When their strategy of simply ignoring the story (wishing it would die down by itself) failed, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority gives their version of the deal or according to them “offer” in today’s issue of Malaya (http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun10/news1.htm).
Blackwater’s Philippine representative, Satalles, Inc. has also issued a statement that their recruitment of Filipinos as security personnel for Americans is for Afghanistan, not Iraq (http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun10/news2.htm). Satalles’ statement belies the accusation of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that the story is a figment of Malaya’s “fertile imagination”.
Whatever the SBMA says, Blackwater is out there luring hungry Filipinos to their graves.
Now it says it is not sending Filipinos to Iraq but Afghanistan! My God, it’s the same thing! It has nothing unlike Iraq which is rich in oil, but Bush has his scapegoat, Osama Bin Laden, being kept by the Afghan Moslem fundamentalists there because Osama feeds them, and of course, the US Mafia’s breeding ground for hashish, etc. that is said to be booming again.
So with Bin Laden there, and the Taliban said to be rebuilding its strength after the dissatisfaction with the continuous presence of US troops, etc. there, Afgahnistan is as much or more dangerous than Iraq.
Funny but I have not heard any of the Afghan victims of US raids saying anything against Bin Laden as much as what they say about the war lords the US has revived in Afghanistan.
Now, there is lesser instances of rape of Afghan women by US soldiers there compared to the number of Iraqi women violated by horny US soldiers, but the massacre of Afghan villagers is something that the World Court should someday look into and put those responsible for those atrocities on trial for crimes against humanity as prescribed by international laws and conventions.
Just who are these people kidding? They can do that probably before the IT, but with almost everyone now hooked on the Internet, puede ba pakisabi kay Bansot at doon sa tatay ni Lea, tumigil sila ng kalokohan nila!
FYI, I have been to Islamabad, etc. visiting refugee camps together with some Japanese NGOs. I have never seen so many amputees in my life, not even in Japan or the Philippines after WWII or the Korean War, as when I went there to help fit children and adults for artificial legs and limbs provided by Japanese philanthropists.
Anong gusto ni Bansot, dumami ang putol ang paa at kamay na mga pilipino kundi man sila ang mapugutan ng ulo doon? Bakit hindi siya at si Salonga ang magpapugot ng ulo nila? Tarantado pala ang gunggong na ito!
On the other hand, when are the Filipinos start acting as equals of these Americans, not their ginagago? Dito sa Japan, hindi makapaghari ang mga iyan akala ninyo!
I feel sorry for Filipinos who have not learned to fight for their rights and privileges as guaranteed by their Constitution. Over here, when we talk with our politicians, we always say, “According to the Constitution…” especially when we want to insist on getting what they should provide to us in terms of service for paying their meals.
And when there are such contracts as these by private groups, the government’s responsibility is make sure that contracts abide by the law with none of the bureaucrats or the politician getting directly involved in such crap as this assigning contracts to recruit Filipinos for jobs in countries where they can be exposed to danger by a government agency to a private company with government connections.
This should be stopped by all means, for you can bet your bottom dollar there will be hitches in the contracts of these gullible Filipinos who are afraid to die in hunger but not afraid to die for some pittance of a dollar!
We have witnessed this kapalpakan in the recruitment for example of Filipino entertainers who were actually being sold to prostitution directly or indirectly to Japan, which had to take action against it when cautioned by the US on human traffficking that the Philippine government especially under the Pandak is engaging in with the Pandak acting as the big Mama-san.
Bakit hindi nadadala ang mga pilipino?
Over here, balita such as this Blackwater recruitment will make good material for some media bashing that can bring down a government.
Tuwang-tuwa itong mga kanong ito kasi palagay nila sa mga pilipino inutil kasi.
Now, I wonder if Bansot, et al are deliberately allowing the recruitment of these gullible Filipinos to be literally used as bullets and cannons for US caissons in Afghanistan and Iraq, and then have the US pay the Philippine government for whatever reparations they can claim on them in the future.
Ang sagwa!
