Apr. 05, 2004 - 21:49 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

Drug Out

More details than time today. Late at night and an entry to make.

Two Small articles in the Rocky Mountain News today caught my eye. A WTF article on the editorial page. Quote -

"Public Dissent Imperiled in Russia"

"The lower house of the Russian parliament has taken an appalling step backward. It has passed a bill that would ban rallies, demonstrations and picketing in almost all public places -- outside the Kremlin, parliament, other government buildings, schools, stadiums, embassies; along public highways; the list goes on."

"And in the handful of remote locales where demonstrations would be permissible, the government could ban them if "their aim contradicted the Constitution, generally accepted norms of morality and federal law" In other words, whether a rally is held is at the sole discretion of authorities."

"With the Kremlin in control of the broadcast media and the opposition press censored or shuttered, this bill, if it becomes a law would effectively end public political dissent in Russia."

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Hardliners die hard I guess. Haven't learned by history yet.

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In a sidebar--

"Tragedy, Then Farce"

"Last week Freedom House released a list of the "worlds most repressive nations," with few surprises. But what ought to be shocking is five of the 15 most brutal countries -- China, Cuba, Eritrea, Saudia Arabia and Sudan -- sit on the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which monitors rights abuses around the world. In short, the world's tragedies will be investigated by an organization that is a farce." Rocky Mountain News

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Should we perhaps, rename it the Untied Nations ? And flush it out of Flushing Meadows ? The modern Tower of Babel ?

Between the pell mell rigamarole of pre-travel complications today and the usual activities, I am veritably all Drug Out . . . . . . . . . .

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