This is in response, to a comment that I received for my post 'Political Parties' from my friend Kazim Aizaz Alam and from a response I received from another friend on my Facebook status.
I hope I do justice, presenting my view point.
I must confess, I have not read much literature about politics. But my article was based on the knowledge that I possess on the matters that have crossed my eye in recent time. Kazim's comment presents good facts but I am afraid I cannot provide any facts at the moment that proves my liking for the two-party system. But I would like to present my argument.
My support for two parties, is merely because, of the fact that I personally like this idea, of having one Party in power while the other one criticizing it. Just like the simple idea of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Although like you mentioned, some voices may 'disappear in the propaganda filled bourgeois world of politics’; still they raise their voice to bring back their party in power.
My main aim, of the article was to draw a connection between the two-party style and our politics with many parties. I didn’t even know before writing this reponse how many parties we currently have in the Pakistani Senate. I just googled now and found out there are 15 parties at the moment, with 10 of them in the national assembly. But what do these parties do, when it comes to conflicts or disagreeing the policies of one another?
Out of the 15 parties that we have, I am not aware as a commoner, of either one of their policies. Or what they stand for, when it comes to their policies about our banks, big and small businesses, taxes, sharia law, terrorism, about their war on Iraq and Afghanistan. Off course, I am aware that at least for the sake to remain in power they would strongly oppose wars against these two countries. But what would be their take when it comes to the USA using our bases? One of the arguments could be, that we will have less choice when it comes to such decisions. But the point I am trying to make here is that, such issues should be addressed and thought before they come to power.
All we know about them right now is, that PML-N is in power because of the Shariff brothers, PPP belongs to the bhuttos MQM belongs to Altaf Hussain and so on.... but more than that, the irony is, that we also classify them as, the Sindhi's party, the Punjabi's party and the Mahajir's party.
I cannot recall any instance, where the people here would think that the labours or the conservatives would do well for only one particular area if either of them comes to power.
I must write, that I am so ashamed that even after being so much educated, and gone abroad for studies, I got a comment from a friend on facebook in response to my status on facebook
'Nousheen is utterly disgusted listening every bit of the Nawaz shariff's speech! Oh God plz save Pakistan!!!!'
The response I got was: "Well there is no need to be gutted atleast your family is safe just becuase of him right now y? coz what happened in 1998 otherwise rightnow there would have been a moneky sitting at Quaid tomb... and karachites would have been dancing around it.... any ways coming back to his potent speech which was a needed for this nation and plus you dont mess with sheer in punjab... he took mush down and now its zardari turn... respect your future PM Sheer hamara zindabad”
The reason behind my status was not because, being a Karachite, I would support MQM, or having lived in Sindh all my life I would support PPP, But, because I was just seriously ridiculed after listening to his speech. The way he spoke, the way he sort of roared, it just ridiculed me. Not once he mentioned why would we like him in power again and why should we support him, after he has been charged and even thrown out of the country.
But his response clearly meant that he had misunderstood me. He being a Punjabi thought, I would have written this status, because I would be supporting the PPP or the MQM. But I just don’t get it. Can we not for once, look beyond being a Sindhi or a Punjabi or a Mahajir? Why after being educated, we look at the fact of who belongs to our province rather than, what they as an individual and what their party stands for? I am completely aware of the killings and murders that took place during the Nawaz's tenure in Karachi, the land grabbings and so much more and I am also aware of what happened when Benazir was in power. I am aware of the facts that Zardari is the one of the most corrupted politician. He will ever gain my support, because I belong to Sindh or Nawaz would have gained my support had I belonged to Punjab!
Kazim, mentioned that he can look upto thee Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, Labour Party of Pakistan and the International Socialists, I truly understand the reason behind his liking for them but what is the mere use when the voice of a commoner like you and me are not being heard? All I mean to say is, out of the 15 parties that we have, if we can relate to the parties, that form a minority and are ‘not’ in power, then what is the use of having 15 parties. Each of them fighting, for just one cause, just to get in power, but are eaten up by the four parties that are the most corrupt and have been in power since Pakistan is formed!
Although the two-party system might get manipulated some times, but is not ineffective like our system of 15 parties.
28 February 2009
26 February 2009
Political Parties.
