Land Of Confusion

This week the news reported Obama writing a memorandum opening relations with Cuba and moving away from the 60 year embargo.  The other major headline was a Sony computer hack which led to cancelling the release of a comedy about an assassination attempt on North Korea’s leader.  It is interesting to read the opinions, responses and points being made after these news items are broadcast.

Obama received criticism for moving towards resolution with the Cuban government.  Some opinions were that his efforts infer an acceptance of an ‘enemy’ regime.  However, it was the American government which decided to close world trade to Cuba; an attempt to compel the island nation into submission which has failed after two generations.  Some occupying political office vowed to block all attempts in Congress ( where the ultimate decision to remove the embargo must come from ).  I wonder how much the negative responses have to do with reality than having to do with playing on a certain team ( red or blue political side ) and media perceptions of who is an ‘enemy’ and who is good.

The Cancellation of the film ‘The Interview’ was quite surprising.  When unknown liabilities face commercial enterprises that may experience an attack of some kind, the decision is one of safety and avoidance of further conflict.  However, the decision to not release the film has been branded as self-censorship and bowing in cowardice to terrorist threats.  But I wonder; if a similarly themed movie had the U.S. president or another foreign sovereign head of state, for example the Israeli Prime Minister, as the target of assassination, would freedom of speech be better or worse argued? 

Isn’t it ‘freedom’ in appealing the lifting an embargo? 

Isn’t it a question of ethics, morals and hypocrisy the propagandized mainstreaming of assassinations?