Racially Motivated Murder in the United States

The United States is a nation infested with racial hatred. Not only is this seen in social and political settings, but in the criminal justice system. When African Americans or any other ethnic group are the victims of crime, justice will not be served. This is true  when racially motivated murders occur. The term hate crime is used in this context, but this is not descriptive enough. The term ignores the long tradition of American violence and subjugation designed to control certain groups. White supremacy could not exist without violent force. One tool of control is racially motivated murder,     

       The murder of  Micheal Brown demonstrates the use of racially motivated murder. The unarmed teenager was shot multiple times by a white police officer on August 9,2014 . Ferguson Missouri's police force is mostly white and policing a majority African American population. The obvious problem  is a group that has power abusing it to maintain a long held status quo.  Witnesses at the scene have confirmed that Micheal Brown held his hands up and attempted to surrender. Their testimony was ignored and Daren Wilson Micheal's killer will not face charges. A police officer was able to perform an extrajudicial execution and go free. What this reveals is a general disrespect for the rule of law and the rise of an authoritarian system in the United States. It also shows that a majority of the white population see African Americans as subhuman.  This country believes that African Americans do not matter and that their lives are worthless. 

           African Americans are not the only targets of racially motivated murder. Vincent Chin was a Chinese American who was beaten to death by two white assailants in 1982.  Ronald Ebens and his stepson Michael Nitz  were recently laid off autoworkers for the Chrysler corporation. Detroit automobile manufactures were suffering, because Japanese automakers were dominating market shares. Japanese success in the automobile industry caused a number of layoffs. This caused a wave of racial scapegoating. When ever whites feel threatened in terms of the dominant position, they react in violent ways. Vincent Chin found himself swept up in a wave of anti-Asian racism. Ebens and Nitz were sentenced three years probation. Even after public protest, Ebens and Nitz never were sent to prison. Once again, innocent life was taken and the perpetrators walk free. 
            There is a pattern to these incidents. Whites that murder other ethnic groups will not face severe punishment. The criminal justice system will in this instance be lenient, because it wants to up hold a system of racial supremacy. Justice and legal protection will only serve whites and whites only. The police do not serve and protect, but attack and control.Their primary job in this country is to enforce white domination and to intimidate potential dissidents. The so called "leader of the free world" is nothing more than a giant prison.  The United States will continue to abuse its citizens until it is challenged in a court of law.If nothing is done to combat racially motivated murder,  mass violent retaliation will be inevitable.     

                                                             Micheal Brown (1996-2014)

                                                           Vincent Chin  (1955-1982)                                                                                                                                                                                              

                   

                                                                                                         

Immigration in the United States

As economic hardship descends across the globe, people are seeking refuge. Men, women, and children are forced to flee their homelands because of war, economic turmoil, and societal upheaval.  Immigration reform has become a major issue in American politics. This has become a major problem nationally and regionally, but this steams from various factors. Latin America has suffered from neoliberal economic reforms, which caused many to come to the US in search of work. The War on Drugs has not only destroyed lives here in the US, but destabilized the countries of the South American continent. Then there was a desire for the United States to exploit a large labor force, which only immigrants could supply. It is surprising that more people have not come considering the rapid decline of  the political and social fabric of South American countries. 

          Neoliberal economic reforms  have caused much damage. Mexico was promised immense benefits from the North American Free Trade Agreement. Instead, it fell into a worse position than it had been. Mexican businesses could not compete with cheaper American goods that flooded the market. Close to a million jobs were lost forcing people to leave the country for employment. Illegal border crossings increase to about 300,000 a year. Factories did open on the border employing some of the Mexican population. The maquiladoras assembly plants did proliferate, but were closed down when the US experienced a recession in 2001. Simultaneously, farm subsidies were being cancelled by NAFTA putting farmers at risk. Other South American nations have not fared any better. Argentina and Brazil face major issues of poverty and debt. Venezuela and Bolivia however, managed to alleviate  some social and political ills of their countries. They are socialist governments, which the US either seeks to overthrow or contain. Even though that economic model seems to working, a majority of Latin American countries will still remain in the neoliberal capitalist camp. 

