Mutterings*

If there is one country, where a troubling Human Rights record remains undisputed, that is Saudi Arabia . When I happened to read two seemingly paradoxical news articles published by the Daily Mirror on the same day, SL maid to be stoned to death; ministry files appeal [i] and SL keen on sending skilled workers to Saudi: Envoy [ii] it seemed little has changed since Rizvana was executed in 2013 [iii] . My heart sank to see we are sending more workers, skilled or unskilled, when we should be protesting these executions by not sending anyone at all. See how they handle the labor shortage then. Changes following protests in 2013 were clearly inadequate.  Domestic servitude continues to be modern day slavery. Unfortunately, it also happens to be a main source of foreign income for a developing nation such ours. Given the track record of Saudi Arabia in particular, perhaps our government can be pressured more, to leverage more. Despite attempts at improving the situation of our

I disagree with the view, when one group of people (the french, in this case), are going through an awful experience, turning around and saying, well what about Beirut, Iraq, how come there was no outpouring of grief, huh? huh? While this is true, it...is pointless. Yes, the media is biased in their reporting. No, we have not forgotten what Sri Lankans have endured for years, alone. But does this mean, the French do not deserve our thoughts in this moment?...I am saddened to read and see these events, and find myself fearing the aftermath of these attacks. Intelligent people fall in to a trance, seeking revenge, to teach them a lesson. The wrath of the West. Over and over again, the recent past has seen this happen. Who will "they" react against, exactly? Barbaric acts against civilians anywhere in the world, simply perpetuate an irrational, emotional reaction that spreads more hate, more islamaphobia, even more anti-immigrant sentiment and ignorance. They mask the real