Dahiya Doctrine and Hannibal Directive

Hannibal Directive:

• Focus: To prevent capture of Israeli soldiers by enemy forces
• Application: Authorizes use of force, including lethal force against captured soldiers to avoid abduction
• Goal: Prevent capture of soldiers
• Targets: Captured soldiers
• Legality: International law violation
• Issue: In most cases, it violates international humanitarian law and principle of proportionality

Dahiya Doctrine:

• Focus: Deterrence of enemy attacks through deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure to inflict maximum civilian casualties
• Application: Disproportionate force against civilian areas and infrastructure
• Goal: Deter attacks and inflict collective punishment
• Targets: Civilians and infrastructure
• Legality: Essentially, a war crime
• Issue: In most cases, this is considered a war crime by human rights organizations and international law

Bad Things About Christmas Holidays

• Many shops are closed
• Turns into a ghost town
• People are all in a hurry to get to somewhere
• You look like a weirdo walking on the streets because everyone else is at home for the holidays
• There is nothing good on TV
• All the sales look like scams
• The constant bombardment of advertising and pressure to buy something
• Expensive time of the year that leads up to debt and stress for many
• Can lead to a lot of family drama from disagreements, arguments, to uncomfortable situations
• The ones that are single are left all alone, for some it can be the loneliest time of the year
• Pressure to create the most perfect christmas
• Reality of christmas tends to fall short with disappointments
• Overindulgence of food and drink leads to sickness, accidents, and bad habits
• Lack of sunlight and no snow can make many feel dull and emotionless in the winter season
• Lots of disruptions to routine
• Lots of traffic congestion on the roads and many travel delays
• Huge environmental impact
• That weird feeling when you have a decorated tree stuck in the house when it should be outside
• When that turkey is badly cooked and gives you the taste of dry, flavorless, gamey, sour, and metallic all in one
• Leads to post-christmas blues with all the letdown, sadness, and depression
• It makes everyone focus on materialism
• Crime rate sky rockets across cities
• Work schedules are disrupted
• Meeting new family members that you never knew existed, hadn't seen in ages, and are then in a situation to explain why you haven't seen them for so long
• That feeling of stuffiness and chaos when there is so much going on in one household
• Everyone is interested in taking photos with you
• Those same christmas songs keep repeating over and over and over again
• Some one always has to have that smelly sock by the fireplace
• When you don't get the gift you wanted but the one you explicitly said you didn't want
• When someone gives you a bunch of gift cards because they couldn't be bothered to buy you a present
• When someone gives you the same gift you gave them last christmas
• When you are stuck opening that ugly looking insane gift that you hate in front of the family like it was the best gift you ever got
• Finding a parking space can suddenly take a very long time
• When you dread that electricity bill
• Christmas movies are bad
• Becomes a breakup season for many with all the commotion, stress, and pressure
• Lots of random hookups because everyone is so drunk
• People get that unusual sense of motivation to cheat on their spouses
• Those awkward office parties where people are overly social especially ones you never knew suddenly start showing interest in you
• Having to continue that lie about santa so someone's child won't feel miserable

Xmas Is The Festival Of Hypocrisy

Energy prices are skyrocketing. And, yet we see people putting up xmas lights everywhere. Who will be paying for the energy bill for this? There has also been much mention of climate change. And, yet we see people putting up trees inside their homes when they should be outside. And, shockingly many still decorate real trees rather than the fake ones in their houses and gardens. Even the celebration of Santa Claus is odd because in the old days he was considered to be a demon. The holiday period is the hallmark of teaching kids the value of materialism. And, all of a sudden people can be seen interested in buying turkey and drinking egg nog when they wouldn't even dare touch it at any other time of the year. We also see mulled wine only at this time of the year. We also see everyone putting up smelly socks next to fireplaces and silly wreaths on the doors. People sit around overindulging in food and drink till their bellies explode, another attribute of gluttony embraced during the festive period. We see people taking out loans to pay for gifts. One can even see vegans on holiday this festive season and embracing the dead corpse of a turkey on the table. Treehuggers and climate change alarmists are all on holiday. And, as the xmas passes on we can see trees next to rubbish bins. A temporary short run on economic growth through consumer spending. Capitalism in all its glory!

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Himalayan Backpacker's Heaven

• Hunza Valley
• Kaghan Valley
• Neelum Valley
• Swat Valley
• Chitral Valley
• Gilgit Valley
• Kalash Valley
• Naltar Valley
• Gupis Valley
• Golaghmuli Valley

Hypocritical Western Holidays

Western societies are seeped in hypocritical social conundrums often brought about through capitalist commercial ideals. During Halloween we find ourselves celebrating empty pumpkins and dressing up in wickedly evil costumes. On other occasions like Thanksgiving we find ourselves being thankful only on that particular day. Why must we only be thankful to mothers on a Mother's Day and fathers on Father's Day. On Easter we celebrate all things made in shape of eggs. And, during Christmas we find the value of gift giving and lighting up trees. Turkey is also the most in demand during Thanksgiving and Christmas, even by some vegetarians. Soon after Christmas all the trees are left to die next to the rubbish bins. Unless, it is an artificial tree. When people only seem to care during the season not after the season is over. Wonder what happens to all the tree activists during Christmas time. Then as New Year period approaches it is time when an entire society is at bedrock of party and sex. Most likely also the time when major commercial vendors of condoms and alcohol are in huge demand. Holidays bring much joy for businesses. But, they also command confusion and a lot of hypocrisy for communities. Furthermore, even religious holidays are added on annually. One cannot imagine the confusion that kids would go through as they grow up to realize that such holidays really have no meaning other than to provide more reason to be with family, to breathe, relax, eat in copious amounts, and to shop without remorse. 

