Though my vote would be for the “black Muslim,” it’s remarkable, I think, that politeness and discretion and tolerance flag in such an asymmetrical fashion. One’s personal beliefs and convictions are important indicators of official deportment and ought to be afforded with respect, regardless of pedigree. Such a big schism erupted over the Kennedy presidency, the one and only Catholic office-holder (though there is an unlikely union between the challengers, and we will see what happens with that), and there’s this strange cauldron of questions and assumptions about the incumbent that’s bewitching to a large part of the voting-public—and though maybe assumptions and prejudice are already cemented in regards to the challenger candidate’s affiliation and confession, that there’s little talk of it is still rather incredulous.
Monday 5 November 2012
syncretism or give me that old time religion
catagories: America, foreign policy, lifestyle, religion
Sunday 4 November 2012
umfrage and johnny quest
The word from Berlin and surveys departing on several different course to gauge public sentiment for the US election is overwhelming in favour of keeping the incumbent in power, both for charismatic reasons and for self-interest.
catagories: ๐ฉ๐ช, ๐บ๐ธ, economic policy, environment, foreign policy
zum mitnehmen oder latchkey take-away
Germany is a comparatively neat and tidy place, but there are quite a few problem spots and scapegoats for litter. Politicians are targeting one visible culprit, with some precedence and a mixed record of success, in Munich and Berlin by proposing levying a fast food tax on the disposable remains of daily routines—coffee cups, greasy bags, waxy paper. Not wanting to dispatch more sanitation workers on new beats or provide ever growing waste-bins, however, the tax scheme, borne by the cafes and fast food outfits that produce these leavings and pass the costs on to the consumer, seems to be only punitive.
catagories: ⚖️, ๐ฉ๐ช, ๐ช๐บ, ๐, environment, food and drink
Saturday 3 November 2012
timetable or free-on-board
The Bundesrat (Germany’s upper house of the legislature) has voted to remove long-standing protections on the national railway network, the Deutsche Bahn, to allow competition for commuter and holiday travel from long-distance, inter-city bus and coach companies. After much debate and research, parliament, risking the displeasure of this established institution, determined that the virtual monopoly should be allowed to lapse, since private enterprise could offer travelers alternatives adhering to environmental standards, at a discount and with greater flexibility.
catagories: ๐ฉ๐ช, ๐, environment, transportation, travel