Video yükleniyor...

Video Yüklenemedi

Ana Sayfaya Dön

Drummer: Pete "Commando" Sandoval Band: Terrorizer Track: Human Prey Live at Brutal Assault festival - Czech Republic 7.08.2024

SurfThrash's profile picture

SurfSkateThrash

32,888 subscribers

59,074 görüntüleme • 6 gün önce •via X (Twitter)

SanatSağlık & İyilikMüzik
LIVE

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

0 Yorum

Yorum bulunmuyor

Orijinal gönderinin yorumları burada görünecek

Benzer Videolar

A pounding bassline helped make “Club Foot” the track that introduced Kasabian to a huge audience. Written by Sergio Pizzorno and Chris Karloff, it opened their 2004 self-titled debut album and quickly became their signature live anthem. Its striking video was dedicated to Czech student activist Jan Palach. At Glastonbury in 2009, “Club Foot” remained an explosive festival favourite as Kasabian entered their West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum era.
4:34

A pounding bassline helped make “Club Foot” the track that introduced Kasabian to a huge audience. Written by Sergio Pizzorno and Chris Karloff, it opened their 2004 self-titled debut album and quickly became their signature live anthem. Its striking video was dedicated to Czech student activist Jan Palach. At Glastonbury in 2009, “Club Foot” remained an explosive festival favourite as Kasabian entered their West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum era.

Batfox Pictures

40,214 görüntüleme • 5 gün önce

The Brian May Band performing "Since You've Been Gone" by Rainbow live at The Brixton Academy, 1993. “Touring as a front man, following Freddie’s passing, I was in complete denial of Queen, and regarded my new band as my future. I was blessed with the massive support of the late great Cozy Powell on drums. Here we see Cozy in fabulous form. Of course, when Ritchie Blackmore’s band, Rainbow, recorded the monumental version of this song that charted in 1979, Cozy had been the drummer, and for me, covering this track live was a kind of homage to Cozy. The vocal is almost impossibly rangey, and I made it a personal crusade to work on my voice, extending my range so I could sing it. The band was a dream outfit for me … with already legendary heavy rock stalwart Neil Murray on bass, who had worked with Cozy (and my friend Tony Iommi) in one of the incarnations of Black Sabbath, long-time Queen collaborator Spike Edney on keys, newly recruited Jamie Moses on guitar, who remains a great friend to this day, and two stunning backing vocalists, Catherine Porter and Shelley Preston. It actually gives me a chill up the spine to see this outfit in full flight, as clear and bright as if ‘twere yesterday” - Brian May
3:35

The Brian May Band performing "Since You've Been Gone" by Rainbow live at The Brixton Academy, 1993. “Touring as a front man, following Freddie’s passing, I was in complete denial of Queen, and regarded my new band as my future. I was blessed with the massive support of the late great Cozy Powell on drums. Here we see Cozy in fabulous form. Of course, when Ritchie Blackmore’s band, Rainbow, recorded the monumental version of this song that charted in 1979, Cozy had been the drummer, and for me, covering this track live was a kind of homage to Cozy. The vocal is almost impossibly rangey, and I made it a personal crusade to work on my voice, extending my range so I could sing it. The band was a dream outfit for me … with already legendary heavy rock stalwart Neil Murray on bass, who had worked with Cozy (and my friend Tony Iommi) in one of the incarnations of Black Sabbath, long-time Queen collaborator Spike Edney on keys, newly recruited Jamie Moses on guitar, who remains a great friend to this day, and two stunning backing vocalists, Catherine Porter and Shelley Preston. It actually gives me a chill up the spine to see this outfit in full flight, as clear and bright as if ‘twere yesterday” - Brian May

🎸 Rock History 🎸

534,333 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

🚨- Kuki militants firing using MA-3 Mk1 Assault Rifles (Myanmar Made Weapon) #ManipurViolence 🚨#Breaking🚨 27th Jan'24.Burmese origin #KukiMillitants attacked Meitei village #Khamenlok using weapons captured from Myanmarese Junta forces. In a leaked video one of the militants can be seen shooting at Meitei settlements with an MA-3 MK.1 (AK copy), a standard issue assault rifle used by Junta forces. ❗️Kuki tied up with external force to eradicate Meitei Community concern authority please 🙏 wake up if Manipur is no more India 🇮🇳 is incomplete Weapons captured from the Burmese forces by anti-junta insurgents now being used by #KukiMilitants in #Manipur is indeed worrying. This not only puts the native #HinduMeiteis at risk of constant attack but is a huge threat to #Bharat national security. #KukiMilitantsViolatedSoO #AbrogateSoOWithKukiMillitants PMO India गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India Office of the MLA @Heingang AC Manipur Manipur Police रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India NIA India Central Bureau of Investigation (India) Randhir Jaiswal ANI Press Trust of India The Times Of India NDTV The Times Of India Hindustan Times The Indian Express Zee News English News18 The Telegraph TOI India News9 News The Truth Republic FRONTLINE Hindustan Times WION The Tribune HinduPost Northeast Live The Pamphlet Trunicle Kreately.in BBC News Hindi UN Human Rights Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP RT_India News18 Akash Anand AajTak The New Indian Firstpost
1:43

🚨- Kuki militants firing using MA-3 Mk1 Assault Rifles (Myanmar Made Weapon) #ManipurViolence 🚨#Breaking🚨 27th Jan'24.Burmese origin #KukiMillitants attacked Meitei village #Khamenlok using weapons captured from Myanmarese Junta forces. In a leaked video one of the militants can be seen shooting at Meitei settlements with an MA-3 MK.1 (AK copy), a standard issue assault rifle used by Junta forces. ❗️Kuki tied up with external force to eradicate Meitei Community concern authority please 🙏 wake up if Manipur is no more India 🇮🇳 is incomplete Weapons captured from the Burmese forces by anti-junta insurgents now being used by #KukiMilitants in #Manipur is indeed worrying. This not only puts the native #HinduMeiteis at risk of constant attack but is a huge threat to #Bharat national security. #KukiMilitantsViolatedSoO #AbrogateSoOWithKukiMillitants PMO India गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India Office of the MLA @Heingang AC Manipur Manipur Police रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India NIA India Central Bureau of Investigation (India) Randhir Jaiswal ANI Press Trust of India The Times Of India NDTV The Times Of India Hindustan Times The Indian Express Zee News English News18 The Telegraph TOI India News9 News The Truth Republic FRONTLINE Hindustan Times WION The Tribune HinduPost Northeast Live The Pamphlet Trunicle Kreately.in BBC News Hindi UN Human Rights Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP RT_India News18 Akash Anand AajTak The New Indian Firstpost

MeiteiEliteForum

14,224 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

IRON MAIDEN ANNOUNCE 'RUN FOR YOUR LIVES' WORLD TOUR 2025/26! The Run For Your Lives World Tour will kick off on May 27th next year in Budapest followed by 27 stadium, festival & arena shows around Europe. The tour marks 50 years since Steve Harris formed the band in late 1975 and to celebrate this Maiden fans are promised a very special set list, spanning the nine studio albums from ‘Iron Maiden’ to ‘Fear Of The Dark’, with their most spectacular and elaborate show ever! MAY 2025 27 Budapest, HUNGARY - Budapest Aréna * 31 Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC - Letnany Airport * JUNE 2025 01 Bratislava, SLOVAKIA - TIPOS Arena * 05 Trondheim, NORWAY - Trondheim Rocks (Festival) 07 Stavanger, NORWAY - SR-Bank Arena * 09 Copenhagen, DENMARK - Royal Arena * 12 Stockholm, SWEDEN - 3Arena * 13 Stockholm, SWEDEN - 3Arena * 16 Helsinki, FINLAND - Olympic Stadium * 21 Birmingham, ENGLAND - Utilita Arena ^ 22 Manchester, ENGLAND - Co-op Live ^ 25 Dublin, IRELAND - Malahide Castle *^ 28 London, ENGLAND - London Stadium *^ 30 Glasgow, SCOTLAND - OVO Hydro ^ JULY 2025 03 Belfort, FRANCE - Eurockéennes Festival 05 Madrid, SPAIN - Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano ** 06 Lisbon, PORTUGAL - MEO Arena ** 09 Zurich, SWITZERLAND - Hallenstadion ** 11 Gelsenkirchen, GERMANY - Veltins-Arena ** 13 Padova, ITALY - Stadio Euganeo ** 15 Bremen, GERMANY - Bürgerweide ** 17 Vienna, AUSTRIA - Ernst Happel Stadium ** 19 Paris, FRANCE - Paris La Défense Arena ** 23 Arnhem, NETHERLANDS - GelreDome ** 25 Frankfurt, GERMANY - Deutsche Bank Park ** 26 Stuttgart, GERMANY - Cannstatter Wasen ** 29 Berlin, GERMANY - Waldbühne ** AUGUST 2025 02 Warsaw - POLAND - PGE Narodowy ** Special Guests for the first half of the tour, including the London & Dublin outdoor shows (but not the UK arenas), will be American rockers Halestorm. The second half of the tour sees Sweden’s Avatar as guests. And, finally, British metal band, The Raven Age, will open all UK & Ireland shows. *Halestorm | ^The Raven Age | **Avatar Tickets go on general sale next week! Check for dates/times and to read the whole announcement. #IronMaiden #RunForYourLivesWorldTour #Eddie
0:29

IRON MAIDEN ANNOUNCE 'RUN FOR YOUR LIVES' WORLD TOUR 2025/26! The Run For Your Lives World Tour will kick off on May 27th next year in Budapest followed by 27 stadium, festival & arena shows around Europe. The tour marks 50 years since Steve Harris formed the band in late 1975 and to celebrate this Maiden fans are promised a very special set list, spanning the nine studio albums from ‘Iron Maiden’ to ‘Fear Of The Dark’, with their most spectacular and elaborate show ever! MAY 2025 27 Budapest, HUNGARY - Budapest Aréna * 31 Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC - Letnany Airport * JUNE 2025 01 Bratislava, SLOVAKIA - TIPOS Arena * 05 Trondheim, NORWAY - Trondheim Rocks (Festival) 07 Stavanger, NORWAY - SR-Bank Arena * 09 Copenhagen, DENMARK - Royal Arena * 12 Stockholm, SWEDEN - 3Arena * 13 Stockholm, SWEDEN - 3Arena * 16 Helsinki, FINLAND - Olympic Stadium * 21 Birmingham, ENGLAND - Utilita Arena ^ 22 Manchester, ENGLAND - Co-op Live ^ 25 Dublin, IRELAND - Malahide Castle *^ 28 London, ENGLAND - London Stadium *^ 30 Glasgow, SCOTLAND - OVO Hydro ^ JULY 2025 03 Belfort, FRANCE - Eurockéennes Festival 05 Madrid, SPAIN - Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano ** 06 Lisbon, PORTUGAL - MEO Arena ** 09 Zurich, SWITZERLAND - Hallenstadion ** 11 Gelsenkirchen, GERMANY - Veltins-Arena ** 13 Padova, ITALY - Stadio Euganeo ** 15 Bremen, GERMANY - Bürgerweide ** 17 Vienna, AUSTRIA - Ernst Happel Stadium ** 19 Paris, FRANCE - Paris La Défense Arena ** 23 Arnhem, NETHERLANDS - GelreDome ** 25 Frankfurt, GERMANY - Deutsche Bank Park ** 26 Stuttgart, GERMANY - Cannstatter Wasen ** 29 Berlin, GERMANY - Waldbühne ** AUGUST 2025 02 Warsaw - POLAND - PGE Narodowy ** Special Guests for the first half of the tour, including the London & Dublin outdoor shows (but not the UK arenas), will be American rockers Halestorm. The second half of the tour sees Sweden’s Avatar as guests. And, finally, British metal band, The Raven Age, will open all UK & Ireland shows. *Halestorm | ^The Raven Age | **Avatar Tickets go on general sale next week! Check for dates/times and to read the whole announcement. #IronMaiden #RunForYourLivesWorldTour #Eddie

Iron Maiden

365,090 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

Naomi Wolf shares a devastating conclusion from her research, revealing what she describes as a "360-degree attack on human reproduction." Four years after the global rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, the data, she asserts, is both predictable and catastrophic. Citing analyses by researcher Igor Chudov of government databases from nearly 20 nations, she reports a staggering 13-20% drop in live births across vaccinated countries. This translates to an estimated one million missing babies in Europe alone. This trend is not isolated. Similar collapses in birth rates are being reported in Canada and confirmed by a major study from the Czech Republic. The core of the crisis? Evidence suggests vaccinated women are experiencing a significant loss of eggs and reduced fertility compared to their unvaccinated peers. Wolf points to Iceland as a harbinger of a demographic future. The nation has plummeted to a birth rate of just 1.5 per couple, far below the replacement level needed to sustain its population. The grim prognosis? Without urgent intervention to study and reverse this inflicted infertility, the very future of nations is at stake. Her message is a sobering call to action: the time for apprehension has passed; the time for accountability and solutions is now.
1:55

Naomi Wolf shares a devastating conclusion from her research, revealing what she describes as a "360-degree attack on human reproduction." Four years after the global rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, the data, she asserts, is both predictable and catastrophic. Citing analyses by researcher Igor Chudov of government databases from nearly 20 nations, she reports a staggering 13-20% drop in live births across vaccinated countries. This translates to an estimated one million missing babies in Europe alone. This trend is not isolated. Similar collapses in birth rates are being reported in Canada and confirmed by a major study from the Czech Republic. The core of the crisis? Evidence suggests vaccinated women are experiencing a significant loss of eggs and reduced fertility compared to their unvaccinated peers. Wolf points to Iceland as a harbinger of a demographic future. The nation has plummeted to a birth rate of just 1.5 per couple, far below the replacement level needed to sustain its population. The grim prognosis? Without urgent intervention to study and reverse this inflicted infertility, the very future of nations is at stake. Her message is a sobering call to action: the time for apprehension has passed; the time for accountability and solutions is now.

Camus

45,819 görüntüleme • 11 ay önce

🎵My Dolly Parton Story🎶 - (Video and additional photos in 🧵 below) Exactly one year before the government shut down the world because of the #CommieVirus — especially killing the live entertainment industry — my bands were firing on all cylinders. My private event band, Bull City Syndicate, was doing especially well. We’d been the headlining entertainment for the past two North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Balls, and played hundreds of high-end corporate events, charity balls, and top-shelf weddings. On March 2, 2019, we were especially excited to be hired as the featured entertainment for a charity event where Dolly Parton would be the main attraction. Not as a musical performer herself, but to promote her own charity, Imagination Library (Imagination Library), and to do a live poetry reading from her own work. The event was the 25th Anniversary Smart Start Gala. Raleigh’s mayor, the governor of NC, and many other VIPs would be in attendance. While the event planner never suggested that we perform or back up Dolly on any of her tunes, it was, in the back of my mind, something I thought would have been really cool. But not something I’d dare suggest or insinuate on my own. My only preshow contact with Dolly’s organization was with her head of security. The Marble’s Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC is a fabulous venue for fun charity events, but it has only one “green room” next to the staging area. Security informed me that the band would have to completely evacuate that shared space at least 30-minutes before Dolly arrived for her portion of the evening’s proceedings. (Not an unusual or inappropriate request, given her enormous superstar status.) The entire 10-piece band was on stage when Dolly was escorted through the back entrance and into the green room. There was some back-and-forth between VIP speeches and live music, so the band stayed in place throughout. Since the event was completely sold out and standing room only, we knew we’d have the best vantage of Dolly if we just stayed on the stage. Dolly’s presentation was scheduled to be only about 10-15 minutes. While the governor and mayor were delivering remarks just in advance of Dolly taking the stage, I looked back at the green room door, off stage left, and I saw my son, Duncan, in full-on, intense conversation with Dolly! (WHAT?!) Duncan, who was only 20 years old at the time and already a freak-of-nature musician himself, was working on my stage crew that night. I’m the band leader, so I’m having to give full attention to the event host and what’s happening on the speaker’s side of the stage … but only 20 feet away, Duncan and Dolly are chatting away like long-lost friends. Finally, at one of my many glances in their direction, Dolly and Duncan catch my eye and both start waving me over to them. I silently point at my chest, then mouth, “Me?” They both nod, say yes, and wave more insistently. I dart off the stage, over to the dimly lit green room entrance corridor. Duncan, who is much taller than I am, puts his hand on my shoulder and introduces me to “Dolly Parton.” (You can imagine the look on my face. Ha!) He tells me that Dolly has a request. I lean down to put my ear close to Dolly, so that she wouldn’t have to speak too loudly while the governor was talking to the audience. (I can imitate her voice, and I wish you could hear it in her voice and Tennessee mountain accent right now.) She says to me: “I didn’t know there was going to be a band here tonight. If I’d known there would be a band, I’d have had you learn some of my songs.” Then she came right out with it. “Do y’all know any of my songs?” I straightened back up, and over the course of less than five seconds my mind raced through every Top-40 solo and duet hit single of hers I’d ever heard on the radio. Country, pop, and otherwise. I made an immediate band leader decision … and lied my ass off. “Yes, we can play ‘Jolene.’” We’d never performed or rehearsed “Jolene,” or any other Dolly Parton tune, in the 20 years I’d led that band. The conversation continued: DOLLY: “Y’all know ‘Jolene?!’” ME: “Yes, ma’am.” DOLLY: “That’s great! When I finish reading my poem, I’ll tell everyone we’re going to sing ‘Jolene.’” ME: “We’ll be ready. What key do you do ‘Jolene’ in?” DOLLY: “I don’t know.” Dolly’s personal assistant leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, “C minor.” (Cm) The original key for “Jolene” was C-sharp minor (C#m), but I assume at 73 years old she might be lowering keys, as many aging vocalists tend to do. I gave Dolly an assuring look and said, “Thank you.” I looked at Duncan with an eye-raised, “Oh, sh-t” look on my face, then ran to the stage and called an emergency huddle of my rhythm section as Governor Cooper droned on in the background. In whispered, panicked tones, I told them, “Guys, you have 10 minutes to learn ‘Jolene’ … Key of C minor … GO!” The guys immediately took out their phones and pulled up the song, each listening privately through their in-ear monitors or holding the phone speaker close to their heads. They started silently fingering around on the guitar and bass guitar frets, and the keyboards. Our drummer sat quietly and listened to the track on his phone. I darted over to our female lead singer, Danie Ward, and asked her if she knew the words and background harmonies to “Jolene.” She gave me “The Look.” Back story … Danie was with my band for over ten years. She was my all-time favorite female lead vocalist, and we became great friends. She and her husband were very active in their church as pastor and she as worship leader. She and her sisters also performed for many years as a family Gospel group. But Danie, as a Black gospel artist, was immensely versatile, able to sing anything from Aretha Franklin to Lady Gaga and leaving you wanting more. And although a Black Gospel artist, her secret desire and ambition was to be a Country music artist. (I kid you not.) So, when I asked her if she knew the words and harmonies to “Jolene,” THE LOOK she gave me was … “Seriously? You dare ask ME that question?” All I needed in response from Danie was “The Look.” No words spoken, and I slinked away appropriately chastised. My band members were all world-class pros, at every position. Especially that rhythm section. Most of whom had been with me for many years at this point. They ended up with more than 10 minutes to quietly and individually—with no rehearsal—learn “Jolene.” A few more minutes passed before Dolly was introduced and brought onstage; then she took another 20 minutes to deliver her remarks and poetry reading. The guys were ready. Dolly finished her poem to a round of applause and immediately announced she’d be performing “Jolene” for them. They cheered in approval. My drummer clicked a four count with his drumsticks, and they were off. As soon as Dolly began to sing the first words of the song, you can see me — in the video below — walking across the front of the stage with a huge smile on my face. Danie then got the thrill of her life. As soon as she’d finished singing the first round of harmonies behind Dolly’s lead, Dolly turned and looked toward Danie and said loudly into the mic, “Good job!” No one knew how or when Dolly wanted to end the song, so there was no real conclusion. They all just kinda stopped. But the audience was enthusiastically grateful they’d gotten more than what they paid for that night. I do wish the event planner had informed Dolly and her team that a band was at the event. I’d have loved to have learned a handful of her songs for the show. Maybe I’d have even been able to sing with her one of her chart-topping duets that she recorded with Kenny Rogers. Even though I never personally sang or performed a single musical note with Dolly, I’ll always be able to say “My band” performed with Dolly Parton. —— Postscript: A few days after that event, I received a call from Dolly’s personal assistant. (The same guy who whispered “C minor” into my ear.) He said he needed my son's address because Dolly had a gift she wanted to send him. Dolly’s PA explained that Duncan reminded her so much of her late brother, Floyd, when he was Duncan’s age. She wanted to send Duncan something special. For whatever reason, the package never arrived. Whether lost in the shuffle of Dolly’s or her staff’s busy life, or because some porch pirate pilfered it, Duncan never received that gift. But the very thought that was conveyed shows you what kind of person Dolly was. (Photos in thread below.) —— Post Postscript: Later that same year, I was attending the W.C. Handy Music Festival in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. At the time, I was managing a renowned Shoals songwriter and his band, James LeBlanc & The Winchesters. Some members of James’ band were performing a lunchtime show at one of the local Shoals area eateries as part of the 10-day festival’s scheduled events. I arrived a few minutes late, and the place was packed. Seated alone at a table near the stage was a woman with bleached Big Hair. She saw me looking for a spot and waved me over. Before I got to the table, I knew she had to be related to Dolly. Sure enough, it was Stella Parton, Dolly’s sister. Stella has had her own far less notable career in music, so I made sure not to gush over Dolly (just in case, and not knowing the family dynamics), but I did tell her about my band performing with Dolly earlier that year. I will forever and always have that story to tell. ⬇️
3:16

🎵My Dolly Parton Story🎶 - (Video and additional photos in 🧵 below) Exactly one year before the government shut down the world because of the #CommieVirus — especially killing the live entertainment industry — my bands were firing on all cylinders. My private event band, Bull City Syndicate, was doing especially well. We’d been the headlining entertainment for the past two North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Balls, and played hundreds of high-end corporate events, charity balls, and top-shelf weddings. On March 2, 2019, we were especially excited to be hired as the featured entertainment for a charity event where Dolly Parton would be the main attraction. Not as a musical performer herself, but to promote her own charity, Imagination Library (Imagination Library), and to do a live poetry reading from her own work. The event was the 25th Anniversary Smart Start Gala. Raleigh’s mayor, the governor of NC, and many other VIPs would be in attendance. While the event planner never suggested that we perform or back up Dolly on any of her tunes, it was, in the back of my mind, something I thought would have been really cool. But not something I’d dare suggest or insinuate on my own. My only preshow contact with Dolly’s organization was with her head of security. The Marble’s Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC is a fabulous venue for fun charity events, but it has only one “green room” next to the staging area. Security informed me that the band would have to completely evacuate that shared space at least 30-minutes before Dolly arrived for her portion of the evening’s proceedings. (Not an unusual or inappropriate request, given her enormous superstar status.) The entire 10-piece band was on stage when Dolly was escorted through the back entrance and into the green room. There was some back-and-forth between VIP speeches and live music, so the band stayed in place throughout. Since the event was completely sold out and standing room only, we knew we’d have the best vantage of Dolly if we just stayed on the stage. Dolly’s presentation was scheduled to be only about 10-15 minutes. While the governor and mayor were delivering remarks just in advance of Dolly taking the stage, I looked back at the green room door, off stage left, and I saw my son, Duncan, in full-on, intense conversation with Dolly! (WHAT?!) Duncan, who was only 20 years old at the time and already a freak-of-nature musician himself, was working on my stage crew that night. I’m the band leader, so I’m having to give full attention to the event host and what’s happening on the speaker’s side of the stage … but only 20 feet away, Duncan and Dolly are chatting away like long-lost friends. Finally, at one of my many glances in their direction, Dolly and Duncan catch my eye and both start waving me over to them. I silently point at my chest, then mouth, “Me?” They both nod, say yes, and wave more insistently. I dart off the stage, over to the dimly lit green room entrance corridor. Duncan, who is much taller than I am, puts his hand on my shoulder and introduces me to “Dolly Parton.” (You can imagine the look on my face. Ha!) He tells me that Dolly has a request. I lean down to put my ear close to Dolly, so that she wouldn’t have to speak too loudly while the governor was talking to the audience. (I can imitate her voice, and I wish you could hear it in her voice and Tennessee mountain accent right now.) She says to me: “I didn’t know there was going to be a band here tonight. If I’d known there would be a band, I’d have had you learn some of my songs.” Then she came right out with it. “Do y’all know any of my songs?” I straightened back up, and over the course of less than five seconds my mind raced through every Top-40 solo and duet hit single of hers I’d ever heard on the radio. Country, pop, and otherwise. I made an immediate band leader decision … and lied my ass off. “Yes, we can play ‘Jolene.’” We’d never performed or rehearsed “Jolene,” or any other Dolly Parton tune, in the 20 years I’d led that band. The conversation continued: DOLLY: “Y’all know ‘Jolene?!’” ME: “Yes, ma’am.” DOLLY: “That’s great! When I finish reading my poem, I’ll tell everyone we’re going to sing ‘Jolene.’” ME: “We’ll be ready. What key do you do ‘Jolene’ in?” DOLLY: “I don’t know.” Dolly’s personal assistant leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, “C minor.” (Cm) The original key for “Jolene” was C-sharp minor (C#m), but I assume at 73 years old she might be lowering keys, as many aging vocalists tend to do. I gave Dolly an assuring look and said, “Thank you.” I looked at Duncan with an eye-raised, “Oh, sh-t” look on my face, then ran to the stage and called an emergency huddle of my rhythm section as Governor Cooper droned on in the background. In whispered, panicked tones, I told them, “Guys, you have 10 minutes to learn ‘Jolene’ … Key of C minor … GO!” The guys immediately took out their phones and pulled up the song, each listening privately through their in-ear monitors or holding the phone speaker close to their heads. They started silently fingering around on the guitar and bass guitar frets, and the keyboards. Our drummer sat quietly and listened to the track on his phone. I darted over to our female lead singer, Danie Ward, and asked her if she knew the words and background harmonies to “Jolene.” She gave me “The Look.” Back story … Danie was with my band for over ten years. She was my all-time favorite female lead vocalist, and we became great friends. She and her husband were very active in their church as pastor and she as worship leader. She and her sisters also performed for many years as a family Gospel group. But Danie, as a Black gospel artist, was immensely versatile, able to sing anything from Aretha Franklin to Lady Gaga and leaving you wanting more. And although a Black Gospel artist, her secret desire and ambition was to be a Country music artist. (I kid you not.) So, when I asked her if she knew the words and harmonies to “Jolene,” THE LOOK she gave me was … “Seriously? You dare ask ME that question?” All I needed in response from Danie was “The Look.” No words spoken, and I slinked away appropriately chastised. My band members were all world-class pros, at every position. Especially that rhythm section. Most of whom had been with me for many years at this point. They ended up with more than 10 minutes to quietly and individually—with no rehearsal—learn “Jolene.” A few more minutes passed before Dolly was introduced and brought onstage; then she took another 20 minutes to deliver her remarks and poetry reading. The guys were ready. Dolly finished her poem to a round of applause and immediately announced she’d be performing “Jolene” for them. They cheered in approval. My drummer clicked a four count with his drumsticks, and they were off. As soon as Dolly began to sing the first words of the song, you can see me — in the video below — walking across the front of the stage with a huge smile on my face. Danie then got the thrill of her life. As soon as she’d finished singing the first round of harmonies behind Dolly’s lead, Dolly turned and looked toward Danie and said loudly into the mic, “Good job!” No one knew how or when Dolly wanted to end the song, so there was no real conclusion. They all just kinda stopped. But the audience was enthusiastically grateful they’d gotten more than what they paid for that night. I do wish the event planner had informed Dolly and her team that a band was at the event. I’d have loved to have learned a handful of her songs for the show. Maybe I’d have even been able to sing with her one of her chart-topping duets that she recorded with Kenny Rogers. Even though I never personally sang or performed a single musical note with Dolly, I’ll always be able to say “My band” performed with Dolly Parton. —— Postscript: A few days after that event, I received a call from Dolly’s personal assistant. (The same guy who whispered “C minor” into my ear.) He said he needed my son's address because Dolly had a gift she wanted to send him. Dolly’s PA explained that Duncan reminded her so much of her late brother, Floyd, when he was Duncan’s age. She wanted to send Duncan something special. For whatever reason, the package never arrived. Whether lost in the shuffle of Dolly’s or her staff’s busy life, or because some porch pirate pilfered it, Duncan never received that gift. But the very thought that was conveyed shows you what kind of person Dolly was. (Photos in thread below.) —— Post Postscript: Later that same year, I was attending the W.C. Handy Music Festival in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. At the time, I was managing a renowned Shoals songwriter and his band, James LeBlanc & The Winchesters. Some members of James’ band were performing a lunchtime show at one of the local Shoals area eateries as part of the 10-day festival’s scheduled events. I arrived a few minutes late, and the place was packed. Seated alone at a table near the stage was a woman with bleached Big Hair. She saw me looking for a spot and waved me over. Before I got to the table, I knew she had to be related to Dolly. Sure enough, it was Stella Parton, Dolly’s sister. Stella has had her own far less notable career in music, so I made sure not to gush over Dolly (just in case, and not knowing the family dynamics), but I did tell her about my band performing with Dolly earlier that year. I will forever and always have that story to tell. ⬇️

