Friday, November 28, 2008

Zimbabwean Playwright Cont Mhlanga Wins International Recognition & An Award For His Protest Plays

Robert Mugabe has been the president of Zimbabwe for 27 years & he has ruled like a dictator instead of the leader of a democractic country.Cont Mhlanga's play "The Good President" is a protest against Mugabe in the form of a play. Because of his willingness to put his life on the line in order to speak out against Mugabe, he was rewarded for his great efforts to vocalize Zimbabwe's suffering under Mugabe's leadership. Here's an excerpt from BBC:

"Mhlanga has won the inaugural $50,000 (£33,000) Artventure Freedom to Create Prize for his politically-charged satirical play The Good President.

The prize was created to honour artists who defend their freedom of expression at great personal sacrifice.

Mhlanga was one of several people and groups honoured at the London ceremony.

He was described by the philanthropic organisation as a "fierce opponent" of the Mugabe regime.

The Good President depicts an African dictator who has ruled Zimbabwe for 27 years since the country gained independence in 1980.

The play is presented as a fictional account, but closely mirrors recent and current events in Zimbabwe.

Speaking from Zimbabwe, Mhlanga said: "I am extremely humbled by the recognition of my work. This award is not just for me, it is for those artists who are victimised for working with me, and it is an award for theatre in this country.

"Theatre is the only tool that amplifies the people's voice in Zimbabwe." (END OF EXCERPT) Read the whole article here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/7751151.stm

Al-Qaeda's Challenging George Bush To Send Army To Pakistan!

In an internet video, Al-Qaeda's Zawahri says that the U.S. is in so much financial despair because of the wars we've waged in the Middle East. Here's an excerpt from Reuters:
"The ones shouldering the burden are taxpayers, whose money was spent to rescue senior capitalists and to protect the fraudulent interest-based system from collapse," Zawahri said.

Asked by an off-camera interviewer whether Washington would be able to resolve the crisis, Zawahri said: "They might be able to lighten their losses if they were to stop the insane hemorrhaging of funds which they are spending on wars against Muslims."
Zawahri said U.S. military action against militant tribal forces in Pakistan, who are allied with al Qaeda, would fail despite more troops being sent by President George W. Bush to neighboring Afghanistan.

"I challenge you (Bush), if you are really a man, to send the entire American army to Pakistan and the tribal regions for it to end up in hell," Zawahri said on the video, which carried English subtitles."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the full article here:http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4AR1LZ20081128

Thursday, November 27, 2008

What I Think About The Kids Dressing Up Like Puritans & Indians For Thanksgiving!


We have done away with kids dressing up for Halloween in most schools. So, to avert accusations of stereotyping people,I think kids should not make these "costumes" because of the true story behind Thanksgiving. We should concentrate on making it a day of appreciation for all that we have here in America thanks,in part, to the American Indians. I know that some of the descendants of the Puritans want to remain insensitive to the fact that their forebears committed great acts of genocide against the American Indians. That part of the Thanksgiving tale is often omitted which makes the American Indians upset. They are Native Americans,meaning this was once their land. It's hard for them to see those who took it from them in such a brutal fashion be glorified on Christopher Colombus Day & Thanksgiving. We must find a way to present history in the truest light possible. Until we do,African-Americans will continue to be incensed by the pride some have in the history of the Confederacy & the Confederate flag and so forth & so on.You can't distort the past & not acknowledge the pain & anguish that so many different racial groups have suffered in America.