SO FAR SO GOOD!!

Two months ago today I started writing in here: two months already!! I still remember my first comment. It was about George Bush and his criminal foreign policy. I still write about him... I wonder why?

Anyway, this is just to thank everyone for dropping by!!

MEXICAN BLACK FRIDAY

Next Friday, Felipe Calderon will go to the Mexican Legislative Palace, backed up by the army, with the intention to take the Oath of Office as “President” of México:

We are before a Coup d`Etat against the Mexican people and its political will expressed in the July 2^nd election.

Dr. Miguel de Icaza Herrera has estimated in his most recent work, published one week ago, that statistically 3,700,000 votes were illegitimately inserted into the election result to make the official candidate win.

DR. MIGUEL DE ICAZA´S REPORT

NEW PROGRAM AT HARVARD

Three years ago, Harvard University began a comprehensive curricular review of its undergraduate academic program. Two months ago, it was made public a preliminary report that summarizes the core of its new academic plan (still under discussion).

One of its more important attributes is its defense of liberal education against the neoconservative thinking. It is really interesting to see an important education center establishing its basis and lines of academic interest based on “ideals” and not on “deals”. Specially Harvard which, as everybody knows, is recognized world wide as one of the most important universities.

Another important issue is that Philosophy is vindicated as one of the cornerstones of the students´ academic formation. It´s been said several different times that one of the sine qua non conditions for democracy is the formation of an intelligent citizen and not one who just nods along first and nods off right after due to so much nodding.

Finally I would say that what I find particularly relevant is the questions that lay behind the Harvard report, namely: Why do we educate? What do we educate for? And then, How do we educate?

The Harvard report is clear about this but I personally find no easy answers for that…

IMPORTANT LINKS

PRELIMINARY REPORT
CURRICULAR REVIEW
LIBERAL EDUCATION (LEO STRAUSS)
PHILOSOPHY OF LIBERAL EDUCATION

HOWARD ZINN: HOW HAVE THEY GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT?

The well known American historian Howard Zinn was recently awarded The Havens Center for Lifetime Contribution to Critical Scholarship by the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

In his brilliant lecture that day, entitled “the uses of history and the war on terrorism” he addresses the nature of current American foreign policy. His style is unique: clear, witty and direct. His address was broadcasted yesterday morning by DEMOCRACY NOW!. Here is a little excerpt:

"Governments in general do not represent the people of the societies that they govern. And since they don’t represent the people and since they act against the interest of the people, the only way they can hold power is if they lie to the people. If they told people the truth, they wouldn’t last very long".

WAY TO GO!!

BARCELONA

One year ago today I was in Barcelona. It is really amazing to become aware of the nature of time: It passes by so quickly!

There´s lot of things I remember as if they were going on now but I find 3 of them specially worth mentioning:

First, I attended a great academic event: the Commemoration of the 20^th Anniversary of the death of Spaniard philosopher Manuel Sacristán. As far as I know it was the first time ever that the most important universities in Barcelona got together to organize an homenage to one of their greatest professors. But more important was having vindicated the critical thought as one of the main sources to comprehend reality, specially in these neo-medieval thinking rulling times.

Secondly, In Barcelona I fell in love again. The city is so magnificent that it is impossible not to do it. I have no words to describe its sobering Mediterranean beauty: the Barri Gòtic, La Rambla, you know. The only problem was that I met no girl to share my love with: otherwise I am sure it would have been a blast!!

Finally, I believe I spent such a good time in there thanks to philosopher Bernardo Castany and his family, who I consider to be my Mexican family in Spain due to their undenial latin kindness, passion for political life and authenticity.

THE BEAUTY

In the last two days I´ve been web surfing through the vast world of blogs and I have to confess that I have been amazed by most of them.

It is true that every single one is a clear expression of what her/his author is deep inside of her / him and, that is in essence what makes them unique.

However, there was one that really caught not just my eye but my whole spirit: beautiful, fragile and sad, beautifully sad… those are to me its main traits.