Steve Baker

50,320 görüntüleme • 7 gün önce

Pakistan's Ruthless Occupational Forces Escalate Heart-Wrenching Abductions of Innocent Baloch Women Across Our Sacred Republic of Balochistan 23 December 2025 For decades now over half a century the same ruthless forces from Islamabad have turned their savage gaze upon the proud people of the Republic of Balochistan, repeating these inhuman atrocities with chilling indifference. Our Baloch sisters are being torn from their homes in heartbreaking numbers; reports from human rights groups document a rising wave of enforced disappearances targeting women, with at least nine cases recorded in 2025 alone students, mothers, activists vanishing into the shadows of torture cells run by Pakistan's occupational forces. These cruel abductions are not isolated acts; they are a blatant assault on the sovereignty of our sacred land, a flagrant violation of international laws that the world cannot ignore. Just recently, Pakistani forces snatched four beloved family members two courageous women from the same household, Hani Dalosh (also known as Hani Dilwash) and Khairnisa Wahid (or Heer Nisa Waheed), along with Mujahid Dalosh and Fareed Ijaz plunging their loved ones into agonising despair, wondering if they will ever return. In the biting freeze of Balochistan's winter, our resilient Baloch women and children shivering yet unbreakable have taken to the streets, blocking the CPEC highway in areas like Karki Tijaban and beyond. Their bodies tremble in the cold, but their spirits burn with defiance, demanding justice for the disappeared, an end to the occupation, and the right to live free from fear. In the dark chapter of 1971, the Pakistani military unleashed unimaginable horror, abducting and systematically raping between 200,000 and 400,000 Bengali women in a campaign of genocidal brutality that scarred a nation forever. The cries of those innocent souls still echo through history, a testament to cowardice masked as power. How many more hearts must break? How many more mothers, daughters, and sisters must vanish before the world awakens to this ongoing nightmare? The Baloch people cry out not just for survival, but for dignity, for freedom, for the dawn of a new day in our homeland. Stand with us hear our pain, amplify our voices, and help end this cycle of terror. Balochistan bleeds, but it will rise. Hyrbyair Marri United Nations
1:30

Pakistan's Ruthless Occupational Forces Escalate Heart-Wrenching Abductions of Innocent Baloch Women Across Our Sacred Republic of Balochistan 23 December 2025 For decades now over half a century the same ruthless forces from Islamabad have turned their savage gaze upon the proud people of the Republic of Balochistan, repeating these inhuman atrocities with chilling indifference. Our Baloch sisters are being torn from their homes in heartbreaking numbers; reports from human rights groups document a rising wave of enforced disappearances targeting women, with at least nine cases recorded in 2025 alone students, mothers, activists vanishing into the shadows of torture cells run by Pakistan's occupational forces. These cruel abductions are not isolated acts; they are a blatant assault on the sovereignty of our sacred land, a flagrant violation of international laws that the world cannot ignore. Just recently, Pakistani forces snatched four beloved family members two courageous women from the same household, Hani Dalosh (also known as Hani Dilwash) and Khairnisa Wahid (or Heer Nisa Waheed), along with Mujahid Dalosh and Fareed Ijaz plunging their loved ones into agonising despair, wondering if they will ever return. In the biting freeze of Balochistan's winter, our resilient Baloch women and children shivering yet unbreakable have taken to the streets, blocking the CPEC highway in areas like Karki Tijaban and beyond. Their bodies tremble in the cold, but their spirits burn with defiance, demanding justice for the disappeared, an end to the occupation, and the right to live free from fear. In the dark chapter of 1971, the Pakistani military unleashed unimaginable horror, abducting and systematically raping between 200,000 and 400,000 Bengali women in a campaign of genocidal brutality that scarred a nation forever. The cries of those innocent souls still echo through history, a testament to cowardice masked as power. How many more hearts must break? How many more mothers, daughters, and sisters must vanish before the world awakens to this ongoing nightmare? The Baloch people cry out not just for survival, but for dignity, for freedom, for the dawn of a new day in our homeland. Stand with us hear our pain, amplify our voices, and help end this cycle of terror. Balochistan bleeds, but it will rise. Hyrbyair Marri United Nations

Mir Yar Baloch

11,884 görüntüleme • 8 ay önce

Mise Éire Festival Sells Out Amid High Demand The inaugural #MiseÉireFestival is taking place at a private venue on August 23rd, 2025, adjacent to Castlebar, Co. Mayo, from 2 pm to 11 pm. The exact location will be revealed prior to the event. Fuelled by overwhelming demand, additional online tickets for Mise Éire Festival 2025 sold out in days. A limited number of on-site tickets will be available at the gate. This will be a family friendly celebration of our beautiful Ireland focusing on its rich cultural tapestry. There will be a variety of live music, talks and workshops including language classes As Gaeilge. Anyone and everyone who wants to celebrate what makes Ireland so wonderful is welcome. This event will take place at the end of the 2025 National Heritage week. The theme of this year’s heritage week is “Exploring Our Foundations” to appreciate the roots and building blocks of Ireland’s traditions and heritage. Amongst the many speakers at Mise Éire Festival there’ll be a Brehon Law expert and an expert on the Drumcliffe Monastic site (the final resting place of Nobel prize winning poet William Butler Yeats). We also have a story teller who will spin wool while discussing the history of the wool industry in Ireland. Additionally, we have a poet and teacher who will present a class entitled “Three Steps To Peace: Awareness, Communication and Action.” Some of our guest speakers are published authors while others have professional backgrounds in Law and Journalism. All have a wealth of knowledge to share. It is unfortunate that in recent days and weeks this event has been hijacked by a group of radical far left activists who have engaged in a ruthless and potentially criminal campaign in an effort to mis-represent and derail Mise Éire Festival. This has included persistent online harassment and threats toward the Mise Éire Festival organisers, speakers and venue employees. Shocking illustrations reminiscent of 19th century British anti Irish propaganda have been disseminated depicting Mise Éire Festival organisers as Nazis, and one illustration depicted the original venue’s chairperson with a grenade in his mouth and bombs strapped to his body. In a live radio interview, one individual propagated several completely false and incendiary assertions which have led to an onslaught of abuse and we believe our safety and that of our families has been compromised. That particular radio station has aired two unreserved public apologies. The individual involved, along with others, spent several days in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, handing out leaflets in which we were named and defamed. One person involved in this hate campaign has been convicted of assault for throwing a curry powder laced milkshake in the eyes of two individuals, in an unprovoked and premeditated attack. This case has been documented in the media. Despite this, prominent national radio stations have platformed her untrue accusations about Mise Éire Festival and the organisers. Regrettably, they, along with some media publications, ran with these baseless assertions and most did not attempt to contact us or offer a right of reply. Similarly,, some political party County Councillors acted in bad faith, condemning us and Mise Éire Festival wholesale without attempting to reach out. It is disappointing that these councillors, media outlets and the 600 people who are alleged to have signed an open letter, including #Kneecap and #ChristyMoore, have failed to act responsibly and perform their due diligence, but have instead taken as fact our festival is something other than an Irish music and cultural event. In doing so they have aligned themselves with those who are now being investigated by An Garda Síochána. Furthermore, it is our belief that what was privately sent to the signatories is vastly different to the purported open letter which is too brief and vague to have garnered the support it has allegedly received. We are seeking legal opinion on this matter. Our event is not and was never intended to be political in nature, however these radical left wing activists, media, high profile artists and politicians tried to make it so by engaging in a cancel culture witch hunt whereby they attempted to clamp down on free speech while hypocritically championing Kneecap’s right to same. The ringleaders who spearheaded this relentless campaign have sabotaged dozens of other events across the country, costing one event organiser 70,000 euro as a result. A file has been sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions in that case. Their modus operandi is to illegally blackmail vendors and venue owners into cancelling. These individuals feel they get to decide what law abiding adults in Ireland get to say, do or think and they appear to feel entitled to shut down events, political or otherwise, because they personally disagree with the legally expressed views of others, even if a large proportion of the public hold such views. In this case they have targeted Stephen Kerr and his partner Susanne Delaney because their platform The Irish Inquiry (with 220,000 followers) frequently covers topical issues relating to the asylum industry. It is the belief of Mr Kerr and Ms Delaney that mass uncontrolled immigration (as opposed to controlled sensible immigration) is a pressing issue in Ireland for natives and immigrants alike. They find it morally objectionable that IPAS centre owners are allowed to commodify asylum seekers and refugees, thereby making profits from placing them in institutionalised settings that contravene basic human rights, under the guise of humanitarian duty. Mr Kerr and Ms Delaney have frequently highlighted unsuitable conditions in IPAS centre and these instances are documented and publicly available, however, it is important to state that the Mise Éire Festival and The Irish Inquiry are two separate endeavours. Mise Éire Festival will be a joyful day focusing on bringing families and individuals of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate a shared love of Irish culture. On the other hand The Irish Inquiry focuses on pressing matters of public interest affecting the nation.
1:24

Mise Éire Festival Sells Out Amid High Demand The inaugural #MiseÉireFestival is taking place at a private venue on August 23rd, 2025, adjacent to Castlebar, Co. Mayo, from 2 pm to 11 pm. The exact location will be revealed prior to the event. Fuelled by overwhelming demand, additional online tickets for Mise Éire Festival 2025 sold out in days. A limited number of on-site tickets will be available at the gate. This will be a family friendly celebration of our beautiful Ireland focusing on its rich cultural tapestry. There will be a variety of live music, talks and workshops including language classes As Gaeilge. Anyone and everyone who wants to celebrate what makes Ireland so wonderful is welcome. This event will take place at the end of the 2025 National Heritage week. The theme of this year’s heritage week is “Exploring Our Foundations” to appreciate the roots and building blocks of Ireland’s traditions and heritage. Amongst the many speakers at Mise Éire Festival there’ll be a Brehon Law expert and an expert on the Drumcliffe Monastic site (the final resting place of Nobel prize winning poet William Butler Yeats). We also have a story teller who will spin wool while discussing the history of the wool industry in Ireland. Additionally, we have a poet and teacher who will present a class entitled “Three Steps To Peace: Awareness, Communication and Action.” Some of our guest speakers are published authors while others have professional backgrounds in Law and Journalism. All have a wealth of knowledge to share. It is unfortunate that in recent days and weeks this event has been hijacked by a group of radical far left activists who have engaged in a ruthless and potentially criminal campaign in an effort to mis-represent and derail Mise Éire Festival. This has included persistent online harassment and threats toward the Mise Éire Festival organisers, speakers and venue employees. Shocking illustrations reminiscent of 19th century British anti Irish propaganda have been disseminated depicting Mise Éire Festival organisers as Nazis, and one illustration depicted the original venue’s chairperson with a grenade in his mouth and bombs strapped to his body. In a live radio interview, one individual propagated several completely false and incendiary assertions which have led to an onslaught of abuse and we believe our safety and that of our families has been compromised. That particular radio station has aired two unreserved public apologies. The individual involved, along with others, spent several days in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, handing out leaflets in which we were named and defamed. One person involved in this hate campaign has been convicted of assault for throwing a curry powder laced milkshake in the eyes of two individuals, in an unprovoked and premeditated attack. This case has been documented in the media. Despite this, prominent national radio stations have platformed her untrue accusations about Mise Éire Festival and the organisers. Regrettably, they, along with some media publications, ran with these baseless assertions and most did not attempt to contact us or offer a right of reply. Similarly,, some political party County Councillors acted in bad faith, condemning us and Mise Éire Festival wholesale without attempting to reach out. It is disappointing that these councillors, media outlets and the 600 people who are alleged to have signed an open letter, including #Kneecap and #ChristyMoore, have failed to act responsibly and perform their due diligence, but have instead taken as fact our festival is something other than an Irish music and cultural event. In doing so they have aligned themselves with those who are now being investigated by An Garda Síochána. Furthermore, it is our belief that what was privately sent to the signatories is vastly different to the purported open letter which is too brief and vague to have garnered the support it has allegedly received. We are seeking legal opinion on this matter. Our event is not and was never intended to be political in nature, however these radical left wing activists, media, high profile artists and politicians tried to make it so by engaging in a cancel culture witch hunt whereby they attempted to clamp down on free speech while hypocritically championing Kneecap’s right to same. The ringleaders who spearheaded this relentless campaign have sabotaged dozens of other events across the country, costing one event organiser 70,000 euro as a result. A file has been sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions in that case. Their modus operandi is to illegally blackmail vendors and venue owners into cancelling. These individuals feel they get to decide what law abiding adults in Ireland get to say, do or think and they appear to feel entitled to shut down events, political or otherwise, because they personally disagree with the legally expressed views of others, even if a large proportion of the public hold such views. In this case they have targeted Stephen Kerr and his partner Susanne Delaney because their platform The Irish Inquiry (with 220,000 followers) frequently covers topical issues relating to the asylum industry. It is the belief of Mr Kerr and Ms Delaney that mass uncontrolled immigration (as opposed to controlled sensible immigration) is a pressing issue in Ireland for natives and immigrants alike. They find it morally objectionable that IPAS centre owners are allowed to commodify asylum seekers and refugees, thereby making profits from placing them in institutionalised settings that contravene basic human rights, under the guise of humanitarian duty. Mr Kerr and Ms Delaney have frequently highlighted unsuitable conditions in IPAS centre and these instances are documented and publicly available, however, it is important to state that the Mise Éire Festival and The Irish Inquiry are two separate endeavours. Mise Éire Festival will be a joyful day focusing on bringing families and individuals of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate a shared love of Irish culture. On the other hand The Irish Inquiry focuses on pressing matters of public interest affecting the nation.

