India: Anti-Muslim hate music

 Sandeep Acharya is a popular musician. Millions of users stream his songs online, and thousands of fans attend his concerts. He belongs to India’s Hindutva music scene - an Islamophobic scene that has been on the rise in India. Hindutva pop is often played when Hindu groups rally in India. Some songs have even sparked violence and riots.

Trump says he'll sign spending deal on border security, declare national emergency

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell has announced that Donald Trump will sigh the compromise government spending bill and then declare a national emergency at the U.S. Southern border.   What began as an applause line, somehow morphed into a wall at the U.S. Mexico border which Mexico would pay for to one which the U.S. tax payer will now foot the bill.  The wall is unnecessary and won't halt migrants attempting to reach the U.S.  That isn't the point.  Donald Trump who, upon announcing his candidacy didn't use the normal platitudes. Instead he launched into a racist attack on Mexicans who come to the U.S.   Donald Trump, the Republican party and its hard core aupporters are racists.  People who live in abject fear of the other and any kind of change.  Especially that which leads to the empowerment of minorities.  For Donald Trump and his sycphants its all about white privilege.


       Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday afternoon that President Donald Trump will sign a government spending package that resulted from bipartisan negotiations over border security and also will declare a national emergency, which Trump has intended to use to obtain more money for his proposed wall.

"I just had an opportunity to speak with President Trump and he’s prepared to sign the bill," McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor. "He will also be signing a national emergency declaration at the same time."

After the Senate votes, the House is also expected to pass the spending package.

When Demagoguery Captures The Political Process

In 1987 Slobodan Milosevic was a Serbian communist party official sent to Kosovo to quell the unease of the ethnic Serbs living there.  Milosevic taking advantage of the situation assured Kosovo's Serbian population that their abuse by the Kosovo government would end.  His actions and comments helped fuel the rise of Serbian nationalism.

"At home and abroad, Serbia's enemies are massing against us. We say to them 'We are not afraid'. 'We will not flinch from battle'." Slobodan Milošević, 19 November 1988.

In a private conversation he made this statement:

"We Serbs will act in the interest of Serbia whether we do it in compliance with the constitution or not, whether we do it in compliance in the law or not, whether we do it in compliance with party statutes or not." Slobodan Milošević

Comments such as the one below are often used by politicians as a means to further insight their supporters.   As they describe those not like "them" as others.

The loss of national identity is the greatest defeat a nation can know, and it is inevitable under the contemporary form of colonization. Slobodan Milosevic

Today in America similar language is spewing forth, not from a fringe candidate seeking a low level elected office, but the Presidency of  the United States.  When demagoguery is used to propel one to the highest office violence often becomes part of the discourse with the candidates most ardent supporters willing to inflict bodily harm on those whom they feel threatened by.  

When Donald Trump launched his campaign for president last year he made derogatory remarks about Mexico and Mexicans.  Accusing the government of Mexico shipping criminals to the U.S. that were rapists, drug dealers and murders.  Going further he stated that a wall would be built along America's southern border and he, Donald Trump would force the Mexican government to pay for its construction.   Donald Trump wouldn't stop with making derogatory comments about only Mexicans his repertoire would expand to women, the Chinese, the Japanese and Muslims.  When in December of last year he proposed banning all Muslim's entrance into the U.S.   As these statements and speeches became more profane protesters began showing up at his campaign events.  While he would make disparaging remarks about these protesters it wasn't until this last week and half that his remarks would become even more incendiary leading to a series of violent attacks by his supporters egged on by him against those protesting against his run for the presidency.

Here are some quotes from Donald Trump made while speaking at his various campaign events.    

"I'd like to punch him in the face,"  Las Vegas Nevada

"He was a rough guy, and he was punching. And we had some people - some rough guys like we have right in here - and they started punching back," Mr Trump said. "It was a beautiful thing."  Fayetteville, North Carolina 

Republican frontrunner praises supporters and blames ‘these other people’ for disorder after protests forced him to call off Chicago appearance on Friday  Following the cancellation of a campaign event in Chicago 

In the above quote he uses the term these other people to describe the protesters. That's how demagogues incite their followers to violence.  Donald Trump is dangerous as he continues to play upon the unfounded fears of his followers about the changing demographics of America,  fear of foreigners and minorities in America.  If elected would Donald Trump adhere to the U.S. Constitution? Given his authoritarian attitudes it's highly likely that he would suspend the constitution declaring that what America needs is a strong leader unconstrained by the rule of law.









 

The violent side of Sri Lankan Buddhism

Nationalist Buddhist groups say their mission is to "save the Sinhala race," which makes up 74 per cent of the population. In recent years, nationalist groups such as Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Ravana Balaya have campaigned against religious minorities in Sri Lanka. They say they are non-violent, yet minorities accuse them of attacking mosques and Christian churches and prayer centres, as seen in the video below: