The Mukhtar Mai case (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/11/scary-story-this-halloween-as-on-any.html) apart from its main protagonist is interesting because it also includes two other dimensions on rape which are discussed much less. One is the case of male on male rape and the other of false rape allegations. Nothing was done about either of these in the Mukhtar Mai case.
Both of these aspects have come into focus recently because of two high profile cases. The Duke case seems to be falling into the false allegation category (http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/28/duke.lacrosse/). Some middle ground needs to be found between requiring four eye witnesses and accusations without supporting evidence.
The second case is that of a serial male rapist (http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/26/male.rape.ap/index.html). Male on male rape is highly under-reported and probably negligibly reported in many countries. It would be interesting to see any statistics on such cases being brought forth in different countries including Pakistan.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
What to do With Saddam
The Iraqi government seems resolved to carry out the sentence. Would they wait until after the Eid or do they think that it might be better to get it done before Eid leaving the population, which already has mixed feelings, nonplused. While they contemplate their choices they may also want to consider Ford's words about putting the national nightmare behind when pardoning Nixon. This is not to suggest that Saddam should be pardoned. There is a little bit of difference between spying on your opponents and killing them. But the important thing is to find a way that will put the national nightmare behind.
The Iraqi government seems resolved to carry out the sentence. Would they wait until after the Eid or do they think that it might be better to get it done before Eid leaving the population, which already has mixed feelings, nonplused. While they contemplate their choices they may also want to consider Ford's words about putting the national nightmare behind when pardoning Nixon. This is not to suggest that Saddam should be pardoned. There is a little bit of difference between spying on your opponents and killing them. But the important thing is to find a way that will put the national nightmare behind.
Ford's Interview
In a 2004 interview to be released after after his death Ford disagreed on going to war with Iraq (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061228/news_1n28fordtalk.html). The interesting thing is that both Rumsfeld and Cheney were his cheifs of staff and Rumsfeld was also his defense secretary. He criticzes them both on Iraq and has a few interesting takes on Kissenger.
In a 2004 interview to be released after after his death Ford disagreed on going to war with Iraq (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061228/news_1n28fordtalk.html). The interesting thing is that both Rumsfeld and Cheney were his cheifs of staff and Rumsfeld was also his defense secretary. He criticzes them both on Iraq and has a few interesting takes on Kissenger.
Dopes Duped
The courts have okayed the use of private drug tests of MLB players by the government to investigate drug usage in the MLB (http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/sports/2006/12/27/roberts.spanier.steroid.ruling.cnn). Also see http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/12/27/baseball.bonds.ap/index.html. Can some parallels be drawn for the ongoing cricket doping saga?
The Flying Bar and Bouncer
A passenger in a US Airways Bar (flight) got drunk and slapped the bouncer (marshal) not knowing the bouncer's true identity (http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/28/unruly.passenger/index.html). So are there now going to be calls for nonalcoholic flights? Will alcoholics be profiled? Put on no fly lists?Or is that too good a business for the airlines and the liquor industry to ever be considered?
Your Fingerprints Please
I had written earlier about the introduction of a fingerprint based entry system at my gym (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/12/cardless-entry-as-i-entered-gym-and.html). Little did I know that a substantial number of schools are using similar systems for children to access their meals at the school cafeteria. The arguments for it include: It's easier to lose a card than a finger(http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/tech/2006/12/22/sieberg.biometric.lunch.cnn). The video does not mention any negatives. Here is an article (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=2320) from 2001 that lists some concerns but makes it sound like people who are concerned are paranoid and looking at Orwellian scenarios. It was funny that the implementers of these systems go as far as to call a fingerprint a finger image to avoid the negative connotation.
However, once the information is out there you do not know how it's going to be used. Here is the latest example (http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/sports/2006/12/27/roberts.spanier.steroid.ruling.cnn). MLB players were asked to take tests under the condition that they will remain private. Now the government is using this data and the courts have blessed the use.
I had written earlier about the introduction of a fingerprint based entry system at my gym (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/12/cardless-entry-as-i-entered-gym-and.html). Little did I know that a substantial number of schools are using similar systems for children to access their meals at the school cafeteria. The arguments for it include: It's easier to lose a card than a finger(http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/tech/2006/12/22/sieberg.biometric.lunch.cnn). The video does not mention any negatives. Here is an article (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=2320) from 2001 that lists some concerns but makes it sound like people who are concerned are paranoid and looking at Orwellian scenarios. It was funny that the implementers of these systems go as far as to call a fingerprint a finger image to avoid the negative connotation.
However, once the information is out there you do not know how it's going to be used. Here is the latest example (http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/sports/2006/12/27/roberts.spanier.steroid.ruling.cnn). MLB players were asked to take tests under the condition that they will remain private. Now the government is using this data and the courts have blessed the use.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
History Repeats: Sometimes Before it's Done
Ethiopia has now entered the ongoing madness in Somalia (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/12/26/somalia.ethiopia/index.html). The irony is that they have the blessings of the U.S. What appears to be lost on the Ethiopians are the consequences faced by their blessers in a similar venture in Iraq. To be fair the situation in Somalia affects Ethiopia a whole lot more than Iraq ever affected the U.S. On the other hand it was unclear how big a problem Iraq would be but Somalia is a known hazard.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Bush's Dada Period
Bush's statements to the effect that he was going to send more troops but he was still waiting to hear from his "experts" were rather curious (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/20/bush.main/index.html). Why make a statement about increasing or decreasing troops when it has not been decided what course of action will be taken? The only plausible (and it's a stretch) explanation may be that he is trying to see what the reactions will be from different quarters on an increase in troop levels.
Looks like he is opening up to more subtle variations like we are not winning and we are not losing. Is, "It is an iteresting construct that you may not be with us but you might not be against us.", next? The statements sound more and more like those of a character from Alice in Wonderland: Absurd.
Bush's statements to the effect that he was going to send more troops but he was still waiting to hear from his "experts" were rather curious (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/20/bush.main/index.html). Why make a statement about increasing or decreasing troops when it has not been decided what course of action will be taken? The only plausible (and it's a stretch) explanation may be that he is trying to see what the reactions will be from different quarters on an increase in troop levels.
Looks like he is opening up to more subtle variations like we are not winning and we are not losing. Is, "It is an iteresting construct that you may not be with us but you might not be against us.", next? The statements sound more and more like those of a character from Alice in Wonderland: Absurd.
Cricket Journalism
Cricket journalism has been the realm of amateurs. It consists of retired players giving their opinions, talks with current and past performers, opinion peices on players, blogs and that useless giant called Wisden logging all those pages of trivia (admittedly sometimes fun). With topics like match fixing, ball tampering, doping, and cricket itself there are real possibilities here for real journalism.
Cricket journalism has really lagged behind in the current doping controversy. It has not educated the cricket watching public about WADA or ICAS and their processes nor has it followed the steps each body has taken ( what documents have been filed? under what laws? If documents are not publicly available why not? etc.). Inquiring minds want to know.
Cricket journalism has really lagged behind in the current doping controversy. It has not educated the cricket watching public about WADA or ICAS and their processes nor has it followed the steps each body has taken ( what documents have been filed? under what laws? If documents are not publicly available why not? etc.). Inquiring minds want to know.
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