A Mirthful Stephen Harper, Canada's Prime Minister

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Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada,
at the victory in the recent election

Cartoon (Toronto: May, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (May 8 - 14, 2011)

Butter squash

Photo (Toronto: Nov. 28, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

How Cartoonists See Osama bin Laden's Death

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Cartoon courtesy: Shlomo Cohen (Politicalcartoons.com)

Cartoon courtesy: John Cole (The Scranton Times)

Cartoonists have a way of looking at persons and events which they present in a witty and humorous manner.

We present below some cartoons on the death or assassination of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by the U.S. forces at Abbotabad, Pakistan.

• About.com: Best Cartoons on Osma Bin Laden's Death
• Bin Laden's Death Depicted in Cartoons
• Political Cartoons About Death of Osama Bin Laden
• Msnbc.com: Osama Bin Laden's Death As Explained by Cartoons
  

Why Osama bin Laden Got a Safe Haven in Pakistan

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Osama bin Laden killed
in the U.S. 'Operation Geronimo' in Pakistan
Cartoon (Toronto: May 5, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

“You can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” –U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Pakistan high government officials, including Presidents, and intelligence heads have been denying for the last six years or so that they know the whereabouts of the most sought-after terrorist Osama bin Laden and his closest associates. The world was fooled so far, but no longer. The killing of bin Laden in a safe house in the heart of Abbotabad garrison (military) town proved it otherwise.

Americans, in general, are very gullible people. Since they depend on reasoning and proof, they usually see things in black and white only. They fail to see things in the grey area in between the black and white. Many of the high government officials and members of the Congress, after the assassination of Osama bin Laden, were wondering aloud why Pakistan, by vowing to fight terrorism with the USA, was not totally loyal and truthful to the USA when billions of dollars worth of aid and other help have been poured into that country. The Americans took it for granted that the pouring of their money and material would buy the hundred per cent loyalty and allegiance of Pakistan. It didn’t happen. Why? Because of the grey areas.

What Are the Grey Areas?

• Deep in its heart, Pakistan considers Osama bin Laden a comrade and co-fighter during Soviet occupation of Afghanistan: Pakistan army officers and intelligent agents worked shoulder to shoulder with Talibans (Muslim fundamentalist group) of Pakistan and Afghanistan and other Afghan insurgent groups, including bin Laden’s foreign Muslim group, during the war with the Soviet Union in Afghanistan (1979-1988). Since the USA strongly believed in the “domino theory” regarding the spread of communism (that if one country becomes communist, the neighbouring countries will automatically fall to the influence of communism), it was one of the biggest donors and cooperators of Pakistan in funding and supplying funds and war material to these groups. The intention was to drive away the Soviets from Afghanistan so that pro-western neighbouring countries like Pakistan and others might not fall to communism and Soviet influence. During this time, Pakistani army officers and intelligent agents became very friendly and built up a close bond with the leaders of these insurgent groups. As a result, Pakistan had a divided loyalty and allegiance – partly to the USA, partly to these groups -- including Osama bin Laden’s group, and partly to the national interest of Pakistan. Even if the USA demanded full cooperation, Pakistan could not provide it due to these dynamics in the region. Pakistan knows it well that if it antagonizes the Talibans and Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda group, it will face total chaos when the USA and its allies leave Afghanistan.

• Local tribal mentality and culture are favourable to Osama bin Laden: To understand the mind of the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, one needs to understand the local tribal mentality, belief, culture, practice and tradition. Most of these people belong to one ethnic or tribal group or another. Their loyalty and allegiance to their own group is very important. What tribal chiefs say or do, other members have to follow the same. Betrayal is punished severely. The tribal culture demands that anybody or any group accepted as friend or guest must be treated well and, if necessary, must be protected from enemies at the cost of one’s life. Since Osama bin Laden was the guest of the Afghan Talibans when they were in power (1996-2001) in Afghanistan, the Talibans cannot just reject him or Pakistan, which is also friend and facilitator of the Talibans – both in Pakistan and Afghanistan – cannot just dump or throw its friend and guest bin Laden to the hounds.