IrishInquiry

16,038 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE / INCIDENT REPORT This report is made on behalf of a Nigerian woman, a lawful property owner and practitioner of traditional religion (ONÍṢẸ̀ṢẸ). She legally built a house in Ilorin, Kwara State, which is her constitutional right as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. From the beginning of her presence in this Ilorin Muslim community, some individuals openly stated that they did not want an ONÍṢẸ̀ṢẸ practitioner living among them. She was repeatedly threatened and intimidated solely because of her religious practice. Due to these threats, she reported the matter to the nearest police station in Ilorin. The police summoned the individuals involved and warned them that she has a legal right to live and build a house in any community of her choice in Nigeria. Despite this police warning, the threats escalated. She was directly told: “Since your house is what is keeping you here in our midst, if you refuse to stop your traditional religion practice, get ready to see your house set ablaze.” She initially considered this an empty threat. However, on January 1st 2026, while she was away attending the Osun Festival at her other residence, a neighbor urgently called to inform her that her house in Ilorin was on fire. The house was later confirmed to have been burnt, validating the earlier threats. This was not an accident. This was arson following explicit religious threats. This report is shared: • For public record • For her safety • For accountability • To notify authorities, media, and human-rights organizations Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. No woman should be threatened, attacked, or displaced because of her religion or belief. Justice will be pursued. #Ilorin #KwaraState #JusticeForOnisese #ReligiousFreedom #StopReligiousIntolerance #HumanRights #Nigeria
1:44

OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE / INCIDENT REPORT This report is made on behalf of a Nigerian woman, a lawful property owner and practitioner of traditional religion (ONÍṢẸ̀ṢẸ). She legally built a house in Ilorin, Kwara State, which is her constitutional right as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. From the beginning of her presence in this Ilorin Muslim community, some individuals openly stated that they did not want an ONÍṢẸ̀ṢẸ practitioner living among them. She was repeatedly threatened and intimidated solely because of her religious practice. Due to these threats, she reported the matter to the nearest police station in Ilorin. The police summoned the individuals involved and warned them that she has a legal right to live and build a house in any community of her choice in Nigeria. Despite this police warning, the threats escalated. She was directly told: “Since your house is what is keeping you here in our midst, if you refuse to stop your traditional religion practice, get ready to see your house set ablaze.” She initially considered this an empty threat. However, on January 1st 2026, while she was away attending the Osun Festival at her other residence, a neighbor urgently called to inform her that her house in Ilorin was on fire. The house was later confirmed to have been burnt, validating the earlier threats. This was not an accident. This was arson following explicit religious threats. This report is shared: • For public record • For her safety • For accountability • To notify authorities, media, and human-rights organizations Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. No woman should be threatened, attacked, or displaced because of her religion or belief. Justice will be pursued. #Ilorin #KwaraState #JusticeForOnisese #ReligiousFreedom #StopReligiousIntolerance #HumanRights #Nigeria

Bennylee

1,117,327 görüntüleme • 8 ay önce

Dear Mr. President President Donald J. Trump, The crackdown has begun. As of now, at least seven people have been confirmed killed by direct gunfire from security forces, including a 15 year old minor, Mostafa Fallahi. More than one hundred people have been arrested, with reports increasing by the hour. Young men are being killed in the streets; minors are being detained and forcibly disappeared. This is not merely a human rights crisis. It is a national security issue for the United States. The Islamic Republic of Iran has American blood on its hands. Through its direct actions and proxy forces, it has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. service members across the Middle East. It has plotted terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, attempted assassinations of American officials, and repeatedly worked to destabilize American society through intimidation, espionage, and proxy violence. Its leadership openly calls the United States “the Great Satan” and treats hostility toward America not as rhetoric, but as a religious obligation. As long as the Islamic Republic remains in power, no American, at home or abroad, is truly safe. The regime’s survival depends on regional chaos, anti-Americanism, and the export of terrorism. That makes it a permanent and escalating threat to U.S. national security. The people of Iran are not this regime. They are its primary victims. History shows that when the United States supports peoples fighting tyranny, it strengthens its own security. During the American Revolution, foreign assistance from France helped a struggling revolutionary force survive against a brutal empire. That support was not charity; it was strategic. It reshaped the global balance of power in favor of liberty and stability. Iranians have been resisting a violent theocracy for decades. They face live ammunition, mass arrests, torture, and executions. Unarmed civilians cannot defeat a terrorist state alone. When democratic nations draw clear red lines against mass repression, they set global norms and deter future atrocities. Any meaningful support for the Iranian people, will be welcomed and remembered. A free Iran would not be an adversary of the United States. It would be a natural ally, a stabilizing force in the Middle East, and a partner against terrorism, much as Iran was prior to 1979. Iranians do not forget their allies. And they will not forgive the regime that has terrorized them, or the world, for over four decades. Donald J. Trump JD Vance Vice President JD Vance CNN Fox News CBS News Piers Morgan PBD Podcast
0:13

Dear Mr. President President Donald J. Trump, The crackdown has begun. As of now, at least seven people have been confirmed killed by direct gunfire from security forces, including a 15 year old minor, Mostafa Fallahi. More than one hundred people have been arrested, with reports increasing by the hour. Young men are being killed in the streets; minors are being detained and forcibly disappeared. This is not merely a human rights crisis. It is a national security issue for the United States. The Islamic Republic of Iran has American blood on its hands. Through its direct actions and proxy forces, it has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. service members across the Middle East. It has plotted terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, attempted assassinations of American officials, and repeatedly worked to destabilize American society through intimidation, espionage, and proxy violence. Its leadership openly calls the United States “the Great Satan” and treats hostility toward America not as rhetoric, but as a religious obligation. As long as the Islamic Republic remains in power, no American, at home or abroad, is truly safe. The regime’s survival depends on regional chaos, anti-Americanism, and the export of terrorism. That makes it a permanent and escalating threat to U.S. national security. The people of Iran are not this regime. They are its primary victims. History shows that when the United States supports peoples fighting tyranny, it strengthens its own security. During the American Revolution, foreign assistance from France helped a struggling revolutionary force survive against a brutal empire. That support was not charity; it was strategic. It reshaped the global balance of power in favor of liberty and stability. Iranians have been resisting a violent theocracy for decades. They face live ammunition, mass arrests, torture, and executions. Unarmed civilians cannot defeat a terrorist state alone. When democratic nations draw clear red lines against mass repression, they set global norms and deter future atrocities. Any meaningful support for the Iranian people, will be welcomed and remembered. A free Iran would not be an adversary of the United States. It would be a natural ally, a stabilizing force in the Middle East, and a partner against terrorism, much as Iran was prior to 1979. Iranians do not forget their allies. And they will not forgive the regime that has terrorized them, or the world, for over four decades. Donald J. Trump JD Vance Vice President JD Vance CNN Fox News CBS News Piers Morgan PBD Podcast

ثنا ابراهیمی | Sana Ebrahimi

219,763 görüntüleme • 8 ay önce

Ref: GSH/XX/CXA/INT_COM_14 Date: 30/04/2025 To: All International Communities To: All Somali Citizens Cc: All International Embassies – Somalia Cc: All Human Rights Organizations Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Grave Violations of Parliamentary Rules, Constitutional Protections, and Human Dignity by the Ex-Speaker of the House of the People Your Excellencies, I write to you with deep outrage, sorrow, and unshakable frustration to formally report a grave and unacceptable incident that occurred during the official sitting of the House of the People of the Federal Republic of Somalia on April 30, 2025. This incident represents an egregious breach of constitutional order, parliamentary procedures, and basic standards of human dignity, committed by the former Speaker of the House of the People - hereinafter referred to as the Ex-Speaker, pursuant to Article 8(4) of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure, which stipulates that once a motion of no confidence is tabled by at least one-third (1/3) of the members, the Speaker is suspended from duties pending resolution. On the floor of Parliament, before the eyes of the nation and under the pretense of authority no longer lawfully held, the Ex-Speaker ordered the deployment of armed police forces into the Chambers. This act alone is a blatant violation of Article 69 of the Provisional Constitution, which guarantees the independence of the legislative branch, and a direct assault on Articles 5 and 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the House of the People, which prohibit external forces from interfering with parliamentary deliberations without the explicit consent of the Chamber. Even more shocking was the verbal and physical abuse targeted at two honorable Members of Parliament: Hon. Mohamed Ali Omar (Cananuug), who lives with a disability, was publicly humiliated by the Ex-Speaker, who shouted on floor of the house of people “You disabled person, sit down.” Hon. Dahir Amin Jeesow, a senior elder and respected legislator, was scornfully told: “You are an old man, sit down.” Such degrading, discriminatory, and dehumanizing language constitutes a serious violation of Article 11 of the Provisional Constitution, which prohibits all forms of discrimination and upholds the dignity and equality of every Somali citizen, regardless of age or physical ability. It further breaches Somalia’s international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which Somalia is party to. In an even more disturbing development, journalists covering the parliamentary session were forced at gunpoint to cease live broadcasting under the orders of the Ex-Speaker, and several were later assaulted and had their equipment destroyed outside the chamber. This constitutes a flagrant violation of Article 18 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, press, and access to information. It is a direct attack on the fundamental tenets of democracy and press freedom. Furthermore, sitting Cabinet Ministers - who are also members of Parliament - were observed intimidating, threatening, and verbally assaulting fellow MPs under directives believed to have originated from Villa Somalia and the Prime Minister. This not only breaches the principle of separation of powers but also violates the ethics of parliamentary conduct and the oath of office enshrined in Article 106 of the Provisional Constitution. This letter serves as a formal demand to the international community, democratic institutions, and human rights organizations to: o Publicly condemn the actions of the Ex-Speaker and his accomplices in government; o Impose political and legal sanctions on those responsible for these violations of democratic order and fundamental rights; o Demand a full investigation into the abuse of power and mistreatment of both MPs and journalists; o Ensure protection of parliamentary independence, media freedom, and the rights of all Somali citizens, regardless of age or disability. Failure to act swiftly and decisively will normalize these egregious violations and erode the foundations of democracy in Somalia. We ask you not to remain silent as the rule of law is trampled underfoot by those who wield power without accountability. With utmost urgency and gravity, 📷 Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib - BA, MA, MASc, Ph.D Member of Foreign Affairs Committee The Federal Republic of Somalia, the House of People Mogadishu, Somalia MP- HOP #201 Awdal Region and Gebileh District Leader of the Accountability and Transparency Caucus of the House of People W: + 1-571-436-7586 M: + 252-6108-22469 Boughali Brahim ابراهيم بوغالي Parliamentarians for Global Action IPUparliament ArabParliament البرلمان العربي وزارة الشؤون الخارجية| MFA-Algeria عبدالمجيد تبون - Abdelmadjid Tebboune Embassy of Algeria in Kenya GOLAHA SHACABKA JFS Rep. Brian Mast House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority Rep. John Moolenaar @committeeonccp Donald J. Trump Secretary Marco Rubio Department of State Treasury Department U.S. Department of Justice Peter Navarro Frank Gaffney Speaker Mike Johnson Rep. Jim Jordan House Freedom Caucus Susie Wiles Stephen Miller Tom Emmer Congressman Brad Finstad Rep. Michelle Fischbach Pete Stauber Marjorie Taylor Greene Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Villa Somalia Hamza Abdi Barre Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe Somali Embassy-Qatar🇸🇴 وزارة الخارجية UAE in Somalia Chinese Embassy in Somalia Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia EU Delegation Somalia Italy in Somalia UNSOM Türkiye in Somalia UNDP Somalia Mike Nithavrianakis World Bank Africa IMF Africa
4:32

Ref: GSH/XX/CXA/INT_COM_14 Date: 30/04/2025 To: All International Communities To: All Somali Citizens Cc: All International Embassies – Somalia Cc: All Human Rights Organizations Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Grave Violations of Parliamentary Rules, Constitutional Protections, and Human Dignity by the Ex-Speaker of the House of the People Your Excellencies, I write to you with deep outrage, sorrow, and unshakable frustration to formally report a grave and unacceptable incident that occurred during the official sitting of the House of the People of the Federal Republic of Somalia on April 30, 2025. This incident represents an egregious breach of constitutional order, parliamentary procedures, and basic standards of human dignity, committed by the former Speaker of the House of the People - hereinafter referred to as the Ex-Speaker, pursuant to Article 8(4) of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure, which stipulates that once a motion of no confidence is tabled by at least one-third (1/3) of the members, the Speaker is suspended from duties pending resolution. On the floor of Parliament, before the eyes of the nation and under the pretense of authority no longer lawfully held, the Ex-Speaker ordered the deployment of armed police forces into the Chambers. This act alone is a blatant violation of Article 69 of the Provisional Constitution, which guarantees the independence of the legislative branch, and a direct assault on Articles 5 and 10 of the Rules of Procedure of the House of the People, which prohibit external forces from interfering with parliamentary deliberations without the explicit consent of the Chamber. Even more shocking was the verbal and physical abuse targeted at two honorable Members of Parliament: Hon. Mohamed Ali Omar (Cananuug), who lives with a disability, was publicly humiliated by the Ex-Speaker, who shouted on floor of the house of people “You disabled person, sit down.” Hon. Dahir Amin Jeesow, a senior elder and respected legislator, was scornfully told: “You are an old man, sit down.” Such degrading, discriminatory, and dehumanizing language constitutes a serious violation of Article 11 of the Provisional Constitution, which prohibits all forms of discrimination and upholds the dignity and equality of every Somali citizen, regardless of age or physical ability. It further breaches Somalia’s international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which Somalia is party to. In an even more disturbing development, journalists covering the parliamentary session were forced at gunpoint to cease live broadcasting under the orders of the Ex-Speaker, and several were later assaulted and had their equipment destroyed outside the chamber. This constitutes a flagrant violation of Article 18 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, press, and access to information. It is a direct attack on the fundamental tenets of democracy and press freedom. Furthermore, sitting Cabinet Ministers - who are also members of Parliament - were observed intimidating, threatening, and verbally assaulting fellow MPs under directives believed to have originated from Villa Somalia and the Prime Minister. This not only breaches the principle of separation of powers but also violates the ethics of parliamentary conduct and the oath of office enshrined in Article 106 of the Provisional Constitution. This letter serves as a formal demand to the international community, democratic institutions, and human rights organizations to: o Publicly condemn the actions of the Ex-Speaker and his accomplices in government; o Impose political and legal sanctions on those responsible for these violations of democratic order and fundamental rights; o Demand a full investigation into the abuse of power and mistreatment of both MPs and journalists; o Ensure protection of parliamentary independence, media freedom, and the rights of all Somali citizens, regardless of age or disability. Failure to act swiftly and decisively will normalize these egregious violations and erode the foundations of democracy in Somalia. We ask you not to remain silent as the rule of law is trampled underfoot by those who wield power without accountability. With utmost urgency and gravity, 📷 Dr. Abdillahi Hashi Abib - BA, MA, MASc, Ph.D Member of Foreign Affairs Committee The Federal Republic of Somalia, the House of People Mogadishu, Somalia MP- HOP #201 Awdal Region and Gebileh District Leader of the Accountability and Transparency Caucus of the House of People W: + 1-571-436-7586 M: + 252-6108-22469 Boughali Brahim ابراهيم بوغالي Parliamentarians for Global Action IPUparliament ArabParliament البرلمان العربي وزارة الشؤون الخارجية| MFA-Algeria عبدالمجيد تبون - Abdelmadjid Tebboune Embassy of Algeria in Kenya GOLAHA SHACABKA JFS Rep. Brian Mast House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority Rep. John Moolenaar @committeeonccp Donald J. Trump Secretary Marco Rubio Department of State Treasury Department U.S. Department of Justice Peter Navarro Frank Gaffney Speaker Mike Johnson Rep. Jim Jordan House Freedom Caucus Susie Wiles Stephen Miller Tom Emmer Congressman Brad Finstad Rep. Michelle Fischbach Pete Stauber Marjorie Taylor Greene Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Villa Somalia Hamza Abdi Barre Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe Somali Embassy-Qatar🇸🇴 وزارة الخارجية UAE in Somalia Chinese Embassy in Somalia Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia EU Delegation Somalia Italy in Somalia UNSOM Türkiye in Somalia UNDP Somalia Mike Nithavrianakis World Bank Africa IMF Africa

