Sunday's Good Karma/Bad Karma

Really Good Karma

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

FUKUOKA--One thing about meeting Yoshi Kuzume is that you can be pretty sure she'll give you a T-shirt.
It's her way of promoting peace. For the past two years, the university instructor has been spreading the pacifist message in Article 9 of Japan's Constitution by handing out T-shirts bearing the words--in Japanese on the front and English on the back

People need know that while Abe likes all things ultra conservative there is a large segment of the population who do not.

USA Patriot Act Karma

The Seoul Central District Court ruled on May 18 that a portal site should compensate others for damages if it does not take any action to tackle online replies written by Internet users for the purpose of discrediting someone.

This ruling will hold portal sites accountable for ignoring legal responsibilities for libel while virtually acting as the press by supplying news provided by the media. Therefore, the decision is expected to affect operators of Internet portals.

The presiding judge ruled against four portal sites in motion for compensation for damages amounting to 500 million won. The judge ruled that “Portals should give 16 million won to Mr. Kim,” who sued the sites insisting that, “I was damaged because they left online replies containing my personal information and articles defaming me on their websites.”

Always blame the provider for the wrong doings of others.

Stupid is as Stupid does Karma

By ASIT JOLLY

Chandigarh, May 19: The violence that spread like a contagion through the towns of Punjab in the wake of the confrontation between adherents of the Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikhs was greeted by masterful inaction on the part of the Punjab government, leading to speculation about its motives.

While the crisis was clearly precipitated by the Sacha Sauda chief when he appeared in newspaper advertisements dressed like Guru Gobind Singh, the deliberately slow response of the government in tackling the problem, many believe, is coloured by a desire to teach the Dera and its custodians a lesson for choosing to support the Congress in February’s Assembly elections.

Getting back at your political rivals in full public and legal view while using violence to do so.

Good Karma

CHENNAI: The 11 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who returned to the Indian shores on Friday night after spending more than two months in the captivity of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, called on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat on Saturday.

Mr. Karunanidhi announced Rs.10,000 to each of the fishermen towards meeting their immediate requirements.

The fishermen, who were released in two batches of five and six, were brought from Rameswaram by road and presented before the Chief Minister.

A peaceful return.

Some Good Karma

Amid demonstrations staged by people in favor of and opposing the name change, the Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall was officially renamed the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall (國立台灣民主紀念館) yesterday.

The new plaque was unveiled by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who said the move symbolized an end to the country's authoritarian past.

"We're gathering here ... to bid goodbye to the old age and to show that we Taiwanese are all standing firmly behind the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights," Chen said.

He also explained the significance of the date.

"Fifty-eight years ago, on this date, May 19, the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] regime ... officially declared martial law in Taiwan, which lasted 38 years," href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/05/20/2003361648">Chen said.

It's always nice to see a country confront its passed no matter how ugly it may be.
However you have to show respect for the gentleman who decided to drop his trousers in protest.