Made Moon Blog

Colin Powell is a good story teller!
“He hid the weapons of mass destruction in all sorts of odd places. But we saw him hide it. We took photographs. We recorded discussions. We saw his links with terrorists. It is the most evil empire on earth right now. And he must be stopped!”

This story-teller is not some fiction writer. Or some movie star from Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world. And the scene is far removed from Frankenstein territory. But this story-teller is a former war general turned American Secretary of State named Colin Powell. The scene is the floor of the great United Nations, which some folks who have a bad sense of humor call Talking Nations. The major character of the story is Saddam Hussein. And the devilish empire is Iraq.

The high point of the JAMES BOND story is not the satellite photographs (after all where are the weapons?) nor is it the Al Qaeda connection (after all if you are not with us you are against us – by George Bush). But the most interesting point of the over one-hour speech at the Talking Nations, sorry United Nations, is the voice recording. For these “devils” in Iraq were actually saying “hide it, hide it, hide it” in reference to the weapons of mass destruction, sorry wepunmassdistrucshun. I actually like the literary effect (The Arabic version is musical to the ears).

And after the great “revelation,” war mongers went to town. They said that it has been proved that Iraq is actually a threat to world peace. What do they call a proven theory in Latin? Quod erat Demonstradum. Yes, the theory has been demonstrated that if Iraq is not disarmed right now, that “madman” directing events in that country will cause historians issuing titles like THE END OF ORDER. Or THE END OF HISTORY. Or THE END OF THE WORLD. What a pity! And these war mongers rolled out Ukulele the drum, and serenaded the movie star, Colin Powell.

But the pacifists were not impressed. First in that number was the Inspection Team in Iraq who thought they would have been handed these evidences ab initio, instead of making it a public show. (Forget them for they know not the rules of script writing.) Then Iraqi officials called it a cock-and-bull story. (Make it a cattle-and-ram story.) France and Germany say no to war. (Americans call them the old Europe) And even Russia is not impressed. Is it because they have their hands on Iraqi oil? (Never mind anyway. That Powerless country is part of “pieces of eight”)

Before then, Africa’s Nelson Mandela, was up in arms against George Bush Jnr. and Tony Blair. He called Bush an arrogant man intent in plunging the world into a holocaust, calling Blair George Bush’s foreign minister .He even says that Bush wants to render the UN irrelevant because an African -Koffi Annan – not a Whiteman, is Secretary-General.

But some wonder why Mandela said so. Is it that old age is telling on him? And he is forgetting things as if he crossed the River Lethe. Or drank Mandragora. Does he not know that Tony Blair, Britain’s Prime Minister cannot be a foreign minister to the president of another sovereign country? And it pained not a few Africans that this their illustrious son has forgotten elementary government.

Regarding his anti war stance, some point to his guerilla war against white South Africa. After all, his “terrorism” paid off because South Africa is now free of violence, anarchists, and rapists. And Bush and Blair want to make the earth a paradise– free of devils– by declaring war on dangerous Iraq. Forget Nelson Mandela. When last did a black man say useful things?

Now the game is over for Saddam Hussein. We are going to war. Do not think of the effect of the war on the world economy. After all, Iraq has some of the world’s finest oil. When we win the war, we would install our own Governor – General and take charge of the oil. You can imagine the rest of the story.

Do not think of the humanitarian cost. For Saddam has always gassed his own people to death. So, what if a few Iraqis die for the salvation of the many. Regarding the soldiers that would die in battle, never mind about that. For they would have beautiful memorial tombs erected for them .And the sons of the war planners would lay wreaths on them, and write their epitaghs. Some would take Charles Dickens book A TALE OF TWO CITIES with them to the grave yard, and copy the opening lines: “It was a summer of hope. It was a winter of despair”.

When Charles Dickens wrote A TALE OF TWO CITIES, however, he was not thinking of the war on terror. Or wepunmassdistrucshun. But in the world of James Bond, anything goes.

THE WINTER OF DESPAIR

We are ready to attack Iraq. The spy planes have done their work and we know just where to strike. So we advance with guns and bombs through the torturous Iraqi desert terrain. We kill and maim as we go, and the enemy decimates our soldiers, too. And we the surviving soldiers press on, ever wearing our masks. Because this “mad” man that rules this evil empire could use anything on us – including chemicals and biological weapons. But alas – after all the hazards, we win and disarm Iraq.

THE SUMMER OF HOPE

We celebrate our victory. The world will be a better place to live now without dangerous weapons in the hands of this evil country. Israel has these weapons too, but that country is better behaved. Besides, they are God’s chosen people.

The newly appointed Governor-General has just inspected his guard-of-honor, and is telling Iraqis how different this new democratic, liberal regime will be. For the people will now enjoy total freedom and life will be more abundant.

We hear many wonderful Arabian Night stories. It was told of a poor Arab cattle rearer who bought a field to graze his livestock. But unbeknownst to him, the field was laid with gold. And this poor shepherd now became a fabulously rich sheikh ever after.

