Mr. Nkunda, 40, is a smart and charismatic man with a university education who treated us to several hours of lively conversation in his fluent English, followed by a tasty chicken dinner. He described himself as a devout Pentecostal and said that most of his troops had converted as well; he showed us a church where he said they pray daily, and he showed photos of baptisms of the soldiers.
Then again, the government has issued an international arrest warrant against him for war crimes, and human rights monitors like Refugees International say that his troops have killed and raped civilians and pillaged their villages. He denies the charges.
“I’m not a warlord I’m a liberator of the people,” he said.
That’s the problem: So are they all.
More than four million people have died in Congo’s wars since 1998, making it the most lethal conflict since World War II
Probably no slaughter has gotten fewer column inches – or fewer television minutes – per million deaths. So even after all that suffering, Congo still hasn’t risen to a prominent place on the international agenda.
Ashley and I dressed up as John and Yoko for Halloween this year. A lot of people asked us for photos and gave us thumbs up, but a lot of other people were vehemently bothered by it. The numbers were about even as far as pro/con go. Most people just gave us a look of confusion though, maybe our costumes could have been better. It could also be too old of a reference for our lighting quick culture these days, who knows.
The most interesting part of the night was when we got to my friend Bens apartment, while waiting outside I ended up striking up a rather lengthy conversation about War with a man who left South Africa in 2003. He didn’t like our sign because he was for War. He thought that humanity moved forward through wars. We »
Who Would Iraq Elect, Obama or McCain?
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Haunted House
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
The Economist endorses Obama. “America should take a chance and make Barack Obama the next leader of the free world”
“…this cannot be another election where the choice is based merely on fear. In terms of painting a brighter future for America and the world, Mr Obama has produced the more compelling and detailed portrait. He has campaigned with more style, intelligence and discipline than his opponent. Whether he can fulfil his immense potential remains to be seen. But Mr Obama deserves the presidency.”
Phillies are World Series Champs!
It’s a bitter sweet night for me. I’m ecstatic to see the philly curse finally lifted, but I wish I could be there to experience it!
WVA Vote Flipping Caught on Tape (via videothevote)
I’d like to see Apple given a large tax break in order to make a functioning voting machine for the United States. After 2012 rolls around, and we’re all voting for a black incumbent president with the iVote* Apple can go and sell the machines across the globe to all the other countries that want to be as cool as us.
*Patent Pending.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
It’s official: Josh Keyes just keeps getting awesomererer.
Daughter of slave votes for Obama
Jones’ father herded sheep as a slave until he was 12, according to the family, and once he was freed, he was a farmer who raised cows, hogs and turkeys on land he owned. Her mother was born right after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Joyce Jones said. The family owned more than 100 acres of land in Cedar Creek at one point, she said.
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Amanda Jones says she cast her first presidential vote for Franklin Roosevelt, but she doesn’t recall which of his four terms that was. When she did vote, she paid a poll tax, her daughters said. That she is able, for the first time, to vote for a black presidential nominee for free fills her with joy, Jones said.
JVC has announced that they’re going to stop producing standalone VCRs.
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