I was watching a programme on BBC yesterday. It was about how The Conservative party bought David Cameron to shape the outlook of the Conservative Party. The foundations of the Conservative Party were very much the ideas of Margaret Thatcher. Her ideas were modern for that time. But she also believed in sticking to the roots. Once a journalist asked her, ‘Is there going to be a new start?’ and she replied, ‘why what is wrong with the old one?’ She was the Prime Minister of England from 1979 to 1990. After her, the Conservative Party hasn’t won any elections. The Conservative party, talked on the same lines and loss the other 2 elections in which, Tony Blair won the elections and in 2005, David Cameron was bought to light. He promised of changed and a better future. Although he was a breath of fresh air and a new change in the Conservative party but the conservative’s loss the elections again in 2005 to Gordon Brown.
While, I was watching this program, I began to wonder, how in the U.K and in the U.S.A they have just two parties. In the U.K, the Conservatives and the Labour and in the U.S.A, the Democrats and the Republicans. If one party is in power, the other party is always there to cross and balance on issues. To check if the later party is performing it’s duties correctly and also condemning and asking questions about their policies and practices. At the very core, are the values behind each party. If you ask the people here, they would either favour the Conservatives or the Labour. In the U.S.A they would be either the democrats or the Republicans. It is because; it depends on the basis of what they stand for. Their leadership styles, agendas are different. Hence, a person can relate to either party based on their own perception. They have a whole ‘motto’ ‘ideals’ ‘set principles’ behind the foundation of the party. In the book ‘the audacity of hope’ by Barack Obama, he talks about the democrats’ style. Their values, their beliefs, their leadership style and then about what he feels about those simple values and ideals. This is the core idea behind having a party. One that you could relate to, one that could stand up for your views. For the people’s view, if not all, but most of the time.
Then my mind raced towards our politics. I started to think, out of all the parties that we have in Pakistan. Not one has any set of principles, ideals, and a mission statement. They all stand for themselves; or rather for power and money. Although personally, I can’t relate to any Party. I was wondering if any one could relate to them? If yes, then on what basis? They don’t promise us any kind of a leadership style, or any ideals, or the shape of the economy is they do come to power. All they talk about is themselves. About who should we support. But why? Just because, they have a dynasty. Or that there father or mother was in politics. Is that enough? This also, brings to my mind the role of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. At the mere age of 18, he has been passed on the Kingdom from his mother. But what is his qualification? We don’t even know him. His ideas, his ideals, his principles. He has lived all his life abroad, and now he just become the Co-president and his father with all the corruption charges becomes the President of Pakistan, but on what basis?
Today, I switched on Geo. And Nawaz Shariff was addressing a crowd in Shaikhupura. He is a former Prime-Minister of Pakistan and could be the next Prime-minister of Pakistan. But what does his party stands for? I listened to him in disbelief. More than once I heard him swearing, and asking people to take out 2 or 3 weeks from their life and give it to Pakistan and the first week should be dedicated to restore the judiciary, but why and how? and what about the remaining 2 weeks? he never explained! He sweared on God wasn’t there to talk about the verdict, he mostly did! I was thinking, what is the need to bring ‘God’ in here. Is this any sort of professionalism? If you want power, why don’t you talk about your policies, basis of the foundation of your party? What you have done over the years for Pakistan. The issues that needs to be addressed. The poverty level, rules and regulations, general situations. Where are these points? I listened to it and thought, what does he as a person stands for? All I saw was a circus of people around him, and he introducing each member in that circus, telling the crowd that how close they are to him. But what about us? How would they shape our economy? What did they bring to us when they were given the power? What do they stand for; just for power and money!!
While, I was watching this program, I began to wonder, how in the U.K and in the U.S.A they have just two parties. In the U.K, the Conservatives and the Labour and in the U.S.A, the Democrats and the Republicans. If one party is in power, the other party is always there to cross and balance on issues. To check if the later party is performing it’s duties correctly and also condemning and asking questions about their policies and practices. At the very core, are the values behind each party. If you ask the people here, they would either favour the Conservatives or the Labour. In the U.S.A they would be either the democrats or the Republicans. It is because; it depends on the basis of what they stand for. Their leadership styles, agendas are different. Hence, a person can relate to either party based on their own perception. They have a whole ‘motto’ ‘ideals’ ‘set principles’ behind the foundation of the party. In the book ‘the audacity of hope’ by Barack Obama, he talks about the democrats’ style. Their values, their beliefs, their leadership style and then about what he feels about those simple values and ideals. This is the core idea behind having a party. One that you could relate to, one that could stand up for your views. For the people’s view, if not all, but most of the time.