             The War on Drugs also caused a mass exodus from South America. Originally developed by the Nixon administration Ronald Reagan enforced it further. One of the most contradictory elements of his administration was supporting the Contras, who were involved in drug trafficking. Reagan's foreign policy functioned on an aggressive anti-communism, which meant that Nicaragua was a target. Reagan hoped that the Sanidinistas would be deposed by the Contras and a pro-US puppet regime would replace it. During the 1980s  the US was involved with a number of right-wing death squads in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. These anti-communist groups were know for massive human rights violations. The atmosphere of civil war, terrorism, and danger caused a large number of Central Americans   to seek political asylum. America claims that it wants to stop the flow of illegal drugs, but in reality its using this as a context for military intervention. This was the case for the invasion of Panama. Manuel Noriega was a close ally of the US and when he was no longer useful, he was deposed by a military strike. The US accused him of being a mastermind drug trafficker. The CIA was in fact the biggest drug trafficker, because it used funds from the sales of illegal substances to finance covert operations.  As a result more death and migration continued. Currently we are witnessing Mexico become a narco-terrorist state similar to Colombia. The American population has a drug addiction which fuels the power of South American drug cartels. 

            South Americans come looking for work, because their region is struggling financially. Many take occupations that Americans do not want to do. This suits some employers who seek to exploit a large labor force that will not demand benefits from a particular company. This seems attractive to employers because they realize that an American citizen demands more. An immigrant that is documented or undocumented would be at a disadvantage. Jobs in construction, landscaping, and janitorial work are not popular jobs among US citizens. Once again, a ruling class tries to manipulate groups to serve its purposes. This country is no stranger to avarice and exploitation of people. If this type of practice continues it will become one of the biggest human rights disasters of our time. Detention centers are now being built to hold in coming immigrants. These facilities are neither safe or a proper place to live. Immigration reform is need now before it is too late. 

Country Profile: Zimbabwe

Capital: Harare 

Independence date: 1980 

Population :  Shona (82 %) Ndebele  (14%)  Asian and White (1%)

12,937,808 citizens total (2012 census) 

Government : Presidential Republic 

Currency: Zimbabwean Dollars 

Economics: Major industries are tourism,mining, and the agricultural sector. 

Exports include gold and platinum. 

RIP  Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution 

What is Philosophy?

The word philosophy can be a confusing concept. The term comes from the Greek word philosophia,  which means the "love of wisdom." This field of study attempts to answer and solve  major human problems through rational argument and critical thinking. Philosophy explores such topics as knowledge,existence, and the nature of  life. Some of the earliest philosophies were religious and spiritual in perspective. As society grew more complex ,humankind began to develop new ideas. Philosophy began to diversify in subject matter. Philosophy has branches that include logic,ethics,ontology, epistemology, metaphysics, and aesthetics. There are also specific specialized branches which are philosophies of jurisprudence, science,religion, language, the mind, and politics. Another area of examination is metaphilosophy, which analyzes methods and techniques in philosophic discourse. Philosophy is an important subject, because the world is driven by an idea. The convictions that people adopt  can reveal much about society. 

Further Reading 

Stumpf, Samuel. Socrates to Sarte. New York: McGraw-Hill  Book Company,1982.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall and The Rise of Western Triumphalism

The Berlin Wall was a symbol of Cold War conflict and division. From 1961 to 1989 it separated East and West Berlin. East Germany constructed the wall to prevent its citizens from defecting to West Germany. By the 1980s  the Soviet Union was facing a stagnant economy, decline in the standard of living, and was on the verge of full collapse. This meant that it could no longer support Eastern European Communist states. Long time leaders of Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia  were removed. The fall of the Berlin Wall demonstrated that the Cold War had come to an end. However, the West believed that this meant their values had triumphed over a less stable political and economic system.  Western Triumphalism is the idea that values from Europe and North America are superior to other political, cultural, and, economic systems. This racist and delusional idea does not represent political or historical  realities. 

