The Pilgrim’s Protest

‘Out of the Bubble’ is a column that reports recent news items from the Columbia area and around the world, in order to help CIU students remain aware of events off campus.

World
Attack at a Baghdad Market
On November 23, thirteen people were killed and over 50 were wounded when a bomb exploded in a Baghdad pet market. In spite of tight security, the bomber managed to plant explosives in the crowded market; the bomb exploded around 9 a.m., a time when the market is very crowded. The market is visited by families of all sects and is a popular attraction on the Muslim day of prayer. The Ghazil market has been a target for bombers in the past; 15 people were killed last January when a bomb hidden in a box of pigeons exploded.

Lebanese President Steps Down
In Lebanon, President Emile Lahoud has stepped down from his presidency. He has not named a successor but has asked the military to maintain national security. While there are security concerns, the military has been able to maintain peace. A successor had not been named because of boycotts that kept the parliament from choosing who would replace Lahoud. Pro and anti Syrian tensions have been the points of contention in choosing new leadership for the government. The Parliament session to choose a new president has been moved to November 30th; it is hoped that a new president will be named soon in order to avoid the rising tension of not having a president.

Protestors Call for Teacher’s Execution
In Khartoum, Sudan, angry protestors were calling for the execution of an English teacher. Gillian Gibbons was in a women’s prison after being convicted of ‘insulting religion’. Charges were brought against her after she allowed the school class that she taught to name a teddy bear ‘Mohammad’. She was to be deported after serving her prison sentence but all charges have since been dropped.

National

Thanksgiving’s Day Murders
In Maryland, 5 people were found dead in a local park, on Thanksgiving Day. The bodies of a woman and three children were found near the entrance of Unity Park. The body of a man, who appeared to have been killed by a self inflicted gunshot, was found in another location in the park. The incident is believed to be a domestic related homicide/suicide.

The Writer’s Strike
Writers of television shows and movies have been on strike since the beginning of November, when their previous union contracts expired and no deal on a new one could be negotiated. The Writer’s Guild of America has hit the picket lines over residuals for internet downloads (they currently receive nothing for internet distribution). Residuals are essentially the same as royalties - the payment that a company makes for the right to use the intellectual property of an author. As of this writing, no new deal has been reached.

Presidential Politics
In a November speech, Hillary Clinton continued to hold that her international experience was more extensive than that of presidential candidate Barack Obama. She cites that her experience in traveling overseas and her personal relationships with various international figures far out way Obama’s international experience. He spent four years in Southeast Asia as a child; in addition he also sits on the Senate Foreign Relations committee. In the polls, Obama has experienced a surge in Iowa; he is up 4 points over Clinton in recent polls, in spite of trailing her for most of the year.

Local

Thanksgiving Dinner
On Thanksgiving Day, a dinner is held at the Carolina Coliseum for the homeless and hungry. This is the 17th year of the annual dinner, which feeds over 1,200 elderly and homeless people from the Columbia area. Hundreds of volunteers help to set up, serve, package meals for off site locations, host tables and help clean up after the event. In addition to those served at the Coliseum, to –go-boxes were sent to other locations, such as Hannah House, Providence Home, Jenni Lynn Assisted Living and the Marion Street Highrise.

Bill Clinton Visits Columbia
On December 17, former President Bill Clinton will be at an event honoring Dick Riley. Riley is a former S.C. Governor and U.S. Education Secretary. The even will be a reception at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Tickets can be purchased through the South Carolina New Democrats at SCNewDemocrats.org.