I’m getting a huge load of comments around the politics of religion, of division and hate at my last few posts on the Mumbai terror attacks. While religion and politics may have a lot to do with the state of our world today, my blog’s not the forum to air or feed these divisions. I almost feel it’s a violation of my own person.
So I am deleting them. Sorry. All other comments and conversations are welcome, as always!
The #Mumbai Twitter feed is now flooded with them too. I’m stopping watching it. I’m certainly not playing.
For all those who feel they have lots to say – I’d recommend they do something more constructive. Start by reading Ingrid Srinath’s post titled This is not India’s 9/11 [thanks Peter, for the link] and Priyanka Joshi’s comments there.
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((hug)) I love you Dina. Keep strong. We need a voice of reason and compassion in the sea of hate that is flowing.
very true…. u did a remarkable job and thnx for keeping us updated.
I am a blooger in my world. I comment and reflect on many things. I’m older(64) and admire the new “social networking” aspect of this younger generation. Dina – you have touched a world and are impacting it. Keep it up. The horror of Wednesday 26, 2008 is terrible… but what is important is the work that you are accomplishing where you are connecting people. I have read all that I can about the seminars and collecting of groups in Asia that you are involved in – it is simply amazing. It is not about religion or about cultual groups that terrorist have struck at… it is about their strong social network being imposed on other social networking groups that are eqaully important but they think are not – and saying their is the only way! Talk about BRANDING!!!
I lived for 5 years in Hong Kong and know a little about the power of new networks.. Keep it up and keep going – some of us “old guys” are seeing what you are doing and believe in you!!!!! and cheer you on!
Murray
You’re right, Dina. Hatred only begets hatred. Also, maybe this is the time to stand by the government…
Namaste Dina, Hi.
Saw you on CNN with Jim Clancy and appreciated you. My appreciation and my affinity increased when I read up a bit on you. Kudos Dina. Good you delete manic comment, just a thought is enough to accurately surmise what would have been said.
I did read Ingrid’s note and found it as thoughtful as it was powerful. I have been kinda peeved for sometime now – at us as a species. While I feel exhausted after over 25 years of direct action in working to transform our environment, both outer and inner, I have this- almost an infirmity I think – tenacity of will. I feel like it’s killing me because I sometimes just want to stop my care, my pain at not being able to do enough to stop our planet from this horribly slippery slope we are on. No just as an Indian or as a Mumbaiker ( I lived at Elysium Mansion close to the Taj until I was 16) but as a Human Being. The blasts in my childhood city and neighborhood is terribly heart rending, but everyday, for me, is like this. There IS NO SEPARATION! The pain of a mother who saw her boy getting blown up in Baghdad hurts as much, the sickness of a girl in Africa feels, to me, as worrying and painful as when my own daughter is unwell. Shouldn’t it be this way? Shouldn’t we look after our neighbor? Our Planet suffers daily, on all levels and the species that is responsible for its degradation ecologically and sociologically is the same species with the capability to pull the planet away from this slippery slope. Irony, almost quintessentially eh?
What is happening around the world is the result of a lack of education.
Not the contemporary curriculum, which anyways is barely more than a 100 years old ( Ken Robinson’s TED talk at Ted.com is illuminating); What is needed is an education that brings forth a new identity within each individual. An identity which is shared with everyone. One that makes Being Human become the common denominator and everyones Main Identity; Where our Humanity henceforth becomes our first consideration, and our ideological or cultural preferences and other considerations all a distant second. I know that it’s possible. Give me a room of people for 2 days and I have seen that essential identity being irrevocably established irrespective of the cultural, religious or other ideological preferences. Having worked with a few thousand people from over 60 countries, and from all walks of life I have seen, first hand, that this is clearly achievable. The trick seems to be that how fast we expand such an education, how fast we replicate and translate it to be taught worldwide from urban centers to villages, how fast we can get the needed financial muscle and sinew to fuel this vision.
We need to get those in power do get such an education. This new identity will allow the mindset of industrialists and business persons like Jamsetji Tata and Anita Roddick to be emulated by business people from Wall street to Main Street. It is this identity, of Being Human first, that will transform the mind set of those who chose public service to emulate the mindsets of a Gandhi, Mandela and a Obama. This is the mindset that needs to be inculcated, by a forward thinking education, for the present generation of public servants. Ingrid is right. Werner Erhard is right. You are right. And man, many others. Action born of Intent and Integrity is the need of the hour. I see and feel the injustices and inequalities of India, of our world. You certainly feel it too.
I get royally peeved at cocktail party conversations where upon asking someone “how’s it going?” the answer so often is a smug ” Nothing to complain about!” @##*(&! that’s enough to set me off, really. One Planet is being held at ransom by One Species – Ours! And there is nothing to complain about. To have a man like Ted Turner say that he gives us – our planet – a 50:50 chance to survive the next 50 years! Okay, who’s Ted Turner anyway. How about Sir Martin Rees – Eminent Cosmologist,who thinks that this could be mankind’s last century! ( listen to his talk on Ted.com) That the truth of what’s happening is not being seen by all as clearly as the force of gravity, is to me as bewildering as it generates in me of even more intent on my part.
I could do with some help to expand the reach of the program. I find it valuable enough to have made a submission for the Google Award for ideas that can change the world.