Oops, erratum. This should read:
On the other hand, when are the Filipinos GOING TO start acting as equals of these Americans, not their ginagago? Dito sa Japan, hindi makapaghari ang mga iyan akala ninyo!
Iyong gunggong sa DOJ na SiRaulo, bakit hindi iyan paalisin? Nakakahiya ang animal na iyan na sinasadyang ipitin ang trial noong pinay na ginahasa ng mga malibog na mga Amerikano para hindi matuloy. Gosh, siya pa ang nagsasabing wala silang magagawa kung itakas ng US Embassy iyong mga gagong Americano na pinagtatanggol noon paring Katoliko! Puede ba tigilan na ang pang-aapi ng mga pilipino nitong mga gunggong na pinapaupo sa gobyerno?!!!
Diyan daig ng mga hapon ang mga pilipino. Kahit si Koizumi taeng-tae sa mga kano, wala siyang magagawa kundi ipairal ang kapakanan ng mga kababayan niya di tulad ng mga politiko sa Pilipinas na inilalampaso na ng mga Amerikano ang mga mukha sa sahig, nakatawa pa rin! Yuck!
1st of all, whatever SBMA, Norberto “banana-man” Gozales, and Blackwater/Sotelyst says will just be all lies…they’ve lied about the existance of pinoy mercs in Iraq…here comes the “Sniper” interview with muching pictures from Iraq…it’s the truth that exploded into their face, my only wish was that it would be a grenade or even a “super lolo” that would explode on thier faces. And this Norberto character, remember when he was “grilled” in the Senate for the Venable issue, right on camera, he started gasping for breath, started eating banana…hearing stopped, he was brought to the hospital…end of his “interogations”….after a month or so of lying-low, he became visible again until the present, jawwing about conspiracies right and left about plans to kill this and that (Gloria, siRAULo Gonzales, and other top Arroyo officials), but the only one dying and being killed are journalists and militant leaders CRITICAL to Gloria and her government. I really wish the time when Gloria is no more, I wonder wherein rat’s-hole we’ll find people like this Norberto Gonzales.
We should tell these representatives of Blackwater and SBMA, “Tell it to marines!” Gago!
AS Armand Arreza said on TV, there’s nothing wrong with what Blackwater/sotelyst is proposing, a lease of the firing range in Subic. Practice shooting lang naman raw ang gagawin sa firing range. Oh yeah, practice in killing people? for what? As Spartan said for a “cost”.
Thank God na kahit gago ang Prime Minister namin dito, walang Amerikanong pribado dito na puede magpractice pumatay ng hapon di gaya sa Pilipinas! Whadyaknow, baka ang pagpa-practice-san ng mga iyan iyong mga tulisan sa Cordillera at NPA!!! Lagot si Ka Roger!
Ellen,
Buti sana kung sa Afghanistan o sa Iraq padadala ang mga mercenaries. Eh papaano kung dito gagamitin para unusin ang opposisyon?
Iraq and Afghanistan are diversions. Those mercs will be used here. The fact that Bert Gonzalez pooh-poohed it means Arroyo will use their trainees here. Mark my words.
Also maybe Blackwater is part of the’nontraditional’ security arrangements worked out under the new security deak between RP-US
We cannot have a ‘black’ army operating in our country for whatever reason.
The following are the minimum we can do to protect ourselves. Biazon or Lacson or some other senator or expert can draw up a good ‘insurance’ policy for us.
1. keep a data base on all those who attend their training.
– Pictures/background etc.
– where their ‘graduates’ will work – location specially.
– background on who they are contracted to work for and for what
2. complete and unhindered inspection of training grounds/facilities/training manuals etc/ at any time and without prior notice
3. Blackwater is a security agency so all those who enroll and are hired by them must be licensed by our government.
Ellen, All:
Here are two good exposes to read-
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14747951.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
Heaven forbid, Mr. Buencamino! It’s dreadful but not impossible. We have heard more than enough of the killings committed by government agents on cue from above that this is possible. The point is when will those responsible for these murders of journalists, activists, et al pay for their crimes?
Hi Ellen,
For some reason, I couldn’t access your site with my usual ID or perhaps because I’m using another comp and have to re-configure this one but am not in the mood so thought I would register under another name.
Just wanted to say that MBuencamino’s recommendations are spot on.
But who would put these American mercenaries, thier Pinoy sidekicks, the would be recruits, the trainees and their stuff in action?
As usual, Norberto Gonzales, the guy who, at the height of the wiretapped Gloria and Garci conversation regarding the dagdag election results, announced PUBLICLY that the Philippines didn’t have the equipment for wiretapping is at it again.
Wasn’t he the one who suffered some kind of emotional and mental breakdown when he was being quizzed in the Senate over the Venable deal? Perhaps, he was faking the breakdown – in reality, he just didn’t have the balls to face Senate scrutiny. Pangit na duwag na at sira ulo pa! What a disastrous combination for a third rate human species… He might as well be dead!
What really stupefies me is that the middle class or the middle forces in Pinas seems to be taking all these blatant abuses and the deliberate breach of all that is moral by Gloria government and her cronies so much nonchalance and “desinvolture”.
What has happened to their sense of values, their sense of morals, their physical and moral courage? Have they sold their souls for a bit of second class life under Gloria and a bit of a hand out from Malacanang? Gosh how low and “pataygutom” the middle class has become… The poor and the trodden possess more dignity and have a higher degree of honor in the scheme of things in the Philippines today.
The middle class who kowtow to Gloria Macapagal, a midget of the ugliest species seem to becom matapang only when they are faced with people who possess a lower station in life – they are so sickening. Absolutely sickening! To me, they will remain “moral pataygutom”…
Ooops, not quite complete… here it is:
“But who would put them – American mercenaries, their Pinoy sidekicks, the would be recruits, the trainees and their stuff in action – UNDER SURVEILLANCE?”
Anna:
Forget about the Middle- Class in the Philippines, mostly Chinese, who can always try to go back to China when the business in the Philippines get bad. They, too, are under some strain, I guess, with the ongoing kidnapping of Filipinos of Chinese descent and their group getting ready with the cash to save their own nationals.
Sad but true. The rest of the population are Filipinos who are also too busy to survive that only a portion of them can have the time to join rallies and protests hoping that in being there, they will be fed and given some transportation fee that they can keep for a day or two of survival.
Now, the Midget is trying her damnedest best to have them all deployed overseas as domestic helpers, etc. doing menial jobs for the wealthier members of the international community to keep them away from these demonstrations and protests against her, and even make them to feel grateful to her so they will agree to having her declared as a queen soon enough.
I know this to be true as I observe the members of this crook’s “Save the Queen” groups in KSA that I am told is even well-financed versus the one financed by Lacson to win the loyalty of the OFWs there.
Anna, I’m sorry for the technical difficulties that you have to go through. I’m not computer savvy so I can’t tell you how best to do it. Thanks for your patience.
Manuel’s food for thought is disturbing.
Whadyaknow. Last Tuesday, Chavit Singson was a guest in the Bulung-Puklungan sa Philippine Plaza. I didn’t stay long because I can’t stand him.
Anyway, outside the function room where the Bulung-Pulungan was being held, about a dozen bodyguards of Singson were on guard including a Caucasian.
When I read about Blackwater providing security to a number of personalities in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, etc., I thought is this guy from one of those PMC (Private military corporations)?
I’m sure Manuel’s thoughts are not imagined but a reality. GMA can surely use these “mercs” for her own personal ambitions. She couldn’t care less for the expenses as these will be provided by us, the taxpayers. For all we know, she may have already hired these “mercs” and Subic is their base. Its cheaper to have them quartered in a camp than spend for their hotel expenses too. Mababawasan pa yung mga kurakot niya.
Ellen,
I had a similar experience 2 years ago when I was invited to a Tuesday Club breakfast at the Sangri-la hotel.
There I was going about nonsense chitchatting with members and guests when out of the blue Chavit Singson arrived – didn’t recognize him at first – like a trouper gangster politician, Singson shook everyone’s hand. When it finally dawned on me who he was, I politely bid my host good bye. He asked me later why I left so soon – told him I’d rather be seated beside an AIDS patient than beside THE infamous gangster.
I was a guest and couldn’t for the life of me remained civilized with one who is a criminal who boasts about it with impunity as if being a bona-fide criminal is the best thing that can ever happen to a citizen of the Philippines.
Yuko,
Re middle class: Unfortunately, we need the middle class to effect change. History has shown that it’s the middle class that starts a revolution. Sadly, the peasantry never start a revolution.
Even the CPP was founded by a bourgeois and a middle-class intellectual.
Also, would the administration be as friendly if Blackwater’s local partner were Jinggoy or Ping?
Manuel B,
I don’t think so.
Gloria would have turned the Philippines inside out to have them arrested for destabilization and for treason even if she has to announce that Blackwater is in fact a communist front just so she can put the goods on them.
But now that you’ve raised it, well, who knows, Gloria ever the sick sly and the 3rd rate sneak that she is, could very well turn around and say that Joseph Estrada is financing Blackwater in the Philippines through one of his pro-muslim foundations! Of course, if that happens, PDI which has so far ignored the Malaya exposé will happily banner the news…
Ayayayayayayay!
Hi mga ate at kuya. I really appreciate your concerns regarding this rumored recruitment by Blackwater of Filipinos in their outfit. I can see that all concerns are against this recruitment. But I am one of those people who still want to try “my fate” here. Here is an opportunity for people like me to work abroad and be trained and gain knowledge(Blackwater’s specialty).
So here’s my question to all of you ates and kuyas:
May nakakaalam ba sa inyo kung saan ako dapat mag apply at kung sino ang dapat na kausapin? I will appreciate it greatly kung mayroon makakapagsabi nito sa kin…
P.S.
Hi,it’s me again. Gusto ko po talagang subukan mag-apply. Di rin naman sure kung matatanggap ako at di rin ako sigurado kung magugustuhan ko ang offer nila. Here’s my e-mail ifever ayaw nyo pong direct na ibigay ang contact address dito:
letsplay77042000@yahoo.com
my other e-mail:
ramkors2001@yahoo.com
ramkor, naintindihan ko ang iyong pangangailangan. Nugnit ayaw kong maging tulay para sa iyong kapahamakan.
The recruitment is just one way for the world to know that the Americans had trust on the skill of the Filipinos in any undertakings. It is agreat honor to the Filipinos and a chance to show again to the world that we are a great people that the americans had trusted for the long time. The concern persons ‘kono’ like this ystakei has a lot of comments about it. May i then challenge you gentleman to talk on our precious Filipinas going to Japan to be sold as prostitutes. In other words, nagiingay sya ngayon pero tikom ang bibig sa mag babaing pumupunta sa Japan para mag alay ng kaligayahan sa mga hapon. Who is more honorable then my ystakeim a mercenary recruited for the americans or the ladies to be prostitutes in your location?????? Business mo yata ito ginoo. hahahaha Baka sabitan ka pa ng medalya pag may nagawa ka hapon.
Hindi mo ba alam BugawJr na bawal na ang mga putang pinay dito sa Japan ngayon na ipinipilit ni Bugaw Gloria na isaksak sa Japan! Medalya, you say? Nakakain ba iyan?
STOP JAPAYUKI is my slogan!
Now, we hear Ermita (another bugaw) saying that he and his fellow bugaw in the Philippine government do not know about this mercenary recruitment. Who are they kidding?
Off topic: I know something was wrong about the statements of the Military spokesman briefing the press on the death of Zarqawi because they were not showing any of the other victims who could have been burned beyond recognition when they bombed the supposed area where Zarqawi was supposed to have been trapped. Now, the truth is coming out that he could have been in detention long before this event and was finally killed with the vain hope of pushing up Dubya’s sagging popularity. At least, this is what my friends at the International Action Center have informed us.
From the informationclearing house:
Questions Remain About Zarqawi’s Final Minutes
The U.S. denies accounts saying that the terrorist was beaten by American troops before he died, but confirms that a child was among the dead.
By Louise Roug
Times Staff Writer
06/11/06 “Los Angeles Times” — — HIBHIB, Iraq — The two bombs fell in the heart of the orchard near this village north of Baghdad a little more than a minute apart. Abu Musab Zarqawi’s last refuge, a whitewashed house in an idyllic rural setting, was obliterated.
On Saturday, three days after Zarqawi was killed, the U.S. military brought a group of reporters to see the slabs of concrete and twisted metal that are all that remain of the house. American troops who had combed through the debris had left the more mundane items: candy wrappers, a child’s shoe, a torn page of a May 2 copy of the Arabic-language edition of Newsweek, and a threadbare leopard-print slip.
Neither the rubble nor the items left behind offered many clues about Zarqawi or the people who died with him. And questions remained about the final minutes of the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
In a briefing with reporters, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, a U.S. military spokesman, said that two doctors had been brought to Iraq to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of Zarqawi’s death. Results from the examination will be made public within days, Caldwell said.
He also confirmed that a girl between 5 and 7 years old had died in the bombing. Two unidentified women and one man were also killed in addition to Zarqawi and his spiritual advisor, Sheik Abdel Rashid Rahman, Caldwell said. U.S. officials at first had said that Zarqawi and at least five others had died, including a woman and a child, but then changed to say that seven people had died, none of them children.
The military has revised several other details of the bombing and its aftermath.
Caldwell said that early reports after a military operation can sometimes include hazy or contradictory information.
“There is no intention on anybody’s behalf to engage in deception, manipulation or evasion,” he said.
After first reporting that Zarqawi was dead when U.S. troops arrived, U.S. officials also now agree with Iraqis who said that the leader of the terrorist organization died at the site in the presence of U.S. troops.
American commanders in nearby Baqubah said Saturday that local Iraqi police, unaware of the top-secret bombing mission, heard the two blasts and sent officers and an ambulance to the orchard. Stationed less than two miles away, the officers arrived within 10 minutes.
Finding Zarqawi wounded, they put him on a stretcher, according to accounts from Iraqi police and U.S. military officials.
U.S. military officials say that troops who arrived moments later quickly identified Zarqawi and strapped him to the gurney when he began to move.
“He died almost immediately thereafter from the wounds he’d received from this airstrike,” Caldwell said.
U.S. officials denied several news reports that Zarqawi was abused by U.S. troops before he died.
An Iraqi police lieutenant who said he was among the first people at the scene told The Times on Saturday that after Iraqi police had carried Zarqawi to the ambulance on the stretcher, U.S. troops took him off the stretcher and placed him on the ground. One of the Americans tried to question Zarqawi and repeatedly stepped on his chest, causing blood to flow from his mouth and nose, said the lieutenant, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A man identified only as Mohammed, who said he lived near the Zarqawi hide-out, told Associated Press Television News that he had witnessed Americans beating Zarqawi. “They stomped on his stomach and his chest until he died and blood came out of his nose,” he said.
A U.S. military spokesman said by e-mail Saturday that there was no evidence to support allegations that coalition forces had beaten the insurgent leader.
“Although Zarqawi was mortally wounded, a coalition medic treated him while he lapsed in and out of consciousness,” the spokesman said.
The U.S. military said intelligence specialists had been following the movements of Rahman, Zarqawi’s spiritual advisor, for weeks. When it became clear Wednesday that Rahman was meeting Zarqawi, American commanders ordered the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet that was on a routine mission in the area to drop the two bombs on the house.
How long Zarqawi and the others had lived at the house was unclear, military officials said.
Lt. Col. Thomas Fisher, commander of the 1st Battalion, 68th Armored Cavalry, said the previous owner told American military officials that he had sold the house two months ago. Neighbors said that they saw a family moving in about 10 days ago, but that there had been little traffic to and from the house.
“We go up and down these roads every day,” said Maj. Angel Brito, commander of the battalion’s Charlie Company, which patrols Hibhib. “I was very surprised. There were no clues.”
Brito said he had received several congratulatory calls from local leaders, but for him the celebration was tinged with frustration. Zarqawi “was under my nose the whole time,” he said.
Times staff writer Saif Rasheed in Baghdad contributed to this report
Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times
This is actually what the ignoramuses in the Philippines should read.
Gago pala itong isang bugaw na sumisingit dito. FYI, I have been against the deployment of Japayukis to Japan. The anti-human trafficking law we have now is the result of our campaign against this deployment. Buti pa nga ang mga hapon na kumakalaban sa pagre-recruit ng mga pilipinang puta na ipinapadala ng mga bugaw sa Pilipinas. Itong mga pilipino pang nasa Tongress, et al ang nagpupumilit sa mga hapon na papasukin sila ulit dito. Sira talaga ang mga ulo!
Tingin sa mga pilipina dito sa Japan lahat mga putatsing! Kakahiya!
Trust in the skills of Filipinos this recruitment of mercenary is? Sira rin ano? Mura kasi ang mga pilipino, iyan ang dahilan at desperado na talaga dahil sa nagugutom sila! Otherwise, why waste precious lives overseas, especially in war zones like Iraq? If that is not suicide or being crazy, what is? Inutil talaga!
1,000 dollars a month ang sueldo ng mga mercenary. Gosh, mahal pa ang bayad sa mga katulong dito as a matter of fact, hindi pa pugot ang ulo! Magkano ang cut ng recruiter sa sueldo ng mga ito? Ang mura naman ng buhay ng mga pilipino!
BTW, I work with the police in making sure that the Immigration Law banning Japayukis (this Japayuki term is actually used only for Filipino women and bakla being deployed to Japan to work in bars and clubs as hostesses cum prostitutes) is followed to the letter.
Japan is not involved in this recruitment of Japayukis because the special quota it granted the Philippines was for genuine and licensed entertainers and stage performers not hostesses. Iyong mga bugaw sa Pilipinas ang palpak!
Fortunately, Japan is a country where the rule of law is followed unlike in the Philippines where they cannot even follow the Constitution and no wants it changed because it is not convenient for the criminal suspect who insists on staying and does not feel any shame nor embarrassment for having been exposed just because she has managed to put people who can protect her interests in strategic positions in the government, and assign people to mess up discussions in this kind of discussion groups.
Fortunately, a lot many of us posting in this kind of groups know better than to fall prey to these attempts to destroy our morale and spirit to fight crooks like the Bansot until “the day of the reckoning” is come. This day of reckoning as a matter of fact applies only to the righteous, not the unrighteous, especially one who has stolen a million votes from her opponents to get her position.
I am apt to say, likewise, to the Internet Brigade who think they can push me out—Nice try! You are wasting your time!
Ellen:
I’ve received messages from frequenters like Emilio to this blog who cannot get posted here anymore. I’ve advised them to try re-registering again para masaya unless of course they are hacked and barred from posting here in which case they should send you an email and ask you to post their messages here.
Over in Japan, we have a strict hacking law now, and most of us are hooked on the Internet via fiber optics line. Wala nang dial-up even when using public phones kaya mabilis. DSL connections too is being phased out.
Ellen, Yuko,
An excerpt from The Daily Telegraph (opinion column), which I consider the most conservative of UK newspapers. I frankly didn’t even expect the write up below because The Daily Telegraph is similar to some US newspapers whose stand is to almost “pardon” the military lapses of their troops in Iraq due to battle fatigue:
“we must be equally wary of falling into the converse trap: that of backing our boys, right or wrong. A parallel may be drawn with the Troubles. For 30 years, allegations against the security forces tended to come overwhelmingly from people who believed that Northern Ireland ought not to be in the United Kingdom. Many of their complaints were partial and false, which had the effect of making unquestioning support for the Armed Forces a Unionist totem.
Even when there was clear evidence of wrongdoing, well-intentioned people would argue that our soldiers were doing a hard job, far from home, and opposed by ruthless men who operated outside the rules. All of which was true, but beside the point. Had we ceased to subject our men in Ulster to due process, we would not be the open and pluralist society we are, and our moral claim to jurisdiction over the province would have been weakened.
As in Northern Ireland, so in Iraq. Our soldiers must follow the rules properly and, if they abuse their position, they should expect to be punished. Equally, though, if they are to be subject to the same disciplinary standards as civilians, they are entitled to the same standards of investigation. Many of our troops feel that there is a presumption against them: a keenness to over-compensate for the growing moral doubts about our presence in Iraq by excessive zeal in policing our garrison. Such doubts need to be assuaged. One of the consequences of the invasion is that the officials charged with crimes under the old regime are allowed exhaustive judicial procedures to establish their innocence or guilt. It would be perverse if our own soldiers could not rely on the same.”
Yes, I received a number of emails commplaining about difficulty in accessing this blog. I also have difficulty accessing this. Probably it has something to do with the lines.
Thanks for your suggestion to register again, Yuko.
I will miss Scotland for example if it gets its independence from UK and become a separate nation. Ireland seems a far away country even when the people there seem related to the Scottish, language and all except that the Scottish for me look much handsomer.
My British roots are akin to the Scottish although they are English as they are from the north bordering Scotland. It’s a beautiful country indeed! I would hate seeing a divided UK as a matter of fact!
Now, regarding rewards for civic-consciousness in Japan, it is not common.
The least one gets for doing a samaritan deed from the police is a police pin or a mascot, because in principle, a citizen of Japan is expected to render service to his country and people, and reporting criminals to the police is a citizen’s duty sans any reward that can encourage more corruption as a matter of fact. It’s like a bribe!
With or without rewards, one is expected to do his job and responsibilities as a good and law-abiding citizen over here.
But Yuko,
Scotland IS a separate nation although operating within a union of nations – politically correctly described as United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Iredland. But Wales, Scotland and N Ireland have each their own national assembly too except England.
However, if you mean that by being “separated” is to no longer recognize the Queen as their sovereign or to be able elect a distinct national prime minister of their own away from 10 Downing Street, then, true, Scotland is not there yet.
But in spite of the “separatist” brouhaha, I doubt the Scotts would forsake the Union. I must admit there is constant social and nationalistic tendency in Scotland (we lived there for a long time due to my hubby’s work at the time)to feel independent of the English but they don’t really do anything more radical than put up their national flag to distinguish themselves from the English. The Scotts are themselves very tribalistic and between themselves are capable of immense social intolerance, depending on the CLAN they belong to.
Obviously, because of the flaks the English are getting from other members of the Union (the 3 nations have not quite forgiven the English for defeating them and subjugating them – you may find it odd that it still exists after 500 years but THIS IS TRUE!), you will find that never in my living years in Europe have I seen more St George crosses, the national flag of England, being flown everywhere AND IN ENGLAND too. Our car has a St George Cross sticker to delineate us from the rest of the union.
The English are getting sick and tired of being the punching bags of bragadoccious Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If it were only up to a number of English, these nations can jump into the north sea…
To show you how it is, when my children are asked if they are British, they wouldn’t say “yes” or “no” but would say “We are English!”
They are more comfortable saying “I’m a European” than merely saying “I’m British”…
Yuko,
In Charles Brenmer’s weblog (he’s The Times of UK’s Paris correspondent), I posted this recently:
“Charles B mentioned the malsoigné British at the ‘sommet’… in multi-national meetings here, you can tell the English from the rest of the Brits – the English make an effort to be a bit more soigné.
If you had Blair, a Brown, a Johnson, an O’Donnell, a Kelly, a Darling, etc, in the British entourage at the ‘sommet,’ I’m not surprised they were not soigné – these people are hardly English.”
I say I’m part British because my forebears were part Scottish and English, and you’re right, I would not want the Scots to get out of the UK Union, especially with the Scots dominating UK security!