Closely following the attack on the Russian aircraft, the beheading of 7 people in Afghanistan, suicide bombing in Baghdad and Beirut, now firing and bombing in Paris, the world seems to know no end of terrorism. The terrorists have hijacked a religion and using it for their evil intentions. While the world reels under the terrorist activities and its repercussions, the victims of the terrorist acts have to deal with the loss of loved ones. But even greater loss is suffered by the refugees whose lands have been grabbed by these terrorists and are running to save their lives. These terrorist activities will prevent the western countries from helping these refugees. These children of no land suffer for no fault of their own. Who will help these displaced people? They are followed by the dark shadows of evil. This world needs peace now. Children need peace, they need homes, schools, food, medicines, playgrounds. The world needs a brighter future, not orphans carrying the burden of treachery.
Friday, 13 November 2015
Saturday, 7 November 2015
Charlie hebdo, the joke is on you
Charlie hebdo made a cartoon or rather they thought they are making a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad and got away with it. They claimed freedom of speech while defending the attempt at hurting the feelings of a large number of people. They got away because of the terrorist attack at their office. They got support because a large number of people are tired of terrorism and defended them. But the hatred and the contempt that they carry with them didn't rest. Becoming bold because of the support at the time of the terrorist attack they went further. Next they mocked the death of a drowned toddler and got public backlash but even then they got away. And then they mocked the tragic plane crash and got the real outrage. Charged with blasphemy, they are criticized by one and all. Now nobody supports them or defends their freedom of speech.
God said when they start doing wrong we loosen their rope till they get deeper and deeper in sin and then we pull their rope and they fall. Charlie hebdo continued in its wrongful acts, getting bolder day by day, till they were left black faced with all their hypocrisy and hatred visible to all.
Charlie hebdo refused to publish a cartoon of Jesus Christ saying that it will hurt people and they will get a negative response but they deliberately hurt the sentiments of Muslims by attempting to publish a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad. Why I say attempting to publish? It's simply because they claim that they are making a cartoon of our Prophet but the truth is that they are just drawing a cartoon that isn't and cannot be a representative of Prophet Mohammad. The truth is that their pens cannot even come close to drawing such an image. And they know that they cannot draw therefore, they target and incite Muslims with their drawings. They want Muslims to react do that they can justify their drawings and ascribe them to the Peophet. But the joke is on them. The more they draw, the lower they fall. The more they draw and (they can't keep on drawing on a single topic so they have to draw on other events as well) the more they get bold, the more they are criticized and even jailed and charged with blasphemy. The joke is on Charlie hebdo because they have fallen in their own trap.
God said when they start doing wrong we loosen their rope till they get deeper and deeper in sin and then we pull their rope and they fall. Charlie hebdo continued in its wrongful acts, getting bolder day by day, till they were left black faced with all their hypocrisy and hatred visible to all.
Charlie hebdo refused to publish a cartoon of Jesus Christ saying that it will hurt people and they will get a negative response but they deliberately hurt the sentiments of Muslims by attempting to publish a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad. Why I say attempting to publish? It's simply because they claim that they are making a cartoon of our Prophet but the truth is that they are just drawing a cartoon that isn't and cannot be a representative of Prophet Mohammad. The truth is that their pens cannot even come close to drawing such an image. And they know that they cannot draw therefore, they target and incite Muslims with their drawings. They want Muslims to react do that they can justify their drawings and ascribe them to the Peophet. But the joke is on them. The more they draw, the lower they fall. The more they draw and (they can't keep on drawing on a single topic so they have to draw on other events as well) the more they get bold, the more they are criticized and even jailed and charged with blasphemy. The joke is on Charlie hebdo because they have fallen in their own trap.
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Intolerance is good, arrogance is not
Sometimes it is good to be intolerant. It is good to be intolerant in the face of injustice, because anyone who tolerates injustice becomes party of the unjust. It is good to be intolerant of poverty, because tolerating poverty creates great divides in the society. It is good to be intolerant of human rights violations because tolerating violence and oppression makes one oppressor. It is good to be intolerant of social evils because tolerating them will be like wind to a wildfire engulfing the very moral fabric our societies are built upon. It is good to be intolerant of cruelty because tolerating it will make you hard hearted.