With Cheers, Love and Best Intentions
I would like to extend my sincere sympathies and condolences to the bereaved Families and prayers and thoughts to all affected by this attack
This is totally unfair; innocent Lives being cruelly snatched by perpetrators of such condemnable actions
“When” will the perpetrators of such condemnable actions ever understand that by committing such actions, they are literally committing the very most sinful of actions!
It only leaves one more confused, perplexed and wondering in amazement with so many questions unanswered as to Why, Why and Why are such actions taking place? What do the perpetrators achieve?
Why don’t they realize and understand that the World needs Peace, Love, Progress and Prosperity; that when they first contribute and invest in Peace and Love can they expect to reciprocate likewise, “When” will they ever learn?
Life is extremely Precious and when the perpetrators just take decisions and commit unforgivable actions; they only foster more repulsion and disgust at what they are seeking to demonstrate.
By committing such actions, they are only creating more hatred for themselves primarily; as well as further distancing and surrounding themselves with a vicious circle of further infinite hatred
At this crucial moment, where we stand at the cross roads of doing our very best to comprehend the reasons for these condemnable actions; it is sincerely Hoped that decisive resolutions are identified whereby they are able to facilitate an effective mitigation right from the core roots of these elements, where they emerged.
“Understanding” the core elements relating to this process is one of the strategic and instrumental keys in effectively managing and regulating the process instead of solely combatting since the first process is to establish a platform upon which a firm foundation could be built; the foundation of Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity
It is pursuing an hopeful and practical process; whereby anticipating, innovating and embarking onto pursuing a practical approach for adeptly and resolutely dealing with such type of condemnable actions is being encouraged; Alas what has occurred cannot be recuperated, but the sacrifice that has been made by several innocent victims over the years reminds us and encourages us to stringently identify resolutions that could effectively harness the various factors effectively and implement a resolute approach in dealing / combatting with such condemnable actions decisively and practically.
It is more easily said than done; but every step taken in the direction of seeking to identify each resolution is essential and imminently approaching
Evolution is testament and holds evidential records of various events that have occurred and it is our duty to educate and inspire the concerned to seek to “Recognize” and “Understand” the immense potential value of each and every Life, since Life is extremely Precious and Splendid; and can “NEVER” be snatched away by these type of cowardly actions on any pretext or instance whatsoever.
Each and Everyone has the rightful privilege to Live and cannot become subject to what perpetrators of such condemnable actions think and decide, it is absolutely very wrongful, punishable to the maximum possible extents and unpardonable; (Although the deviation is there when reference is made to referring to the aspect of punishment, it is but natural that when all steps that are taken to make the concerned understand the significance and importance of reality and when they refuse to understand and persistently seek to establish their own agendas, then in such contexts, this is NOT permissible since there has to be Universal Harmony, Peace and Love that is accorded contentious precedence and pre dominance since the Universe provides us and bestows us each and every Moment with the very finest of virtues but when there is an interruption or attempts made by perpetrators to change the course of what is being manifested Universally, then the perpetrators are naturally SUBJECT to pay a price for their irresponsible actions, face the consequences; they need to be accountable and responsible and essentially “Understand” that defying the Universal Principles, The Laws of Nature is having a price that NEEDS to be paid)
It is not only retribution alone, it is fairness where no sides are taken, but what is just and unjust; since Nature never discriminates or favors one over another; but tends to remind and make one aware time and again that it makes one pay for one’s wrong deeds whether now or later; but definitely has its own way of compensating those that have been made to endure and face unfortunate events due to the mindless actions taken by perpetrators; the distinguishing of those that are right and those that are wrong is already being journalized / recorded and will seek accountability accordingly.
I shall summarize the above comments on this note since it is an extensive appeal that consistently seeks to kindle the Hope for establishing Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity; If a reference has been made to certain tendencies that reflect accountability, this is natural, since every action that is taken is linked and bound to result in a reaction; so every action that is taken must be carefully assessed and taken explicitly on the basis of establishing Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity; it is the pursuit of a mutual process and not solely for suiting one’s agenda alone!
With sincere Hopes, Thoughts and Humble Prayers,
Vashi Ram Chandi
I have been reading up on this – Its time to be a part of solution.
If you guys are planning something concrete – it would be great. Love to change the current political order – I think thats where the problem is.
R
Thanks for the love and support! And the sharing of your perspectives. We are planning to set up an online fund in the short term to help get some relief to the families of the injured and dead. We’ll have it up and running very soon.
May you find serenity and tranquility in a world
You may not always understand.
May the pain you have known and conflict you have experienced
Give you the strength to walk through life
Facing each new situation with courage and optimism.
Always know that there are those whose love and understanding
Will always be there, even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others
To believe in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours
Every day of your life,
And may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate,
And let that love embrace you as you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire become part of you,
So that you may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched
And who have touched yours are always a part of you,
Even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.
It is the content of the encounter that is more important than it’s form.
May you not become too concerned with material matters,
But instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world around you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities,
But each of us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard
May be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present
May become one of your strengths in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself,
And not be dependent on another’s judgement of your accomplishments.
May you always feel loved.
Copyright © 1987 Sandra Sturtz Hauss
I got jacked on paypal by some lowlife using a wireless line. Asswipe was shocked when I got his name and address and paid a visit lol!
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