We get plenty of news – in fact it seems like we have news in our faces almost all the time. Unfortunately, some of it is fake news. Much of it is opinion that we have come to accept as news. A lot of it is totally unimportant political drama that gets hyped until it appears to be news. If you flip between cable news networks you will see the same one or two stories bleated and repeated hour after hour, often day after day.
Meanwhile the world keeps turning and you just know that there is something important happening somewhere – the news we didn’t get.
So every once in a while I hit the web and scratch up some current news items from far-flung places that our pathetic news media failed to report to us. Here’s what I found today:
South Africa in Chaos after President Fires Financial Minister – President Jacob Zuma replaced highly-regarded finance minister Pravin Gordhan with an inexperienced African National Congress loyalist last week in the face of growing tension over South Africa’s deteriorating economic conditions. Gordhan has criticized the ANC-controlled government for “corruption and mismanagement.” Rival political parties are gaining momentum in their quest to upend the ANC’s dominance of South African politics.
Pakistani and Indian Armies Exchange Mortar, Small Arms Fire On “Line Of Control” in Kashmir – India claims the Pakistani army broke the cease-fire on the LoC yesterday, firing mortars and automatic weapons at Indian soldiers, who returned fire. The conflict over the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir goes back to 1947 when India was originally partitioned, and scuffles over the artificial border separating the claimed areas have gone on ever since. Most Americans have no idea that these two nations with large armies and nuclear weapons routinely engage in battle, with no end in sight.
Brazilian Presidency Hangs By A Thread – Michel Temer awaits a court hearing that could oust him from Brazil’s presidency over claims of illegal campaign funding by his predecessor and running mate, Dilma Roussef. Roussef was impeached for corruption in 2014. Brazil’s economy had cratered during the leftist Roussef’s term, but was healing rapidly since vice-president Temer took over last year after a period of indecision and legal wrangling. The court must now decide whether Roussef’s actions invalidate her election and thus that of Temer as her running mate.
Tom Balek – Rockin’ On the Right Side
How was I to know
About the warm soulful secret
You been keepin’ for years
I got the news
One year ago the news media fixated on a single story for several weeks. It was so terribly important that it superceded everything else that was going on in the world. It was as if nothing else mattered – this story was so critical to the life and welfare of every American that there was no room for any other news. Even President Obama had to take time from his schedule to express his concern and thoughts about the topic.
Rockin' On The Right Side 