Derek's Blog at Babbly.com

Are you tired of trying to navigate corporate voice mail and/or phone systems, in a vain attempt to talk to a real, live human being?  This is a really neat idea, I just found this site posted on a forum that I visit.  I might just have to try this out sometime!  Not a lot of Canadian companies listed so far, hopefully there will be more.

It's called BRINGO.  Here's the basic idea, as taken from the site's homepage: 

Tired of dialing 1-800 numbers and not being able to get through to a human who can help you?

BRINGO cuts through all of that so you don't have to. That's right, BRINGO has conquered phone trees.

Here's how it works:

1. Find the company you'd like to call by category (credit cards, mortgages, loans, health care)
2. Enter your phone # (we will never disclose your phone number to anyone, not even your mother!).
3. Wait a few seconds while we navigate the phone tree.
4. When we call you back, pick up your phone and you're done. No more phone trees.

http://www.nophonetrees.com/home/no_phone_trees

"A teacher for more than three decades and an advocate for women's rights, Safia Ama Jan ran an underground school for girls during Taliban rule.  Yesterday, two men on a motorbike gunned her down as she left for work — identifying their target despite her full burqa."

Canadians are increasingly questioning the role of our military in Afghanistan, and more and more, Canadians are saying that we need to pull out, that we don't belong there.  It is incidents like these, that clearly illustrate why we must stay, and continue the fight against the Taliban and insurgents.

During World War II, Canada and the rest of the world participated in the conflict to bring down Hitler, for many reasons, including the atrocities that were being committed against the Jews, and other 'inferior' persons.  A clear case of violation to the rights of humans, persecution for their race, and religion.

Can the same not be said of what is happening in Afghanistan?

Now, I realize that the Jews have been recognized as a religion, or a race, for thousands of years now, and that women have only been recognized in Canada as being persons for a mere 77 years, but it is very difficult to understand why the persecution and restriction of women by the Taliban and extremists there, is not being taken as seriously as the persecution of  the Jews by Hitler.

Some people seem to be of the attitude that it's their religion, their custom, their beliefs, that dictates this.  The same could have been said of Hitler's beliefs, yet the world still saw the need to combat him.   From some accounts I have read in various places, depending on the source, some say that Islam actually teaches more equality of the sexes, than the Christian bible, so that logic doesn't quite wash either.  And more importantly, the women don't get a say or a choice in their beliefs, they were and are forced by these Muslim extremists and the Taliban to adhere to what they believe in.  Similar to me, in the way that Hitler restricted the Jews in work, religion, and in the end, in life.

I think the similarities of the Taliban and the Nazis are too strong to ignore.  No, it's not the same situation, but the similarities are too strong to ignore.  It disturbs me to think, that would the world be less apathetic to the problem if it wasn't women that were most at risk in Afghanistan, but Christian or Jewish men?

For what it's worth, I am a New Democrat supporter, and I strongly oppose the NDP position that Canada needs to recall our troops.  It might not be the perfect, all noble peacekeeping mission that we've been used to for many years now, but it is a worthy cause.  If even a few women or minorities can be freed from the oppression of the Taliban and extremists, it is well worthwhile in the quest for equal human rights, for all the people of the world. 

(Initial paragraph from the news story about this activists' death at the Toronto Star )