GO HERE


AMLO: MEXICO´S PRESIDENT (2006-2012)

AMLO swore in as legitimate President of Mexico

MEXICO: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

AMLO will be sworn to the legitimate presidency tomorrow in Mexico City´s Zocalo square.

Julio Hernández, one of the best Mexican journalist, will be broadcasting interruptedly, since this night and for the next 24 hours, this unprecedented massive civic event where the people of Mexico will take the streets to confirm their determination to oppose neoconservative forces attempts at imposing an illegitimate president.

Tomorrow is a symbolic date since it is a national holiday: the anniversary of our Revolution. WATCH T.V. TRANSMISSION

YOUR TURN MR. BUSH (2)

Former U.S. Secretary of Sate Henry Kissinger said in a television interview that “military victory in Iraq is no longer possible”. Where are you George? READ ON

YOUR TURN MR. BUSH

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted in an recent interview with AL Jazeera, that the US invasion in Iraq has been a "disaster".

It seems that British Intelligence analysis and the public pressure have both made Blair try to find his way out of the Iraq thing: business did not work out the way they thought at first: hypocrites!!

DAMN BUSH!!

THE TORTURE OF WATERBOARDING

GO MEXICO!!

Everybody knows it by now: Mexico´s best-ever player HUGO SANCHEZ is the new coach of the soccer national team: Viva Mexico!

WORLD PHILOSOPHY DAY

Four years ago today it was celebrated the first World Philosophy Day.

This initiative was first launched by the FISP (International Federation of Philosophical Societies) and later adopted by UNESCO.

The idea behind this celebration is the necessity to show to broader audiences what Philosophy is all about nowadays and what both its importance and meaning are currently.

Despite its desprestige in certain circles outside Philosophy sphere, its study has become more relevant in general education, as it was the case recently at Harvard, where philosophy learning was vindicated as one of the cornerstones of the student´s academic formation.

World Philosophy Day is celebrated each year on the third Thursday in November, day in which it is believed the founder of Western Philosophy Socrates was born.

IMPORTANT LINKS

FISP

UNESCO

UNESCO´S BLOG

PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND SOCIETIES

SOCRATES

CEFILIBE

I DON´T GET IT

PLEASE, SOMEBODY EXPLAIN THIS TO ME...

DJ TIESTO: WORLD´S No 1 DJ!!

Even when fans across the world named Paul Van Dyk as the 2006 No.1 DJ last October and Tiesto placed 3^rd on the DJMAG top poll, it is my believe that Tiesto is the best trance DJ in the electronic dance music scene by far.

Singles such as “Flight 643”, “Lethal Industry”, “Suburban Train”, “Traffic”, “Love comes again” and “Adagio for Strings” bear that out.

IMPORTANT LINKS

DJMAG

TIESTO´S PROFILE

TIESTO´S OFFICIAL WEB SITE

TIESTO´S PERSONAL BLOG

TWO DEMOCRACIES TO GO

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about both Mexican and American politicians and their ability to make us laugh with their stupid speeches, and I have come up with a conclusion: so much stupidity turns out to be suspicious. In the U. S. president Bush says “so what?” to the latest elections outcome where the Democrats took control of the House and the Senate. In México, President Fox says “whatever!” to the real presidential election outcome where AMLO was elected president by the people. In the last case we are before a coup d´etat. In the meantime politicians pretend to make us laugh and to act out as if nothing had really happened: In the long run both of them seem to say: “we will have the last laugh whatsoever” Well, In the long run we will continue fighting to send them back home, to their corresponding ranch lands.

EXCELLENT!!!

EVERYTHING REMAINS THE SAME

The latest U. S. President´s Radio Adress is a piece of work:

President Bush says:

“This weekend, I ask you to take a moment to thank our veterans for their service, and express your appreciation for the sacrifices they have made to preserve our freedom and way of life.

