Footnote: Daniel Brett

Somehow related to yesterday's post, I came across this snip a couple of days ago.
It seems when people from other cultures look at ours, a few contradictions pop out.


In the US, it is socially taboo to smoke a cigarette because of the dangers of passive smoking, but it is your constitutional right to carry a gun.

In the US, it is wrong to allow someone to die when they choose (euthanasia), but it is right to kill someone who doesn't want to die (death penalty).

In the US, trade unionism is non-existent among white-collar workers, who are forced to depend on prescription drugs to stave off the depression and anxiety caused by over-work and under-pay. This is called the pursuit of happiness.

Why should the rest of the world embrace these warped American Christian values, Dr Rice?

Yeah, I know.
Silly, isn't it. There are elegant arguments and discussions to refute all these issues, illustrating how backward people can be from other countries.
Just wanted to make a note of it.
So who is Daniel Brett?

I am a journalist and consultant specialising in emerging markets, defence and foreign policy issues, mainly the Commonwealth of Independent States, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. My interest is focussed on the politics and economy of oil- and gas-producing regions and nations, from Angola to Uzbekistan, but I also write on related manufacturing sectors, such as the automotive and petrochemicals industries.

A trained journalist with a BA (hons) in Political Science and a MSc in Development Economics from the University of London, I have 10 years of professional experience including writing for high-profile clients. This work has taken me across the world and I spend part of every year living and working in India.

With access to an extensive archive of global sources, I am able to provide accurate and jargon-free analysis that can be understood by corporate strategists and academic researchers, as well as feature-length articles for the mass market. I can act as a consultant on a particular market sector or region as well as provide research support.

My guess is that he has to come up with answers to the questions he posed more often than the average man in the street. Most Americans don't really care about the global view of our country. As long our corporate entrerprises continue to navigate foreign waters and continue to supply us what we want, it doesn't really matter.