While on a tour of Peru this Friday, Cameron Diaz, star of "Shrek" has accidentally offended the locals who had experienced decades of abuse and violence from Maoist guerilla insurgents.
Diaz carried a messenger bag with the slogan, "Serve the People" printed in Chinese on the flap, which was a popular political slogan of the Communist Leader Mao. While in some countries these bags are regarded as stylish and harmless, Peruvians were highly offended by her choice of accessories.
In addition to being offensive (though we know she didn't mean it), why carry an olive green messenger bag in the first place?
President Bush will be visiting Latin America next week on a seven-day tour, but locals aren't so excited. Mayan communities and organizations, unhappy with Bush for his persecution against Hispanic migrant workers in the States, plan to cleanse the centuries-old locations that Bush will be visiting.
They claim that they don't want Bush's bad spirits inhabiting the place.
Australian fake news and satire show, CNNNN, is known for its political mockings and parodies. It's no surprise then, that the United States is being for its supposed lack of social awareness. Americans are being interviewed in the streets in the video, and are asked simple questions that anyone who bothers reading the headlines on CNN would know. However, whether they chose to answer incorrectly for humor or not, their responses were often humorous and embarrassing for an American like me. A question such as, "What is the Buddhist monks' religion?" appeared to have stumped some people. I do personally think that this portrayal of America is incorrect; as they must have surveyed many more people before they either found a few people who were either willing to give silly answers or really needed to pick up a newspaper.
Nonetheless, this is not representative of the US educational system, obviously seen because some of the people interviewed in the video may have immigrated into America after their childhood. After attending religious-affiliated, secular-private, and public schools both in affluent neighborhoods and run-down ghettos, I can say from experience that America's educational system isn't too bad. It doesn't shield students from real life issues. Rather, Americans are encouraged to discover these issues on our own if we want to become global citizens. My cousin in China attends school from 5 in the morning to 10 at night in China, not even including homework and food, much less sleep. I doubt he has much time to read a newspaper, but most American students do.
If these people really weren't faking their answers just for 15 seconds of fame or humor, I hope that they'll be alarmed by this video and will pick up a newspaper or watch some real 'CNN' sometime soon. I don't see the relation this video has to the United States (they didn't survey any other countries so this lack of social awareness isn't proven to be only the 'US' problem), but perhaps it's warning all of us, citizens of all countries, to make sure we're more socially aware and educated about current events.
Rudolph Giulani, "America's Mayor and Next President"?
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giulani, affectionately nicknamed "America's Mayor", has entered the United States 2008 presidential race as possibly the Rupublican candidate against Senator Hillary Clinton.
Giulani is a former Democrat but lately has been moving towards the conservative perspective on issues.
The 2008 presidential race will be one to seek change for the future, with candidates like Hillary Clinton and Rudolph Giulani lining up the podium. Hopefully, Barack Obama will throw his hat into the ring too.
It is sad indeed, that the one person with the power to change the world - for the better - is seen as such an evil character.
Maybe this will wake up American voters to act on their beliefs in the next election, and although the "Satanic" president says he doesn't listen to polls, maybe this might be one he should take a look at.
On Saturday, Hillary Clinton officially announced her bid for the 2008 U.S. presidential race. The Former First Lady is a Democrat who is currently serving her second term as senator of New York.
In a videotaped message on her website, Hillary Clinton lambasted George Bush, saying that "Only a new president will be able to undo Bush's mistakes and restore our hope and optimism."
According to the Star online, there are currently five candidates vying for Democatic leadership. Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois, is considered Hillary Clinton's biggest competition.
Upon hearing Clinton's announcement, Obama stated: "I welcome her and all the candidates, not as competitors, but as allies in the work of getting our country back on track."
Whether it is Clinton or Obama (who is half-black) who succeeds in winning the Democratic leadership race, it is refreshing to see political minorities finally moving into the spotlight.
While on a tour of Peru this Friday, Cameron Diaz, star of "Shrek" has accidentally offended the locals who had experienced decades of abuse and violence from Maoist guerilla insurgents.