The story strikes a semblance to our adventure. Because after we have buried thousands of our dead soldiers, and laid beautiful wreaths on their tombs, we retire to reflect on the success of our mission. Suddenly, we find ourselves, champagne in hand, floating on top of fine-grade Iraqi oil; watching Saddam Hussein hanging on a 1000-foot high pole and listening to a musical composition of Colin Powell. And it happens to be the musical rendition of the poem, PARADISE REGAINED by the blind poet, John Milton.It was then that I realized the vision of Collins Powell, and I remembered the JAMES BOND story at the UN.

Bravo!

ARTHUR ZULU. The Most Controversial Writer in the World is the author of the best -selling book HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER. For your copy and FREE excerpt, click on: http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/10975 For contact, mailto: controversialwriter@yahoo.com

About the Author

Arthur Zulu, The Most Controversial Writer in the World is the author of the best-selling book, HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER. Download your copy and FREE excerpt at :http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/10975

There are some who think the American attention span will not last forty-
five seconds much less forty-five days. By then all will be forgotten and
we’ll go back to our Blackberries and iTunes. Our ports will go on to be
managed by foreign entities because we must indulge the “friends” we
do have. Whoa! This administration has seen to it that America has no
friends, certainly none who have ties to sworn enemies who hate our
guts.

Tax cuts for the rich will be made permanent by the “corpocracy”
because it’s good for business. What about what’s good for the people?
Funding for health care, veteran’s benefits and education is being cut
drastically. The coming hurricane season is predicted to be very bad.
The Gulf Coast, God forbid, could suffer another disaster. Show us the
money to rebuild and protect it. Show us the money for our damaged
veterans.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) was a cowboy from Oklahoma who became
America’s most beloved humorist. Not since Mark Twain had the country
seen or heard such criticism in the form of witticism. While expertly
twirling his rope, Rogers would stand in front of an audience and, in his
western manner, make people laugh at his insightful jabs at politics and
government. Here are two of his quotes. And remember, this was back
in the 1920s.

“Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate; now what’s going to
happen to us with both a Senate and a House?” “On account of being a
democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world
that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.”

We can go back a century earlier in our history, to Abraham Lincoln who
said: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the
people some of the time. But you can’t fool all of the people all of the
time.” Yeah, right.

Except for the formal manner in which people wrote and spoke in those
days, the following Abraham Lincoln quote could come right out of
today’s blogs.

“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and
causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. Corporations have
been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow and the
money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by
working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated
in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.”

“Corporations have been enthroned…” Scary isn’t it? But are the
majority of Americans so fearful today; so complacent they will allow
their precious democracy and taken-for-granted freedoms to go down
the rabbit hole? My father fought in one war, my brother in another.
Today our young men and women are dying for those same freedoms.
Many are suffering unimaginable wounds to body and soul, scars that
will be with them the rest of their lives. They do their duty and they don’t
complain. It’s time we on the home front do our duty, speak out, make
our voices heard above the din of politics and business and the
“corpocracy” that has deceived and failed us. What does it take for we
the people to rise up and end this never-ending nightmare?

“Simplicity-Courage-Humor-Soul”®

A writer/editor, I work with one client at a time, beginner or pro, for a cost
effective solution to your writing and editing needs. Contact me at
http://www.susanscharfman.com

Since the formation of a separate state, Orissa continues to be symbol of abysmal poverty and backwardness. Acute underdevelopment combined with the onslaught of natural calamities has made the life of the Oriya people miserable. While droughts and floods are regular invaders, cyclones and super cyclones make their routine visits, taking heavy tolls. Besides all this misfortunes, nature has blessed the state minerals to fill up the gap. Orissa is the richest state in minerals.

The state, two-thirds of the land surface of which comprise pre-cambrian rocks, possesses 98 per cent of the country’s chromite reserves, 71 per cent of its bauxite, 33 per cent of its iron ore and 32 per cent of its manganese resources. Orissa has vast reservoirs of natural resources to spur industrial growth and development. Its fertile land, water resources, mineral wealth, long coastline and forest resources are great assets. Still we are lagging behind to utilize the minerals for the development of Orissa. There are many prime causes, which are the major hurdles for socio-economic development of the state. Community leaders are playing major role in every step of development process and they have the capacity to eradicate all the hurdles in the grass root level.

Orissa has a population of 32 million with a high percentage of scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, approximately 24% of the total population belonging to 62 different ethnic communities, and are mostly backward. About 87% of the population lives in the villages. The Oriyas dwelling in rural Orissa are happy in their small world. Enthusiasm and expectation are the two less concerned words for them. This rural people are very simple and easily captured by anyone who attach emotionally with them. Though they have very minimal exposure to any media, so the community leaders act as the only source of information. They are less concerned about the politics, business, media and religion. They are very reluctant to accept any sort of information, which are not directly related to their day-to-day life. The community leaders are playing the role of opinion leaders and able to influence the rural Oriyas because they are well known, respected, and trusted person for them. The rural public relies upon opinion leader within their peer group(s) to provide reliable information. The local leaders are used the masses as their weapon.