MP Dr Abdillahi Hashi Abib

10,370 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

1968, The Moody Blues, and the Moment Everything Changed The studio lights of the 1960s flick on, the colorful geometric backdrop comes alive, and The Moody Blues dive straight into “Ride My See-Saw” with an energy that catches me completely off guard. Those clear, bright harmonies ring out, the rhythm pulls me in, and within seconds I’m fully immersed in the free-spirited, joyful atmosphere of 1968. “Ride My See-Saw” is the song that opened a new era for The Moody Blues. Written by bassist John Lodge, it appears on the 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord. The album is a concept piece centered on the theme of quest and discovery. On the record, the track is preceded by Graeme Edge’s spoken-word piece “Departure,” creating the feeling of stepping into a brand-new world. Released as a single in October 1968, it reached number 42 in the UK and number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was also one of the first singles recorded on 8-track multi-track tape, reflecting the technical advances of the time. The story of how it was written is pretty interesting. Justin Hayward recalls that it began as a studio jam. Graeme Edge laid down that distinctive snare pattern, a guitar riff locked in, and the band sat with it for a while until John Lodge returned with the lyrics and the basic structure of the song. The words talk about leaving school, stepping out into the world, and realizing that life is bigger and more complicated than what you were taught. The “see-saw” metaphor stands for the ups and downs of life—the constant rising and falling—and the need to find balance. John Lodge has said the song is about growing up, carrying the tools you learned in school but having to discover reality for yourself. Before that, The Moody Blues had been an R&B band with the 1964 hit “Go Now.” In 1966, after some members left, Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined. There’s a great story behind their transformation: during a cabaret gig, an angry audience member told them they were the worst band he’d ever seen and that they’d ruined the entire evening. On the drive home, Graeme Edge admitted the guy was right. They decided to ditch the blue suits, stop doing R&B covers, and play only their own material. The 1967 album Days of Future Passed marked the real turning point with its rich Mellotron textures and layered harmonies. In Search of the Lost Chord and “Ride My See-Saw” continued to solidify their inventive progressive-rock sound, blending driving rock energy with a sense of wonder. Watching the video, I’m drawn in by the perfect blend of melody and harmony. Close-ups of their faces while singing and the way they glance at each other reveal genuine joy. This isn’t a big-stage concert—it’s a television studio performance—yet it still radiates the vibrant energy of 1960s rock. I always think of that golden era as a special time. Music was expanding its boundaries, moving from psychedelic into progressive territory. The Moody Blues stood at the forefront, using multi-layered harmonies and storytelling melodies to take listeners on inner journeys. “Ride My See-Saw” has a lively, foot-tapping groove, but underneath it carries a quiet reflection on life. That’s why it became one of the band’s most beloved live songs, often saved for the encore with an extended instrumental section before the full group comes back onstage. My own feeling when I rewatch this video is a mix of nostalgia and pure excitement. You can see the camaraderie in the way they look at each other and smile while singing. The melody isn’t complicated, yet it has real pull; the lyrics are simple but touch something universal. Those 1960s TV performances still captivate because they feel so authentic—no heavy effects, just the music, the colorful lights, and the human energy. For me, “Ride My See-Saw” isn’t just a fun rock song. It marks the moment The Moody Blues truly found their own identity, moving from their R&B years into a new era of exploration. This video feels like a small window into that world, where melody and image together tell a story that still holds up all these years later.
3:26

1968, The Moody Blues, and the Moment Everything Changed The studio lights of the 1960s flick on, the colorful geometric backdrop comes alive, and The Moody Blues dive straight into “Ride My See-Saw” with an energy that catches me completely off guard. Those clear, bright harmonies ring out, the rhythm pulls me in, and within seconds I’m fully immersed in the free-spirited, joyful atmosphere of 1968. “Ride My See-Saw” is the song that opened a new era for The Moody Blues. Written by bassist John Lodge, it appears on the 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord. The album is a concept piece centered on the theme of quest and discovery. On the record, the track is preceded by Graeme Edge’s spoken-word piece “Departure,” creating the feeling of stepping into a brand-new world. Released as a single in October 1968, it reached number 42 in the UK and number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was also one of the first singles recorded on 8-track multi-track tape, reflecting the technical advances of the time. The story of how it was written is pretty interesting. Justin Hayward recalls that it began as a studio jam. Graeme Edge laid down that distinctive snare pattern, a guitar riff locked in, and the band sat with it for a while until John Lodge returned with the lyrics and the basic structure of the song. The words talk about leaving school, stepping out into the world, and realizing that life is bigger and more complicated than what you were taught. The “see-saw” metaphor stands for the ups and downs of life—the constant rising and falling—and the need to find balance. John Lodge has said the song is about growing up, carrying the tools you learned in school but having to discover reality for yourself. Before that, The Moody Blues had been an R&B band with the 1964 hit “Go Now.” In 1966, after some members left, Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined. There’s a great story behind their transformation: during a cabaret gig, an angry audience member told them they were the worst band he’d ever seen and that they’d ruined the entire evening. On the drive home, Graeme Edge admitted the guy was right. They decided to ditch the blue suits, stop doing R&B covers, and play only their own material. The 1967 album Days of Future Passed marked the real turning point with its rich Mellotron textures and layered harmonies. In Search of the Lost Chord and “Ride My See-Saw” continued to solidify their inventive progressive-rock sound, blending driving rock energy with a sense of wonder. Watching the video, I’m drawn in by the perfect blend of melody and harmony. Close-ups of their faces while singing and the way they glance at each other reveal genuine joy. This isn’t a big-stage concert—it’s a television studio performance—yet it still radiates the vibrant energy of 1960s rock. I always think of that golden era as a special time. Music was expanding its boundaries, moving from psychedelic into progressive territory. The Moody Blues stood at the forefront, using multi-layered harmonies and storytelling melodies to take listeners on inner journeys. “Ride My See-Saw” has a lively, foot-tapping groove, but underneath it carries a quiet reflection on life. That’s why it became one of the band’s most beloved live songs, often saved for the encore with an extended instrumental section before the full group comes back onstage. My own feeling when I rewatch this video is a mix of nostalgia and pure excitement. You can see the camaraderie in the way they look at each other and smile while singing. The melody isn’t complicated, yet it has real pull; the lyrics are simple but touch something universal. Those 1960s TV performances still captivate because they feel so authentic—no heavy effects, just the music, the colorful lights, and the human energy. For me, “Ride My See-Saw” isn’t just a fun rock song. It marks the moment The Moody Blues truly found their own identity, moving from their R&B years into a new era of exploration. This video feels like a small window into that world, where melody and image together tell a story that still holds up all these years later.

Music over time🎻

31,262 görüntüleme • 12 gün önce

It feels like there’s an acceleration in the horrors suffered by good people. Charlie Kirk wasn’t a violent man. He didn’t lead a band of thugs. He met people respectfully, as equals, and debated to resolve differences using understanding and logic. He didn’t condemn; he engaged - and that openness was exploited to kill him. You’d think the Left might recognise this and extend to Charlie even 1% of the reverence and respect they gave the drugged-up, violent criminal George Floyd. Nope. The response from the “kind and tolerant” crowd was exactly what you’d imagine. Left-wing outlets swung into action to blame Charlie for his own shooting. To them, words are “violence” but actual violence is totally justifiable. The New Republic labelled him a “MAGA troll” in a headline on the day of his murder. To look at Charlie - a smart, decent family man with conservative Christian values - and define him as a troll on the day he was killed takes a special kind of disgusting. Speaking of a special kind of disgusting: race-grifter Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, an honorary Some-Made-Up-Academic-Bollocks at Newcastle University, called his death “poetic” before his blood had dried. Another race-grifter, Nels Abbey, compared Charlie to the KKK. MSNBC described Charlie as “divisive” and “polarizing.” Do these people not realise their words are broadcast and someone might tune in? I know it’s MSNBC, but someone might watch. Feminist outlet Jezebel had - days earlier - hired a witch to put a curse on him, then posted a very strange editorial note after the shooting. It’s a shame it isn’t the 1700s, or I’m pretty sure that would be grounds for a dunking. Leftists even disrupted a vigil held to mourn him. Classy. And what’s going on at Oxford? Once one of the best universities in the world, Oxford now seems to allocate positions like a casting call for a British TV advert. George Abaraonye, President of the Oxford Union - literally a scholar, although he looks more like the drummer from Bob Vylan - posted “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f***ing go” and “Charlie Kirk got shot loool.” He’d previously debated Charlie at Oxford and - brace yourself - lost. He later apologised, calling his reaction “impulsive.” Impulsive! I never would have guessed that would be a character trait! The bitterest woman in comedy - even more bitter than me - Jo Caulfield, responded to a heartfelt post by Jeremy Clarkson saying he was, for the first time, scared of writing his column, with: “Well stop being so objectionable. Problem solved.” Just agree with us or we’ll kill you! Lefty comedians piled in. Transgender comedian Brandy Bryant announced that Charlie’s grave is now a gender-neutral toilet. Doesn’t even work as a joke, but well done on revealing yourself Brandy, you Adam Ant roadie-looking binbag muncher. You look like a scaffolder on a stag do. British comedians who live in a bubble of rabid leftism got stuck in too. Dumpy communist Josie Long quipped, “I’m on Twitter for the night for the craic; pig Christmases are rare.” A pig Christmas is any Christmas with Josie Long at it. They also used the murder to push their agenda: “This wouldn’t have happened with gun control.” Look how safe Britain is with gun control. “Your daughter was raped to death and put in a kebab by a grooming gang, but the good news is you can’t shoot them.” So many left-wing commentators and political figures showed nothing but disdain. They don’t care that Charlie was killed. When they take power, do you think they’ll care about you? Even in official spaces, dignity failed. A moment of silence for Charlie in the U.S. House of Representatives turned into a row. In the European Parliament, a conservative MEP tried to give up his speaking time for a minute’s silence and was shut down - morally repugnant and diplomatically idiotic, given Charlie’s ties to Trump. Charlie even foretold this, posting months ago about an “assassination culture” spreading on the Left - citing surveys where huge numbers of liberals said murdering Trump or Elon Musk would be at least somewhat justified. He warned that left-wing protest culture tolerating violence had created a ticking time bomb. You know why they hated Charlie? Because he was right, and because he didn’t use force; he used debate. They knew he could change minds, and they had no answer to that. Their arguments couldn’t defeat Charlie - so they used violence. That’s why they keep posting the same lame attempt at a joke, “he lost the debate.” They know their ideas can't win. The trouble with leftists is they believe the ends justify the means and that they have a monopoly on “kindness,” so their conscience doesn’t trouble them while they commit atrocities. Charlie’s yearning to preserve America - and Western civilisation - is exactly what the Left sees as hateful. May he rest in peace.
12:40

It feels like there’s an acceleration in the horrors suffered by good people. Charlie Kirk wasn’t a violent man. He didn’t lead a band of thugs. He met people respectfully, as equals, and debated to resolve differences using understanding and logic. He didn’t condemn; he engaged - and that openness was exploited to kill him. You’d think the Left might recognise this and extend to Charlie even 1% of the reverence and respect they gave the drugged-up, violent criminal George Floyd. Nope. The response from the “kind and tolerant” crowd was exactly what you’d imagine. Left-wing outlets swung into action to blame Charlie for his own shooting. To them, words are “violence” but actual violence is totally justifiable. The New Republic labelled him a “MAGA troll” in a headline on the day of his murder. To look at Charlie - a smart, decent family man with conservative Christian values - and define him as a troll on the day he was killed takes a special kind of disgusting. Speaking of a special kind of disgusting: race-grifter Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, an honorary Some-Made-Up-Academic-Bollocks at Newcastle University, called his death “poetic” before his blood had dried. Another race-grifter, Nels Abbey, compared Charlie to the KKK. MSNBC described Charlie as “divisive” and “polarizing.” Do these people not realise their words are broadcast and someone might tune in? I know it’s MSNBC, but someone might watch. Feminist outlet Jezebel had - days earlier - hired a witch to put a curse on him, then posted a very strange editorial note after the shooting. It’s a shame it isn’t the 1700s, or I’m pretty sure that would be grounds for a dunking. Leftists even disrupted a vigil held to mourn him. Classy. And what’s going on at Oxford? Once one of the best universities in the world, Oxford now seems to allocate positions like a casting call for a British TV advert. George Abaraonye, President of the Oxford Union - literally a scholar, although he looks more like the drummer from Bob Vylan - posted “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f***ing go” and “Charlie Kirk got shot loool.” He’d previously debated Charlie at Oxford and - brace yourself - lost. He later apologised, calling his reaction “impulsive.” Impulsive! I never would have guessed that would be a character trait! The bitterest woman in comedy - even more bitter than me - Jo Caulfield, responded to a heartfelt post by Jeremy Clarkson saying he was, for the first time, scared of writing his column, with: “Well stop being so objectionable. Problem solved.” Just agree with us or we’ll kill you! Lefty comedians piled in. Transgender comedian Brandy Bryant announced that Charlie’s grave is now a gender-neutral toilet. Doesn’t even work as a joke, but well done on revealing yourself Brandy, you Adam Ant roadie-looking binbag muncher. You look like a scaffolder on a stag do. British comedians who live in a bubble of rabid leftism got stuck in too. Dumpy communist Josie Long quipped, “I’m on Twitter for the night for the craic; pig Christmases are rare.” A pig Christmas is any Christmas with Josie Long at it. They also used the murder to push their agenda: “This wouldn’t have happened with gun control.” Look how safe Britain is with gun control. “Your daughter was raped to death and put in a kebab by a grooming gang, but the good news is you can’t shoot them.” So many left-wing commentators and political figures showed nothing but disdain. They don’t care that Charlie was killed. When they take power, do you think they’ll care about you? Even in official spaces, dignity failed. A moment of silence for Charlie in the U.S. House of Representatives turned into a row. In the European Parliament, a conservative MEP tried to give up his speaking time for a minute’s silence and was shut down - morally repugnant and diplomatically idiotic, given Charlie’s ties to Trump. Charlie even foretold this, posting months ago about an “assassination culture” spreading on the Left - citing surveys where huge numbers of liberals said murdering Trump or Elon Musk would be at least somewhat justified. He warned that left-wing protest culture tolerating violence had created a ticking time bomb. You know why they hated Charlie? Because he was right, and because he didn’t use force; he used debate. They knew he could change minds, and they had no answer to that. Their arguments couldn’t defeat Charlie - so they used violence. That’s why they keep posting the same lame attempt at a joke, “he lost the debate.” They know their ideas can't win. The trouble with leftists is they believe the ends justify the means and that they have a monopoly on “kindness,” so their conscience doesn’t trouble them while they commit atrocities. Charlie’s yearning to preserve America - and Western civilisation - is exactly what the Left sees as hateful. May he rest in peace.