One freedom that defines our way of life is the freedom to choose our leaders at the ballot box. We saw that freedom earlier this week, when millions of Americans went to the polls to cast their votes for a new Congress. Whatever your opinion of the outcome, all Americans can take pride in the example our democracy sets for the world by holding elections even in a time of war”.

In other words:

Thank american soldiers who fight so that America can be free, but be more thankful and take pride in being free even in a moment you are not supposed to be free because american troops are fighting so that Americans can be so. (say what???)

Right after, he adds:

“As a result of this week's elections, the Democrats now hold a majority in both Houses of Congress. After the elections, I called the Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate to congratulate them on the victory they achieved for their party. On Thursday, I had lunch with Congresswoman Pelosi and Congressman Hoyer, and on Friday I met with Senators Reid and Durbin. We had good discussions. I told them what I have told the men and women in my administration: We must put these elections behind us, and work together on the great issues facing America.

The elections will bring changes to Washington. But one thing has not changed..." (Iraq).

In other words:

As a result of one of the major institutions of liberal democracy (elections), the Democrats won (Bush says: so what?). They won mainly because American people wanted a change in the U. S. policy in Iraq (and Bush says: so what?) and they wanted so because basically they know by now that the War in Iraq has made them less free (and Bush says: Let´s continue in our fight to preserve us free!!).


George Orwell once said that:

"In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of the political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism., question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness".

Never was there truer words spoken…

BUSH-ING

President Fox "bushed it up" once again in a recent interview with the broadcast television network Telemundo. Off the record he said that "nothing really matters as he is about to be leaving office". The exact words were:"... I can speak freely now... I can say any stupid thing I want... I don´t give a damn... as I am leaving office".

The thing is not so much that he is still the President but, that he´s kept the same attitude for the last two years, with disastrous consecuences.

MEXICO´S POLITICAL SCENE

Mexican Journalist Julio Hernandez (La Jornada) gives a brief, intelligent description of the current political situation in what he calls "the pintoresque Mexico".

U. S. ELECTIONS 2006

AFTER 12 YEARS...

YOU ARE RIGHT GEORGE: WHY ALL THE GLUM FACES?

THE U.S. MID-TERM ELECTIONS 2006

THE INSANITY MUST STOP NOW!

AMLO´S CABINET

Last Friday, AMLO named both his resistance government cabinet and his group of advisors: is this the best possible group of men and women the Mexican left has? I don´t think so at all but it does not seem to be relevant either, at least not in this moment. What it is essential is what AMLO stated in his speech that night, namely: to oppose the neo-conservative forces plans to continue leading this nation to Hell!

AMLO, LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

Yesterday night AMLO named his government cabinet. This was another important step in Lopez Obrador´s resistance strategy after the presidential election´s fraud that took place, as known, last July 2nd. This strategy has included, among other actions, historical massive public meetings in the central square of the nation´s capital (where at least 1 million people have been gathered every time these rallies have been held), a 2 month and a half long camping out, the creation of a national front against neo-liberalism and different actions of civil resistance. This is where Fox and his friends´ stubbornly persistency in wrongdoing has taken us.

Lopez Obrador will be sworn to the legitimate presidency on Nov 20th, Mexico´s Revolution Day, in the Zocalo.

LA VIDA FAN-TÁS-TICA

.

Yesterday, I attended what turned out to be a very interesting academic conference to analyze the current situation in Oaxaca. While I was leaving the place where the event was held I took my bag pack and by mistake, I brought on with me two pieces of paper of what it seems to be a piece of a personal journal, written in Spanish. It talks about life, death, happiness and love. I would not dare to translate it into English but after reading it, I thought that it was definitely worth publishing, no doubt in my mind about it. I just wanna ask for an apology to this work´s author for publishing it without his consent (I imply it was written by a man).

.

Dude: I have always believed that once you write something it does not belong to you any longer: that is the power of written words. In the end, If you hadn´t got the intention to be read some day, you should have not written this in the first place.

