The Curious Case of Japanese Arrogance

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan has been a very terrible disaster and my condolences with the victims and their families. Now, more catastrophic has been the possibility of a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plants.

This catastrophic event of epic proportions in Japan is equivalent to Mother Nature bonking freestyle. But is it that bad?

Of course it is! But it doesn’t really top the scale of catastrophic events when compared to what’s happening around the world.

The world and the media which highlights the event to epic proportions or basic insignificance has a penchant for exclamation. For example the estimated death toll in Japan directly related to the earthquake and tsunami could be as high as 10,000. However, the civilian death toll in Iraq could be as high as 601,000 according to Lancet survey from 2003 - 2006. So when scaled against Japanese death toll, not only will the Iraq death toll hit the ground hard, but it would also toss the Japanese death toll high up in the sky relative to its magnitude.

But more importantly, what this basically proves is that deaths, as massive in toll as it might be is acceptable and less awe striking if its in installments.

Now to the second part of the Japanese disaster – the nuclear meltdown. As apprehensive as I could be towards the nuclear meltdown and catastrophe that may ensue (God forbid it doesn’t), the entire blame lies on the Japanese. Actually, the Japanese have been quite bold and adventurous in the modern history since World War 2. But perhaps, all their dexterous adventures show signs of a country suffering from bi-polar disorder.

The first instance of the Japanese being affected by this mental disorder was when they decided to bomb the Pearl Harbor. To date I have failed to comprehend why the fuck would they have ever wanted to carry out such a ludicrous act against a country that possessed atom bomb. If Coca Colas, New Coke were one of the biggest marketing failures, the Japanese Pearl Harbor excursion was the biggest idiotic act in war science. 

For all I know, Sun Tzu, the mysterious Chinese warrior-philosopher was a next door neighbor. I mean even though he was dead, his teachings were pretty much accessible. But I guess, perhaps it was the superiority complex/arrogance which led to the teachings of Sun Tzu being ignored atleast until Japan transformed itself from feudal to a corporate culture.

Okay what was done cannot be changed. Fortune does favor the brave and Japans economic might that resulted was truly amazing. But for your own prospects, you cannot be selfish. What followed was the advanced stage symptom of bi-polar disorder. As if taking on the might of United States and getting atom bombed in return wasn’t enough, Japan decided to take on the might of the Mother Nature. Its not like earthquakes are a brand new phenomenon and oblivious to the Japanese. It’s as old as time itself.

Building a nuclear plant is not an issue. But building a power plant when you lie on the Pacific Rim of Fire with 108 active volcanoes is kind of a stupid idea. There were 140,000 deaths in the 1923 Tokyo earthquake. How silly is it to imagine that 88 years later, if an earthquake is to strike, it would not shake the nuclear power plant and damage it exposing your own citizens to radioactivity and on a greater scale to the rest of the region.

I have always felt that arrogance knows no reasoning.  

The Grandeur Opulence of His Majesty Charlie Sheen

The American pop culture is absolutely fascinating and disturbing. It has given rise and prominence to people like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and that lady who always makes the shape of a heart with her hands – Paula Abdul. 

And then there is this prostitute obsessed, rehab clinic favorite and dick trolling Charlie Sheen – the best thing to happen to Americans and perhaps the world since Santa Claus. Great actor – Hot Shots was an absolute laugh riot – thankfully I was not admitted to any clinic for laughing too hard.

Now what obviously has been lost in translation perhaps is the underlying motive behind all of Charlie Sheen’s great one act plays. I can still remember meeting a cousin of mine who had come to visit me from America in 1995. America was in a mourning mood then. Sadness, despair and fear had exchanged places with hope, excitement and joy. The Oklahoma City Bombing in April of that year had killed 168 people, including 19 children. UK’s oldest investment bank, Barings Bank had collapsed and Jacques Chirac was elected the President of France.

The list of disasters and atrocities was a long one. And it was up to one young man to flip the nation’s mood from the grim to the one of excitement, and joyous. That young man was Charlie Sheen. For the greater goodness of his country - and the world - he sacrificed his own reputation by becoming a witness in the high profile case of Hollywood madam, Heidi Fleiss. 

His sacrificed paid off. 

For weeks and months all the attention was drawn to his $53k bonking adventures. America was back to what it used to be – pop culture indulged. My cousin was happy. Infact she called me up and told me to read about Charlie’s exploits in the next edition of the Peoples magazine. Internet was oblivious to me then and Facebooks founder would have been playing Gardenville or making Face Slate.

That was 16 years ago. 

Fast forward to this year and America and its people needed him again - Charlie did not hesitate for a second. Infact he sacrificed his television career for the greater good of the nation - and the world – once again.

I can still recall CNN’s Anderson Cooper on his AC360 saying that his audience was sending him tweets and emails telling him ‘they did like to be informed about the revolutions in the Middle East, but the coverage was excessive’ and it was making everyone downright depressive. Now Anderson justified it by saying that what was happening was a once in a lifetime event – ditto.