Leo Kearse - see me on tour! Links in bio

12,991 görüntüleme • 11 ay önce

How could two people who had just met on stage, with only a few hurried minutes of rehearsal, sing as if they had shared the same heartbreak for years? In June 1986, at the Prince’s Trust Rock Gala, Paul Young had already sung “Every Time You Go Away” once that night. The song was his biggest hit, a smooth, aching ballad that had topped charts the year before. Then George Michael appeared. He had not been fully expected. The two men had only a few hurried minutes to run through the lyrics backstage. What followed should have felt awkward. Instead it became one of those rare live moments that still feels alive decades later. Watching the clip now, what strikes you first is how little either of them seems to be performing for the cameras. Young sings with the steady warmth that made the original recording so persuasive. Michael enters with a different kind of intensity—slightly more urgent, more exposed. They do not blend into one smooth sound. They take turns, listen, push each other a little higher on the chorus, then pull back. There is no visible competition, only a quiet agreement to stay inside the song together. The circumstances make it more interesting. Michael had scheduling conflicts that evening. He arrived late and chose this particular track because it was the one he already knew. Young, who had just finished performing it, simply stepped back onstage and began again. Behind them sat an absurdly stacked band—Elton John on piano, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler on guitars, Phil Collins on drums—yet the focus never drifts from the two voices at the front. The stars in the background only underline how little the moment needed decoration. What gives the performance its lasting charge is the absence of polish. Most high-profile duets are rehearsed until the edges disappear. This one still has edges. You can hear the slight uncertainty of an unrehearsed entrance, the way one voice adjusts to the other in real time, the shared decision to treat the song as something fragile rather than a showcase. “Every time you go away / You take a piece of me with you” lands differently when sung by two men who had no time to protect their images. The lyric stops sounding like a radio-friendly heartbreak and starts sounding like a simple admission. There is something quietly generous about the exchange. Young could have guarded the song as his own. Michael could have used the stage to remind everyone of his own rising stardom. Neither does. They make space. In an industry that often rewards self-display, the restraint feels almost radical. The result is not a perfect performance. It is a human one. That is probably why the clip continues to circulate. It captures a night when two skilled singers decided, on very short notice, to trust each other with a song about loss. They did not turn it into a spectacle. They simply sang it, and in doing so left behind something more durable than most carefully planned collaborations. Sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones that almost did not happen.
5:15

How could two people who had just met on stage, with only a few hurried minutes of rehearsal, sing as if they had shared the same heartbreak for years? In June 1986, at the Prince’s Trust Rock Gala, Paul Young had already sung “Every Time You Go Away” once that night. The song was his biggest hit, a smooth, aching ballad that had topped charts the year before. Then George Michael appeared. He had not been fully expected. The two men had only a few hurried minutes to run through the lyrics backstage. What followed should have felt awkward. Instead it became one of those rare live moments that still feels alive decades later. Watching the clip now, what strikes you first is how little either of them seems to be performing for the cameras. Young sings with the steady warmth that made the original recording so persuasive. Michael enters with a different kind of intensity—slightly more urgent, more exposed. They do not blend into one smooth sound. They take turns, listen, push each other a little higher on the chorus, then pull back. There is no visible competition, only a quiet agreement to stay inside the song together. The circumstances make it more interesting. Michael had scheduling conflicts that evening. He arrived late and chose this particular track because it was the one he already knew. Young, who had just finished performing it, simply stepped back onstage and began again. Behind them sat an absurdly stacked band—Elton John on piano, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler on guitars, Phil Collins on drums—yet the focus never drifts from the two voices at the front. The stars in the background only underline how little the moment needed decoration. What gives the performance its lasting charge is the absence of polish. Most high-profile duets are rehearsed until the edges disappear. This one still has edges. You can hear the slight uncertainty of an unrehearsed entrance, the way one voice adjusts to the other in real time, the shared decision to treat the song as something fragile rather than a showcase. “Every time you go away / You take a piece of me with you” lands differently when sung by two men who had no time to protect their images. The lyric stops sounding like a radio-friendly heartbreak and starts sounding like a simple admission. There is something quietly generous about the exchange. Young could have guarded the song as his own. Michael could have used the stage to remind everyone of his own rising stardom. Neither does. They make space. In an industry that often rewards self-display, the restraint feels almost radical. The result is not a perfect performance. It is a human one. That is probably why the clip continues to circulate. It captures a night when two skilled singers decided, on very short notice, to trust each other with a song about loss. They did not turn it into a spectacle. They simply sang it, and in doing so left behind something more durable than most carefully planned collaborations. Sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones that almost did not happen.

Emotion & Music

280,790 görüntüleme • 8 gün önce

A FOLLOW-UP: THE WAY FORWARD I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the readers who engaged with yesterday’s post on the Fridge Murders. Your feedback, filled with deep concern and thoughtful suggestions, is a testament to the collective will to address this horrifying trend before it takes deeper root in society. Here’s a summary of the key proposals shared by readers to eradicate this chilling evil: Reader Suggestions 1. Promoting Spirituality and Accountability Raise awareness about God, spirituality, and the accountability of actions, both in this life and the hereafter. Encourage belief in divine justice to deter individuals from committing heinous crimes. 2. Strengthening the Justice System Implement stricter laws and harsher penalties, including capital punishment, for such brutal crimes. Ensure faster trials to deliver justice promptly and deter potential offenders. 3. Mental Health Awareness and Support Prioritize mental health services to address psychological distress and prevent such acts. Teach coping mechanisms for depression and feelings of inferiority from an early age. Promote meditation and spiritual practices to enhance emotional resilience. 4. Addressing Domestic Violence and Relationship Strains Spread awareness about domestic violence and provide better support systems for victims. Introduce early intervention programs for strained relationships. Encourage counseling and healthy communication within families. 5. Empathy and Compassion Instill empathy and compassion from a young age to build a kinder, more understanding society. Foster a culture of kindness and accountability at the community level. 6. Education and Community Engagement Educate individuals and communities on healthy relationships and conflict resolution. Promote relationship education, counseling, and support groups to help navigate challenges. Strengthen family and community support to prevent isolation and violence. 7. Reforms in Societal Norms Address societal stigmas, such as those around live-in relationships, and offer community support. Encourage open communication within families and communities to combat isolation. 8. Holistic Solutions Combine legal reforms, societal awareness, and mental health initiatives to address root causes. Focus on early education to instill moral values, emotional resilience, and conflict resolution skills. THE WAY FORWARD While every suggestion is valuable, a few key actions stand out: Institutions, organizations, and governments must prioritize early intervention, mental health awareness, and support systems. Governments must recognize this emerging evil and enact swift, severe deterrents, including capital punishment for such cases, adjudicated by fast-track courts. Above all, the most critical solution lies in raising awareness of the Law of Cause and Effect—a firm belief in the Creator, the Sustainer, and the ultimate Executor of Justice. It is essential to recognize that life continues beyond death, and escaping worldly punishment does not absolve one of eternal consequences. This belief in divine accountability is not a mere philosophical concept but a tangible reality that governs human actions. Interestingly, I came across a video clip of Shahid Kapoor eloquently presenting the validity of divine accountability in a simple yet profound manner. His perspective aligns with the essence of this message. The clip is attached here.
1:15

A FOLLOW-UP: THE WAY FORWARD I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the readers who engaged with yesterday’s post on the Fridge Murders. Your feedback, filled with deep concern and thoughtful suggestions, is a testament to the collective will to address this horrifying trend before it takes deeper root in society. Here’s a summary of the key proposals shared by readers to eradicate this chilling evil: Reader Suggestions 1. Promoting Spirituality and Accountability Raise awareness about God, spirituality, and the accountability of actions, both in this life and the hereafter. Encourage belief in divine justice to deter individuals from committing heinous crimes. 2. Strengthening the Justice System Implement stricter laws and harsher penalties, including capital punishment, for such brutal crimes. Ensure faster trials to deliver justice promptly and deter potential offenders. 3. Mental Health Awareness and Support Prioritize mental health services to address psychological distress and prevent such acts. Teach coping mechanisms for depression and feelings of inferiority from an early age. Promote meditation and spiritual practices to enhance emotional resilience. 4. Addressing Domestic Violence and Relationship Strains Spread awareness about domestic violence and provide better support systems for victims. Introduce early intervention programs for strained relationships. Encourage counseling and healthy communication within families. 5. Empathy and Compassion Instill empathy and compassion from a young age to build a kinder, more understanding society. Foster a culture of kindness and accountability at the community level. 6. Education and Community Engagement Educate individuals and communities on healthy relationships and conflict resolution. Promote relationship education, counseling, and support groups to help navigate challenges. Strengthen family and community support to prevent isolation and violence. 7. Reforms in Societal Norms Address societal stigmas, such as those around live-in relationships, and offer community support. Encourage open communication within families and communities to combat isolation. 8. Holistic Solutions Combine legal reforms, societal awareness, and mental health initiatives to address root causes. Focus on early education to instill moral values, emotional resilience, and conflict resolution skills. THE WAY FORWARD While every suggestion is valuable, a few key actions stand out: Institutions, organizations, and governments must prioritize early intervention, mental health awareness, and support systems. Governments must recognize this emerging evil and enact swift, severe deterrents, including capital punishment for such cases, adjudicated by fast-track courts. Above all, the most critical solution lies in raising awareness of the Law of Cause and Effect—a firm belief in the Creator, the Sustainer, and the ultimate Executor of Justice. It is essential to recognize that life continues beyond death, and escaping worldly punishment does not absolve one of eternal consequences. This belief in divine accountability is not a mere philosophical concept but a tangible reality that governs human actions. Interestingly, I came across a video clip of Shahid Kapoor eloquently presenting the validity of divine accountability in a simple yet profound manner. His perspective aligns with the essence of this message. The clip is attached here.

