DECISIONS, DECISIONS...

Its been a while since I wrote something here, however I think it's time to start again due to all the crap that is happening in my country's political sphere.

OK, does anyone trully believes that there are no favours in politics?

Only a person as naif as I was on my first job application.

Let me tell you how it was….

It was to one of the departments at my town coucil's (can’t remmember which one) and I really thought I had a chance as, at the time, I had more qualifications then the ones they were asking for.

 Yet when I went to hand them my application form I was told the vacancy had already been fulfilled (even though I still had a few days left to deliever it).

The job had been given to an employee’s family member.

You see I could have been interviewed and put aside, instead I wasn’t even given a chance.

It’s ok, I managed fine without that job, but the point is, it cured me of any naivity regarding politics (at least in Portugal), favours occur all the time.

Does it make it right?

Absolutely not.

And ‘till today is the reason why I do not vote on the town council's election.

Now the lagislatives are another matter all together. I always vote on those ones.

My problem is, I usualy vote on people, not on political parties and this time I do not like any of the parties' leaders, thus can not vote this way.

Pedro Nuno Santos, forget it! Someone who made such a mess when he was the infrastructures minister does not deserve my vote.

Monteiro and Belo, Jeez talking about lack of charisma there…

Rui Rocha has not convinced me as IL’s leader yet.

Ventura’s all demagogy. Any person with half a brain can see that there’s no way he’d be able to do what he promises, simply because there’s no money to do it. In fact, for someone who’s far right, his preposals could have come from the far left parties…

The portuguese comunist party lost my vote completely when they refused to condemn Russia on Ukraine’s invasion,

Mortágua and her far left party are just too radical for my taste.

Livre and its leader, Rui Tavares loose themselves amongst the other left parties in Portugal.

Sousa Real is another one who’s not convinced me as PAN’s leader.

So you see my dilemma?

Now I'll have to read their programs, watch the debates and decide in which one do I trust more.

Mind you I’ve never particularly liked Costa and had to put up with him for 8 years…

 

The diplomatic incident in Portugal was self-defence?

The events have been so explored by the media that I was trying not to enter the circus by adding my insignificant opinion to the mix, however it’s not in my nature to keep quiet.

The Iraqi twins gave an interview to the Portuguese TV channel SIC this week presenting their version of what happened that night, while one of the Portuguese boys involved on the incidents gave his and the Asian boy who accompanied the twins to the bar also gave his.
Thus my opinion was formed by these different points of view.
There is no doubt in my mind that there was an altercation inside the bar between the Portuguese group and the foreigner.
The Portuguese boy said that the twins started it when one of them flashed his butt inside the bar. One of the twins says he was showing his tattoo to their companion and that the Portuguese teens took great offence by that action. The Asian description is similar to the Portuguese boy’s.
I personally don’t see what’s the big deal here. Portuguese teenagers show their butts all the time just because it’s fashionable to use low waist trousers like the rappers.
I have issues with a Portuguese teenage group having more than a few drinks in a bar. It should never have happened. Underage shouldn’t be allowed to drink. Yet this rule should be as applicable to a fifteen years old as  to a seventeen. As I can't agree with the freedom parents give to their children. A fifteen years old shouldn't be out that late (but that's just my opinion).
Then there is the matter that summer holydays keep young people with too much free time. In a small city where there’s not many opportunities to find a summer occupation they tend to waist three months doing nothing (or better yet, being inconsequent teens).
Now, accordingly to the Asian boy who was with the twins, the fight took place outside the bar. He says that both sides were to blame.
Oh, I do believe that. Even because he also said that the Iraqi boys were drunk.
Who cares if the twins waited for the group outside or if the group followed the twins and encircled them (as they claim)?
The thing is that they fought and by the time our National Republican Guard (GNR) arrived, the fight was over.
From what the twins have said, this is where things got weird.
GNR, took the twins home that night and advised them to make a formal complaint which the two boys refused to make.
So while the Portuguese boy and his friends where still lose in the night, the Iraqi twins were left safely at home.
So why have they decided to go back out? They claim they left (or lost) a few objects at the scene and went back to get it. Wouldn’t it have been easier to phone GNR and tell them that they had lost ( left) those objects in or outside the bar so that the authorities could take the proper measures to get it for them without any risk?
But no, they’ve decided to get inside a car, most likely still under the influence of alcohol, and drive back to the bar where everything happened.
What the twins say is that they were once again insulted by the Portuguese boy and reacted to it.
So, let’s analyse what is said by the media + the twins.
The Portuguese boy was coming from his girlfriend’s house and was walking by himself on the main street of “Ponte de Sôr” at around four o’clock in the morning while the two Iraqi boys were driving their car.
Then, even if Ruben (the Portuguese boy), has indeed insulted the boys, could he have been a real threat to the twins since he had not the safety of numbers on his side anymore?
I ask this because the Iraqi government wrote a statement saying that the incident had been in self- defence.
Had it been during the earlier fight and I could have doubts about the reason why Ruben was so savagely attacked. As it is I have no doubt in my mind that the brutality shown was an act of revenge. Rage blinds, and that’s what I believe happened here. The fury was such that the twins lost control of the situation and did not measure the consequences.
Did they have reasons to be mad?
I wasn’t there to tell yet nothing can justify something like this.
The pain it is causing to both families  (I’m certain the Portuguese family is not the only one suffering with all this, but the Iraqi as well, as I am sure that the ambassador wasn’t expecting something like this coming from his sons) as to be respected.
As for the reaction of the embassy this week, I think it is totally justifiable. Most parents only wish is to protect their offspring, right? Though I do hope that in the privacy of that house the father shows his sons that every action has consequences.
Regarding the allegedly insults to the Iraqi and their religion, if it indeed happened, those involved should also be punished. It is urgent to teach our children that the differences are what make mankind special, and that people should never be judged by their race, color, or religion.
Much more important than an apology broadcasted on TV, is the apology those boys (all of them if there’s grievance from both sides) should exchange between them, eye to eye.