But Charlie Sheen wasn’t going to take any of Anderson Coopers explanation. His main concern was changing the mood of the nation – and the world – by taking attention away from the effort of bloodied students and youths in Egypt and later on in Libya. Now this was Charlie Sheen and he has always had extra sleeves for his secret weapons. The first one that he unleashed was some chick whose only name I and perhaps others would remember was ‘Bombshell.’ 

What a master stroke Charlie Sheen pulled! The guy’s dexterous antics basically took my breath away. But the attention of the people constantly diverted back and stuck like tartar to the events in the Middle East.

And it became the defining moment in Charlie Sheen's career. It would be this moment for which he would not only be remembered by others, but he would remember himself – actually when he remembers, it would be his former self. 

He trashed his executives and bosses on The Don Patrick Show. Challenged some Chuck guy who was some writer and creator of his show to a fight – probably scaring the crap out of that poor guy and and it was his this audacious attempt which finally diverted the attention of the 'meaningful news fatigued Americans' towards him - and consequently away from all the sadness and misery of a once in a lifetime and transformational event, that is, the revolution in the Middle East. 

Thank you Charlie Sheen!

American Presidents Had Balls Until Barack Obama

Stretching back my memory till the earliest ones I am pretty sure I did not have any interest or liking for the American politics. It wasn’t until the year 1998, two decades after I was born when the heroics of Bill Clinton captivated my attention hence the American politics. Well Monica Lewinsky also deserves equal credit. 

She was damn hot and I can understand the spell of seduction Bill Clinton must have been under. Even the name Monica Lewinsky oozed sensuality. But what Bill Clinton went through was a stuff of legends and a ‘straight out of text book scenarios’ that an American President could through.  

Nevertheless, Bill Clinton not only made me take interest in American politics, he also taught me three great lessons.

1. Receiving oral sex from a female is not considered sex.
2. Republicans are really bad and they can make you very angry, a consequence of which is a strong desire to get a blow job from your hot intern..
3. You can cheat on your wife even if she is in the house.

But most importantly I learnt that American Presidents have balls. 

After the end of Bill Clinton’s terms, George W. Bush got elected to the office. Although I have to admit that I was a total Al Gore fan and rooted for him to win. 

In hindsight, it’s a relief that Al Gore lost. 

George W. Bush was the epitome of wrong decisions. And he had the biggest pair of balls of any President. Despite what we saw as lack of intelligence, he made up with his guts and grit. 

It’s no surprise therefore that he served for two complete terms contrary to most of the predictions from political pundits. He was actually one of the most entertaining presidents as well. Apart from his debauched Iraq war, he did pretty gutsy things. 

For one, he got the crap out of Muammer Gaddafi – the Libyan leader who had become a big time show off stemming from his defiance towards the West. I am pretty sure he must have not only seen the photos of Saddam Hussein’s hanging but the sons’ lifeless bodies – a catalyst for giving up his nuclear weapons program. Can anyone imagine what this madman would have done now if he had WMD? 

It wasn’t only that; he actually pushed Hosni Mubarak towards implementing democratic reforms in Egypt. And knowing that Hamas would win free and fair democratic elections, he still pushed for it despite getting advice to drop his effort. The important lessons he taught me were:

1. A democratically elected government doesn’t mean automatic acceptance by the international community. You have to democratically elect non-terrorists into the government.
2. If you have the ability to become the most powerful leader in the world, don’t forget to make those who wronged your family payback.
3. To hell with others opinion. If you think its right, then just do it, even if it means you have to lie to get your way through.

By the time George Bush completed his second term the entire world was going through Bush fatigue. It was then when a Black-American man ascended catching the worlds including my attention with speech after speech – and damn eloquently; giving us Goosebumps and jerking out tears. 

We didn’t have to lend him our ears, it basically deserted us. 

I was completely sold out.

So were the Americans, actually 52.9% of the voting population when they elected him to become the 44^th President of America. His speeches had two main themes, Change and Hope. He gave speeches everywhere. One of the major ones was in Egypt in June, 2009 where he spoke of freedom, democracy, change and peace.

It was after the recent revolution in Egypt when I realized that Barack Obama was mostly an eloquent speech guy. He just loved to talk. But then he made me realize lot of other things as well. All his actions and political decisions were guided by the polls. 

I mean it’s a damn good thing if you want to retain the presidency for another term. Polls became his spine and Oracle. Unlike his two predecessors, Barack Obama I understand does not have balls. He is in servitude to the political wind. He would think more than twice and then consult the polls on what people would think if he made a particular decision. 

And he laughs a lot.  Having seen coverage of world events especially during photos sessions, he is all too happy to show his 32. Well it just makes me assume that he is still in a joyous and celebratory mood from becoming the first Black President of America.

But like the other two presidents I learnt a few things from him as well.

1. You can really talk your way to the top.
2. Once on top, you don’t really have to walk the talk.
3. Keep a neutral stand and make a decision at the last moment albeit one that’s popular with the majority.