I read a blog post just today from the Huffington Post, and became enraged and disgusted simultaneously. The post was made by Bob Harris, and it was concerning the crisis-level assault on women in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo. With the Second Congo War raging away, and claiming around 1000 lives a day, this conflict has further destabilized a region of the world that has not seen civil rest in over a decade. And yet, rarely, if ever, do we here in America, hear anything about the world’s deadliest conflict that is carrying on without a humanitarian push from the people of the US to drive our government into action.

I cannot bring myself to post the details of the violence that these women are facing everyday, which force some of them to seek refuge in the nearby jungles at night to find peace and rest. I know that I should, but this topic is one that I am overly sensitive to. Tears rush to my eyes, even now, as I type around the facts, and simply urge the public to seek out the information about what is happening. We need to be raising awareness and sounding the alarm about this destruction and abuse!

As a nation that invades others for humanitarian reasons, we are really dropping the ball here as millions are dying and woman across the lands are being brutalized, and we can’t even get our media to report on the situation. Sparse reports surface every couple of years, but still we are not spurred to action, and that is sickening in and of itself. We have engaged in a war of choice, and have left ourselves incapable of providing aid where it has been needed for longer than in Iraq.

Mr. Harris mentions that his write-up of the horrors being committed will probably be the only one sounded for the public to hear, and there will probably not be another for months to come. I say, that that is unacceptable! We need to be united in raising our voices to cry out for these woman and this horrible war that seems to be unending. Dubbed the African World War, this bloody conflict needs to be on the tongues and minds of every citizen of the world, who considers themselves to be a humanitarian. I also call out for everyone to alert as many people as we can to this crisis, and keep the outcry going until significant action be taken to bring about an end to this deplorable situation.

For more info, check out Bob Harris entry for the Huffington Post here

To sign a petition to the President of the DR of the Congo, urging more drastic action click here

To sign a petition to the US media to demand more coverage of these atrocities to raise awareness click here

Seen any good TV lately? I ask this rhetorically of course as an easy segue into the topic I wish to throw out there for today. The writer’s strike that is causing a disruption at best, and at worst, an abrupt

end to this season of some of my favorite television programs. I know that there are so many things going on right now in this country that are more apt to be discussed on the Angry Hippie’s Soapbox, not that I have a devout following to apologize to for this break of my usual commentary, but it is for the above reason that I bring this up.

There are many newsworthier events happening around the world to set the blood a boiling with righteous indignation, and spawn hours of rants about, but as I said, it is for this reason that I want to discuss the dwindling selections for my weekly distractions from the outside world. Television is an escape. I think everyone can agree on that. Is it an escape that gets overly abused by the majority of the public? Sure, but does that mean that it’s alright for it to disappear? No. I think I can be more emphatic than that. NO!

That’s better. The negotiations that have broken down between the network execs and the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America), are not fully understood by this angry public crying out for these “greedy, spoiled” writers to return to their posts. And that’s unfortunate, because, as is so common today, people believe their assumptions and inferences of the truth rather than taking the time to investigate the facts of a situation. So let me make it easy for you.

About twenty years ago a contract was signed by these two groups, and in it, terms were agreed upon for the royalties that the writers would be paid for their material. Now it’s time for the contract to come up for renewal, and some issues have arisen. The writers feel like the new contract should include royalty stipulations that cover Internet rebroadcasting, and Dvd residuals as these technologies have developed the market in a new, and major way. Some might say, these technologies have revolutionized an industry whose main source for deep replay of old shows was Nick-at-Nite! (and yes, i know that the previous statement is an exaggerated, oversimplification of the delivery system, but it was done that way to make a point. so stop the preparations of your inflammatory retort and actually finish listening to what I am saying.)

The network execs decided that no changes needed to be made because of the inability for tracking profits gained through this new market. Long story short… Strike! Now, if you were working the same job, and after 20 years you had to re-negotiate the terms of your contract, would you take the same amount of money you had been taking before, even though you were expected to expand the range of your job output without compensation? Shit, I know people who are ready to quit a job after a couple years if they don’t get a raise.

And no one can argue that the work of the writer’s is not deserving of every cent they earn, or else people would not be so worked up over their shows being interrupted! I know that a portion of the outrage is simply over the nanny being taken away, because ADD is so bad in this country, we can’t just watch repeats, we need something new that’s not reality TV. But let’s be honest, that portion has been angry about the nanny’s loose morals as of late anyway, so we’ve grown accustomed to their voices and rage. So why should we expect the writers to continue to provide us with effective, tranquil escapes from the real of such high caliber for money that’s not fitting their superior performance? I mean, they aren’t all women. Some of those guys aren’t used to that kind of double standard.