La vida es fantástica. Mi vida, es fantástica…

Curiosamente, en mi caso en particular, el aspecto fantástico de mi vida no tiene que ver con lo que vivo actualmente, que por otro lado resulta ser inmejorable, por lo menos en este momento y debido a mi historia reciente. Mi vida es fantástica básicamente porque estoy vivo y en balance, porque soy conciente de ello y porque en mi horizonte de vida la felicidad nunca ha sido un objetivo. De ser así, seguramente sería muy infeliz o estaría condenado a serlo.

Tener la felicidad como objetivo de vida termina haciendo que dirijamos los esfuerzos de manera equivocada, crea una ilusión que nos hace dar la espalda a la realidad (ilusión que se rompe con facilidad por la fuerza y la naturaleza de los acontecimientos de la vida misma) y finalmente, nos condena a andar en círculos tras una perfección ilusoria. La mayoría de entre los que persiguen la felicidad, terminan auto limitándose, engañados, dudando y tropezando todo el tiempo.

Todo mundo sabe que equilibrio de la vida es increíblemente frágil. Sé que uno puede contribuir de manera importante a fortalecer ese equilibrio pero la verdad es que, por decirlo de alguna manera, uno ve soldados caer todo el tiempo a nuestro lado, heridos de bala, y uno sabe que nada garantiza que no seamos los siguientes. De ahí que sea importante procurar con toda la inteligencia y esfuerzo, con todo el espíritu del que seamos capaces, el fortalecimiento de ese equilibrio, aunque en última instancia no podamos hacer depender nada de ahí, porque ese equilibrio finalmente no depende de nosotros y es parte de la vida también: se mueren los padres, los hermanos, los amigos; ocurren accidentes que producen consecuencias terribles; llegan enfermedades en el momento menos esperado; somos víctimas de la violencia y el crimen, etc.

Creo que no es la felicidad sino el balance (sistemático, creciente y comprehensivo), lo que finalmente correspondería más no sólo con un posible horizonte y la finalidad última de todos nuestros pensamientos, esfuerzos y juicios, sino con el sentido de la vida misma: balance que resumo en la idea de conocimiento, aprendizaje y ejercicio continuos de nuestras potencialidades… balance que resumo en la idea de la construcción conciente del hombre real.

¿Por qué?

En primer lugar porque estoy convencido de que el sistema más que generar a un hombre, cualquier hombre, trabaja para producir su antítesis, la negación de éste. El producto final es una criatura compleja y contradictoria, cómica a veces pero patética la mayor parte del tiempo, aunque finalmente manejable, aprovechable y sobre todo dispensable.

Y, en segundo lugar, porque creo que este es el mejor destino posible ante:

a) la ausencia de un sentido trascendental de la existencia

b) la naturaleza de la vida (una, finita, fugaz, frágil y al mismo tiempo maravillosa, bella y rica en contenido)
.

c) el poder, las potencialidades y las posibilidades del hombre como tal (viajero, testigo, actor y constructor)
.

d) el secuestro del mundo por parte de una clase.

e) y porque finalmente esa parece ser la racionalidad de los mejores esfuerzos que ha realizado el hombre a través de la historia de los tiempos y de lo cual somos producto, beneficiarios y herederos.

Pero, ¿qué es un hombre real? Yo creo que finalmente es un ser humano que es conciente de todo lo anterior, que plantea un horizonte que tiene por objetivo el desarrollo de su naturaleza (balance), y que vive intensamente ese desarrollo de acuerdo a sus fines y conforme a valores (aprendiendo apasionadamente, cometiendo errores todo el tiempo porque "hace", entendiendo críticamente sus errores y mejorando continuamente). Las características necesariamente son que ese desarrollo se tiene que dar al más alto nivel posible, que tiene que tener objetivos y metas concretas y que tiene que generar un bien común para los presentes o para los que vienen.

Finalmente diría que siempre me ha resultado curioso registrar el hecho de haber sido notablemente más feliz que aquellos que se afanan torpemente en ello.

KERRY HITS BACK

Jamie Holly (Crooks and Liars) asks: