Brussels, the capital city of Belgium
"The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly"- Albert Einstein
History has once repeated itself again in Belgium's political history. Belgium has plunged into a new political crisis as the premier-elect Yves Leterme hands over his resignation letter to King Albert 11 after his Flemish Liberal Allies (VLD) quit the five-party coalition earlier on Thursday.
In a similar crisis, the country was left without a permanent government from July 2007 to March 2008, when Leterme came to power.
Yves Leterme has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders to tackle when he took seat barely five months ago. One of the important tasks was to find a lasting solution to a long-running dispute between the Flemish-Speaking and their counterpart French-Speaking Wallonia.
In his effort to withdraw political boundaries between French and Flemish districts, the Flemish Liberal Party stood against it and split with Leterme. This is really a bad time for such a thing to happen when Belgium takes the seat of the European Union on 1 July 2010.
Even though Belgium is relatively a small country with about 11 million population the country has never enjoyed a smooth or stable government from time to time, because of the different opinions of its nationals, especially the Flemish-speaking communities.
It is a well-known fact that the Flemish authorities actively discriminate against the Wallonians. In a civilized country like Belgium, this shouldn't happen. Tensions between the French and the majority of Dutch-speaking communities have risen in recent years as parties advocate full autonomy for wealthier flourishing Flanders.
Over the dispute which led to the resignation of Leterme, the Flemish-run communities on the outskirts of the capital have been trying to dissuade French-speakers from moving in, largely by demanding they speak Dutch.
The question is does every Dutch speak French? A language must not be imposed on someone before he or she becomes a recognized citizen of a country.
The French-Speaking Belgians effort or right to live in Flemish districts is considered as "Invasion". "We want to preserve the Flemish of this beautiful town," says the Mayor of Gooik. "We don't want it to be overwhelmed by people who speak different languages," says Michael Doomst.
What kind of discriminatory statements are these in a democratic society? These were the kind of statements often heard in the former Apartheid South Africa, now they are resurfacing in Belgium.
Until a permanent lasting solution is found for this long-running feud between the Flemish and Wallonia, Belgium would never ever enjoy a smooth running of government. What has happened in the past is just the tip of the iceberg.
More political chaos would come. There is no peace in any country that does not have respect for its fellow citizens. The Flemish must change their character and approach to certain issues.
Splitting Belgium is not the answer but unity. Whether French or Flemish both are hundred percent Belgians.
The cursed twins? Madagascar abandons twins because of the superstition that they bring bad luck
Africa is bound by so many outdated superstitions and other issues considered taboo. Nothing better is seen in these superstitions and traditions they keep on holding from their ancestors, than poverty that has engulfed the whole continent.
Madagascar is one of the strongest superstitions countries off the coast of Africa. They believe that twins bring bad luck to the community and to this day still holds this primitive ideology and philosophy about twins.
According to history, twins are immediately separated or one is killed or abandoned in the forest after birth. Why? To avoid the harsh punishment from the traditional chief and the community, because families are not allowed to keep twins.
One of the bad lucks they believe could happen to them if families kept twins is the whole villagers would die.
With this kind of superstition, what future do Madagascar twins children have? This is the beginning of how children are traumatized all for the sake of outdated stupid superstitions. However, a media campaign and discussions with local leaders are taking place.
In another development, the country is implementing new ideas designed to change these traditional and superstition beliefs. Until the harsh treatment of twins in Madagascar is completely eliminated, world organizations in charge of children's rights must step in to intervene.
The twins' children of Madagascar are like normal children in any part of the world. They need parental care, good health care, and education. The world must fight to end this senseless superstition in Madagascar.
Erykah Badu
Every musician and the public know that sex video clips for music sell. Competition in music these days is very strong that every artist wants to come out or produce what no one else has ever done in the field of music.
It is unfortunate that a respected singer like Erykah Badu, choice of making her video clip to promote or sell her music has rather given her disrespect or hatred in the eyes of the general public.
On CNN American version, I watched the video clip over and over. The shocking part is how could someone who is not insane or having no mental disorder could walk in public, a famous place for tourists where the assassination of President Kennedy took place decades ago and shed off her clothes to be nude in the eyes of the public, then after a gunshot, she fell like someone playing a role in a film? All this is for a music video clip.
I think there are many ways Erykah should have chosen to make this clip. I don't know what was in her mind before shooting that clip. My question is "does she feel sorry for the assassination of President Kennedy or she felt good about it that was why she imitated his assassination?
Whatever reason Erykah did this for, I wish she could apologize to the Americans because, in my opinion, that was a total disrespect to the Kennedy family and the whole Americans.
Street children in Africa
Children these days are traditionally the subject of ridicule, humiliation, abuse, and mental torture. Besides South America and Asia, Africa is another continent yet to find a remedy to the number of streets children without any education.
The problems associating with street children vary. Broken homes, separation or divorce, parents' inability to bring up children, lack of education and teenage pregnancy.
How do we assess the institution of marriage today in our society when so many divorces and activities of irresponsible parents are causing havoc to our children?
Without much or any financial support, single mothers are left to face problems in bringing up children and earning money to give the child a good education.
The devil always has worked for idle hands. Lack of education forces young girls into prostitution. After giving birth out of hardship and frustration, the teenage mothers abandoned their children.
Later the children grow up to be juvenile criminals, destitute, glue sniffers and junkies. The question is if a mother can't afford to feed her child how then can the child get an education?
This is a burning issue that leaders of Third World Countries must consider as a priority, to create free or lower the cost of education for every child to be at school.