Syed Abdullah Tariq

15,688 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

I agree with Trevor Noah’s analysis of the immigration debate in South Africa, and I also agree with Julius Malema’s noble desire for Africa to be one. From the outset, I must be clear that the biggest obstacle to African unity has been African leadership. Some of our countries have been independent for more than 60 years, yet we are still far from achieving the level of integration many Pan-Africanists envisioned. The failure to get there is fundamentally a leadership issue. I want to focus on what Julius Malema has said. He is one of the continent’s most outspoken Pan-Africanists, and his vision of a more united Africa is both admirable and inspiring. Unfortunately, because of the dysfunctionality of leadership across much of the continent, Pan-Africanism has, in some circles in South Africa, become a dirty word. That is a tragedy because the principle itself is not the problem. The problem is that many African leaders have failed to create the political, economic, and institutional conditions necessary to make that vision a reality. So let us look carefully at what Julius Malema is saying. I have great respect for Julius Malema when it comes to his Pan-African outlook, but I am afraid to say that the idea of an Africa with one passport, one currency, and a fully integrated political and economic system is unlikely to happen within our lifetime. It is good to dream and to idealise the kind of Africa we would like to see, but in its current political and economic format, the continent is nowhere near achieving that goal. I am 55 years old, so when I talk about a lifetime, I am talking about the next 25 years. If I live to 80, that would be wonderful, but I do not believe Africa will achieve that level of integration within that timeframe. The reason is quite simple. If you look at the European Union, countries do not simply join because they want to. They must first meet a long list of requirements and benchmarks. These include economic standards, institutional capacity, governance standards, judicial independence, and human rights protections. Even if we set aside the human rights question in Africa, because we know that remains a long journey, the economic question alone presents a major obstacle. A truly united continent can only emerge if its member states are led by competent, educated, and trustworthy leaders who build functioning economies capable of providing opportunities for their own citizens. The current xenophobic, Afrophobic, and anti-immigration discourse taking place in South Africa is often crude and sometimes ugly. However, stripped of the crudeness, there is an important point being raised that cannot simply be ignored. For Africans to unite successfully, they cannot first unite in one country. They must first unite across the continent by creating broadly comparable economic opportunities and living standards. For example, a Ghanaian should be able to travel to Zimbabwe visa-free. That is largely a political decision. But if that Ghanaian wants to relocate permanently to Zimbabwe, then the economies of Ghana and Zimbabwe should have a reasonable degree of parity. People should not be compelled to migrate primarily because one country is functioning while another is failing. The same applies across the continent. Someone should not feel forced to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo for South Africa purely because of economic collapse at home. If integration is driven solely by economics, then the countries that are relatively well managed will inevitably carry the burden of those that are not. This is an intellectual discussion that Africa cannot avoid. Resource competition is often what inflames tensions. If someone moves from a poor community in Mozambique to a poor community in South Africa, both groups are competing for the same clinics, schools, housing, jobs, and social services. That is where tensions arise. Interestingly, illegal immigrants from Europe are rarely part of the immigration debate in South Africa. Many people immediately attribute this to race, but there is another factor that deserves consideration. Wealthy immigrants generally live in affluent communities where there is little or no competition for scarce public resources. Take Chatunga Mugabe, for example. He lived in Hyde Park, drove expensive cars, and socialised in Sandton. Nobody was concerned about his immigration status. Likewise, where I live in South Africa, there are immigrants from the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Kenya, and elsewhere. They are largely affluent people. The South Africans living there are often excited when newcomers arrive. When I moved from Zimbabwe and bought a house on my road, both black and white South Africans invited me into their homes for dinner and wine. There was no hostility because there was no competition for resources. That reality matters. If Africa is ever going to have one passport and one currency, we must first deal with the economic fundamentals. Most Africans do not realise that this is not primarily a political project. It is an economic one. Turkey, for example, has spent decades seeking membership of the European Union but has not been admitted because it has not met all the requirements. Countries such as Bulgaria and Romania had to meet strict standards before joining. Their judicial systems, governance structures, healthcare systems, and institutions had to reach certain benchmarks. The same logic applies to Africa. If every African citizen were suddenly free to seek healthcare anywhere on the continent, countries with stronger healthcare systems such as South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia would immediately face enormous pressure from people seeking treatment, including specialised care for conditions such as cancer. That is why this discussion is important. We must have it honestly and without slogans. We must discuss it not only in universities and intellectual circles but also in townships, villages, and communities across Africa. The dream of one Africa is a noble one. I support it. But before we get there, we must first address the economic, institutional, and governance realities that stand in the way. Until those challenges are resolved, the vision Julius Malema speaks about will remain an aspiration rather than a practical reality. The tragedy we face today is that we are focusing on the sideshows created by tribalists and rogue political actors who are taking advantage of a genuine problem that exists in South Africa and, indeed, in other parts of Africa as well. We amplify their voices and focus on what they are saying instead of focusing on the real issue. We should be asking ourselves a simple question. Julius Malema is right about the ideal he is advocating, but why are we not getting to where he wants us to get? Once we ask that question honestly, we are forced to examine the root causes. There can be no economic harmony, political harmony, or any other form of harmony between countries that are operating at vastly different levels of development and functionality. Take Zimbabwe and South Africa as an example. Zimbabwe has not had a working radiotherapy machine in its public healthcare system for more than four years. The country’s largest hospital has only one maternity theatre, built in 1977. Then look at South Africa. Its public healthcare system has some problems and could be much better, but by African standards it remains among the most advanced on the continent. If those two countries stand side by side, as they physically do, how do you integrate them when one is dysfunctional and the other remains a functioning state? These are the root causes we need to confront. This discussion must be held in a comprehensive and honest manner, not in fragments. We can speak about the noble aspirations of Pan-Africanism, and we can also discuss the obstacles that stand in its way. Both conversations must be held together. Only then can we identify what needs to be done and begin serious scenario planning around how to get there. Instead, we often get beautiful speeches delivered at the African Union, one of the most ineffective continental organisations in the world. People make grand declarations, earn generous salaries, and then nothing happens. Great speeches have been delivered since the days of the Organisation of African Unity. One of those speeches was even immortalised by Bob Marley in his song War. Yet more than 60 years later, many of the same challenges remain unresolved. That is an indictment not only of African leaders but also of African elites. Too many are content to make money while ignoring the underlying governance failures that hold the continent back. Consider Aliko Dangote, the richest black man in the world and Africa’s most successful entrepreneur. He requires 34 visas to enter dozens of African countries. Yet if I hold a British passport, my movement across much of Africa can often be easier than his. How can Africa speak seriously about integration when one of its own leading business figures faces such barriers within the continent? Until influential African business leaders such as Aliko Dangote, Strive Masiyiwa, Patrice Motsepe, and others begin speaking more forcefully about governance, corruption, economic mismanagement, and state dysfunction, progress will remain slow. As long as these issues are accommodated because money can still be made, Africa will continue to talk about unity without creating the conditions necessary to achieve it. So, back in the townships of South Africa, there is a crisis. I have always said that Zimbabwe is no longer a foreign policy issue. It is a domestic issue because the South African government must deal with its consequences in hospitals, social services, employment, housing, education, and many other facets of daily life. If the South African government does not have the courage to stand up to leaders such as Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mozambique’s President, Daniel Chapo, and say, “The way you are running your economies is creating problems for us,” then the situation will continue to deteriorate. The tragedy is that it is always the poor, the ordinary, and those living in abject poverty who end up fighting amongst themselves. Yet the root causes of these tensions are often created at the highest levels of political leadership. The people competing for jobs, housing, healthcare, and other scarce resources did not create the conditions that led to mass migration. Those conditions were created by policy failures, corruption, poor governance, and economic mismanagement. I would go even further and say that this is also an indictment of South African leadership. SADC already has protocols, principles, and governance frameworks that were specifically designed to prevent member states from becoming dysfunctional and destabilising their neighbours. The problem is not the absence of rules. The problem is the absence of enforcement. Those protocols exist on paper, but too often they are ignored in practice. When governance standards are violated, when economies collapse, when democratic institutions are weakened, and when corruption flourishes, there is rarely any meaningful consequence from the region. As a result, the effects spill across borders and eventually become someone else’s problem. That is why the immigration debate cannot be separated from the governance debate. They are two sides of the same coin. If African leaders are serious about reducing migration pressures, they must first address the political and economic failures that are pushing people to leave their countries in the first place. We all know why that conversation is avoided. So, coming back to Trevor Noah’s analogy, it is ultimately a human analogy. It reflects a reality that has existed throughout history and even in nature itself. If lions have abundant access to zebras and other prey, there is very little competition between lions, leopards, and other predators. But when food becomes scarce, competition intensifies. The struggle is no longer about identity. It becomes a struggle over limited resources. The same principle applies in human societies. When jobs are plentiful, when healthcare functions, when housing is available, and when opportunities are expanding, people are generally more tolerant and welcoming. But the moment resources become scarce, tensions rise. People begin competing for the same opportunities, and that competition often manifests itself through politics, nationalism, tribalism, xenophobia, or other forms of social conflict. This is not unique to South Africa. It is not unique to Africa. It is part of the human condition. In many ways, what we are witnessing is both a human story and an animal kingdom story. The underlying dynamic is remarkably similar. Scarcity creates competition. Competition creates tension. Tension creates conflict. That is why discussions about immigration cannot be separated from discussions about governance, economic growth, service delivery, and opportunity. If we focus only on the symptoms while ignoring the underlying causes, we will never solve the problem. The real challenge is not merely getting people to live together. The real challenge is creating societies and economies that produce enough opportunity for people to live together peacefully.
2:47

I agree with Trevor Noah’s analysis of the immigration debate in South Africa, and I also agree with Julius Malema’s noble desire for Africa to be one. From the outset, I must be clear that the biggest obstacle to African unity has been African leadership. Some of our countries have been independent for more than 60 years, yet we are still far from achieving the level of integration many Pan-Africanists envisioned. The failure to get there is fundamentally a leadership issue. I want to focus on what Julius Malema has said. He is one of the continent’s most outspoken Pan-Africanists, and his vision of a more united Africa is both admirable and inspiring. Unfortunately, because of the dysfunctionality of leadership across much of the continent, Pan-Africanism has, in some circles in South Africa, become a dirty word. That is a tragedy because the principle itself is not the problem. The problem is that many African leaders have failed to create the political, economic, and institutional conditions necessary to make that vision a reality. So let us look carefully at what Julius Malema is saying. I have great respect for Julius Malema when it comes to his Pan-African outlook, but I am afraid to say that the idea of an Africa with one passport, one currency, and a fully integrated political and economic system is unlikely to happen within our lifetime. It is good to dream and to idealise the kind of Africa we would like to see, but in its current political and economic format, the continent is nowhere near achieving that goal. I am 55 years old, so when I talk about a lifetime, I am talking about the next 25 years. If I live to 80, that would be wonderful, but I do not believe Africa will achieve that level of integration within that timeframe. The reason is quite simple. If you look at the European Union, countries do not simply join because they want to. They must first meet a long list of requirements and benchmarks. These include economic standards, institutional capacity, governance standards, judicial independence, and human rights protections. Even if we set aside the human rights question in Africa, because we know that remains a long journey, the economic question alone presents a major obstacle. A truly united continent can only emerge if its member states are led by competent, educated, and trustworthy leaders who build functioning economies capable of providing opportunities for their own citizens. The current xenophobic, Afrophobic, and anti-immigration discourse taking place in South Africa is often crude and sometimes ugly. However, stripped of the crudeness, there is an important point being raised that cannot simply be ignored. For Africans to unite successfully, they cannot first unite in one country. They must first unite across the continent by creating broadly comparable economic opportunities and living standards. For example, a Ghanaian should be able to travel to Zimbabwe visa-free. That is largely a political decision. But if that Ghanaian wants to relocate permanently to Zimbabwe, then the economies of Ghana and Zimbabwe should have a reasonable degree of parity. People should not be compelled to migrate primarily because one country is functioning while another is failing. The same applies across the continent. Someone should not feel forced to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo for South Africa purely because of economic collapse at home. If integration is driven solely by economics, then the countries that are relatively well managed will inevitably carry the burden of those that are not. This is an intellectual discussion that Africa cannot avoid. Resource competition is often what inflames tensions. If someone moves from a poor community in Mozambique to a poor community in South Africa, both groups are competing for the same clinics, schools, housing, jobs, and social services. That is where tensions arise. Interestingly, illegal immigrants from Europe are rarely part of the immigration debate in South Africa. Many people immediately attribute this to race, but there is another factor that deserves consideration. Wealthy immigrants generally live in affluent communities where there is little or no competition for scarce public resources. Take Chatunga Mugabe, for example. He lived in Hyde Park, drove expensive cars, and socialised in Sandton. Nobody was concerned about his immigration status. Likewise, where I live in South Africa, there are immigrants from the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Kenya, and elsewhere. They are largely affluent people. The South Africans living there are often excited when newcomers arrive. When I moved from Zimbabwe and bought a house on my road, both black and white South Africans invited me into their homes for dinner and wine. There was no hostility because there was no competition for resources. That reality matters. If Africa is ever going to have one passport and one currency, we must first deal with the economic fundamentals. Most Africans do not realise that this is not primarily a political project. It is an economic one. Turkey, for example, has spent decades seeking membership of the European Union but has not been admitted because it has not met all the requirements. Countries such as Bulgaria and Romania had to meet strict standards before joining. Their judicial systems, governance structures, healthcare systems, and institutions had to reach certain benchmarks. The same logic applies to Africa. If every African citizen were suddenly free to seek healthcare anywhere on the continent, countries with stronger healthcare systems such as South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia would immediately face enormous pressure from people seeking treatment, including specialised care for conditions such as cancer. That is why this discussion is important. We must have it honestly and without slogans. We must discuss it not only in universities and intellectual circles but also in townships, villages, and communities across Africa. The dream of one Africa is a noble one. I support it. But before we get there, we must first address the economic, institutional, and governance realities that stand in the way. Until those challenges are resolved, the vision Julius Malema speaks about will remain an aspiration rather than a practical reality. The tragedy we face today is that we are focusing on the sideshows created by tribalists and rogue political actors who are taking advantage of a genuine problem that exists in South Africa and, indeed, in other parts of Africa as well. We amplify their voices and focus on what they are saying instead of focusing on the real issue. We should be asking ourselves a simple question. Julius Malema is right about the ideal he is advocating, but why are we not getting to where he wants us to get? Once we ask that question honestly, we are forced to examine the root causes. There can be no economic harmony, political harmony, or any other form of harmony between countries that are operating at vastly different levels of development and functionality. Take Zimbabwe and South Africa as an example. Zimbabwe has not had a working radiotherapy machine in its public healthcare system for more than four years. The country’s largest hospital has only one maternity theatre, built in 1977. Then look at South Africa. Its public healthcare system has some problems and could be much better, but by African standards it remains among the most advanced on the continent. If those two countries stand side by side, as they physically do, how do you integrate them when one is dysfunctional and the other remains a functioning state? These are the root causes we need to confront. This discussion must be held in a comprehensive and honest manner, not in fragments. We can speak about the noble aspirations of Pan-Africanism, and we can also discuss the obstacles that stand in its way. Both conversations must be held together. Only then can we identify what needs to be done and begin serious scenario planning around how to get there. Instead, we often get beautiful speeches delivered at the African Union, one of the most ineffective continental organisations in the world. People make grand declarations, earn generous salaries, and then nothing happens. Great speeches have been delivered since the days of the Organisation of African Unity. One of those speeches was even immortalised by Bob Marley in his song War. Yet more than 60 years later, many of the same challenges remain unresolved. That is an indictment not only of African leaders but also of African elites. Too many are content to make money while ignoring the underlying governance failures that hold the continent back. Consider Aliko Dangote, the richest black man in the world and Africa’s most successful entrepreneur. He requires 34 visas to enter dozens of African countries. Yet if I hold a British passport, my movement across much of Africa can often be easier than his. How can Africa speak seriously about integration when one of its own leading business figures faces such barriers within the continent? Until influential African business leaders such as Aliko Dangote, Strive Masiyiwa, Patrice Motsepe, and others begin speaking more forcefully about governance, corruption, economic mismanagement, and state dysfunction, progress will remain slow. As long as these issues are accommodated because money can still be made, Africa will continue to talk about unity without creating the conditions necessary to achieve it. So, back in the townships of South Africa, there is a crisis. I have always said that Zimbabwe is no longer a foreign policy issue. It is a domestic issue because the South African government must deal with its consequences in hospitals, social services, employment, housing, education, and many other facets of daily life. If the South African government does not have the courage to stand up to leaders such as Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mozambique’s President, Daniel Chapo, and say, “The way you are running your economies is creating problems for us,” then the situation will continue to deteriorate. The tragedy is that it is always the poor, the ordinary, and those living in abject poverty who end up fighting amongst themselves. Yet the root causes of these tensions are often created at the highest levels of political leadership. The people competing for jobs, housing, healthcare, and other scarce resources did not create the conditions that led to mass migration. Those conditions were created by policy failures, corruption, poor governance, and economic mismanagement. I would go even further and say that this is also an indictment of South African leadership. SADC already has protocols, principles, and governance frameworks that were specifically designed to prevent member states from becoming dysfunctional and destabilising their neighbours. The problem is not the absence of rules. The problem is the absence of enforcement. Those protocols exist on paper, but too often they are ignored in practice. When governance standards are violated, when economies collapse, when democratic institutions are weakened, and when corruption flourishes, there is rarely any meaningful consequence from the region. As a result, the effects spill across borders and eventually become someone else’s problem. That is why the immigration debate cannot be separated from the governance debate. They are two sides of the same coin. If African leaders are serious about reducing migration pressures, they must first address the political and economic failures that are pushing people to leave their countries in the first place. We all know why that conversation is avoided. So, coming back to Trevor Noah’s analogy, it is ultimately a human analogy. It reflects a reality that has existed throughout history and even in nature itself. If lions have abundant access to zebras and other prey, there is very little competition between lions, leopards, and other predators. But when food becomes scarce, competition intensifies. The struggle is no longer about identity. It becomes a struggle over limited resources. The same principle applies in human societies. When jobs are plentiful, when healthcare functions, when housing is available, and when opportunities are expanding, people are generally more tolerant and welcoming. But the moment resources become scarce, tensions rise. People begin competing for the same opportunities, and that competition often manifests itself through politics, nationalism, tribalism, xenophobia, or other forms of social conflict. This is not unique to South Africa. It is not unique to Africa. It is part of the human condition. In many ways, what we are witnessing is both a human story and an animal kingdom story. The underlying dynamic is remarkably similar. Scarcity creates competition. Competition creates tension. Tension creates conflict. That is why discussions about immigration cannot be separated from discussions about governance, economic growth, service delivery, and opportunity. If we focus only on the symptoms while ignoring the underlying causes, we will never solve the problem. The real challenge is not merely getting people to live together. The real challenge is creating societies and economies that produce enough opportunity for people to live together peacefully.