• Many Muslims consider him a holy man and a hero: As Christians feel a kind of admiration and reverence when they hear the words ‘Jesus Christ,’ ‘Virgin Mary,’ ‘Jerusalem,’ ‘Bethlehem,’ ‘Nazareth,’ ‘Rome,’ ‘Vatican,’ ‘Pope,’ and ‘church,’ so do the Muslims when hear the words ‘Islam,’ ‘Prophet Muhammad,’ ‘Mecca,’ ‘Medina,’ ‘Saudi Arabia,’ and ‘mosque.’ When they know that Osama bin Laden is from Saudi Arabia (considered the holy land because of Prophet Muhammad’s birth and preaching of his religion and the elaborate hajj pilgrimage system) and he wants to fight the Western powers (“infidels” or unbelievers of Islam) to leave their bases from the holy land of Saudi Arabia, they consider him to be a savior of Islam and Muslims. That’s they consider him a ‘hero’ and not a terrorist. So, howsoever the Western countries try to paint bin Laden as a terrorist, many Muslims (fundamentalists, conservatives and blindly devoted ones) in the world consider him a holy man in jihad (holy war). Moreover, in South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh), the whole demeanor of Osama bin Laden, having a tall figure with calm face, soft voice, flowing beard and white turban on his head, gives an impression of a pir (Muslim holy man). As a result, they wouldn’t hesitate to protect him and give him security from U.S. surveillance and capture. This is very much proven by the fact that in spite of $27 million U.S. reward for information and capture of Osama bin Laden, no one among the Talibans and Pakistanis came forward so far to betray his whereabouts and claim the reward.

• In spite of denials, Pakistani armed forces and military intelligence will remain suspects for sheltering Osama bin Laden: Pakistan has one of the most active, efficient, powerful and pervasive military intelligence services in the world. It is said that no foreign ant, fly or mosquito can enter Pakistan without the knowledge of the military. One citizen of Pakistan’s Abbotabad town, where Osama bin Laden’s lair was attacked by the U.S. forces, mentioned in an interview with a foreign TV journalist how strict eyes are kept on persons moving about, or entering and leaving the city. The city security personnel regularly question people, check their ID card and vehicles. He said that there was no way that a foreigner, especially the high-profile personality like Osama bin Laden, could hide in the city without the knowledge of the military. In the early 1990s, a foreign (western) non-government organization (NGO) worker, after his visit to projects in Lahore area of Pakistan, mentioned in Dhaka that wherever he stayed and visited (hotel, NGO offices, village projects and market places), he was stealthily followed by army intelligence agents. All these prove how active Pakistan’s intelligence service is. Moreover, the spacious area with a large building with special security measures, including no telephone or Internet service connections, must have drawn attention of the town officials. Now, everyone is in denial of the knowledge of bin Laden’s presence there.

• It is plausible that the military hid the information of Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan from the elected politicians. From the inception of Pakistan in August, 1947, its military has been running the country from behind elected politicians. Whenever some politicians failed to listen to them, they were brushed aside and the military came to power through coups. From 1947 till 2011, Pakistan experienced military coups in 1958, 1977 and 1999. There were also other unsuccessful coup attempts in the country.

There is nothing surprising or unusual that Osama bin Laden, although considered a deadly terrorist and an enemy by the Western countries, is considered a savior of Islam and a hero by many Muslims of the world. So, giving him a secure shelter from the U.S. or NATO forces is not thought to be a crime, but a duty by devout Muslims.

Canadian Federal Election: Conservative Party Wins Majority Seats, New Democratic Party Becomes the Opposition

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Stephen Harper: Conservative Party of Canada
leader and incumbent Prime Minister

Jack Layton: New Democratic Party Leader

Michael Ignatieff: Liberal Party of Canada leader

Gilles Duceppe: Bloc Quebecois Leader

Elizabeth May: Green Party of Canada Leader
Above graphics (Toronto: April, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

The 41^st Canadian federal election was held throughout Canada on May 2, for electing members of the House of Commons – the lower house of the Parliament.

The ruling Conservative Party of Canada, headed by Stephen Harper, won 167 seats out of the total of 308 seats and became the majority party in the House of Commons.

The New Democratic Party (NDP), headed by Jack Layton, became the official opposition party for the first time in its history by winning 102 seats.

The Liberal Party of Canada, headed by Michael Ignatieff, won only 34 seats – the fewest in its history. Michael Ignatieff himself failed to get elected in his own riding. He expressed his willingness to step down when the Liberal Party leader is selected.

Bloc Quebecois, headed by Gilles Duceppe, won only four seats. This is called a ‘separatist party’ because its mandate is to separate Quebec province from the federation of Canada and make it an independent country. This election result is the worst defeat for this party because in the past it had been winning majority seats in Quebec. This time, most other seats of Quebec went to the New Democratic Party. Gilles Duceppe himself failed to win his own seat. He is resigning as the leader of his party.

The Green Party of Canada, headed by Elizabeth May, won its first and only seat this time.

When the election results were announced last night, Stephen Harper said to his supporters in Calgary: “It’s been a long campaign but now we can turn the page on the uncertainties and repeat elections of the past seven years and focus on building a great future for all of us,” reports CTV.ca News.

He further said: “Canadians have chosen hope, a united Canada, a strong Canada. We must be the government of all Canadians, including those that did not vote for us. We shall be faithful to the trust that you have proposed to us.”

The Conservative Party Election Promises:

• Child Care: After balancing the budget, allow income-sharing for couples with dependent children under 18 years of age. Double Children’s Fitness Tax Credit and arts programmes.

• Law and Order: End house arrest for violent criminals, eliminate pardons for serious criminals, impose mandatory jail time for sexual offences against children, mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offences, including possession. Kill long-gun registry.

• Taxes: Reduce corporate tax rate from 16.5% to 15% by 2012. Create a Hiring Credit for Small Business. Establish a Volunteer Firefighters’ Tax Credit.

• Foreign Affairs: Purchase F-35 fighter jets. Carry on post-combat training mission in Afghanistan. Re-equip the navy with ships. To ensure the Arctic sovereignty, give the Coast Guards law-enforcement powers. Expedite deportation of foreign criminals. Create the Office of Religious Freedom to promote freedom globally. Invest in ‘Helmets to Hardhats’ programme for former military personnel. Move ahead with Canada-US Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.

• Health Care: Renew Health Accord in 2014. Maintain 6% annual health-care transfer payments to provinces beyond 2014. Forgive portion of federal student loans for doctors and nurses in under-served areas. Establish $100-million Canada Brain Research Fund to help find new treatments and cures for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s and like. Will respect limits on the federal spending power.

• Seniors: Increase annual Guaranteed Income Supplement by up to $600 for single seniors and $840 for senior couples, valued at $300-million annually. Work toward a Pooled Retirement Pension Plan. Establish $2,000 Family Caregiver Tax Credit for Canadians caring for relatives at home. Amend Criminal Code to add “vulnerability due to age” as aggravating factor for sentencing.

• Political Reform: Move toward elected Senate with term limits. Increase number of House of Commons seats allocated to B.C., Ontario and Alberta, based on population growth. End tax-payer-funded, per-vote subsidies to federal parties. Establish open government working group to ensure greater accountability and improve Access to Information system.

• Green Policy: Extend by one year the ecoEnergy Retrofit-Homes Programme, which provides $5,000 per unit to offset cost of energy-saving improvements. Establish national conservation plan to create more national parks and restore degraded ecosystems. Provide federal loan guarantee for Lower Churchill hydroelectric project. Promote clean energy technologies in aboriginal and northern communities.

• Immigration: Pass legislation to crack down on human smuggling. Provide loans for recent immigrants to help pay for skills training and accreditation. Protect vulnerable foreign workers – including exotic dancers – by giving immigration officers greater authority to deny work permits. Offer protection to vulnerable religious minorities through existing refugee resettlement programmes.

• Education: Enhance Canada Student Loans programme for part-time students by doubling work exemption. Establish 30 industrial research chairs at colleges and polytechnics. Double the tax-free savings account limit to $10,000 to help parents saving for child’s post-secondary education.

• Deficit: Eliminate deficit by 2014 to 2015 by restraining growth in programme spending and completing stimulus package.

Source: National Post (April 30, 2011)

Osama bin Laden Killed, His Corpse Buried in the Sea

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al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden
Photo courtesy: Associated Press

Two dozen American CIA paramilitary and Navy SEAL personnel in a pre-dawn helicopter raid on a mansion at Abbotabad, Pakistan, killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a firefight on May 1, reports CBCNews. The raiders also left Pakistan safe with the corpse of Bin Laden. It marks the end of the 10-year hunt for the world’s top terrorist who had directly ordered the destruction of the twin towers in New York on September 11, 2001.

US President Barack Obama in a TV statement from the White House declared: “I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children.”

On the background on the US war on terrorism, the President said: “We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda – an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.”

He also added: “And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al-Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.”

The US intelligence, on receiving information on the location of bin Laden, has been monitoring the Abbotabad compound since August, 2010. After being sure of bin Laden’s presence in the compound, the May 1 raid came with approval of President Obama. The raid was completed within 40 minutes and the raiders left Pakistan for Afghanistan.

After confirming the identification of the dead body of bin Laden by DNA and other means, the body was buried in the Arabian Sea after following proper Muslim ritual and practice. His corpse is destined to become a feed for the sea fishes. The main reason for burying him in the sea is not to allow a shrine or a place of pilgrimage be built over his body from where extremist Muslims in future would draw inspiration for committing more terrorism.

Jubilation in the US and Abroad

The US citizens, especially families that lost their loved ones on the 9/11 al-Qaeda attacks by planes, expressed their joy and felt some sort of relief.

Various leaders of the world and the UN Security Council expressed their satisfaction at the achievement of the US.

Newspapers in the US and world, in their May 2 issues, gave a prominent first-page coverage on the death of Osama bin Laden.

Pope John Paul II Declared a 'Blessed'

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Blessed John Paul II
Graphics (Toronto: May 1, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Pope Benedict XVI, in an official ceremony today at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, beatified Pope John Paul II (1920-2005), who died only six years ago. About one million people from all over the world descended in Rome and Vatican to participate or witness the beatification. From now on the beatified person will be called by “Blessed John Paul II.”

Pope Benedict paid a tribute to his predecessor by saying: “John Paul II is blessed because of his faith, a strong, generous and apostolic faith.” He further said: “By his witness of faith, love and apostolic courage, accompanied by great human charisma, this exemplary son of Poland helped believers throughout the world not to be afraid to be called Christian, to belong to the Church, to speak the Gospel,” reports the Catholic News Agency.

Among the participants was a large delegation of citizens of Poland, the homeland of Pope John Paul II. Pilgrims to the Square also had the opportunity of viewing the unopened casket with the remains of the pope.

The miraculous cure of Parkinson’s disease of Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand of Paris, France, was behind the approval given by the Vatican and Pope for going forward with the beatification of Pope John Paul II, who had died on April 2, 1985. In that year, Sister Normand was suffering from the same disease that also had caused much pain and suffering to Pope John Paul. This disease is incurable. At the instruction of her Superior, she prayed to the deceased pope for a healing. On June 2, 1985, the Sister was completely cured.

Another miracle, at the intercession of Pope John Paul II, will be required to declare him a “saint” in future.

Achievements of Pope John Paul II

• In 1978, when became the pope, he was the first non-Italian person in 455 years to attain this position.

• With 27 years of service, he was the longest serving pope of the 20^th century (the second longest serving pontiff was Pope Pius XII -- 19 years -- from 1939 to 1958).

• He was the most traveled pope with 104 trips from the Vatican to different countries of the world in all the continents. He met with the highest number of Catholics as a pope in the Vatican as well as a traveler to other countries. It is estimated that a total of 17,647,800 people attended his weekly general audiences at St. Peter’s Square during his papacy.

• He played a crucial role in the downfall of communism in Europe.

• As a pope, he made a total of nine trips to his own country, Poland, from 1979 to 2002.

• He was acclaimed as the most influential leader of the 20^th century.

• He spoke in 12 languages (Polish, Ancient Greek, Croatian, English, Esperanto, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Ukranian).

