Jobseeker’s Diary

This has been one of those busy weeks. Not for me, but rather all that’s going on around the world. Protests in Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and the continuing air strikes in Libya! I don’t condone violence and I feel sad about the loss of lives, particularly civilians, but it looks like this is the only option to get some semblance of democracy in these countries. Like most people, I thought Gadhafi would be history by now but I’m beginning to think that, that is not about to happen. It has to be the indecisive coalition forces. “Gadhafi must leave”; “No, we’re not there to change the regime”; “We are not saying we will arm the rebels”; “We’re not ruling out arming the rebels...” My head is spinning from the ever changing positions on these issues. While the so-called superpowers are busy squabbling, Gadhafi is continuing his killing spree and you can’t blame him. As for the pro-democracy rebels, I’m praying for them. They remind me of that game we loved to play as kids; hide and seek. This is the second time they’re being forced back from towns they had “seized” just days before. I know they’re no match for Gadhafi’s experienced mercenaries but still, they need to get more organised. I’m getting impatient with the whole fracas. Why don’t the foreign forces just get some ground troops into Libya because I think that’s what they will do eventually? In related news, I’m glad Pro-Quattara fighters have taken matters into their hands. I’m celebrating every city they capture because they truly deserve to be there. I hope it doesn’t turn into another Libya. But with reports Gbagbo is scampering to get youths to enlist in the army, I doubt that will happen. To borrow Quattara’s words, Gbagbo has no place calling for a ceasefire now. All the peaceful options have been exhausted and it’s time for him to face the music. As for the African Union, thanks for nothing! With all due respect, I suggest you man up or dissolve the organisation because we can’t remember the last time you handled an African crisis. All these cries for African solutions to African problems are superficial. No doubt you have good intentions but you have failed on so many fronts. In more intriguing political news, the Guatemala First Lady divorced so she can run for president. I don’t know if I should feel proud, now that it looks like the world is becoming more receptive to female presidents, or curb my enthusiasm about the same because I just have a strange feeling that the divorce is only a strategy. According to Reuters, Sandra Torres didn’t want to violate the countrys law against family members of the President taking power. She said the decision was very difficult and that while she was getting a divorce from her husband, “she was getting married to the people.” That statement has “conniving” written all over it. What are the chances this couple will remarry soon after Torres is sworn in? Lucky for her though, she isnt the only questionable candidate running for the office. Reuters also reports that Álvaro Arzú, a former president, is campaigning despite a ban on re-election. Zury Ríos, a congresswoman, may be blocked by a prohibition on the relatives of the organisers of coups, since her father, Efraín Ríos Montt, toppled a government in 1982. Eduardo Suger, another possible candidate, was born in Switzerland and may not meet the requirement that one has to be Guatemalan by ‘origin’. Religious leaders are also forbidden from running, which might cause problems for Harold Caballeros, a founder of a large evangelical church. Looks like our divorcee has a good shot! Remember the saying that behind every powerful man is a powerful woman? If you were ever in doubt of that, there’s your proof. To be continued...nsophie77@yahoo.com