling misfortune.

A calamity of this extent shows how vulnerable the earth's inhabitants are to the forces of nature. Whatever power or capability a country possesses is rendered impotent by its blow. All political differences, regional and group squabbles become inconsequential; and the world must come to terms with helping a beleaguered nation where the immense suffering of its people dwarfs all claims to strength and resilience. Humanity should take precedence over any other concern in such times, to rekindle the truth that we belong to one planet and are all members of the human race.

We are all connected, and anyone who is detached from this sense of humanity deserves to be expelled from the human race.

Haaarrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Memories for My Mother

At an age where only memories could uplift her spirits, my mother was denied this one final chance at relief. She was afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and passed away on December 2, 2005.

The ailment began to manifest itself in 1992, a few months after my father's death. The images she nurtured in her mind all seemed to blur as`the stages progressed. Relatives theorized that her will to continue waned when the only man she loved passed `away. My concerns then were not on theories but on the fact that my mother was losing us, the children and grandchildren she had cared for and dedicated her life to - not in the physical sense, but in the meaning of all she had endured for us all - to see us successfully through. It is those memories of the efforts she exerted, whether we showed appreciation for these or thoughtlessly took for granted, that would provide the most meaningful reason for her existence. Yet these were continuously eaten away by an irreversible malaise that championed her plight into oblivion. She was almost unknown to herself.

She died without recognizing any of us, nor her grandchildren, even at very close range. On several occasions, she would ask who we were , forgetting our response to the same query a few seconds ago. It often reminded me of a period in 1973, when even at a far distance, she recognized me and I could instantly feel her longing to hug me; despite being barred by soldiers and a wired fence, looking so gaunt, bruised, unclean and unrecognizable from loss of weight and psychological pain. I could feel the hurt etched in her eyes and see the tears welling her face, and I began to recognize the agony she went through, the pain of not knowing for several months whether I was alive or dead. The only positive factor the ailment brought was that she lost the painful events that transpired in the course of her struggle, to direct our lives the best way she knew how. It is a most bitter irony for her to be denied the joy of remembering that we all made it, in spite of ourselves and the depth of our youthful flaws. She lived in us but we faded in her. In a lot of instances, we were the closest strangers in her world, a world that increasingly became strange to her.

My mother was a natural soprano and she could liven up an evening with songs. She also delighted in seeing us perform and dance to the music of our generation, and adapted to singing and memorizing the lyrics of the 60's and 70's genre of artists and songs. In 2001, I bought her a karaoke machine and programmed it with songs she used to sing. What was uncanny was that she would start talking about events as a song was played. It gave proof that the songs which were such a part of her life allowed the flow of memories which were attached to it. Thus began my nightly concerts with my mother. We`were later joined by my kids and her other grandchildren. But the songs she chose to sing moved from the 60's to the 40's, until she could no longer sing any of those we programmed into the unit. Her disease was progressing fast.

On that final night, we tucked her to bed as she hummed an old folk song in her native dialect which we never heard of. She died in her sleep. But I was grateful for what memories returned when she played the karaoke unit. I was happy that even in fleeting moments, she was able to savor the mirth of the union with her family under the pleasant atmosphere of peaceful existence and carefree celebrations. I was extremely thankful that even in those rarest of times and tiniest of instances, she was my mother, and I her son.

My only lament was that I was unable to add more to her fondest memories when she was still in a position to remember. I am however assuaged by the fact that in some magical way, I was able to bring memories for my mother.

As always, Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Clinton's Crumbling Candidacy

The would be Clinton dynasty is checkmated. Its formidable foundation at the beginning of the primaries has been penetrated and weakened, and its pillars crumbling and shaky. Some of its staunch supporters have begun switching over to the Barack Obama camp, and the likelihood of others following that lead is imminent. The Clinton camp is engaged in damage control, while the Obama camp is propelled by renewed momentum. Clinton's defensive positioning and its bold announcement of continuing the campaign is an aggressive method of securing a favorable Terms of Surrender. And surrender is inevitable.

Operation October Surprise, pertains to damaging information about Barack Obama which the Clinton camp would use to win over the super delegates in November, is not yet operational. No such information has been unearthed. If it exists and they can harness its potential, the party itself will be demolished for her personal ambition. It will cost her the general election and ruin whatever positive legacy Bill Clinton's presidency may have gained. The party will not allow this to happen, and Hillary may opt to use it only to gain a package that would guarantee her a position of influence within the party, or within a victorious (if ever) Democrat controlled Presidency.

Hillary's best deal would be the Vice Presidential nomination, but Obama may not find this comfortable. The bitter exchanges during the primaries would make their chemistry suspect, if not explosive, in a general election. Further, a Hillary Clinton as Vice-President with Bill a former President lurking in the background may undermine his decisions and influence. A cabinet position for Hillary may be the best that Obama can offer, but may not be attractive enough for Hillary because it's not as powerful nor as prestigious as an elective position. It could be better for Obama if Hillary rejects his offer, since this will unload him of the burden that the Hillary baggage brings. But it may cost him the support of Hillary's base voters of white, women, elderly, blue collar and Latino/Hispanic blocs if she doesn't get what she wants. It will be tougher for Obama facing John McCain with these concerns, in addition to the acceptance of his character, skills and message by an American electorate who are influenced by these factors, as much as perhaps the color of his skin.

The most meaningful purpose of the Clinton camp's intent to pursue the campaign is to obtain a graceful and dignified exit. Any purpose other than this is desperation that would only result in eternal damnation.

Haarrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Nourishment Needs for North Korea

North Korea has not suffered a cyclone like Myanmar, but the perennial food shortages in the country, owing to crop failure, is a common annual occurrence. There are North Koreans dying in the rural areas daily because of food shortages. A South Korean aid group stated today that massive famine is imminent, and could leave up to 2 million people dead from starvation and hunger.

The Buddhist affiliated Good Friends estimates that the famine is as bad as the situation in the mid-1990's, and this was confirmed by an unidentified North Korean Official. While no mass deaths have occurred, at least 2 people die daily in the rural areas and on the outskirts around the city. During the mid-90's famine, North Korea relied on foreign assistance to feed its 23 million people. One reason for the perceived resilience of the people despite the scarcity is that they have become more accustomed to starvation.

This year's food situation is in bad shape due to the devastating floods that wiped out harvests last year. The UN World Food Programme is constantly monitoring the conditions, but like their military counterparts in Myanmar, there is no acknowledgment of the rural area statistics, and the seriousness of the next couple of months in terms of food supply. The aid group has urged the North Korean officials to request for international assistance to avert the massive famine that could develop into another major crisis. It has also asked the South Korean government to soften its stand on the North and to provide aid without need for requests. The United States is in talks with the North Koreans on how to guarantee that aid gets to those who need it.

There is something about absolute power that creeps into the minds of those who wield it. In Myanmar which is rightist in orientation - and in North Korea, which is communist in ideology. Both are military mindsets that nurture misplaced pride and unmitigated arrogance that are out of touch with reality. Insanity seems to be the common denominator. They would hide and pretend to their heart's content even if their people are dying from hunger. What good is a standing army of 1 million soldiers if they would readily surrender when offered food; or die after 2 days of siege?

The paranoia of these leaders have compelled them to isolate themselves and their country from the rest of the world. This is a critical decision to keep their secrets from global scrutiny. The secret being that they are all insane, but are crazy enough not to realize they are; mentally incompetent to know that what is important for the survival of the state is the survival of its people; and mad enough to threaten the world that they could nuke everyone that dares to oppose them.

It can't be lack of food... either for the stomach nor for the brain. By not believing in God, they were absent when the Lord distributed mental faculties.

Haaarrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Malevolent Military of Myanmar

Insanity's fiercely mutated progeny has spawned in the skulls of the Military Junta in Myanmar. It has vanquished their brains, vaporized all compassion, and exterminated whatever micro-sized sense of humanity existed in these now unsuitable replicas of the human race. They are on a lunatic binge, seizing two plane loads of food aid intended for the cyclone victims, and disallowed permission for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) volunteers to distribute the 38 tons of aid into affected areas. Without capability to distribute themselves, the food sits on the tarmac waiting to rot.

The unprecedented seizure and desist order stunned WFP official Tony Banbury, but his appeals for entry inside Myanmar with a team of aid workers fell on deranged ears. The Junta's continued refusal to grant visas to aid workers who could assess the extent of devastation, and threats to the victims' health and sustenance is total madness. All of the 10 visa applications submitted by the WFP, have been denied. The psychosis of this adamant position underscores the extent of the mental illness that plagues Myanmar's military rulers. There is no rational basis for the absence of any sense of urgency for a catastrophe of this magnitude, which they themselves have admitted is beyond their capability to cope.

An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 people, mostly children, are presumed to have perished in the cyclone; with many bodies unburied and floating in the waters. These rotting corpses have caused serious concern, since in a matter of days, these could result in diseases of epidemic proportions, especially in the Irrawaddy Delta where 1.5 million are affected. The stench of the dead bodies is indescribable. There are signs in several areas that the people's frustrations are turning into anger, and in a country that experiences hunger even without a natural disaster, the absence of food and health kits can lead to more deaths in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The most mind boggling development from these crazed rulers is their insistence that the referendum on a new constitution, enshrining and legitimizing the Military's dominant role in Myanmar push through on May 10, except in areas affected by the cyclone. Trucks and vehicles have been commandeered by the government, installed with loudspeakers, and blare out propaganda to support the constitution's ratification. Senior General Than Shwe personally denied use of army vehicles for assisting the cyclone victims, and was more concerned with security for the referendum. Nothing comes close to the madness of this decision and the indecent haste by which it was made.

The United States has a standing proposal to air drop food and supplies using Thailand's airport, and through its helicopters from vessels in the South Pacific; but no decision has been made on the matter. Despite knowing that life and death for survivors after a disaster is a matter of hours, days, or a week, they are taking their time on such critical decisions, insisting on their old position that no foreigners be allowed inside Myanmar. The Junta's leaders are men of limited education and exposure, who are also superstitious, with no exposure to the outside world. Their lives have been practically with the Military which has controlled civilians with unchallenged power for several decades. These same rulers are now the paranoid bunch who see enemies at every turn, and suspicious even of its own shadow.

At its embassy in Thailand, dozens of aid workers have lined up for days to get a visa to enter Myanmar, and it is taking ages for the embassy officials to review all documents and their numerous requirements. Today, the embassy was closed because of a Burmese holiday.

Top priority must be given by the international community to the rulers of Myanmar, its entire Military Junta, for mental health assistance. Facilities must be built, equipped with the latest instruments and technology, staffed by the best doctors to examine the rare malady that has made tapeworms and maggots out of their unused mental faculties, and have reduced these so called men to nothing more than the final product of a very large intestine.

Sanity must be restored for the 53 million people of Myanmar.

Harrrrwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!