Football and Presidents

Liberia's President's son scored a goal for the American football team in FIFA World Cup last night. What do you say to that? Individually it's a spectacular achievement , especially when we think of how many African players play for European teams and, when it's hailed as an African team, French Ambassador has to write to Trevor Noah. While George Weah himself may come from a very humble background and brought glory to his country, but now being head of state, his son's citizenship brings up another politics altogether. What kind of role model do we have as President if the elite's children are invested in Global North. We have had same issues back home in Pakistan , where elite children go abroad and don't come back home to participate in politics and society.

Liberian President's son scores a goal for American team

If you think about it, Israel is an American white supermacist project while it is OK for Biden to call Afghanistan a Godforsaken place

I've been thinking about how much time media devotes to the American electoral cycle, the American democracy machine. In recent times, one feels there is a battle going on between good and evil, the Good Democrats fighting for women's abortion rights, for immigrant rights, for the environment, for public funding for schools and healthcare while the Evil Republicans are eroding a progressive, inherently good American society. We are meant to cheer the successful election of a person of colour to local or Federal level or of a white politicians standing up for the right thing. 

Good Democrats like Biden and Obama are trotted out at voting time to save democracy. 

But then the same media will report that President Biden has said something as racist and offensive like "Pakistan is the most dangerous country there is" and, "Afghanistan is such a Godforsaken place." 

Anyone care to connect these dots? Why are we invested in following the integration of people of colour into the American State and, at the same time being insulted by American heads of state? 

I was pretty livid at Biden's statements and, still am. They personally stung me and the timing could not have been worse. two  thirds of Pakistan was submerged under water when Biden called it a dangerous state. I know he was attacking the military state but how democratic to not even bother to differentiate between people and the state. 

His comments on Afghanistan maddened me with rage. I was livid with rage. How dare he continue to belittle , hurt and offend people of our region? I realised he speaks with arrogance only an imperial lord can. He may not necessarily dictate hatred to his public but reserves racism and bigotry for people his country conquers. His remarks immediately sent me off in blinding rage, thinking of the 80s, the invasion and carpet bombing of Afghanistan after 9/11, of Obama and his drones and how he traumatised children of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the trillion dollars they supposedly spent to help the country, the cowardly withdrawal, and how Afghan girls are now literally fighting the Taliban for their  rights. 

I realised that only a racist imperial power tired of bombing, invading and abandoning a land can speak like this. 

I also thought about my American friends who demonstrate their Democratic credentials online as they cheer Hillary or Obama and condemn Trump. But not one peep against any American war. I think about their tears as Republicans shred this so-called veneer. But not a peep against any imperial destruction.  I also think about the artificiality of international friendships where my concerns are irrelevant but somehow my deep knowledge, general interest and ability to follow and comment on heir society is taken for granted. 

In my adult life I've met most Americans through the aid and international development complex. I've also met many Europeans like this. Are they passionate about international aid because of its neo colonial nature, its apolitical hollow nature of work? As a consolation prize for imperial wars? How do Westerners see their jobs and careers in countries directly ravaged by American occupation? And all her countries suffering long term colonial legacy? Capitalist extraction? Debt incurred by borrowing from Western institutions? 

I suppose looking for accountability and empathy from individuals is a big ask. Privileged sections of society benefit from a system and, they are selective in critique of power. 

Nevertheless I'm profoundly disturbed. 

Enough to finally realise what defines the core of American support of Israel. If we take a long view of history as Americans inheriting the vast British Empire, we can see why they supported such a violent  settler colonial take over of Palestine by European Jews. It was not only to create friendly state amongst a dying Muslim Ottoman Empire and, play the region. American support for Israel is a a profoundly white supermacist project. White Christian America believes Israel has the right to exist and occupy and destroy Palestinians. Every American President furthers this cause. Even the lone black one has to follow suit. 

Israel is a white imperial project. 

Zelensky congratulated Netanyahu and, said his country shares values with Israel. What an amazing loop. Biden gives billions to Netanyahu for fighting Russians who in turn call Ukranians Nazis. And, round and round we go. 

American Presidents will never speak against Israel. But they can shit over rest of us. 

My Tuesday

Collective Anxiety on Elon Musk Taking Over Twitter

I fail to understand why states and government officials around the world uncritically jumped on the Twitter bandwagon and started using it as a platform to issue statements, conduct foreign policy and, in worst cases, promote dangerous propaganda. Now, a megalomaniac has bought the platform and is threatening to destabilise the ship. States and governments have colluded with private capital to erode honest independent journalism, democracy and, their own state functions and accountability.

songs of the African Coast

Spotted this CD in the Royal Hotel lobby. 

Good evening : pink Codiaeum variegatum, pink shoes, pink rickshaws and pink sunsets

 Kavita accompanied on an evening walk after a long time. 

This is entrance to our apartment building in Mamba Point. This is Codiaeum variegatum or Croton.

Jesus is Lord. 

Pink shoes and pink keke

Painting of white sidewalk with white paints - onset of dry season

 

Pink sunset 

My dream desk