I Hope the Royal Family Wins this One

She was evidently out of the public's site with her husband on a private property so isolated from town.

She was with her husband; not a hooker! And they do everything under the sun to see her nakedness, take shots of her that way, go ahead and sell them - and guess whose newspaper is in line to publish these pictures? A whole former President. (Of course I know Berlusconi is the least respected president that ever walked on the face of this earth).

But what exactly is the accomplishment here for all the parties - the photographers and the publishers? You stole shots at somebody's wife's nakedness on a private property, and you are all over the place with them? God! Even peeping toms get jail sentences.

I hope the Royal Family wins this one! I hope these glorified criminals are brought to book.

Iraqi Christian Among Crowd That Worshiped with Pope Benedict in Lebanon

Beautiful images in Lebanon this morning! Pope Benedict XVI draws an enormous crowd in Beirut - leading the morning’s sermon, administering communion to Catholics.

"Christianity in Lebanon has a long and continuous history, beginning with the visits of Jesus to the southern territories, where he is said to have performed many miraculous healings."

Today, Christians in Lebanon are said to constitute close to 40% of the country's population, with Muslims making the majority. Seizing the rare opportunity to join their brothers and sisters in Lebanon to celebrate their faith are small Christian minorities from neighboring Middle Eastern countries/states.

Angry Yemenis on the Offence: Remember When They Sought Help From the US?

Look at Yemenis protesting and threatening violent acts on the US embassy in that country.

Months ago, they were calling for help from the US to bring down their government. John McCain seems quite on this one, but he sure will speak out condemning the Obama administration for lack of leadership the moment these same people turn around and cry for help from the US against their leaders.

The US "liberated" Libya, only to be met with hostility of its highest degree – four of its citizens, including its ambassador to that country, killed in a single day. They supported the ousting of Mubarak, their great Middle Eastern ally, only to strengthen the forces that work against them in Egypt.

Visibly uncomfortable, we watched President Obama admit on Tuesday that presently, Egypt is neither an ally nor a foe of the United States.

Of course, the freedom of the Egyptian, Libyan or any other people triumphs friendship of any kind between governments, but isn’t it possible to achieve both when things are done more cautiously?

Yet, John McCain is crying everyday for more US troops to be deployed to the Middle East and elsewhere without careful planning and consideration of the consequences.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates famously told a group of West Point cadets: “any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should ‘have his head examined,’ as General MacArthur so delicately put it.”

Any deliberation by the Obama administration regarding war is seen as a weakness by McCain. That old man only seems to care about wars; not their consequences. If that doesn’t sound irresponsible to you, I don’t know what would.

Libya Killings of US Diplomats: What the Heck Does Romney Mean?

Mitt Romney!! He makes an official statement, criticizing the Obama administration for "sympathising" with the killers of four US diplomats in Libya, even before Obama makes his statement on the issue. You would wonder who is in charge of the Romney campaign and who on earth told him the smart thing to do is to go ahead of the president and his administration and condemn their response even before the latter issue one. Shoot! Governor Romney!!

President Obama DNC 2012 Speech: Full Text

Michelle, I love you. The other night, I think the entire country saw just how lucky I am. Malia and Sasha, you make me so proud…but don’t get any ideas, you’re still going to class tomorrow. And Joe Biden, thank you for being the best Vice President I could ever hope for.

Madam Chairwoman, delegates, I accept your nomination for President of the United States.

The first time I addressed this convention in 2004, I was a younger man; a Senate candidate from Illinois who spoke about hope – not blind optimism or wishful thinking, but hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; that dogged faith in the future which has pushed this nation forward, even when the odds are great; even when the road is long.

Eight years later, that hope has been tested – by the cost of war; by one of the worst economic crises in history; and by political gridlock that’s left us wondering whether it’s still possible to tackle the challenges of our time.

I know that campaigns can seem small, and even silly. Trivial things become big distractions. Serious issues become sound bites. And the truth gets buried under an avalanche of money and advertising. If you’re sick of hearing me approve this message, believe me – so am I.

The Much Anticipated Obama DNC Speech

                                                                                              By Antoinette Herrmann-Condobrey
 

For all those whose main fear was if last night's speech could beat that of '08 or if he’d be able to convince voters that they are better off today than they were four years ago, I guess we've realized by now that the guy's agenda was way different. It was to reconcile the two speeches - tying the past to the present and future; and boy, did he do a heck of a job!

If There is Any Real Voter Fraud in Recent Decades That I Know of

By Antoinette Herrmann-Condobrey

I stand for correction but the only real voter fraud in the US presidential elections I know of in recent decades are: 1. The Florida recount in the 2000 election between Bush and Gore - when the US Supreme Court halted the recount process - calling it for Bush. 2. Current voter ID laws enacted in many states across the US - spearheaded by Republicans - which disenfranchise eligible voters, mainly minorities - primarily from key Democrat constituencies. So I’m here and I'm thinking: The group that ought to be watched are the ones who are playing the watchmen - claiming voter frauds and poll protection as reasons to put in place - new, unnecessary stiff measures that do nothing but stifle the efforts of minorities to register to vote and subsequently rob them of their rights to vote.

Michelle Obama DNC Speech: Full Transcript

Thank you so much, Elaine...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back. Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.

And everywhere I've gone, in the people I've met, and the stories I've heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.

I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.

I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.

I've seen it in people who become heroes at a moment's notice, diving into harm's way to save others...flying across the country to put out a fire...driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.

An Ode to President Mills

By Antoinette Herrmann-Condobrey

What a way to teach us the things that matter most in this life, Prof! Indeed they are not statuses. And oh, they are not the approval of men!! When all's said and done, the spirit is the only thing that matters. And yes! This is true for the rich and the poor; for the young and the old; for the leader and the follower; for the ruler and the ruled; for the sick and the healthy. What a way to silence! Not even the prophets announced it this time. What a show of strength! What an example of faith!! What a gentle way to depart. Sleep tight, my president. Sleep tight at His feet.

Originally written and published on July 24 2012 - following the announcement of the the death of Ghana's sitting president John Evans Atta Mills



When They Don't Know Where You Belong

By Antoinette Herrmann-Condobrey


Left: Stephen Anti: News Editor at Multimedia Ghana and host of PM Express

Quite frustrated by attempts to pin him to different political parties on different occasions, depending on his views on different issues, a colleague of mine - news editor and broadcast journalist - Stephen Anti, writes: "I hate it when I speak my mind and people say – ‘aaargh I said it, his true colour is NDC’. Other times they say -'Hah U see the NPP mole'." He grumbles, "What at all is this?”

Voltarians and Last Name First

                                                                                                             By Antoinette Herrmann-Condobrey

I have wondered since childhood why people from the Volta Region of Ghana are more prone to calling themselves by their last names first and writing out their names in that order. I just don't know what to make of it.

Among the many Voltarians who are deeply engrossed in this practice in everyday life are some of the youngest and
cool people I know. I think we all know the “last name first” principle. I understand the