Filipinos had a flair for the dramatic long before there was even a Philippines. Ferdinand Magellan’s singular achievement in the world of explorers was getting himself killed by the people he was attempting to “explore.” Other Spanish explorers like Cortés, Columbus, de León, and de Soto died of disgusting tropical diseases or old age. Pizarro was assassinated by the son of a man he’d sentenced to death.
British Captain James Cook who “discovered” most of the Pacific Ocean region was killed by native Hawaiians. Despite this, the great regard the Hawaiians had for Cook led them to give him the highest funeral honors, which were typically reserved for chiefs and elders.
We sit in our little corner of the Western Pacific Ocean with this almost constant “Onli in da Pilipins” attitude, which could not be farther from the truth.
How strange is the world right now?
While there are those that think every member of the current Duterte administration should quit, Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga just did resign with his approval ratings at an all-time low over his government’s handling of the response to the pandemic.
Muhyiddin Yassin just became Malaysia’s shortest-serving Prime Minister in history when he resigned two weeks ago over public criticism against his administration’s handling of the pandemic. In Thailand: “With more than 12,000 dead, few vaccinated and the economy in shambles, demonstrations against the authorities have become a daily event and are beginning to turn deadly.”
Canada’s Justin Trudeau could be on the way out after he was a “sure winner” in the coming snap election he called for last month. His party says Covid has nothing to do with the disastrous drop in Trudeau’s polling. Sorry, in 2021 everything has something to do with Covid. And just a coincidence, no doubt, Canada’s cases and deaths have been rising since July 8th.
At a time when global food supplies are getting tighter, Joe Biden wants to pay farmers to not grow anything. Why? “President Joe Biden wants to combat climate change by paying more farmers not to farm. The Biden administration aims to enroll 4 million acres in 2021.” Four million acres (total US farm acreage is 900 million) is nothing. It is just the idea of priorities. And even climate change activists say it is a useless program.
“The Gloucester County [Virginia, USA] School Board has agreed to pay $1.3 million in legal fees after barring transgender student Gavin Grimm, now 22, from using the boys’ restroom while he was in high school.”
On this side of the world, “China bans ‘sissy’ and ‘effeminate’ men from TV to encourage more masculinity in young men.” And “Billionaire actress Zhao Wei has been ‘erased’ in China and she’s just one of a long line of stars who’ve been banished.”
You are free to argue for or against the effectiveness and necessity of being vaccinated. My family is fully vaccinated although initially I was hesitant.
However, vaccination is bringing new meaning to “authoritarian government.” President Biden has called for a “No-Jab-No-Job” policy for those working in elderly care facilities, as well as for federal government employees.
On the other hand, “Vaccination is the main weapon against the spread of the virus. Importantly, no one should be forced to get a jab. Pressure, where people may lose their jobs, is even less acceptable. People must be convinced of the need to get the vaccine.” That is the official policy of the “All-Powerful Dictator and Tyrant” Vladimir Putin.
“New Research Suggests Humans Could Live up to 150 Years.” No survey has been done asking the question, “Does anyone want to live to be 150 years old?”
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.