Hopewell Chin’ono

91,766 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

The District Attorney race in Travis County/Greater Austin is among the most important this cycle. Everyone able should vote by March 5th. Watch this video and read the following to understand why – and share with others. I don’t like to get directly involved in politics, and prefer to stick to building social enterprises that bring people together (i.e., KIND Snacks, Builders, SOMOS Foods, Empatico ), but the stakes are so high for Austin that I feel the need to share some facts: Austin is facing a rampant rise in crime. All the data demonstrates it. And all of Jose Garza’s policies point to it. Some specific examples: • Garza let Santos Celso-Flores, who was awaiting trial for participating in the gang rape of 13-year-old girl, out on a $40 bond. While out on bond, Celso-Flores molested two more young girls. • Hilario Adrian’s bond was lowered to just $1 after Garza failed to bring his aggravated assault case to a grand jury in time. Shortly after his release, he brutally attacked an innocent bystander in downtown Austin, stabbing him to death. • Richard Williams brutally raped his ex-girlfriend at knifepoint for two hours while strangling and beating her. Garza cut a deferred adjudication plea deal with Williams, meaning he was released after just 90 days in prison without anything on his record. • Garza released Dedreuain Reese, who had been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for pistol-whipping a woman, on a personal recognizance bond. Just weeks after he was released on bond, Reese committed a murder at the same house where he pistol whipped the woman. Friends have been telling me about the rise in crime in Austin. A family who lived downtown had their home burglarized. Another was held up. A friend who leads the Public Safety Commission shared the above examples. I assumed these were isolated cases and initially dismissed the issue. Eventually I did dozens of hours of research. The data is staggering: • 127% increase in the murder rate since Garza took over! • Car jackings more than doubled! • Convictions are down 61%! • Zero Jury Trials by Garza since he took over as DA! How is Garza responsible for this? Some examples: • When he took office, Garza abolished the DA division that sorted out cases. As a result, today there are over seven thousand unindicted felony crimes! Not 7. Not 70. Not 700. Seven THOUSAND pending cases that the DA’s office has failed to process. • In 2021, Garza released a bail reform plan that explicitly included releasing people on bail for just $1. Since then, Travis County has been plagued by crimes committed by people out on bonds. • Over 75 (out of a professional staff of around 95) experienced prosecutors have left the DA's Office since Garza took over in 2021. He has hired inexperienced and untested lawyers to handle the most serious and complicated cases in Travis County. • Here is testimony from a Mother whose children were sexually assaulted: These are not theoretical issues. And the people they affect are the most vulnerable members of our society. • Lynn Isaak survived a brutal attack while running in Travis Heights. She solved her own case through Nextdoor, trusted the DA's Office with the prosecution, and was then shocked when her attacker got probation with no jail time and no electronic monitoring. • Lashonda Lemons was beaten so badly by her partner that she lost her baby. The DA's Office got the case and lowered the charge from aggravated assault to a lesser offense and gave him deferred adjudication - a punishment that allows the offender to walk away without a conviction. This was all done over Lemons' objection. There is hope on the horizon: Jeremy Sylestine is a lifelong Democrat running in the Democratic Primary for Travis District Attorney. He is Native American member of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. He went to UT, served as a Public Defender, and then for 15 years as a highly respected member of the DA’s office in Travis County. Meet Jeremy: He is among the highest integrity people you can meet. He is sacrificing a very good job and risking a lot for the sake of Austin and Travis County. Jeremy is compassionate, but he understands the duty to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from violent criminals. It’s quite a contrast: It took me months to understand why, in contrast, Jose Garza would allow a violent criminal who drugged and raped a 13 year old girl to get off without anything on his record. Why would he plea down everything to misdemeanor, including when a violent felon beat his pregnant girlfriend so brutally that she lost her baby? Even the most kindhearted also want justice and public safety. But Garza has a radical ideology that ANY prosecution ever is evil. When he was a public defender, that position was acceptable. But as DA in charge of enforcing the law, he is subverting his duties and violating his oath. Under Garza’s simplistic ideology, everyone is a victim or an oppressor based on their background and position in society rather than based on their actions and behavior. For Garza, the criminals that commit violent crimes are the victims so even if they committed rape or murder they cannot be at fault. It’s the system’s fault. For Garza, the DA’s office he presides over is the oppressor and so he is slowly dismantling it (not just reform it, but dismantling it, which is why he disbanded the division that processes cases, resulting in over seven thousand unindicted criminal felonies thus far). It’s so extreme it’s illogical. But that is what radical extremism does. In terms of financial backing, virtually all support for Jeremy comes from people that live in Travis County. Garza came into power with $1 million from out of state money. The people that put Garza in power do not need to live with the consequences of his actions. Jeremy’s supporters are locals whose families and loved ones live in Travis County. Our only agenda is to protect the community. For us teachers, entrepreneurs and parents it’s uncomfortable to get drawn into politically divisive issues. But the stakes are so high that everyone is stepping in. It’s very unusual for other elected politicians to stand up against an incumbent from their party. The amount of Democratic leaders that I’ve met and have told me how much they dislike Garza but can’t speak up is stunning. And even then, you have icons of the Democratic establishment speaking up: • David Butts and Alfred Stanley are among the most highly respected Austinites and life-long liberals helping Jeremy’s campaign. • Former Austin City Councilwoman Ora Houston, former Travis County Commissioner Karen Huber, as well as the Austin Bar Association Preference Poll, the South Asian Bar Association of Austin, and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas have all endorsed Jeremy. • Even former State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos & Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez, fellow Hispanics, are so shocked by Jose Garza’s actions and so impressed with Jeremy’s integrity that they have endorsed Jeremy Sylestine. Extremism seems to be taking over our country. But the proper response to rigidity and dehumanization from one side is not denial of facts and “us vs them” dehumanization from the opposite extreme. Personally, I identify as independent because I find political parties hyperpartisan. I support moderate candidates on both sides. It’s high time for builders to transcend these labels and all join together. It doesn’t matter if you are Democrat or Independent or Republican. You are a human being. You are a citizen. When it comes to public safety, it’s not about politics.Your children should be able to walk downtown without fear for their safety. Your spouse should be able to go for a run in the park without fear of being assaulted or raped. It’s about enforcing the law to protect victims while showing compassion wherever justice guides us to. It’s about all of us being together to BUILD a better community for all. Everyone in Travis County should go out and vote for Jeremy - not just to keep our community safe - but to break the shackles of extremism from either side and show that the people in Austin are ONE and refuse to play divisive games from extremist ideological politicians from either side. Regardless of political affiliation, anyone in #TravisCounty / Greater #AustinTx can go into a voting location, request a #DemocraticPrimary Ballot, and vote for #JeremySylestine in the most consequential election to the community. Where and How to Vote: Vote for @Jeremy4DA during Early Voting today through March 1 or on Election Day March 5.
6:10

The District Attorney race in Travis County/Greater Austin is among the most important this cycle. Everyone able should vote by March 5th. Watch this video and read the following to understand why – and share with others. I don’t like to get directly involved in politics, and prefer to stick to building social enterprises that bring people together (i.e., KIND Snacks, Builders, SOMOS Foods, Empatico ), but the stakes are so high for Austin that I feel the need to share some facts: Austin is facing a rampant rise in crime. All the data demonstrates it. And all of Jose Garza’s policies point to it. Some specific examples: • Garza let Santos Celso-Flores, who was awaiting trial for participating in the gang rape of 13-year-old girl, out on a $40 bond. While out on bond, Celso-Flores molested two more young girls. • Hilario Adrian’s bond was lowered to just $1 after Garza failed to bring his aggravated assault case to a grand jury in time. Shortly after his release, he brutally attacked an innocent bystander in downtown Austin, stabbing him to death. • Richard Williams brutally raped his ex-girlfriend at knifepoint for two hours while strangling and beating her. Garza cut a deferred adjudication plea deal with Williams, meaning he was released after just 90 days in prison without anything on his record. • Garza released Dedreuain Reese, who had been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for pistol-whipping a woman, on a personal recognizance bond. Just weeks after he was released on bond, Reese committed a murder at the same house where he pistol whipped the woman. Friends have been telling me about the rise in crime in Austin. A family who lived downtown had their home burglarized. Another was held up. A friend who leads the Public Safety Commission shared the above examples. I assumed these were isolated cases and initially dismissed the issue. Eventually I did dozens of hours of research. The data is staggering: • 127% increase in the murder rate since Garza took over! • Car jackings more than doubled! • Convictions are down 61%! • Zero Jury Trials by Garza since he took over as DA! How is Garza responsible for this? Some examples: • When he took office, Garza abolished the DA division that sorted out cases. As a result, today there are over seven thousand unindicted felony crimes! Not 7. Not 70. Not 700. Seven THOUSAND pending cases that the DA’s office has failed to process. • In 2021, Garza released a bail reform plan that explicitly included releasing people on bail for just $1. Since then, Travis County has been plagued by crimes committed by people out on bonds. • Over 75 (out of a professional staff of around 95) experienced prosecutors have left the DA's Office since Garza took over in 2021. He has hired inexperienced and untested lawyers to handle the most serious and complicated cases in Travis County. • Here is testimony from a Mother whose children were sexually assaulted: These are not theoretical issues. And the people they affect are the most vulnerable members of our society. • Lynn Isaak survived a brutal attack while running in Travis Heights. She solved her own case through Nextdoor, trusted the DA's Office with the prosecution, and was then shocked when her attacker got probation with no jail time and no electronic monitoring. • Lashonda Lemons was beaten so badly by her partner that she lost her baby. The DA's Office got the case and lowered the charge from aggravated assault to a lesser offense and gave him deferred adjudication - a punishment that allows the offender to walk away without a conviction. This was all done over Lemons' objection. There is hope on the horizon: Jeremy Sylestine is a lifelong Democrat running in the Democratic Primary for Travis District Attorney. He is Native American member of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. He went to UT, served as a Public Defender, and then for 15 years as a highly respected member of the DA’s office in Travis County. Meet Jeremy: He is among the highest integrity people you can meet. He is sacrificing a very good job and risking a lot for the sake of Austin and Travis County. Jeremy is compassionate, but he understands the duty to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from violent criminals. It’s quite a contrast: It took me months to understand why, in contrast, Jose Garza would allow a violent criminal who drugged and raped a 13 year old girl to get off without anything on his record. Why would he plea down everything to misdemeanor, including when a violent felon beat his pregnant girlfriend so brutally that she lost her baby? Even the most kindhearted also want justice and public safety. But Garza has a radical ideology that ANY prosecution ever is evil. When he was a public defender, that position was acceptable. But as DA in charge of enforcing the law, he is subverting his duties and violating his oath. Under Garza’s simplistic ideology, everyone is a victim or an oppressor based on their background and position in society rather than based on their actions and behavior. For Garza, the criminals that commit violent crimes are the victims so even if they committed rape or murder they cannot be at fault. It’s the system’s fault. For Garza, the DA’s office he presides over is the oppressor and so he is slowly dismantling it (not just reform it, but dismantling it, which is why he disbanded the division that processes cases, resulting in over seven thousand unindicted criminal felonies thus far). It’s so extreme it’s illogical. But that is what radical extremism does. In terms of financial backing, virtually all support for Jeremy comes from people that live in Travis County. Garza came into power with $1 million from out of state money. The people that put Garza in power do not need to live with the consequences of his actions. Jeremy’s supporters are locals whose families and loved ones live in Travis County. Our only agenda is to protect the community. For us teachers, entrepreneurs and parents it’s uncomfortable to get drawn into politically divisive issues. But the stakes are so high that everyone is stepping in. It’s very unusual for other elected politicians to stand up against an incumbent from their party. The amount of Democratic leaders that I’ve met and have told me how much they dislike Garza but can’t speak up is stunning. And even then, you have icons of the Democratic establishment speaking up: • David Butts and Alfred Stanley are among the most highly respected Austinites and life-long liberals helping Jeremy’s campaign. • Former Austin City Councilwoman Ora Houston, former Travis County Commissioner Karen Huber, as well as the Austin Bar Association Preference Poll, the South Asian Bar Association of Austin, and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas have all endorsed Jeremy. • Even former State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos & Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez, fellow Hispanics, are so shocked by Jose Garza’s actions and so impressed with Jeremy’s integrity that they have endorsed Jeremy Sylestine. Extremism seems to be taking over our country. But the proper response to rigidity and dehumanization from one side is not denial of facts and “us vs them” dehumanization from the opposite extreme. Personally, I identify as independent because I find political parties hyperpartisan. I support moderate candidates on both sides. It’s high time for builders to transcend these labels and all join together. It doesn’t matter if you are Democrat or Independent or Republican. You are a human being. You are a citizen. When it comes to public safety, it’s not about politics.Your children should be able to walk downtown without fear for their safety. Your spouse should be able to go for a run in the park without fear of being assaulted or raped. It’s about enforcing the law to protect victims while showing compassion wherever justice guides us to. It’s about all of us being together to BUILD a better community for all. Everyone in Travis County should go out and vote for Jeremy - not just to keep our community safe - but to break the shackles of extremism from either side and show that the people in Austin are ONE and refuse to play divisive games from extremist ideological politicians from either side. Regardless of political affiliation, anyone in #TravisCounty / Greater #AustinTx can go into a voting location, request a #DemocraticPrimary Ballot, and vote for #JeremySylestine in the most consequential election to the community. Where and How to Vote: Vote for @Jeremy4DA during Early Voting today through March 1 or on Election Day March 5.

Daniel Lubetzky

7,795,861 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce