debates : intolerance and name calling

ok so I just visited a blog named Crisis Pictures which publish pictures not seen in the usual medias and the subject of which is, guess what-- crisis. that inevitably includes the war in Iraq. Now it's been a long time since I read any opinions about that war, I actually tend to avoid doing it especially when Americans give their point of view. and I've just been reminded of the reason why I stay far away from internet debates about that particular subject involving those particular people.
first, let me say that I am not by any means anti-American. I know great people who are American and the US is a country I really loved visiting. I also have family over there. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. As I was saying, I was visiting this blog and out of curiosity clicked on a thread titled something like "a month in Iraq" (not 100% sure about the title but you get the picture). the pictures were of people wounded and there also were pictures of American soldiers who died in Iraq, with a little background provided (like, X was the father of two children and was a good guy, that kind of thing). then I moved to the comments. 13 pages of them!! I sensed a big debate there and should have avoided reading it but I needed a break and was curious nonetheless. so I read.
What I notice is the way the label "liberal" is always used as an insult by the republican posters. here I thought America was all about diversity but obviously I was misled. Second thing I notice is the too frequent lack of tolerance about the other side's opinions. And the third thing I notice is the abundant name-calling and personal attacks. now that's so low you can walk upon it. I admit to call people names but I do try not to do so during a debate. A debate should be argumented and shouldn't turn into a flame war. And you always should respect the other person's opinion even if you don't agree with it. I mean, we're supposed to be civilized, right ?? Oh but wait, I'm forgetting the world we live in. Civilization doesn't mean shit. Bush is calling himself civilized. right. Nope, I don't believe in civilized people. Besides, what is civilization ? Industry ? Money ? Power ? Weapons? I won't digress any further, this will be for another post.
Jeez I don't even know if my post is making any sense. just some random and angry thoughts after reading those comments. there are some really righteous assholes out there and it's scary to think that they support the one asshole at the head of the world's superpower. am I scared of extremist Islam ? of course. am I scared of extremist America? hell yeah.

My new toy

Proud to present you my new toy aka my new laptop that my brother has nicknamed Carpette in honor of my cat and because it's flat, no doubt. Anyway, I have to thank my brother Du that has invested half the money to purchase Carpette because he took pity on his big sister who couldn't afford a new one on her own. All he asked in return is the right to play some war game when I'm not using it. Fair deal, I must say. so, Thanks little bro :)

Literary discovery : Oscar Wilde

Ok, I'm now wondering why I waited so long to get acquainted with Oscar Wilde's work. 'Coz this guy rocks ! Well I admit to have discovered him on audiobook. But one gotta do something to stay awake while working (plants get boring real fast, believe me!). So I "read" Canterville's Ghost and Picture of Dorian Gray. What a book ! I need to buy the paper version, fast! That Lord Henry character is a cynic after my own heart and Dorian Gray is such a moving narcissistic bastard (not to mention murderer and sadist) that one cannot help but like him. Actually all the characters are pretty delightful.
I highly recommend you give this book a try. Some passages can seem to drag but overall, I found it a quick "read."

Here are a few of my fav quotes (taken from this very helpful website http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/quotations/pmPictureDorian01.asp )

Scepticism is the beginning of Faith.

There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves we feel no one else has a right to blame us.

He was always late on principle, his principle being that punctuality is the thief of time.

One can always be kind to people about whom one cares nothing.

She tried to found a salon, and only succeeded in opening a restaurant.

I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their intellects. A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies.

Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious; both are disappointed.

It is perfectly monstrous the way people go about nowadays saying things against one behind one’s back that are absolutely and entirely true.

There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating—people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.

The basis of optimism is sheer terror

I can’t help detesting my relations. I suppose it comes from the fact that none of us can stand other people having the same faults as ourselves.

Murder is always a mistake. One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner.

When a woman marries again it is because she detested her first husband. When a man marries again it is because he adored his first wife. Women try their luck; men risk theirs.

Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.

Fashion, by which what is really fantastic becomes for a moment the universal.

Civilisation is not by any means an easy thing to attain to. There are only two ways by which man can reach it. One is by being cultured, the other by being corrupt.

Hidalgo

Unbridled. Unbroken. Unbeaten.


Those who know me also know that I love movies and anything connected to movies. So. To those who haven't seen Hidalgo yet : What the Heck are you waiting for ??? This movie is awesome. Touching. Funny. Action-packed. Not a dripping love story in sight. Oh and note the leading actor : un-frigging-believably hot Viggo Mortensen. And a skilled actor to boot. Give me Aragorn over Legolas anytime. Yummmm. Right. The movie.

Be still my heart...

Plot summary (from IMDb):

"Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire--a 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian desert--was a challenge restricted to the finest Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and noblest lines, owned by the greatest royal families. In 1890, a wealthy sheik invited an American, Frank T. Hopkins, and his horse to enter the race for the first time. During the course of his career, Hopkins was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the U.S. cavalry--and had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The Sheik puts his claim to the test, pitting the American cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, against the world's greatest Arabian horses and Bedouin riders--some of whom are determined to prevent a foreigner from finishing the race. For Frank, the Ocean of Fire becomes not only a matter of pride and honor, but a race for his very survival as he and his horse attempt the impossible."

Directed by Joe Johnston, written by John Fusco

The End

That's it, hope you enjoyed the tour. I sure did :) I only wish the people and the animals were better taken care of. I left Vietnam with a bittersweet feeling that will last a long while I think.

My Tho : on the Mekong Delta

On the river network of an island. Those trees are water coconut trees.

Yep, it's eatable and it's delicious. Kind of a giant fried beignet ;)

We call this a "monkey bridge." Traditionally, there are nothing to hold on to.

Relaxing time

Jackfruit is among my favourite fruit

Me and a Jackfruit tree on an island where people grow exclusively fruit trees.

Fish farm on the water. People live in those houses, they even have dogs.

Drinking coconut juice on the boat

The Mekong

This is the boat that took us on a "cruise" on the Mekong and dropped us on a few islands to visit.

Fine dinner

Me standing next to the portrait of the greatest Vietnamese compositor, Trinh Cong Son.

Dinner in a chic restaurant located in a completely artificial but gorgeous park/garden. We ate just next to the Mekong.

Saigon : The other side

The hectic trafic. Most people use motorcyles. If you want to cross the street, I wish you luck; although, I kind of got used to it after 3 weeks.

In front of my hotel

Still from the hotel

"Houses" next to the canal (this exists in all cities, including Nha Trang)

Saigon : The nice side

Hotel close to mine

Kindergarten for children of High-ranking officials

Big nice park where everyone can enjoy the outdoors in the middle of the city

Mud bathing resort

Ending by a dive in the swimming pool. Wonder why it's so empty while it's so tempting ? Because its a swimming pool filled with hot water as well. The longest I stayed in the water was 5 minutes, top.

Followed by a hot mineral water bath. The water comes directly from hot springs there in Nha Trang.

Ultimate touristic attraction : mud bathing. The mud actually smelled good. The coolest part is letting yourself levitate in the mud.

Sightseeing around the temples

Giant Buddha built in 1963. Can't remember the height though. It can be seen from a large part of the city.

View from the Cham temple. All fishing boats are painted in blue.

A Cham temple. The Cham is a people the Vietnamese conquered and, well, pretty much eradicated. Only this temple, a few dishes and a few toponyms remain. However, people still go there to pray.

The Islands

Not sure it's obvious but I was trying to wave from far away (see the 2 arms?) lol

bikini is worn on the islands, mainly because there are only tourists swimming there.

yeah, that's me on the giant shrimp or crawfish or whatever that is

Visit to the islands around Nha Trang. Gorgeous although very touristy. The kind of house on the water is a fish or shrimp farm, I don't remember.

Best food is on the street

The best food is found on the sidewalk and it's cheaper to boot.

Nha Trang : most beautiful sea I've ever seen

Welcome to Nha Trang and its gorgeous beaches :)) Very touristy but aren't they all? This is where I behaved completely like a tourist. Except that unlike the other tourists, we woke up at 5 am to go for a swim, like all the locals do. After 8 am, the beach are empty except for the White tourists who want to tan (or rather, burn) all day. Between 11 am and 3 pm, there is no one in the streets : much too hot and people are all taking a most welcome nap. Btw, no one wears a bikini except Western tourists (think Australia or France) who have their own area of the beach. So I adapted-- I wore a t-shirt over my bikini.
Also, Nha Trang has a strong tradition of communist activism. In the evening, there were propaganda concerts and shows just right on the beach. Quite a crowd stopped driving their motorcylces, parked in front of the stage and listened religiously. One night, I was walking along the beach, listening to the waves, admiring the stars and finding cute the couples of lovers bunched togeter on the sand. There was the distant sound of music coming from one of those proganda shows. Suddenly, I heard a familiar tune. It was The Internationale. Gave us all a jolt, especially my parents. All that next to cafe's and bars for tourists and the rich. Contrast, once again.

Leaving Dalat for Nha Trang

The road from Dalat to Nha Trang. Keeping on going down and down and down...

Cool long-lost cousins

My very cool long-lost distant cousins (next to me) : Mun, Quan and Diplome (that's a nickname as is Mun). They drove us on their scooters, took us to cool places including a karaoke where you get to sing only among your friends in a private room. So glad to have met them

Tung Nghia

When I saw that scenery, I thought that if there were 2 or 3 helicopters in the sky, it would look like a scene straight from Platoon or Full Metal Jacket.
This is the countryside, about 30 km from Dalat. Life is even harder. When walking on the dirtroad (see above), we saw small children leading cows. They live in a shack just like the one int the background of the the picture. What future do they have ?
Une scène tout droit sortie de Platoon ou Full Metal Jacket. Ici, c'est la campagne, à environ 30 km de Dalat. La vie y est encore plus dure. Alors qu'on marchait sur la route en terre (voir ci-dessus), on a vu des petits enfants garder un troupeau de vache. Ils vivent dans un taudis comme celui au fond, sur la photo. On peut se demander quel avenir ils ont.

Mount Lang Biang / le mont Lang Biang

My dad and I when we were hiking Mount Lang Biang. A woman from an ethnic minority offered to guide us through the woods as we didn't want to take one of the jeeps (driven by mad drivers; it's lethal, I'm telling you). She had a baby on her back. Well she left us all in the dust. Humiliating and humbling. At the top of the mountain, women and children from that minority sold colorful handcrafts, they also sold grilled meat. Again, very touristy but the sight was breathtaking.

Mon père et moi pendant l'ascension du mont Lang Biang. Une femme issue d'une minorité ethnique nous a proposé de nous guider à travers les bois car nous ne voulions pas prendre une des jeeps (conduites par des malades). Elle avait son bébé sur le dos mais nous devançait de 20 mètres, sans se fatiguer. Vraiment humiliant. En haut de la montagne, des femmes et des enfants de cette ethnie vendaient des objets tissés artisanaux ainsi que des brochettes grillées (mmmm). Encore une fois, très touristique mais la vue était splendide.