De Tocqueville
Democracy ?
Years ago I read and remember the story of the overthrow of Mosaddegh in Iran and look how that turned out. Also as todays politicians get into a politically righteous lather about Cambridge Analytica I also remember the rush to war over the yet to be located weapons of mass destruction. How quickly the public forgets, that is if they ever knew or cared.
I have noticed over the years of my life there is a pattern where we rush into a war or military excursion with no prior agreed or defined exit plan. Almost as if the primary objective is to get the conflict started and the funds flowing and we will cobble together a withdrawal when there is no other remaining alternative.
Some time ago I heard a review of a book by Misha Glenny, McMafia. My son just put the TV series Mc Mafia on line for me and last night I watched the first two episodes. It is a very up to date take on the role of the Russian oligarchs and how their internecine struggles are impacting the west. It reminds me of another TV series Reilly Ace does Spies that covered the same ground in the time of the Russian revolution. Nothing changes much. You might like to watch it.
I heard that over the last decade an estimated 80bn English pounds of dirty Russian money has washed through London so I don’t believe Ms May has the freedom to do much more than huff and puff and maybe stop the English team from participating in the upcoming World Cup In Russia. Which will save some travel expenses as they are usually eliminated in the early rounds.
Here is an interesting interview with the Guardian reporter who broke the story on Cambridge Analytica, http://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgEVgyz2rG?play=true.
I have an online subscription with the Guardian as a small contribution to trying to keep investigative journalism alive.
Finally I very much enjoy reading your thoughts and opinions on these issues so when you have time please keep them coming.
All the best for now,
John
Family
In 1976 after what the Vietnamese refer to as the American War I sponsored my then wife’s 4 sisters 2 brothers and her mother to leave Saigon for Vancouver. The Canadian immigration authorities refused my request.
One brother, seated third from the left on the couch had earlier escaped by boat with a sister not in the photo and with good luck escaped the Thai pirates waiting to rob, rape and frequently kill the boat people. They along with many other boats washed up on the coast of Malaysia. Many did not succeed and while it is impossible to accurately calculate the UN estimates somewhere between 200,00 and 400,000 of 2 million boat people drowned or were murdered.
I was very angry that the Canadian immigration procedures allowed me to sponsor these two from Malaysia but did not allow me sponsor the rest directly from Vietnam.
I launched a campaign on CBC radio, local newspapers, involved local politicians, repeatedly phoned Ottawa and the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok (I worked at the phone company so I considered the calls part of my benefits) pointing out the utter illogic that if you risked your life escaping from Vietnam in a leaky boat, were not drowned or killed by pirates you could as a refugee then be sponsored to come to Canada. After a few months the Canadian authorities changed the law and mine were the first family to be allowed to leave directly for Canada from Vietnam.
I am visiting Vancouver and in the photos are two of the brothers, one sister, their spouses and children. They are all hardworking beautiful people and Canada came out way ahead on the arrangement. The rest of the sisters and their families live variously in San Diego, Calgary and Toronto.
The irony, and I appreciate irony is many years ago their sister and my ex-wife moved back to and lives in Saigon.
Go figure, nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
John
Life in Saigon, Vietnam
Dear Tutu
I have been walking the streets of Saigon for over a week now, not just downtown but in Phu Nhuan, and thought I might better understand how I view it by attempting to describe it a little to you.
There is construction everywhere from small shops and hotels to many very tall buildings. At 0700 from the back of Chau my godaughter’s Vespa the streets are already crowded with motor bikes, people are at work on the sidewalk, little restaurants are busy, Vietnam has started another work day and in the window of a shop in Phu Nhuan I saw a Rolls Royce (RR) for sale. In town I saw a Bentley, the car for those who are too rich for a mere RR, parked outside the old French colonial era Brodard’s Cafe while the owner was inside buying a cake.
I know the recent Chinese experience contradicts my point but for how long can expansion at this rate and with this breadth continue. If we have learned that no economy rises forever when and with what consequences will things slow down here. Or will the decline start first in China, with their cooling economy and rising inflation, and here they will be dragged behind.
Many people I talk with are sending their children to Australia and Singapore for their undergraduate degrees. What impact will those that return make to the local condition.
All this is overlaid with the commercial flurry leading up to Tet, the lunar new year. Not far from Chau’s mother Yen’s home specialised shops are selling gift baskets with imported whiskey, cognac, chocolates, biscuits etc etc. They are also selling 3 litre bottles of Courvoiser, Jack Daniels and 21 year old Chivas.
On the other hand Chau pays a young uneducated Vietnamese / Cambodian girl to clean their house 3 times a week to help her out as she provides the sole support for her family.
Trying to think about this is confused by my experiences in the years I lived here, 1966 to 1975 and my love for Vietnam and admiration for the people I meet every day. What I think changes nothing for these people but it is interesting to try to understand one’s own life. So I guess I am back to the mirror of me.
I am happy to report I have exchanged emails with Claude Carlier.
My best wishes from Saigon where it is 33 degrees and a little humid.
John
Sent from my iPod