But it's bad to be arrogant, arrogant of one's religion, of one's tribe, one's ancestors, one's habits, arrogance leads to violence. Arrogance destroys relations. Arrogance destroys unity, it destroys the harmony, the trust that is essential for any organization, any structure to function. Arrogant enough to kill any person is wrong. Arrogant enough to disrespect the intellectuals of the nation is bad. Arrogant enough not to cherish the differences, arrogant enough to not listen to another person's viewpoint is bad. Arrogance needs a cure before it spreads like cancer and destroys the body.
But it's bad to be arrogant, arrogant of one's religion, of one's tribe, one's ancestors, one's habits, arrogance leads to violence. Arrogance destroys relations. Arrogance destroys unity, it destroys the harmony, the trust that is essential for any organization, any structure to function. Arrogant enough to kill any person is wrong. Arrogant enough to disrespect the intellectuals of the nation is bad. Arrogant enough not to cherish the differences, arrogant enough to not listen to another person's viewpoint is bad. Arrogance needs a cure before it spreads like cancer and destroys the body.
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Holiday season
On Halloween I was standing in my room and watching kids dressed up going for trick and treat. It was all a playful act with n number of witches and ghouls, Spider-Men and pirates, bumblebees and lady birds flocked outside with their parents. The next morning, I saw the same kids comparing their candies and playing with each other. It was all a fun activity. The cool breeze was a respite after months of heat. The skies clouded, the air filled with playful screams. Families and friends gathered together, enjoying each other's company.
With the Halloween over, now it is officially time to enter into the Christmas spirit. The daylight saving time has ended, the weather has changed into a more pleasant one, even the Starbucks cups have changed their color. Yes, the holiday season is officially upon us. But in all this playful joyful season I miss my home. I miss the home that is no longer there. I miss my childhood days when we played with our cousins. I miss the time when I planted seasonal flowers in my garden. I miss the time spent with my mom and my grandparents. With deaths and people moving away, the home I miss is now nonexistent, what I long for, I cannot get to. It's time to move forward, but somewhere in my heart, I feel homesick for the home that isn't there.
With the Halloween over, now it is officially time to enter into the Christmas spirit. The daylight saving time has ended, the weather has changed into a more pleasant one, even the Starbucks cups have changed their color. Yes, the holiday season is officially upon us. But in all this playful joyful season I miss my home. I miss the home that is no longer there. I miss my childhood days when we played with our cousins. I miss the time when I planted seasonal flowers in my garden. I miss the time spent with my mom and my grandparents. With deaths and people moving away, the home I miss is now nonexistent, what I long for, I cannot get to. It's time to move forward, but somewhere in my heart, I feel homesick for the home that isn't there.
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Human values
Sometimes I wonder at who is human and who is animal. Just read about the injured deer that walked up to the emergency room of strong memorial hospital in the USA only to be carried out on a stretcher and killed. Nobody thought of sending him to a vet. He came because he needed help and was instead killed by the very persons who have sworn to help.
Earlier in the morning, I read about baby Umarali who was taken away from his mother Zarina by the police and sent to a hospital in Russia on October 13th and the next day the mother got a call that he's dead and she should collect the body. The fact that how can anyone separate a 5 month old baby from his mother is horrifying. The authorities snatching away the babies of refugees and not letting the mothers be with them and ultimately leading to the death of the infant are acts of gross violation of human rights.
Everyday there is news of human rights violations from one or the other part of the world. There is a gradual degradation of human values. A society devoid of humanity cannot sustain itself. It's time that the human race checks it's conscience.
Earlier in the morning, I read about baby Umarali who was taken away from his mother Zarina by the police and sent to a hospital in Russia on October 13th and the next day the mother got a call that he's dead and she should collect the body. The fact that how can anyone separate a 5 month old baby from his mother is horrifying. The authorities snatching away the babies of refugees and not letting the mothers be with them and ultimately leading to the death of the infant are acts of gross violation of human rights.
Everyday there is news of human rights violations from one or the other part of the world. There is a gradual degradation of human values. A society devoid of humanity cannot sustain itself. It's time that the human race checks it's conscience.