Poppy Choice

Wearing a poppy on remembrance day should be a choice not a requirement. War should be remembered not glorified. And, who is going to honor and remember the lives of the civilians that were lost at the hands of the soldiers and in middle of such wars without just cause? Soldiers make a choice of taking part. Who gives civilians the choice to live or die in such a charade? Why should we remember soldiers that took part in unjustified wars? Wars that the public did not have a say in whether we sent our soldiers or not? Do we get a say in the cause of such wars? Many wars could have been avoided if the public had a say in it. So, no remembrance day has become a glorified event and a disrespect to the many lives that are lost in conflicts. Soldiers also have families just like civilians have families. And, one can't be forced to partake in such activities. People have different ways of remembering for which they should be allowed the freedom and personal space.

Halloween

Halloween is a very pointless event of the year. A day when people celebrate the dead, the darkness, and all things evil. A day when children are taught to beg door to door for treats and learn the humble truths of trick or treating. It is a time when people dress up in all sorts of ways to scare others or possibly to bewitch others with their closeted dark secrets. Also, the only time when pumpkins are adorn and in high demand. Partying is also remarkably a scene of experience altogether and a welcomed excuse for retailers and party goers alike.

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Halloween Costumes

Interesting Facts About Halloween

Halloween Fun Facts

History Of Halloween

Miss America 2014

This marks another barrier breaking moment in American history when an Indian wins the Miss America 2014 contest. Or, atleast that is how so many Americans viewed it on social media. It also ear marks the fact that bigotry is still alive and well in America even after so many years. For whatever reasons, people seem to automatically assume that if the person is non-white then they must be both muslim, foreign, arab, and possibly even terrorists. This is also the typical manner in which non-whites are profiled in America. Americans in the mainstream often appear to enjoy their stereotypes and still class themselves as one of the most progressive. Enjoying one's freedom does not mean to trample over other peoples' right to the same ideals. Most people forget that almost every American had an ancestry that were migrants to the country.  To be an American, often being born there or being nationalized should be enough as the country has always been a melting pot of backgrounds and traditions. One should also question what exactly are American values? Only an American Indian can be classed as a native to the land. What right does anyone else have claim to the land? When the whites invaded America they not only brought hatred against the American Indians and reduced their land ownership but they also reigned in decades of slavery. The American history is not very idyllic and filled with hatred for non-whites from the very beginning of the first settlers. In fact, the history is riddled with embarrassment in the eyes of many Americans that would rather forget and move on. Aside from fact, that the Miss America 2014 winner was born in America, should one really be left with any doubt. Do non-whites not have a right to winning international contests or even the right to live in America? Is being an American only skin deep? Perhaps, one should ask an American Indian such a question.

Rubbish And Senseless People

Some people have strange ways. Why is it when there is literally a bin close by that some feel the need to leave their rubbish right next to it rather than actually putting it in the bin. It is alarming the way some people display their lack of sense. Even in public people feel the need to litter on the ground when there are plenty of litter bins around. One would imagine that in a western society people would have more sense. And, yet in residential accommodations there is always someone that feels the need to take their rubbish and leave it right on ground next to the bin as if to invite rodents. On other occasions we find a total lack of sense with the types of things people seem to want to throw away in rubbish bags. One can find the odd student in city disposing of ice in a rubbish bag and it is times like those when one feels education truly does not work on some individuals. Perhaps, it is time that we started enforcing stricter penalties for littering in public. There are plenty of public cameras about. Why not do it like Singapore and raise the bar to a penalty fine for public littering. On weekends one can find empty bottles everywhere. Is it any wonder why rodents love being around people and living in cities as there is just so much rubbish. Even the collection of rubbish is so inefficient that it is usually the time when almost everyone displays their immense refuge outside their house. Maybe, councils and districts should demand houses start having their own disposable methods. It is a strange effect that towns breed close knit neighborhoods while cities breed distant and more individualism among people. There needs to be better waste management in place in our communities that allows us a way to reuse our refuge for fuel. There is also so much of rubbish that can be given to shelters and charities where people are struggling to make ends meet and do not even have the luxury to throw things away. Cities often times breed selfish uncaring human instincts, which is a direct result of the capitalist ideals. Science is failing waste disposal as a renewable resource. 

Germany vs Argentina

The pinnacle game to the World Cup 2014 made its way last Sunday to millions of viewers. Both Germany and Argentina displayed superb football skills and embraced their passion for the football game as well as for the pride of their nations as they went on the field. The game intensified towards the end of first half as both sides let of steam to score goals towards the second half. During the game one could wonder that it might have just led up to penalties in end. However, in an unexpected score from Gotze it brought the end to the Argentina dreams of World Cup glory in just a matter of seconds. Lionel Messi for whatever reason did not have what it takes to clinch a victory for Argentina and throughout the game he was relatively unimpressive as almost on the sidelines. Even his last free kick could not hold any surprise hope at the last remaining minutes of the game. As Germany celebrated their victory, the Argentina team could be seen utterly distraught. However, both sides played an impressive game. Argentina throughout the game had many chances of scoring and yet they kept missing to the surprise of the Argentina fans. The celebrations in Germany will mark the well deserved performance of their national team and provide for much shared learning of their efficient game plays during the whole World Cup. It seems the World Cup came and swiftly left us. For some it was filled with surprises while for others it was the real passion for the game. One must wonder what will Brazil do now after the event. Will they attempt to resolve the real issues of their nation or continue to spend on such events while their people struggle through economic hardship on the streets. It seems as many watched the World Cup, the reality often is left bare towards the end. All things come to an end as we look back to the games, and then look to the future.