The other side
One of the most unbearable things about war is all the moral posturing that goes on and crosses and curses are thrown from side to side like they were tennis balls. The other sad part of war is the loss of unnecessary loss of lives. Very often the loss of many single lives is bundled together and in this composite state, they are presented as statistics devoid of inhalations, exhalations and all feeling.
Fortunately, sometimes this is not the case. On September 11, we came to know each of the victims and brave rescue workers on an individual level. We saw how these people were not “news items”, but people just like us (or most of us anyway) and felt angry and sad at how unnecessarily they had to lose their lives. After all which fair market would ever demand an exchange of lives for fundamentalist ideologies?
In Iraq too, we read of the American soldiers who died in the line of duty. Their was not to question why. However, when we heard of the innocent civilians who died, their tales were told in the form of unfeeling numbers. This blog has often emphasized the need for chronicling the loss of innocent life in every country in a manner similar to September 11, so as to enable all people to see the grief inherent in all violence.
The Guardian has put together life stories of a hundred civilians who lost their lives in the war. You can see that these people were more than mere “Iraqis”. In fact in death, they were as “Iraqi” as you or me.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Abas Khalid Hussein, 2
One of the most unbearable things about war is all the moral posturing that goes on and crosses and curses are thrown from side to side like they were tennis balls. The other sad part of war is the loss of unnecessary loss of lives. Very often the loss of many single lives is bundled together and in this composite state, they are presented as statistics devoid of inhalations, exhalations and all feeling.
Fortunately, sometimes this is not the case. On September 11, we came to know each of the victims and brave rescue workers on an individual level. We saw how these people were not “news items”, but people just like us (or most of us anyway) and felt angry and sad at how unnecessarily they had to lose their lives. After all which fair market would ever demand an exchange of lives for fundamentalist ideologies?
In Iraq too, we read of the American soldiers who died in the line of duty. Their was not to question why. However, when we heard of the innocent civilians who died, their tales were told in the form of unfeeling numbers. This blog has often emphasized the need for chronicling the loss of innocent life in every country in a manner similar to September 11, so as to enable all people to see the grief inherent in all violence.
The Guardian has put together life stories of a hundred civilians who lost their lives in the war. You can see that these people were more than mere “Iraqis”. In fact in death, they were as “Iraqi” as you or me.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Abas Khalid Hussein, 2
The Tiger
There are often choices that we make in life that determine what type of person we are (the assumption is that we exist in a non egoless state). One of these choices could be: should I shower more than once a week? Another could be the choice between Superman or Batman? Asterix or Tintin? George Bush or George Bush? These questions help to tell a lot about a person and since childhood, I have made it a point to Mickey Finn one of these into a conversation. My favorite one was: Who is the king of the jungle? Is it the lion or the tiger?
If someone said "lion", I spat in his/her drink and abused the person with great fury and righteous anger. However, to be honest, mostly I just walked off politely making a mental note to be wary of the lion favoring person in the future. I had my reasons for this sudden lack of trust. A person who favors the lion is more often than not a superficial and lazy person. S/he needs an animal with a mane to assign it kingly qualities. In her subconscious s/he looks upon an image of a fat, lazy beast who sits lazily sprawled in the middle of the road, blocking the path of a jeep or a milkman with great favor. The animal is often the mirror of man and on encountering a lion lover you reach instinctively for the other type of person – the tiger preferring type. S/he is usually sleek and agile. Minimalism is the name of the game here. There is room for flowery manes blowing in gusty winds. The tiger is a constant picture of ceaseless action and agility. Just when you think that it has everything, you spot it looking achingly at a tree wishing that like the cheetah, it could climb it. It is always aspiring to reach greater heights, as any self respecting king would. If it sees a jeep it runs alongside it, thus making for great movie moments. All in all a great spectacle, befitting a king.
Sadly, all is not well in tiger territory. Their numbers are rapidly on the decrease. To put it plainly, they are in danger of extinction.
In a world dominated by fighting between humans, there is a danger of overlooking the environment and the great wonders it holds. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can adopt a tiger today and make a small difference.
A world without kings is a world unfit for kings.
There are often choices that we make in life that determine what type of person we are (the assumption is that we exist in a non egoless state). One of these choices could be: should I shower more than once a week? Another could be the choice between Superman or Batman? Asterix or Tintin? George Bush or George Bush? These questions help to tell a lot about a person and since childhood, I have made it a point to Mickey Finn one of these into a conversation. My favorite one was: Who is the king of the jungle? Is it the lion or the tiger?
If someone said "lion", I spat in his/her drink and abused the person with great fury and righteous anger. However, to be honest, mostly I just walked off politely making a mental note to be wary of the lion favoring person in the future. I had my reasons for this sudden lack of trust. A person who favors the lion is more often than not a superficial and lazy person. S/he needs an animal with a mane to assign it kingly qualities. In her subconscious s/he looks upon an image of a fat, lazy beast who sits lazily sprawled in the middle of the road, blocking the path of a jeep or a milkman with great favor. The animal is often the mirror of man and on encountering a lion lover you reach instinctively for the other type of person – the tiger preferring type. S/he is usually sleek and agile. Minimalism is the name of the game here. There is room for flowery manes blowing in gusty winds. The tiger is a constant picture of ceaseless action and agility. Just when you think that it has everything, you spot it looking achingly at a tree wishing that like the cheetah, it could climb it. It is always aspiring to reach greater heights, as any self respecting king would. If it sees a jeep it runs alongside it, thus making for great movie moments. All in all a great spectacle, befitting a king.
Sadly, all is not well in tiger territory. Their numbers are rapidly on the decrease. To put it plainly, they are in danger of extinction.
In a world dominated by fighting between humans, there is a danger of overlooking the environment and the great wonders it holds. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can adopt a tiger today and make a small difference.
A world without kings is a world unfit for kings.
Tired
I am extremely sleepy at this point in time. I would trade all the gold I have for a few hours of sleep.
To write anything as regards non-violence would be an exercise in futility. Hangovers are not conducive for the generation of random thoughts.
Randomness is after all a function of truth in its fluid form. To think from a small narrow space cramped with darkness, tiredness, guilt, forgetfulness and other static realms of human actions and write about non-violence would be an exercise in futility.
I am extremely sleepy at this point in time. I would trade all the gold I have for a few hours of sleep.
To write anything as regards non-violence would be an exercise in futility. Hangovers are not conducive for the generation of random thoughts.
Randomness is after all a function of truth in its fluid form. To think from a small narrow space cramped with darkness, tiredness, guilt, forgetfulness and other static realms of human actions and write about non-violence would be an exercise in futility.
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