• He wrote five books during his papacy: Crossing the Threshold of Hope (1994), Gift and Mystery (1996), Roman Triptych – Meditations (2003), Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way (2004), and Memory and Identity (2005).

• He wrote and issued 14 encyclical letters during his papacy: Redemptor Hominis (The Redeemer of Man: March 4, 1979), Dives in Misericordia (The Father of mercies and God of all comfort: November 30, 1980), Laborem Exercens (On Human Work: September 14, 1981), Salvorum Apostoli (In commemoration of the Saints Cyril and Methodius: June 2, 1985), Dominum et Vivicantem (The Lord and Giver of Life: May 18, 1986), Redemptoris Mater (The Mother of the Redeemer: March 25, 1987), Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (On Social Concerns: December 30, 1987),

Redemptoris Missio (On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Missionary Mandate: December 7, 1990), Centessimus Annus (On the 100^th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum encyclical on Capital and Labour – Catholic social teaching: May 1, 1991), Veritatis Splendor (The Splendour of Truth – regarding certain fundamental questions of the Church’s moral teaching: August 6, 1993), Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life: March 25, 1995), Ut Unum Sint (That They May Be One – on commitment to Ecumenism: May 25, 1995), Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason: September 14, 1998), and Ecclesia De Eucharistia (On the Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church: April 17, 2003).

• He officially proclaimed 482 saints; more than the total number of people declared saints in the last 500 years. He also beatified 1,338 people in his papacy.

• He was the first pope to gain the most popularity among the youth of the world.

Life Sketch of Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920 as Karol Jozef Wojtyla (pronounced Voy-tih-wah in Polish) in Wadowice (pronounced Vado-vicca), a town of 6,000 Catholics and 1,500 Jews, in the Carpathian mountain foothills, 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Karkow (pronounced Krakoof), Poland.

His parents were Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. He had an elder brother, Edmund, and an elder sister, Olga, who died before his birth. His mother died when he was nine years old. His father died in 1941. His brother, who was a doctor, died in 1932.

In his young age, his father instilled a deep religious devotion and conviction in Karol. His playmates were his neighbourhood boys -- both Catholics and Jews. Upon graduation from high school, he entered Jagiellonian University in Krakow in 1938 to study drama. When the German Nazis occupied Poland in 1939, they closed the university. To avoid being deported to Germany, he took a back-breaking job at a stone quarry and later in Solvay Chemical Factory.

At the inspiration of Archbishop Stefan Sapieha, he joined the secret seminary of the Archbishop in Krakow. He also used to participate in the secret "Rhapsodic Theatre" plays as an actor.

After the Second World War (1940-1945), he continued his seminary studies and became a priest on November 1, 1946. Then he was sent to Rome for higher studies and completed his doctorate degree in theology in 1948. On his return to Poland, he worked in different parishes and also helped university students as a chaplain. In 1951, he pursued further studies in philosophy and theology, and earned a second doctorate degree from Lublin Catholic University.

On September 28, 1958, he became the auxiliary bishop of Krakow. On January 13, 1964, he was appointed the archbishop of Krakow. On June 26, 1967, he became a cardinal. During the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) in Rome, he left remarkable contribution in drafting the Constitution Gaudium et Spes.

In the conclave of October 16, 1978, he was elected pope and took the name John Paul II. He was an active pope with concern for pastoral duties. He made 104 pastoral visits to many countries of the world. He also wrote five books and 14 encyclicals during his papacy.

On May 13, 1981, he survived an assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Agca. From his hospital bed he unconditionally pardoned Agca.

In the last few years of his life, he suffered from different ailments and accidents, besides complications from the 1981 assassination bullet wounds. In February, 2005, he suffered from severe respiratory problems. Ultimately, on April 2, 2005, he died.

Upon his death, millions of people demanded his immediate sainthood process. Because of this outpouring of acclamation for sainthood, Pope Benedict, on April 28, 2005, waived the five-year waiting period for starting the usual canonization process and declared Pope John Paul II as the 'Servant of God.' The cause for his sainthood was officially opened in the diocese of Rome on June 28, 2005. On December 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared Pope John Paul II a 'Venerable.'