Category Archives: Viva!

The Harper Lee ‘Go Set a Watchman’ Fraud – The New York Times

A publisher that cared about Harper Lee’s legacy would have taken those words to heart, and declined to publish “Go Set a Watchman,” the good idea that Lee eventually transformed into a gem.That HarperCollins decided instead to manufacture a phony literary event isn’t surprising. It’s just sad.

via The Harper Lee ‘Go Set a Watchman’ Fraud – The New York Times.

Louisiana Gov. – not time to talk about guns now????

Gov. Bobby Jindal said “now is not the time” to discuss gun control, despite repeated questions Friday outside the movie theater where a right-wing extremist killed two people and wounded nine others before killing himself.

A state lawmaker used the same forum earlier Friday to say that the killings should start a national conversation about gun control and the need to keep weapons out of the hands of people who are mentally ill. Police said John Russell Houser was able to legally purchase the semi-automatic handgun at an Alabama pawn shop despite a history of mental illness and an arson arrest.

via News from The Associated Press.

“I graduated college early because I was eager to get into the…

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“I graduated college early because I was eager to get into the real world, but the job search is tougher than I imagined. I think people are afraid to hire me because I’m young. I’ve probably applied to over two hundred jobs. I’ve found that for every ten applications, I get one call back. And for every five call backs, I get one in-person interview. I’ve had seven of those so far.”
“Do you wish you hadn’t graduated early?”
“I try not to think about it. I could apply to ten more jobs in the time I spent thinking about that.”

via “I graduated college early because I was eager to get into the….

There Is No Justice in Afghanistan, Only Shouts and Curses

i-am-farkhunda

There are many Farkhundas in my country. Every day, women are being beaten, killed, and burned by injustice. There is no justice for Farkhunda and for our sisters in Afghanistan.

This is a land of horror and shouting where all are depressed and disappointed. Everyone shouts and curses and then somebody kills and somebody else loses her life. Our land is filled with the smell of blood and corpses of children. Old and young have fallen to injustice in every house on every street. Each daughter of this land is a Farkhunda who never knows when or where she might be killed or burned by angry men.

Afghanistan is a land of untold pains and violence. Here, women have no eyes for seeing, no ears for listening, no mouth for talking, and no heart for love and feeling. Men view women as machines. Women are like walking dead people. In the light of day, Farkhunda, a 27-year-old religious woman, was burned and no one in that mob reached out to help her and try and save her from the clutches of the angry men.

I understand you, Farkhunda. I understand that you endured a lot of pain and my heart will hold your pain forever.  When I think about you and I write about you my heart stops and I cannot breathe. I don’t know where justice was on that day; I don’t know where humanity was at that moment. I am embarrassed for being absent and I promise I will not lower my voice until our government brings justice for you and everyone like you.  Violence against women by government authorities and angry people must stop.

I am very concerned about our government. Our government in Afghanistan is corrupt. Everyone is concerned about their name and position, so justice is lost in their talk and words.  There is no justice. We never see any articles in Afghanistan papers about justice and we never see laws being passed regarding justice for women.

This is a concern for all people in Afghanistan. Innocent people are being punished instead of the criminals. Afghan police and authorities use their power against the poor instead of against these criminals with their power and influence. There are so many unaccountable and corrupt people involved in our judicial system that there is no place in Afghanistan that offers justice.

By Nasima

Chile charges former military officers over Victor Jara killing

A Chilean judge has charged ten former military officers with the killing of folk singer and political activist Victor Jara. The popular singer was killed days after dictator Augusto Pinochet came to power in 1973.

via Chile charges former military officers over Victor Jara killing.