Previously posted on my Facebook Page.
Associated Press: “Immigration enforcement officials search Ilhan Omar's home in a pre-dawn raid.” Jarring situations such as this bring me back to "raids" during dictatorship years in the Philippines, including the military raid in our editorial office (We Forum) in Manila in 1982. But that was the Philippines pre-21st century, and a world so far away from America, and in/around a different political circumstance–from how it is these days in the U.S.
The reason why I tell my fellow Filipinos who “ride” or take sides with today’s “divide” in the U.S., that most of what’s going on here isn't our reality. Etc etcetera.
Anyhow, I trust the government’s intel on this particular Ilhan Omar raid. The Left these days or the “hate-Trump” din wasn’t how dissent then. While the gargantuan schism moves the deranged to turn to violent ways out there, the eerie (maybe unknowing?) anti-government howls somehow adversely affect how Washington deals with current political tensions overseas.
For example, the anti-Trump narrative, in a way, emboldens Iran’s hardline leadership and coaxes Volodymyr Zelensky to defy or ignore any calls for peace negotiation. It’d seem the Left’s only agenda is to remove Donald Trump as POTUS. (Visual: Vox.) 🏛🗽🏛
ABC: “Off-duty ICE agent shot by 72-year-old man after allegedly attacking him and his daughter.” Add the New York City incident. Expectedly, there are two or three “versions” or angles of this news. Public reaction depends on which side you are cozied with.
First of all, and I repeat, the hostility of this side (of the divide) on law enforcement or the Trump administration per se is sheer loss of common sense. Disrespect of the law is an understatement. The angry protester who hurls invectives at an ICE agent or shatters a government van’s tail-light believes they are being just or sane. Or it’s their civil/human right to berate a cop or ICE. This is not civil disobedience rage. This is political hate or hate for one person. Hate that easily blinds reason.
As for me, regardless if I am Left or Right or whatever, I’d “simplify” matters. When an officer of the law tells me to stop or oblige, no prob, I will comply or yield, stay put, show hands–and then call my lawyer later. Done. Meanwhile, two mass shootings, not related to ICE, again happened yesterday–in Pennsylvania and Georgia. 🗽🏃♀️🏃
CBS: “DOJ seeks to charge ex-Trump aide who gave key testimony on January 6 attack.” I once served as an aide for a public official (in the Philippines) and sat down and discussed similar matters with some politicians in the U.S. (New York and California).
As staff for a serving politician (or any high-profile, media-bait personalities) you are privy to both official and “unofficial” matters surrounding your Boss. Including leisurely banter quips and golfing time jokes (ah!) And yes, including sensitive matters that pertain to the chief’s political life. Whether you like it or not, you are in the “inner circle.” Pledged and signed or not, NDA (non-disclosure agreement) in no-brainer. Of course, you decided to work with the public official et al so you had time to figure things out. Their personal background, public records, including the rumours whatsoever. In other words, you could turn down employment or not apply at all. If you are in and realize you are in the middle of wrongdoings, resign. You get my drift.
As for my thoughts on this matter, above news? I mostly shrug this off. Experiential reaction or "been there, done that" mojo Unless the issue clearly defines “national security” or criminal act, I'd say it'd be less stressful to just hush. These days, majority of the “turns” or “whistleblowing” are politically-motivated geared to influence an upcoming election, and/or the usual anti-Trump feeds. You know what I mean. 🏛🗽🏛
Associated Press: “Republicans want Abdul El-Sayed to be the main character of the midterms. He's on board.” Pop politics, I say. Political fad, at the moment. Anyhow, Mr El-Sayed’s “gravitas” depends on how Zohran Mamdani fares in New York City. Meanwhile, tell me, what if their names aren’t Zohran or Abdul? I am not questioning their abilities or capabilities to lead, but this makes me recall the PR spin of the name Barack Obama in those days.
What “ails” America is more of a partisanship perspective and not really what’s going on. What’s going on, really? The eerie, hate-fueled divide is eroding America’s foundations. And I believe that gigantic fissure contributes to the slew of unabated mass shootings, at least since the 1999 Columbine horror. The revered historian Howard Zinn wrote before he died in 2010, he foresaw a great divide in the U.S. that’d rival the civil war years of the mid-1860s. (Donald Trump wasn’t even in the GOP shortlist for a presidential run at that time.)
Who would solve America’s current issues isn’t a Muslim-styled socialist, or a Hispanic born and raised, or whatever ethnic facade there is.
Capitalism to socialism is too simplistic and misinformed in the context of American “democracy” or culture per se (as many see it). China blurred Han Buddhism communism, following the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 that ushered in Deng Xiaoping’s “open-door” playbook vis-a-vis Western-style capitalism. Look at China now. Or Nordic economies these days aren’t what, for example, Olof Palme’s soc-dem or dem-soc championed before he was taken out in 1986.
Ergo: The 21st century is so different from other centuries, culture wise (globally) and foreign affairs have been wobbled or altered by the advent of China and BRICS, and the progress of Asia (from the late-1990s’ Asian Tigers and Baby Tigers) and the Middle East’s Arab League’s premium on economics and trade, following the Arab Spring of 2011.
Moreover, whoever POTUS sits has to diversify or modify Washington’s traditional "template" to adapt to the changing times. And that’s what Donald Trump is doing. Of course, it is controversial, “traitorous,” or dumb to many. Essentially because Don's ways are essentially new per Washington's book. Yet I don’t think Mamdani or El-Sayed know better just because their names sound un-American. To me, they are as American as a John Smith or a Sarah Jones. 🏛🗽🏛
MY THOUGHTS. New York Times: “America Wants to Make More Generic Drugs. India Shows Why That’s Hard.” And adds: “Cheap labor and global supply chains are among the obstacles to President Trump’s plan to bring generic drug manufacturing back home.”
India has the world's second largest labor force and has ample of (or access to) APIs to many drugs. Hence, India is the world's largest supplier of generic medicines by volume, fulfilling about 20 percent of global demand. Ranked #2 is India's BRICS buddy. Before the 21st century, Israel was #1 via Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. The company now ranks #3. 🩺💊🩺
