the 'yes we can' campaign

there was a lot of hype centred around the Obama campaign, so much so that around the world there has been talks of political leaders and campaigners trying to follow suit and even go as far as to adopt the wordings, 'yes we can'

funnily, we in Asia seem to forget that the phrase is not at all new in the political campaigning circle. For as long as I can remember the slogan "Malaysia Buleh" had been promoted by Malaysian leaders.

Recently when I was in Indonesia I saw similar wordings being used in an election billboard in one of the towns. [need my Indo friends to remind me of the exact words - Anung?] (leave aside for now the question as to why his billboard was still allowed to stay up months after the election) Do we then conclude that it is part of the Obamania? or is it simply a continuation of what has been going on amidst political campaigns for years? ie. to promote a sense of belonging, a sense of pride in your country, and by extension the leader (or advertiser) who is riding on that easy to rev up national pride emotion?

Militants relentless...even during the holy month of Ramadhan

another bomb exploded almost in the mid of Pattani town at lunch time today. The bomb was placed in a busy restaurant - injuring close to 30 people.

I once watched one of those movies depicting fighting during war in one of the African countries. At prayer time was when everyone would take a break. UNfortunately here in Pattani, the presumably Muslim militants, would not even stop their atrocities even during their own holy month. I suppose after the spree of killing unarmed men, innocent young woman, school teachers and such - I really shouldnt be expecting them to observe any sense of morality should I

Details of the incident at Bangkok Post