Sudan Removes Limbs of Criminals

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This article reported on Sudan, a country in Africa punishing it's criminals by cutting off the hands and legs of convicted criminals.  These punishments are based on an interpretation of Islamic Law.  Recently some doctors have refused to carry out the orders to remove the hands or legs of these criminals, claiming it would make them break the Hippocratic Oath to protect patients.

It however, was most interesting that some people in Sudan are not alarmed by this and are even make public statements regarding the normalcy of their practices.  Recently Sudan's Deputy Chief Justice announces that they may start to train judges to cut perform the amputations if doctors continue to refuse to carry out the orders.

This article was a pretty good example of the extremely different ways that cultures think from each other.  In our culture this is a very inhumane way to treat any human, even if they are a criminal.  However it appears they find this to be a very normal practice that is not only legal, but encouraged. So in the United States we are in a heated human rights battle over homosexuals being allowed to marry, in Sudan they are still stoning women on counts of adultery.  Definitely extremes in what is cultural acceptable.

More Woes from North Korea

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This article was about North Korea threatening nuclear strikes on the US.  The UN Security counsel was upset at the nuclear tests North Korea has been doing and put sanctions on them.  "The sanctions enraged the North further ... it ratcheted up its threats, suggesting it could carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the United States."  North Korea definitely is trying to make a statement.

North Korea is threatening nuclear warfare on the United States, kind of a big deal, but I thought it was interesting that in my daily life I don't feel the effects of this.  Nothing has changed for me.  It didn't make a difference that some country was treating harm to my country.  It's weird how war is that way.  I hope things simmer down so I don't ever have to experience the trauma that war in your own country brings.