In a state like Orissa, community leaders have a strong influence. Through day-to-day personal contacts, they influence others in matters of decisions and opinion formation. Due to lack of information on a particular issue, the backward community is not in a position to take any decision. They have always been depending on community leaders to reach on any decision, which may vary from family matters to international issues. In the reverse side, the tribal community has always opened to share all the information without thinking the outcome because they are thinking that they are sharing personal matters to a trusted person who can help him at the needed time. These leaders are more aware of the requirements of the rural public.

In many case, the community leader takes this advantage to revolt against the local administration. The community leaders generally come form a upper social, economic or occupational level and they have a special respect in the community. They are more informed about political and social issues as compared to other persons in a atmosphere where the local people will get fillip on the benefits of the industrialization. The local people can feel the breeze of industrialisation in the form of house, healthcare, education and employment facilities. Once the local tribal community convinces on the issue of industrialization, they will fight for the government. Every one knows it is a tedious task but not an impossible the community. They grasp information form different sources; they read newspapers and magazines; they watch the coverage of different issues relating to their society, nation etc. by the broadcast media.

When they exchanged the information to their follower, they are always diluted the original message with his personal views. And the most important part in this type of communication is that they are always using the mast powerful channel (i.e. face-to-face communication) by which they can get all the opportunities to convince the rural tribal community. Basically at the time of election, the role of community leaders is more visible. Because voting behaviour of the backward classes totally depends on the community leaders, who changed their voting intention during the course of the campaign.

Starting form rural development to AIDS awareness programme in the state, the community leaders play a crucial role in the implementation of any policy or programme in Orissa. Without help of this influential group, it will be very difficult for the government or any individual group or any non-government organization (NGO) to enter into the locality. Then it is the responsibility of the government to take the necessary step to convince the community leader by which they come forward to extend their hand to help the government in the development process. When we are talking about development we cannot ignore industrialization because directly it boost the state economy. As we are rich in manpower and mineral, the government has taken the first major step to invite major global giant for utilizing the reddish-gery iron ore.

Taking the advantages of the global demand for steel, the Orissa government has opened the door for the steel giants to invest in Orissa. During the course of time, the Biju Janata Dal-BJP alliance government signed 43 MoUs with private companies for the setting up of as many greenfield steel plants. The State government’s Steel and Mines Department estimates the investment in these steel plants to the tune of Rs.1,37,157.85 crores. The areas that would witness mining of iron ore and the setting up of new steel plants and captive power plants are Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jajpur, Dhenkanal and Angul districts, which are some of the most underdeveloped districts in the State. At the higher level, the government has completed all the formalities to convert Orissa into the No.1 State in the country by quickening the pace of industrialization. But when we consider about the ground reality for setting up of huge steel companies, we have taken aback because of the obstacles came to the site at different stages. The recent Kalinga Nagar firing has killed the spirit of Industrialisation. This is not a new incident for the people of Orissa.

Whenever and wherever any industry plans to lay down the foundation stone, the first and foremost outcome of every project is the same. Either they abandon the project or divert the investment amount to upgrade the established project. Tata steel’s earlier proposal to set up a ten million tonne steel project at Gopalpur in Ganjam district had also run into trouble with police opening fire at Sindhigan in the project area on August 7, 1997. Two women had been killed in stampede caused by the police action after which the company shelved the project. The steel project at Gopalpur in Ganjam district proposed by Tata did not take off after residents refused to move out.

If you go deeply into the core issue, you can find community leaders had conspired to create unrest in the industrial area. They have masterminded the entire process and provoked the tribal community by meeting personally or public meeting. The community leaders are always backed by political parties and influenced by the political leaders. Now time has come to think about the state. Above the personal benefits of any particular person, or particular community or any particular party, we should think about the welfare of our state. This is the equal responsibility of government and every Oriya to participate in the development process. Particularly the community leaders should use their third sense before forwarding any step towards destruction, which leads the state backward direction. Day by day our position become worsen in every aspect of life. When government is planning to take any step for the welfare of the state, it is better to support and abolish all the hurdles in the way to development.

Community leaders are the ‘queen-bees’ in a backward state like Orissa. The local administration should involve the community leaders in the development process. Before any huge investment in any area, government should have a face-to-face conversation with the community leaders. Because they have well known about the emerging issues relating to that particular locality. Based on those issues, government should formulate some guideline, which has always benefited to the local community. In the next step, the government should take all the necessary steps to persuade the local backward classes with the help of the community leaders. Before reaching into the final stage, the government should create such task.

The author is a media researcher in Journalism Department of ICFAI University. He has five years experience in electronic media in the field of Public Relations and Media Relations. His qualifications include a Master in Journalism and Mass Communication, had special paper Advertising and Public Relations.