You’d be hard pressed to find many more people on planet Earth less deserving of a “peace” prize that Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. And yet Mugabe was just named as the winner of the 2015 Confucius Peace Prize.
For those unaware, the People’s Republic of China launched the answer to the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, in response to the Nobel presentation of a Chinese dissident.
Despite the prize being awarded by a private institution, the validity of its intentions has come under question. It is been suggested as targeting those that benefit China’s geopolitical position rather than peacemakers, for example both Fidel Castro and Vladimir Putin.
The same is true in this case, though when questioned about Mugabe’s poor track record regarding political dissent and economic guidance, the chairman of the committee that awarded Mr. Mugabe with the Prize, Qiao Damo, told The Guardian that “Every country’s economy has its highs and lows. Though its economy is lagging behind, [Zimbabwe is] a very stable country [and] stability is precious in the African continent.”
While the Western reaction is well-known, one would likely also have interest in what Zimbabwean opinion is on the matter.
The largest news outlet in the country, The Herald, is a state-owned enterprise according to the Zimbabwean Stock Exchange, and is commonly regarded as the government’s mouthpiece. But it has been remarkably silent on the matter.
While The Herald lacked any specific coverage of the honor bestowed on Mugabe, it did offer a piece somewhat touching on the subject which suggested that Mugabe is trying to downplay the importance of the award.
This may have something to do with his desire to not stir negative public opinion as another Zimbabwean outlet featured a scathing piece lambasting the award.
While this is purely conjecture, it seems that there is a swath of Zimbabwean society that isn’t fooled by international gamesmanship. And the state has seemed to take notice.
Cover Photo Credit: Al Jazeera English/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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This Congressman Just Compared Rick Snyder To A Woman Beater To Make A Powerful Point About Flint
Hyperbole is the flavor of the month in politics right now.
And Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA) was happy to tap into that feeling during a Congressional hearing to make a point about the leadership of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder during the Flint water crisis.
Cartwright compared Snyder to a domestic abuser who makes excuses about his actions because of wider systemic issues.
“Governor Snyder, plausible deniability only works when it’s deniable, and I’m not buying that you didn’t know about any of this until October 2015,” Cartwright said in a minute long tirade against Snyder.
“I’ve had about enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies,” Cartwright said. “Pretty soon we will have men who strike their wives saying, ‘I’m sorry dear, but there were failures on all levels.”
“I’ve had about enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies … Pretty soon we will have men who strike their wives saying, ‘I’m sorry dear, but there were failures on all levels.'”- Congressman Matt Cartwright challenges Governor Rick SnyderWatch more: http://on.msnbc.com/1R0qNrp
Posted by MSNBC on Thursday, March 17, 2016
The comments came during a Congressional hearing on the Flint water crisis.
Cover Photo Credit: MSNBC (Screengrab)
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John Kasich Ad Subtly Compares Donald Trump To Hitler
In a new video by Gov. John Kasich, Donald Trump is subtly compared to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
Seriously.
The ad is titled “Trump’s Dangerous Rhetoric” and was paid for by Kasich’s actual presidential campaign and not some sort of shadow Super Pac.
The video features statements from Col. Tom Moe who spoke in favor of Kasich in an Ohio rally earlier in the week. In the speech, Moe paraphrased a well known passage from German pastor Martin Niemöller about how apathy among the general German populace allowed for the rise of the Nazis.
Niemöller’s quote about the rise of Hitler is well known among scholars of World War II and the Holocaust:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
WATCH: Kasich support Col. Tom Moe compares Trump to Hitler
H/T: Blue Nation Review
Cover Photo Credit: Michael Vadon/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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Missouri SGA President Retracts FB Post Saying That KKK Has Been Spotted On Campus As Violent Threats Surface
Updated: 12:54 AM EST
Peyton Head, the president of the Missouri Students Association (student government) took down a post he made on Facebook saying that the Ku Klux Klan had been “confirmed to be sighted on campus”.
Head has since taken down the post without explanation.
The now deleted statement from the campus leader comes after a series of threatening messages were posted to the anonymous location-based messaging app, Yik Yak.
Here are what the messages said according to the Mizzou student government:
Unacceptable @Mizzou Tigers. pic.twitter.com/w3p3OeHVNV
— M.S.A. (@MSAmizzou) November 11, 2015
Reporters for the campus newspaper, the Maneater have been doing a terrific job sorting through fact and fiction as rumors have run rampant.
“There’s absolutely nothing to indicate that (the KKK is on campus),” MUPD Maj. Brian Weimer said. @TheManeater — Hailey Stolze (@HaileyStolze) November 11, 2015
Nothing extraordinary going on around greektown here at Mizzou. Just quiet. @TheManeater
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) November 11, 2015
The official alert system for MU has asked for people to stop spreading rumors on social media about the alleged threats.
There is no immediate threat to campus. Please do not spread rumors and follow @MUAlert at https://t.co/6BXzIBsDxU for updates. — MU Alert (@MUalert) November 11, 2015
This is a developing story that we will update frequently.
Have a news tip? Send to [email protected]
Cover Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Twitter
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