         The Berlin Wall's destruction is often used as an example of the victory of liberal democracy as a dominant political system. This idea has mostly been promoted by political scientist and economist Francis Fukuyama in The End of History and The Last Man.  One major flaw is that alternative political systems have not been experimented with. Different political systems could emerge in the future. To make such a claim that liberal democracy will remain dominant is purely speculative. Also, many countries that are classified as liberal democracies are not democratic. African and Asian nations still in practice function on a form of authoritarianism. The former Soviet Republics still use the same police state tactics of the  past. Kazakhstan is a presidential republic, but one man dominates the entire system.Nursultan Nazarbayev has been president since 1991 and political opposition is suppressed. The world has not become more free only more prison structured. 

           The fall of the Berlin Wall has another meaning for economists. To the faction of pro-free market supporters it means the superiority of Capitalism over Communism. This is another myth. More people now live in poverty. The gap between rich and poor is expanding at rapid levels. Eastern European nations were put through economic shock therapy, so they could make the transition to Capitalism. This did not create prosperity, but a host of sociological issues. Unemployment, poverty, and the resurgence of far-right extremism swept across Eastern Europe. Europe is now in a major debt crisis, which makes many question the system. Globalization another component of neoliberal Capitalism has been devastating to developing countries. IMF and World Bank programs have put poorer countries in a cycle of debt that they will never be able to escape. Capitalism has not worked for everyone. 

            When examining the fall of the Berlin Wall, there is little to celebrate. When Germany reunited in 1990, there were unforeseen  consequences. Unemployment increased and far-right activity emerged in the former East Germany. East Germans today feel as if they are not even part of the country. Industry has declined in the eastern part of the country causing young people to move and look elsewhere for a future. The other issue besides economic hardship is Neo-Nazi groups. Political extremism is a threat to a stable country and should be confronted. The celebration is too early, because there is still much to be done. 

November 9, 1989

The Berlin Wall 

East German Neo-Nazis 

circa 2011

A Few Words About Veterans Day

There is nothing glorious about war, yet nations make it honorable. The United States sends its men and women off to war in this present era to fight the War on Terrorism. Or so we have been told. The truth is a lugubrious one.Our military is now nothing more than a tool of corporate interests, banking institutions, and power hungry conquerors  seeking domination of the globe. Soldiers are forced to fight not for freedom, but the expansion of empire. Iraq and Afghanistan were presented to the American public as "threats" to America and soon after were attacked. More lives are now lost and lessons have not been learned from the past. 

       Veterans Day is a Federal holiday that is designed to honor veterans who served in the United States Army. Its origins can be traced back to the end of World War I. It marks the ending of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. The Russian, German, and Ottoman Empires collapsed creating geopolitical disorder. About 37 million were killed and economic instability became a problem in certain countries( Germany experienced hyperinflation). The cause of this conflict was imperial expansion and aggressive nationalism. These two ideas were not curtailed, but enhanced with the rise of  Fascism. European leaders attempted to appease Fascist dictatorships in order to prevent another war. This was contradictory, because Britain and France were in a sense, at war with the people they had colonized. After World War II the world did not become a peaceful place, only a more militarized one. Now we can see veterans from multiple generations. The suffering and misery is never ending. More men and women are being sent to die for no reason.

        The United States claims it loves its servicemen, but teats them horribly. The Department of Veterans Affairs has allowed the quality of medical care to decline. Eric Shinseki former secretary of Veterans Affairs also did not monitor the conditions of VA hospitals. Many times veterans were faced with long waiting times for medical appointments. The health care system was not adequately addressing particular issues in regards to efficiency. Thousands of veterans were put at risk not by a war zone, but their own nation. Jobs for veterans is another problem the government does little about. Although President Obama wants to do more, Republicans continue to block his veterans jobs corps proposal. Rejecting the proposal  condemns many veterans to unemployment and failure to adjust to civilian life. 

        The only way to end this cycle is to reject aggressive nationalism and imperial expansion. Peace should be actively promoted as a major foreign policy goal. The reduction of military intervention will improve US diplomatic relations and enhance our country's image globally. More importantly, people will not have to be murdered. Veterans may survive the carnage, but the mental scars never go away. 

Muammar Qaddafi (1942-2011)

Muammar Qaddafi was a Pan-Arabist and Pan-Africanist leader of Libya from 1969 to 2011. His accomplishments were immense during his 42 year rule. Domestic policy changed Libya and the  country developed a more proactive foreign policy. Qaddafi developed various ideas including Islamic Socialism and Third International Theory. He was never afraid to challenge imperialism or religious fundamentalism. 

