Agabus (mark adams)

Bono the humanitarian would almost be a cliche if his actions were not so extraordinarily generous. It may be said that Bono has a big ego, but he has a bigger heart. His work in famine relief, economic development and debt forgiveness is truly worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. His humanitarian efforts began quietly in 1985, when Bono and his wife Ali visited a relief camp in Africa. He wanted to do something to change world, not merely to sing about it. The video above is remarkable in that this “secret” mission has never really been documented, besides a few references in biographies, so it is a treasure to watch.

© 2013, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.

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Some actions are so egregious world response is not only appropriate, but imperative.

Here’s the BBC report: Syria authorities target children, says UN rights chief

Here’s the MSNBC report: Syria is torturing children, UN human rights chief says

© 2012, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.

Update: The Grio writes this analysis of the shooting: “[I]t has emerged that at least one Sanford police officer may not have believed Zimmerman’s story: the lead homicide investigator Chris Serino, who was reportedly overruled on making an arrest by the state attorney, Norman Wolfinger, or his office” (link). It appears that if Trayvon Martin was running, it was because he feared for his life. That would make George Zimmerman the aggressor. After all, what had Martin done that Zimmerman, armed with a gun, had the right to pursue the boy? Why was the gun drawn?

If this shooting is justified, we are all in trouble.

Old posting –

The shooting of Trayvon Martin, 17, by George Zimmerman, 28, in Florida, is disturbing on many levels. As near as one can tell, based on Zimmerman’s 9-1-1 call, Martin was simply walking through the neighborhood, albeit “looking suspicious.” That any citizen should be pursued for walking defies comprehension. No matter how a person appears, people have the right, well, to walk down streets.

Was Martin observed committing any crime that he should be regarded as acting “suspicious”? Nothing in Zimmerman’s 9-1-1 call suggests the youth was committing a crime — or even being suspected of one. Based on this evidence, Zimmerman should have left the teen alone. Even more egregious, it seems that Zimmerman was the aggressor, chasing after the teen, despite that the dispatcher explained that this was not necessary.

It’s been noted that Martin may have “approached” Zimmerman, but, again, how is this gesture “threatening”? Do people not have a right to approach one another? Or have we become a society where one citizen can shoot another simply because he “feels” threatened?

Florida may well have a “Stand Your Ground” law, but what ground was Zimmerman standing upon?

Note: The 9-1-1 call and others from witnesses can be found at Wikipedia.

© 2012, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.

Hear, hear –

“I am a human rights activist for children. I’m apolitical and multi-faith. I go with the governments, not against them. But I will be a foghorn for silent whisperers if I feel that children are not given the life that they should be given. In other words if they’re in institutions and haven’t even seen the light of day, that doesn’t sit well with me.” — Sarah Ferguson, 2009

Ferguson’s crime, according to Turkey, is secretly videoing children in orphanages, in which she exposed abuses. Turkey claims the former princess violated the children’s right of privacy. If convicted, she could face upwards of 22 years in prison — but that won’t happen. “It has to be an offence in both the countries’ laws. It’s not an offense in U.K. law, so the duchess won’t be extradited,” a British government source told the press (see here).

The notion that children should suffer abuse privately is appalling and unacceptable. Ferguson is to be commended for her work, not condemned.

© 2012, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.

As I prepare for church this morning, I marvel at the following from the New York Times: China Detains Church Members Over Public Praying. I doubt even my neighbors care that I am going to church this morning, let alone my government. This story moves me considerably. I am reminded of a passage from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, Life Together:

© 2011, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.

A European human rights group said on Thursday an Iranian woman who had been sentenced to death by stoning had been freed, but there was no confirmation from Iran. — MSNBC: Reports say Iran frees woman who faced stoning

Of course, one wants to avoid telling a nation how it should behave, but decency requires one to express an opinion.

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. — Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, 1986

© 2010, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.

A Muslim cleric has ordered a hit on a Pakistani woman accused of insulting the prophet Mohammed. According to MSNBC Maulana Yousef Qureshi told his followers, “We will strongly resist any attempt to repeal laws which provide protection to the sanctity of Holy Prophet Mohammad… Any one who kills Asia [the woman in question] will be given 500,000 rupees…” (source).

Hear the words of the Holy Creator of the Universe:

Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth. — Psalm 58:1-2

And the Lord says, “Do not destroy.”

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© 2010, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.