A Political Drama in Countless Violent Acts

The Mumbai attacks are the latest in a long line of violent acts committed in the Subcontinent, stretching into the past few decades. This large swathe of land has seen far too much bloodshed and strife. You'd think someone would have stopped and thought, "hmmm, this is crazy we're all dying, maybe this isn't such a great idea." The Mumbai storyline has become a haunting refrain: violence in India and many are killed/injured, Indian government points fingers at Pakistan, Pakistan postures back vehemently, nothing happens. Waiting for Godot had nothing on the drama that is Waiting for Peace.

I'm tired, tired of hearing that the ISI is to blame, that Pakistan harbours terrorists and supports militia in Kashmir, tired of India's constant need to point the finger at Pakistan, tired of Pakistan's non-action. I don't care to find a party to blame anymore. The blame game can go on forever: so Pakistan provided a location from which these attacks were planned, what about Indian border controls and their own intelligence networks? Are they on vacation? There will be no commission like there was in the US after 9/11 to discover how the Indians missed this. But this gets us nowhere. I just want it all to end because this is helping no one.

We all need to take a good, hard look at ourselves because the world is crumbling into chaos. Nothing is secure anymore, the sanctity of life has become a farce. And how are we going to resolve the mess that is South and Central Asia? Here are some suggestions:
1. Western governments need to discontinue all military aid to this area.
2. America needs to stop bombing indiscriminately on the Pak-Afghan border. Really its not helping.
3. India and Pakistan both need to do some housekeeping and resolves failures in governance.
4. The OIC & SAARC both need to step up and work towards real cooperation and solution-brokering.
5. The UN needs to focus on Kashmir and do its job.

I don't think I'm asking for a lot.

Celestial Bodies

"...as we did in a time when our eyes looked towards the heavens, and with outstretched fingers we touched the face of God."

That's how I felt walking home today. Sunset before 6 pm has few advantages but darkened clear skies to walk home under is one of them. As I looked to the skies, I saw the stars in all their bright glory. The glow of the streetlights did little to obscure the magnificent view I had and I walked entranced under the blanket of stars, glancing up again and again in wonder.

Some moments are simply too perfect.

Thank You Eli

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
--Margaret Mead

I've always though Margaret Mead's words were a lovely sentiment, but I'm not sure if I ever really believed them. Let me just say: at 11 pm EST on November 4th, I BELIEVED.

I'm not going to talk about the historic nature of this election, many have already written very eloquently on the subject. I want to talk about a group of thoughtful, committed citizens: the volunteers who made President-elect Obama more than just a dream, who instilled in us hope, and showed us that yes we can. These people not only supported the Obama campaign with their vote but they made phone calls and canvassed neighbourhoods. They were often received with hostility and disrespect but they persevered and look how that turned out.

So thank you, all of you for your hard work, change has come.

P.S. I know various people who volunteered for the campaign, but this post is especially dedicated to Eli who worked very hard in aiding the win in Ohio!

War Hero does not an American President make

I have occasioned across views during this campaign that suggest that Senator McCain's war hero status automatically makes hime an excellent choice to be the next president. In fact, some take any words against his candidacy to be insulting. I'm quite bewildered by this correlation. Now, before you dismiss my words, please understand that I am in no way undermining Senator McCain's bravery during the Vietnam war, and his time as a POW. I admire his courage and fortitude in the face of such circumstances. But how does that qualify him to be the president?

To be honest, it doesn't. There are many veterans of the Vietnam war, many heroes from this war. They are not running a presidential campaign, and it is not suggested that they should run. Certainly, they have done much for this country, but that does not qualify them to the highest seat in office. It qualifies them to talk about the military perhaps, war perhaps, and torture perhaps. It does not give them an insight into the economy, the health care system (unless we talk about the dismal state of veteran health care), immigration reform, etc etc etc. Voting for the American president is based on all of these issues, not some, and while we can accept that senator McCain's past has shaped him, and serves as an example of his character, we cannot let that be the reason we give him a free ride to the White House.

When (not IF) you pledge your allegiance to a candidate, look at the whole picture not one part of it, and then cast your vote to whomever you care to.


P.S. ELECTION DAY IS TWO DAYS AWAY. PLEASE REMEMBER, IT IS AN HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE AND DECLARE YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE. DO YOUR CIVIC DUTY: GO TO THE POLLING STATION, AND DON'T LEAVE UNTIL YOU HAVE PULLED A LEVER.