        Through out his political career he supported and armed liberation movements all around the world. The ANC, PLO, SAWPO, IRA and the MPLA. His support for the struggle against white minority ruled regimes in Southern Africa was critical.Western countries did not challenge Apartheid South Africa. Qaddafi sought to overthrow it. Muammar Qaddafi was an active supporter for the freedom struggle of the Palestinian people. When Arab nations abandoned their cause, Qaddafi remain with them in the spirit of Pan-Arabism. His wish was to see Palestine free from Zionist occupation. 

           Libya under his leadership saw incredible improvements. Women were given equal political rights and could get divorced. The literacy rate increased, because of government investments in public education. The oil industry was nationalized and the profits from that went to infrastructure projects. The most famous one was the Great Man Made River. This massive water system provided water to towns in the interior of the country. The average life expectancy went up due to the fact there was an improved heath care system. The infant mortality rate lowered and Libya experienced a population boom. He accomplished great things for his people and around the world. When you do positive actions for the world and community, it makes you a target for death. NATO attacked Libya in 2011 inducing ethnic violence and lawlessness. 

Further Reading 

El-Khawas,Mohamed. Qaddafi His Ideology in Theory and Practice.Brattleboro:

                  Maple Leaf Press,1986. 

                  

What is a Neutron Star?

A neutron star is a star that has collapsed.  The particles of the star are compressed together and form a dense pack of neutrons. These stars form from supernova remnants. Neutron stars have strong gravity including potent magnetic and electrical fields. NASA has recently produced a computer simulation of what would happen if these two stars combined. Scientists now are convinced of the possibility of black hole formation from two colliding neutron stars. If this is true, it could radically alter the understanding of stellar evolution. 

Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972)

Kwame Nkrumah  was a Pan-Africanist revolutionary and President of Ghana. He served as prime minister of the Gold Coast from 1952 to 1957. When Ghana achieved independence from British rule he remained prime minister. By 1960 he became president of Ghana. Nkrumah was a strong proponent of African Socialism, Pan-Africanism, and Third World Solidarity. Always a fighter for the oppressed, he continually challenged all forms of social injustice. 

        During his rule Ghana achieved victories in various fields. Education was made free and provided scholarships to study abroad. Roads and new hospitals were built. Pan-Africanism was actively promoted in his foreign policy. African nations in his view must unite to stop European domination of the continent.His most important accomplishment was the establishment of the Organization for African Unity. Nkrumah was a founding member. The organization's goal was to combat colonialism across Africa and develop mutually beneficial diplomatic relations. Another major objective was to develop each African nation politically and economically. 

              Seeing as he did not favor the status quo, Nkrumah became a target of Western powers. By 1966 he was deposed by a CIA sponsored coup. Nkrumah was out of the country making visits to China and Vietnam. This was significant, because it demonstrated his solidarity with other colonized and oppressed peoples. He wanted to see an end to the Vietnam War and the complete eradication of Western domination of the world. He was a pioneer in a turbulent period of international change. 

Further Reading 

Davidson,Basil. Black Star A View of The Life and Times of Kwame Nkrumah . New York: Boydell 

        and Brewer,1973.

Appiah, Kwame and Gates, Henry. “Kwame Nkrumah”. Africana Encyclopedia.

             New York :Perseus Books Group,1999.430-431

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)

Leonardo Da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance artist, painter, and scientist. He was well versed in a multitude of subjects including architecture, technology, and numerous natural sciences. He lived in an ever changing world. With the end of the Middle Ages, man began to have a thirst for knowledge. Italy at this time was a series of  city-states in competition with each other. Florence was a major artistic and cultural center in which Da Vinci  would produce his works. 

      Da Vinci was the developer sfumato. This painting technique manipulated the transitions between light and shade When looking at his paintings certain objects have a haze appearance to them. This was a pivotal development. Light and darkness were being depicted in a different way. Sfumato was developed in Milan when Da Vinci was commissioned to paint religious themed artwork. 

       Da Vinci was not only an artist, but a scientist as well. He studied human anatomy, mechanics, and optics. He also had ideas for a flying machine and other inventions, which he illustrated in notebooks. His skills as an engineer were so impressive that Ludovico Sforza commissioned him as designer of water pipes and defenses. Simultaneously, he would fulfill artistic duties to the Duke of Milan. Da Vinci attempted to understand the attributes of motion (Issac Newton a century later would). Leonardo Da Vinci was in many respects ahead of his time. 

Proportions of the Human Figure (1492)

Mona Lisa (1503)

The Flying Machine 

Further Reading 

Krausse, Anna. The Story of Painting From the Renaissance to the Present .Bonn: H.F. Ullmann,

              2005.

             

The Meaning of Solidarity

"Those who help me through hardship are truly my friends."

-African Proverb 

The Size of the Universe and the Totality of Existence

When we look up at the night sky we see darkness and numerous stars. Outside of Earth there is a vast and infinite structure. The universe is a large place and continues to expand. Astronomy,cosmology, and astrophysics have pioneered the exploration and study  this beautiful and mysterious structure. It all began with an event known as the Big Bang, which changed everything. 

     The Big Bang is considered to be the start of existence as we know it. Matter, time, and space were born from the massive fireball (cosmic inflation)13.7 billion years ago. The earliest estimates of the Big Bang event can go as far back as 15 billion years ago. Not was matter created, but antimatter. Back then, the universe was high in temperature and dense. Gradually, the universe would decrease in temperature and expand. Edwin Hubble confirmed in 1929 that galaxies were moving further away from our own Milky Way Galaxy. This was done by examining the recessional velocities of stars that were red shifted. With an expanding universe more is left to be observed and discovered. 

       The universe has no boundary.  There is no point in which one can reach the "end" of space. Even if a space explorer were to travel in the fastest ship, they would never find a border. The universe is isotrophic  and would look the same in all directions. It would be difficult to distinguish one particular path from another. At one time cosmologists believed that the universe was static, but this was proven false. Olber's paradox states that if the universe were truly static, then the sky would not be dark.

         The ultimate destiny of the universe has certain possible paths. An open universe will expand forever. A closed universe will expand and then contract in what is known as the Big Crunch. The universe could start an Big Bang and the cycle continues. As our understanding advances of particle matter, new knowledge becomes available. There could be not one universe, but many parallel universes. Multiverse theory could be credible. If there are antiparticles then it would not be impossible to say that another universe could be formed.  

                           

Further Reading

Couper, Heather and Henbest,Nigel. The Space Encyclopedia . New York: DK Publishing,1999.

                                   

Albert Einstein

Burkina Faso a Country in Crisis

Over the past few days Burkina Faso has witnessed political and social upheaval. Blaise Compaore was deposed by the military and street demonstrations, which were sparked by his attempts to run for reelection in 2015. Campore came to power through a military coup which resulted in the assassination of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara in 1987. These events did not happen overnight. They are a culmination of external interference from Western nations and  geopolitical interests. 

      Blaise Compaore from the start of his presidency was subservient to France and the United States. His first acts were to reverse all the policies of Thomas Sankara, which raised the living standards of the population. Western financial donations ensured that Compaore's regime would be compliant with French and American objectives. It did not matter that political oppression was occurring at massive levels. Opposition to the Organization for Popular Democracy -Labor Movement was met with extreme violence. Compaore's  political party constantly engaged in electoral fraud. Gradually, military bases were being built in the country . After the 9/11 terrorist attacks these bases gained even more importance, because the US and France continue to use them to fight Islamist militants in the Sahel and Maghreb. Not only did this extend neo-colonial domination of the region, but did little to benefit the Burkinabe population. 

       Under the Compaore presidency the economy declined drastically. Cotton prices declined, which is a major cash crop of the country. National debt was increasing to precarious levels. The government went to the IMF for economic recovery suggestions. Structural Adjustment and fiscal austerity was imposed on the country reducing social services. Fees for education increased and workers for state owned factories found themselves unemployed. These severe economic policies were put in place in 1991 and so far have weakened Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso remains one of the world's poorest countries, even though it has a multitude of natural resources. 