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Kabadiwala
During our childhood days, one of the interesting and eventful visitations were those of the kabadiwala (the guy who collected recyclable things). Once a substantial amount of old newspapers, notebooks, magazines, bottles and other recyclable items collected, the kabadiwala was summoned. So generally during summer break and Sundays, the morning would be dedicated to the selling of junk. It was an interesting activity, the ladies of the house, kids, servants and dogs had their role. Mummy and amma would tell what all stuff to take out, servants would sort and keep everything out, we would be running around hoping to salvage some of the treasure and dogs would be barking madly.
Once the kabadiwala arrived, he would further sort out the stuff, place newspapers and magazines in bundles of 1-2 kg each, weighing everything and keeping aside. And while he was busy, we will always find some book or magazine that we wanted to keep and would take it as our most prized possession. Once the weighing was completed, came the stage of bargaining the price of the junk. We would want to sell for higher rate than what he wanted to buy it for and will finally settle at some mid price. After that he would collect everything on his handcart and leave.
While this selling of junk was a playful activity for us during our childhood, it was also an important lesson in environmental concern. We would've reusing and recycling. Reducing the waste and preserving nature. The kabadiwala played an important link between us and the recycling industry, without his role our recyclable junk would have ended up polluting the earth more. Those people who do the most meager jobs are the ones doing the most important jobs. They are the environmental crusaders. They are saving our present and our future by spending their time and their energy in doing what we consider ourselves too proud to do.
Coming to the USA, we have to take our recyclable junk to collection points ourselves. And there is no bargaining, everything has fixed price. We collect and sort everything beforehand, there is no designated Sunday or summer day. We have to carry everything ourselves. It does not involve the hustle and bustle of childhood days and we have become our own kabadiwala.
Once the kabadiwala arrived, he would further sort out the stuff, place newspapers and magazines in bundles of 1-2 kg each, weighing everything and keeping aside. And while he was busy, we will always find some book or magazine that we wanted to keep and would take it as our most prized possession. Once the weighing was completed, came the stage of bargaining the price of the junk. We would want to sell for higher rate than what he wanted to buy it for and will finally settle at some mid price. After that he would collect everything on his handcart and leave.
While this selling of junk was a playful activity for us during our childhood, it was also an important lesson in environmental concern. We would've reusing and recycling. Reducing the waste and preserving nature. The kabadiwala played an important link between us and the recycling industry, without his role our recyclable junk would have ended up polluting the earth more. Those people who do the most meager jobs are the ones doing the most important jobs. They are the environmental crusaders. They are saving our present and our future by spending their time and their energy in doing what we consider ourselves too proud to do.
Coming to the USA, we have to take our recyclable junk to collection points ourselves. And there is no bargaining, everything has fixed price. We collect and sort everything beforehand, there is no designated Sunday or summer day. We have to carry everything ourselves. It does not involve the hustle and bustle of childhood days and we have become our own kabadiwala.
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
The beef politics
One innocent man was publicly lynched over rumors and all the political parties are cashing over the misfortune of his family. The poor, jobless youth is brainwashed in the name of religion to go and kill innocents and the politicians try to cash in the points in the communal clashes. The issue is not beef, the issue is the amount of lies fed into the weak impressionable minds. The parties try to present the cow as a religious symbol and use it to feed the illiterate masses with the ideas of protecting their religion.
The Constitution of India did not talk of taking steps to ban cow slaughter because of religious purposes. The provision is there because of the utility of cow and its progeny in agriculture as India was a agriculture based economy. The provision comes under the head of animal husbandry and agriculture.
The courts have already ruled that the cow is symbolic not for religious purposes but rather because of its commercial uses. Yet, the politicians use it to divide the masses on communal grounds and breed enmity in order to get electoral gains.
The Constitution of India did not talk of taking steps to ban cow slaughter because of religious purposes. The provision is there because of the utility of cow and its progeny in agriculture as India was a agriculture based economy. The provision comes under the head of animal husbandry and agriculture.
The courts have already ruled that the cow is symbolic not for religious purposes but rather because of its commercial uses. Yet, the politicians use it to divide the masses on communal grounds and breed enmity in order to get electoral gains.
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