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The justice system is not always about the truth

The death of Trayvon Martin as been largely talked about these last few days.
First of all it's always tragic when someone so young dies no matter the reason.
Second, once again US gun culture where everyone can have a gun license allowed for an ordinary man like George Zimmerman who was not a policeman, but a private patrol guy to carry it with him.
I will not discuss if he did it for racial motives (even because I do not know the guy), yet it seems a bit extreme for a grown man to use a gun against an unarmed boy.
As for the police work, I agree that it took them too long to apprehend Zimmerman, however I cannot blame the jury for the verdict for the justice system is all about proof, if you don't have that, you have nothing. Speculation doesn't count.
Who can honestly say they have proof of Zimmerman's xenophobia?
   

Amigos improvaveis

Para todos os amantes de animais:

Weakness and disloyalty

I think this time my country's government will fall.
With Victor Gaspar (the finance minister) and Paulo Portas (the foreigner affairs minister and leader of the other party forming the coalition in power) I cannot see a way which will allow our prime minister to stay in office.
Victor Gaspar couldn't handle the pressure of a society who is unable to understand that we are on the edge and there is no easy solution to keep us balanced no matter who gets to power. The key is to keep calm despite de criticism.
As for Paulo Portas... It's actually a much more devious man since he is only loyal to himself.
We only need to remember his past actions, first to get to his party's front lead as he used deceive to overthrow CDS' leader at the time, Manuel Monteiro and after to cause the fall of former Portuguese prime ministers, Santana Lopes is one example of that.
It's funny because I haven't any doubt Portas' ambition would love to get to number two on our government seats (which would happen now with Gaspar's resignation) however Passos Coelho's unpopular measures to meet the UE economical demands have caused a lot of popular contestation and Portas is not one to allow his image to get tainted...he prefers to do his dirty work quietly... stepping away now will allow him to try for a good result on the next election.
Again I cannot see how our government will manage to rule without CDS' support, but at least Passo's Coelho was man enough not to resign despite all the rubbish which came out of the opposition leaders mouths yesterday.
Good for him.
    

Cheers to the Egyptian Army!

Finally something happened which might change the tides to the Egyptian people:
Yesterday the Egyptian army decided to take a stand by the people, giving 48 hours for the government and opposition to reach an understanding which will better serve the people's will.
I can only congratulate them for this attitude!
Now we can only hope that, if it comes to it, the army remembers that the seats of power are not theirs to keep for rulers should be chosen by the people.
My country's revolution is a good example of a successful military revolution where there was no bloodshed so hopefully these will be the kind of guidelines the Egyptian army will follow now.