       Burkina Faso like most developing nations, is targeted for its natural resources. The country's mineral deposits include gold, copper, nickle, bauxite, lead, silver, and tin ore. France the traditional colonizer, still has business interests in the country. There are a multitude of multinational corporations who exploit the country. Scotia Exploration and Mining for example has been active in the country for decades. According to their company data, Burkina Faso is the fourth largest gold producer in the region (2012 estimate). The public sees little of the wealth generated by these companies. Even worse, the Burkinabe people are not in control of their economic structure. 

        When the uprising happened it seemed as if the people were able to rid themselves of a puppet ruler. Sadly, the military is taking power. The series of coups and power struggles have attracted the attention of the AU, UN, and ECOWAS. Now, there are threats of sanctions, which would only exacerbate the situation. None of the choices are favorable given the present conditions. Either foster a military junta or have French and American colonizers invade. There is an alternative.The only action  to take is for Burkina Faso to assert itself as a sovereign nation-state. 

                                                                 

Further Reading 

Appiah, Kwame and Gates, Henry. “Burkina Faso”. Africana Encyclopedia.

             New York :Perseus Books Group,1999.335-337

http://www.scotiaexploration.com/burkina-faso.html

Nelson Mandela

   

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

US Midterm Elections will Not Improve the Country

The United States will once again, conduct midterm elections. Congressmen and senators will attempt to gain votes to either remain in power or get elected to office. The lugubrious truth is the citizen does not have a choice. Most of our candidates are selected by powerful interest groups,corporations, and wealthy individuals. US politics are designed for the ruling elite to impose their will upon most of the population. Americans who are so easily influenced by media, actually believe they live in a real democracy. It cannot even qualify as a representative republic anymore. Only one class is represented in this land: the white supremacist corporate business class. Gradually, they will destroy the country and freedom itself. Elections are not a measure of a functional free society. 

          Myanmar is one example in which the presence of elections make no difference. The military which relinquish power in 2010 holds an abnormal amount of power over the government. Thein Sien who was a military officer became president. Even though there are elections and the Junta is out of power the same authoritarian structure remains. There still is a system of racial oppression and human rights violations. However, this does not stop western countries from having formal diplomatic relations with Myanmar. Elections have done nothing to stop the mass violence directed at  the Rohingya, Karen, and Shan peoples. 

          Uzbekistan provides another interesting case. Electoral fraud is present in most countries, but worse in others. Islam Karimov has been president of Uzbekistan since 1991. Since then he has "won" every election. Here people are not presented with the illusion of choice;the choice is already made for them . The country was once a Soviet Republic, yet even after its independence the same oppressive political structures remain. It is unlikely that Karimov will fall from power without opposition to challenge him. 

           Although the United States may not be as extreme as other countries, the level of hypocrisy is nauseating. The claim that your senator of congressmen is "fighting for you" is another empty slogan with no meaning. They govern on the behalf  of business rather than their constituents. John McCain (R)  Senator from Arizona has been backed by JP Morgan Chase,  Merrill Lynch, and Lehman brothers throughout his political career. Christopher Dodd (D) was formally a Senator from Connecticut who had the full support of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While most Americans were suffering from the global financial crisis , senator Dodd was defending these companies even though they were guilty of questionable business practices. Both the Republican and Democratic Party have been corrupted so much that it makes little difference who occupies office. Both parties still support military intervention, preservation of neoliberal capitalism , and American exceptionalism.

        The election cycle of this country demonstrates America's many maladies. Avarice, corruption, and all ethnic hatreds reveal themselves in America's political culture. Voting may be a good defense against more power hungry and violent individuals seeking office. Unfortunately, voters may make the wrong choice. The American political system has become rotten and if this country is to saved the status quo must be overturned. 

Our Purpose

Clash of Worlds is a blog designed to educate and entertain. Here, various topics will be discussed ranging from news, history, politics, philosophy, the arts, and science. Essays and commentary on the state of the human condition will be featured as well. Even though there is one Earth, it is more divided than ever. Conflict is escalating at alarming levels. The mission of this blog is to counter the mass media propaganda of the global ruling class and expose readers to new information.