Dirty Politics

Columbian Artist par excellence Fernando Botero with his Art of Abu Ghraib collection

Quote- "Art is a permanent accusation"- Fernando Botero

I was speaking to W, an acquaintance I made through the blog, today on MSN and in between all the myriad of things that we discussed we started to talk about politics both in India and US. W is a very intelligent man and I didn't want to sound dumb so I tried to sound my humble opinion about the stuff we discussed. The problem with me is that when I get into a discussion it invariably turns into a passionate argument. It's hard for me to detach myself from my prejudices and dislike and this case it was for the present US government headed by Dubya.
I told him how I feel that UN is losing its clout and respect due to the way the world is turning into a unipolar world with US at it's helm and how US has no respect or concerns for the complex arrangements in many countries especially in the Middle-East. The greed for oil and so called 'zeal' for spread of democracy has lead to one too many senseless wars. I think that each country has to go through many phases before democracy becomes the form of government there. Democracy is not fool proof either and we have seen the cycle from anarchy - monarchy - theocracy - democracy and back again in most ancient civilization of the world like Greek and India. What is rather interesting in Indian context is that in Indus Valley Civilization there was a rudimentary form of democracy which gave way to monarchy with the coming of the Aryans but still there were debates (a important indicator of democracy) like in the form of the various Buddhist Councils which started in the year 544 B.C. and now after years of foreign rule we are the largest democracy in the world (thanks to the huge population)!!
I was spewing venom for Dubya and his comrades for all the mess in the world and it sounded like I was a US hater which I am not. I said that I felt that after Clinton things have just gone downhill to which W referred to the bombing of Kosovo and other blunders that Clinton administration did when in power. I guess I young and disinterested in world affairs when all that happen so I still have a favourable opinion or none at all for the Presidents preceding the infamous Dubya.
I don't know why I am writing all this on my blog which has been non-political up until now but it was weighing on my mind and I wanted to confess to W about about my limited knowledge about world history and my failed attempt to sound 'informed'. All those people who don't agree to all this idle rambling please pardon the factually incorrect part and in case you have some political insights you want to share you could do so with W, an Ambassador or Secretary in State in the making!!

Sorry (remix) my favourite video from Madonna's Confessions on the Dance Floor Tour DVD.

Video Credit : Madonna45

Religion the opium of the masses

I try to steer away from posting things about religion and politics on my blog because it's a more personal sort of a blog. But then it also about the things that affect me. I have been watching some shows on CNN about Christianity which were kind of disturbing for me. The first one was God's Warriors by Christiane Amanpour. The showed talked about the conservative nature of the Christian collation in US. The development of them as a political force in US and their 'agenda' particularly against homosexuality, abortion, and teaching of the theory of evolution in schools. This was something I was already aware of but was rather disturbing was Teen mania movement started by Ron Luce. These so called 'ministries' help people deal with the corruption from pop culture and media of 'secular nature'. The students who go into the ministries have to follow rules like no access to secular music, internet etc, girls are not allowed to wear skirts which fall above their knees!! They hold these concerts called Battle Cry and the last one was held in one of the most liberal city in US i.e. San Francisco where as expected they had confrontations with people who don't agree with their agenda. I agree that every person has the right to follow their religion but why wear it on your sleeve and impose Taliban like laws on young minds thus sending them down the path of religious fanaticism. Hasn't the world already seen enough bloodshed in the name of religion. Will we ever learn our lessons??!
Another story that formed a part of the show was about a family with 5 children who were being home schooled because the parents wanted to protect their children from the corruption prevailing in the secular public schools. Such was the extent of brainwash of the children that when the reporter asked the eldest child who was about 8 or 10 as to what Jesus wanted for him he said that Jesus wanted him to be home schooled??!!!
After seeing these disturbing stories I thought of posting yesterday about it but thought I rather not and then today I saw a news piece on CNN about Tom Monaghan (the founder of Dominos Pizza chain) who has founded Ave Maria a planned community in Florida with a Catholic University at it's core. This was supposed to be a safe haven from the corrupting secular nature of the rest of US and it was planned that the community would not air TV channels which showed pornography, pharmacists would not be allowed to sell contraceptives and birth control pills etc. The founder got in trouble after making these comments and hence had to later back track. The whole thing reminded me of the The Stepford Wives!! Tom said that he decided to sell off his business empire and all that he thought was ostentatious because he thought that the greatest sin was pride (which he realized after reading a book by C.S. Lewis). The question that came into my mind at that time was that isn't believing that my religion or belief system is better or superior to others also a form of pride!!
I fail to understand why most religions are always trying to prove the supremacy of their religion over the others and that their messiah as the only one who'd be able to take you to salvation when the world comes to an end. Why has this agenda over shadowed all the other teachings dealing with brotherhood, love, compassion, forgiveness and live and let live? Why can't religion be a more personal matter and why do we have to make such a spectacle out of it all. And does all this ostentatious and grand celebration of religion ever help anyone connect with their inner self and find peace and sanctuary from this madness and stress of our daily life?

Photo Credit: SpYderDelusion

60 years of Indian Independence

On the 15th of August India would complete 60 years of being an Independent country. At the time of Partition and Independence of the country it was predicted that India with all its diversity in terms of languages, religion, culture etc would suffer Balkanization. Sure there have been many secessionists movements but the Indian democracy has withstood it all. There is still a long way to go but India is finally arriving on the world stage.
India has done much better when compared to its neighbors in terms of political stability and economic growth. Democracy though not in the true sense has grown stronger and we have a much more stronger opposition than ever before. There has been widespread development but it hasn't been inclusive.
The paradox in India is that we have the best and worst of everything. We have some of the best health care in the private sector and due to that medical tourism is on the rise in India. India has some of the best private schools but the schools in the rural area are plagued by low attendance and teacher absenteeism. In the private sector the pay packages that are offered to higher management or even pass outs from premier business schools on par with any developed countries while that in the Government or public sector are very low leading to corruption.
To add to it there are the problem posed by diversity in terms of caste, religion and region. It is the reason for some riots and processions in the past. The changes that are happening in terms of infrastructure in my own city is are so sudden and impressive that in a few years time the skyline of the city would change completely.
There is a long road ahead but I am optimistic that the future generation would have a better future (strictly in economic sense) than their parents or grandparents.

Video Credits: Usthadh007, A R Rahman fans