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2004-05-08 Southeast Asia

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Posted by Dan Darling 2004-05-08 12:29:10 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This article eerily echoes the US campaign season's shrill tenor. These will occur on May 10th...

Here's the link to the world Election Guide:
http://www.ifes.org/eguide/2004.htm

Posted by .com 2004-05-08 1:58:06 AM|| 2004-05-08 1:58:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Arroyo's reelection is of great overall significance. Out of the entire field of candidates, she alone has the education to steer the Philippines through the perilous course confronting it.

As the sole Christian nation in Asia, her country faces unique and substantial challenges. The MILF and Abu Sayyaf represent extremely destabilizing influences upon the country's already reeling economy. Agrarian reform, a key issue in overcoming critical socio-economic logjams that have rendered recent progress moribund requires a comprehensive understanding of political issues which Arroyo's opponent, Fernando J. Poe (called "FJP"), has absolutely no experience with.

Visions of renewed cronyism akin to that which prevailed in the Marcos and Estrada eras have already sent jitters through the Philippine stock market and affected currency exchange rates as well. Speculation abounds with rumors of military coups fueled by potential popular dissatisfaction with a FJP loss. Sadly, political patronage is still a fact of life and misconduct by the First Gentleman has served to damage public perception and hobble the effectiveness of Macapagal's administration.

None of this outweighs the Philippines' dire need for skilled leadership at present. Poe does not hold forth a lot of promise regarding political reform nor does he evoke much confidence for those abroad regarding the war on terror. The readily anticipated cronyism resulting from Poe's election could just as easily compromise military operations and internal security as trapos sought once again to wet their beaks in the government trough.

Arroyo currently enjoys a solid 7% lead over her rival, Poe. Let all of us hope that she prevails in the coming election. Failure by her to regain the presidency could bode ill in many quarters besides just Asia.

Posted by Zenster 2004-05-08 3:31:36 AM|| 2004-05-08 3:31:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 As the sole Christian nation in Asia

Zenster get your facts right. There are a number of Christian majority states in Asia, Including S. Korea, Singapore, East Timor, PNG and of course Russia, Georgia and Armenia.

Otherwise this is the Sydney Morning Herald, and although the largest circulation daily in Australia, its recent editorial policy has verged on the bizzare.

Posted by Phil B 2004-05-08 6:41:43 AM|| 2004-05-08 6:41:43 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Phil B, By "Asia" I was referring to the "mini-dragons" of the Pacific rim. It is far from clear that Christianity is dominant in the Oriental countries you mention. While up to date statistics are not easy to locate, the percentages found in the those I provide here tend to reflect the more pervasive breakdowns among other East Asian populations. Perhaps you might provides some cites for your assertions as well.

According to government statistics, 42.6 percent or more than 17 million of South Korea's 1985 population professed adherence to an organized religious community. There were at least 8 million Buddhists (about 20 percent of the total population), about 6.5 million Protestants (16 percent of the population), some 1.9 million Roman Catholics (5 percent), nearly 500,000 people who belonged to Confucian groups (1 percent), and more than 300,000 others (0.7 percent).

In 1988 the [Singapore] Ministry of Community Development reported the religious distribution to be 28.3 percent Buddhist, 18.7 percent Christian, 17.6 percent no religion, 16 percent Islam, 13.4 percent Daoist, 9 percent Hindu, and 1.1 percent other religions (Sikhs, Parsis, Jews). The Christian proportion of the population nearly doubled between 1980 and 1988, growing from 10 percent to nearly 19 percent. The growth of Christianity and of those professing no religion was greatest in the Chinese community, with most of the Christian converts being young, well-educated people in secure white-collar and professional jobs. Most converts joined evangelical and charismatic Protestant churches worshiping in English. About one-third of the members of Parliament were Christians, as were many cabinet ministers and members of the ruling party, which was dominated by well-educated, Englishspeaking Chinese. The association of Christianity with elite social and political status may have helped attract some converts.

[Singapore] religious affiliation: Buddhist 28%; Muslim 15%; Christian 13%; Taoist 13%; Hindu 4%; other (non religious included) 27%

East Timor and Papua New Guinea are not major players on the rim and will not be for some time. Having been to Armenia for its celebration of 1,400 years of Christianity, it seems much more a part of southern Europe than Asia per se.

Apart from your contentions about Asiatic religious statistics, what do you think of the actual issues facing the Philippines, Phil B? Disputing a peripheral point does not disprove the bulk of my observations.

Posted by Zenster 2004-05-08 12:29:57 PM|| 2004-05-08 12:29:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Quite the geo-political whiz kid, aren't you, Zipmeister?

Posted by Jen 2004-05-08 12:38:02 PM|| [http://www.greatestjeneration.com] 2004-05-08 12:38:02 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Ever been divorced Zenster? If not you're getting a good preview.

Posted by last fury of the day 2004-05-08 3:30:26 PM|| 2004-05-08 3:30:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Ever been divorced Zenster? If not you're getting a good preview.

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Thank you, last fury of the day, I needed a really good belly laugh this afternoon.

Posted by Zenster 2004-05-08 5:03:49 PM|| 2004-05-08 5:03:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 sorry about the LOL! - but I've been dvorced..good luck, everyone....you all will need it :-)

Posted by Frank G 2004-05-08 5:19:57 PM|| 2004-05-08 5:19:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Actually Zenster is right about Singapore. Its one of those situations where direct experience is misleading. I live in Singapore and almost every Singaporean I know who professes a religion is a Christian, but thats because middle class english speaking chinese are predominantly christian. Heres a link if you are interested.

Posted by Phil B 2004-05-08 8:45:54 PM|| 2004-05-08 8:45:54 PM|| Front Page Top

10:58 Man Bites Dog TROLL
10:52 Man Bites Dog TROLL
22:45 Mike Sylwester
22:40 Mike Sylwester
17:48 Man Bites Dog TROLL
10:24 Gentile
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01:52 Old Guy
01:36 Man Bites Dog TROLL
01:36 Man Bites Dog TROLL
01:14 Barbara Skolaut
23:57 Mr. Davis
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22:53 Zenster