Modi did not get in & out of Washington, DC without protest–though there was no coverage in US media about it. Protesters called Modi a terrorist & butcher for orchestrating the Gujarat pogrom against Muslims in 2002.
As Kashmiri solidarity becomes organized he will not be allowed to enter the US or any other country without protests dogging him wherever he goes demanding the end of violence against Muslims, Dalits & other oppressed castes in India, & demanding the end of the occupation of Kashmir.
Washed up tennis player John McEnroe, known for temper tantrums on the court, said Serena Williams would rank 700 if she were ranked with male players & he refuses to back down from his stupid, misogynist claim.
In a similar situation in 1973, Bobby Riggs, a former world tennis champion, said “the best way to handle women is to keep them pregnant & barefoot,” called women’s tennis inferior, & said he could beat any woman player. Woman tennis champion Billie Jean King took him up on the challenge & faced off against him in a Houston arena. She eviscerated the punk in front of 30,000 people in the arena & millions of others on TV.
The greatest defeat of all time in tennis. So how about a match between McEnroe & the great Serena?
Reposting this brilliant “revolutionary manifesto” about Syria by poet Musab Iqbal from 2016:
*****
The “Revolutionary” manifesto of 21st-century Hypocrites
– Russian intervention is different from US/Nato intervention
– Russia has no imperial/colonial ambition (ever) unlike US and allies
– Iran-backed militias are not like US/Saudi-backed militias. Former unlike later is busy saving human lives with great empathy and kindness
– Assad is the most ideal democrat and any criticism of him and his power is sinful
– Assad army never shot or killed anyone, in fact Hama massacre never happened, there is no prison and torture center in Syria
– Syrian Army is personally trained by Gandhiji
– The world is made of binary. If you are not with us (Russia-Syria-Iran) then you are with them (ISIS-Al Qaeda- USA- Saudi etc)
– Celebrating death and torture is the most merciful and dignified revolutionary act
– Iran is defending Secularism and Democracy in Syria like it is doing in its own country
– Everyone is lying except PressTV, RT and journalists close to Assad regime
– Don’t criticize Syrian regime if you have not criticized all the violence in the world starting from Habeel and Qabeel (Adam’s son killing the other son)
– There is/was never political opposition in Syria, there were terrorists and there are terrorists.
The US Supreme Court, a confederacy of reactionary dunces if there ever was one, has ruled to allow most of Trump’s Muslim ban, including suspension of the US refugee program. Later this year, they will adjudicate the entirety of the ban. This is going to be a much tougher battle than we thought.
The Supreme Court tries to present itself as some kind of ex cathedra body drawing on the holy writ of the constitution & immune to political pressure. They can stuff that myth. They are as subject to massive political pressure as any other body of the US government.
If we are going to push this onslaught back–& we must because it endangers refugees, Muslims, & the Bill of Rights–then we must organize, agitate, educate, mobilize.
Zahid Shah, who introduced parkour to Kashmir, has introduced this beautiful piece of music to me. It seems so appropriate to the long, unremitting struggle to make this world suitable for human beings to live & love in.
Brace yourselves for a pearl of wisdom. When you’re my age, you think you have the right to drop them. Which explains why so many senior activists are removed from so many guest lists:
Listening well & observing carefully are essential to the art of politics. Resist jumping on the bandwagon when you don’t understand something but take your time to study, listen, & do that elementary compare & contrast thing. Ask basic questions & stay away from conspiracy thinkers.
Hope nobody objects that Trump cancelled the “traditional” Ramadan celebration in the White House. Don’t know how traditional it is since this is the first time most of us ever heard about it. But who would want Trump making a mockery & burlesque of Ramadan?
