Here's wishing all my blog readers (all 5 of them) a Happy Deepvali .. or Divali .. whatever you prefer. Today marks a year (by the Hindu calendar) since my last trip to Bombay. Time flies. I've got the itch again - but I guess I'll have to wait.
I miss the excitement that rings in the air this time of the year in Bombay. Colorful paper lanterns dotting every little home. The smell of fireworks in the air. Delicious mithai. Shopping sales. Garlands of marigolds adorning every entrance. Little clay lamps. The one time in the year when you don't have to feel guilty about spending money on indulgences (not that I ever do :P ) Oh well... I guess I'll have to wait another year.
Meanwhile today's Halloween!! Can't wait to see the madness on Church St tonight.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Rants on Religion
My response to some controversial, somewhat hateful emails on the KhushDC mailing list.
Power politics is all about controlling people and directing them to your advantage. Happy, content people cannot be controlled, hence politicians have to come up with innovative ways of creating paranoia. The easiest way to do this is to fuel the fear of the unknown - be it another religion, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation (as we saw in the 2004 election). Religious fundamentalism is just another aspect of this power politics - leaders seeking to control their constituency in order to further some vested interests.
I am not a religious person, and I respect everyone's personal belief system. However, I do urge everyone to question their belief system the minute it calls upon you to HATE or KILL in order to ensure its survival.
The conflicts we see in the world today are a perpetuation of age-old conflicts, religious, territorial or otherwise. Terrorism is an aspect of asymetrical warfare. It's moot arguing whether the weaker power is more justified than the stronger power - bottomline is they're both causing hurt and anguish. Hate only begets hate, and war only breeds more wars. Somewhere along the way, we have to break this vicious cycle.
I'll concede that the neo-cons are abusing the US's position in the world as the only superpower. They need a counter-balance, but the answer does not lie in terrorism. The answer lies in replicating the economic and political success of the US as one of the world's most hard-working, open-minded free societies.
Power politics is all about controlling people and directing them to your advantage. Happy, content people cannot be controlled, hence politicians have to come up with innovative ways of creating paranoia. The easiest way to do this is to fuel the fear of the unknown - be it another religion, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation (as we saw in the 2004 election). Religious fundamentalism is just another aspect of this power politics - leaders seeking to control their constituency in order to further some vested interests.
I am not a religious person, and I respect everyone's personal belief system. However, I do urge everyone to question their belief system the minute it calls upon you to HATE or KILL in order to ensure its survival.
The conflicts we see in the world today are a perpetuation of age-old conflicts, religious, territorial or otherwise. Terrorism is an aspect of asymetrical warfare. It's moot arguing whether the weaker power is more justified than the stronger power - bottomline is they're both causing hurt and anguish. Hate only begets hate, and war only breeds more wars. Somewhere along the way, we have to break this vicious cycle.
I'll concede that the neo-cons are abusing the US's position in the world as the only superpower. They need a counter-balance, but the answer does not lie in terrorism. The answer lies in replicating the economic and political success of the US as one of the world's most hard-working, open-minded free societies.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
New Celebrity Refuge
From today's BBC News:
Pop star Michael Jackson has received a jury summons at his Neverland ranch in California - four months after he was acquitted on child molestation charges. But it is likely he will be excused from serving due to the fact that he has lived in Bahrain since the trial.
Have we discovered a new refuge for celebs and potential pedophiles? Or just a new fetish?
Pop star Michael Jackson has received a jury summons at his Neverland ranch in California - four months after he was acquitted on child molestation charges. But it is likely he will be excused from serving due to the fact that he has lived in Bahrain since the trial.
Have we discovered a new refuge for celebs and potential pedophiles? Or just a new fetish?
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