Then my mind raced towards our politics. I started to think, out of all the parties that we have in Pakistan. Not one has any set of principles, ideals, and a mission statement. They all stand for themselves; or rather for power and money. Although personally, I can’t relate to any Party. I was wondering if any one could relate to them? If yes, then on what basis? They don’t promise us any kind of a leadership style, or any ideals, or the shape of the economy is they do come to power. All they talk about is themselves. About who should we support. But why? Just because, they have a dynasty. Or that there father or mother was in politics. Is that enough? This also, brings to my mind the role of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. At the mere age of 18, he has been passed on the Kingdom from his mother. But what is his qualification? We don’t even know him. His ideas, his ideals, his principles. He has lived all his life abroad, and now he just become the Co-president and his father with all the corruption charges becomes the President of Pakistan, but on what basis?
Today, I switched on Geo. And Nawaz Shariff was addressing a crowd in Shaikhupura. He is a former Prime-Minister of Pakistan and could be the next Prime-minister of Pakistan. But what does his party stands for? I listened to him in disbelief. More than once I heard him swearing, and asking people to take out 2 or 3 weeks from their life and give it to Pakistan and the first week should be dedicated to restore the judiciary, but why and how? and what about the remaining 2 weeks? he never explained! He sweared on God wasn’t there to talk about the verdict, he mostly did! I was thinking, what is the need to bring ‘God’ in here. Is this any sort of professionalism? If you want power, why don’t you talk about your policies, basis of the foundation of your party? What you have done over the years for Pakistan. The issues that needs to be addressed. The poverty level, rules and regulations, general situations. Where are these points? I listened to it and thought, what does he as a person stands for? All I saw was a circus of people around him, and he introducing each member in that circus, telling the crowd that how close they are to him. But what about us? How would they shape our economy? What did they bring to us when they were given the power? What do they stand for; just for power and money!!
23 February 2009
Death Will
If I get a call and have to leave
I had no choice, please believe!
Think of the times I avoided,
and told them numerous times,
this is where I need to be!
If I get a call and have to leave,
move ahead with your life….
Don't stop for me.
I will be watching you still….
Will meet you in your dreams.
If I get a call and have to leave,
stay close to me…
Think of the good memories….
sooner or later I had to leave.
If I get a call and have to leave,
please don’t cry behind me for I may see….
Your prayers will always reach me….
Will let me know u still want me!
If I get a call and leave…
Don't you forget the promises you made to me!
Remember always what you meant to me…
Pray for me that I may rest in peace…
I had no choice, please believe!
Think of the times I avoided,
and told them numerous times,
this is where I need to be!
If I get a call and have to leave,
move ahead with your life….
Don't stop for me.
I will be watching you still….
Will meet you in your dreams.
If I get a call and have to leave,
stay close to me…
Think of the good memories….
sooner or later I had to leave.
If I get a call and have to leave,
please don’t cry behind me for I may see….
Your prayers will always reach me….
Will let me know u still want me!
If I get a call and leave…
Don't you forget the promises you made to me!
Remember always what you meant to me…
Pray for me that I may rest in peace…
21 February 2009
The importance of finding the 'Authentic Source'.
I watched Delhi-6 last night. It seems like an ok movie, but I liked the concept behind it. The story revolves around a true incident that took place in Delhi in 2001. This incident depicted in the film, is about a Black-monkey, in contrast to the original ‘Monkey-man’. It just tells, of how a rumour probably a true one off incident can float and take many faces. How it can take lives, the terror and the superstitions can survive, how some religious and political leaders can take a role and manipulate the people.
The idea behind it is very simple, I wasn’t aware that it was a true incident that took place. I googled it today, to find out that it was actually true. It is amazing to see, how in our society, people just build on to things that never exist. The fact that we never think about ‘the source’ it is coming from. But just that someone said it somewhere, and someone might have seen it somewhere. Without even thinking if ‘it is actually true’. Such news are so easy to float around, but then it is scary to think about the consequences it then makes and the shape it takes with each one, adding a new part to it.
We are constantly involved in this habit to forward emails and news around to everyone without checking their source. I keep receiving forwarded emails that have no authentic source attached to the news. And if we just look at the news itself, we instantly believe it and then base our thinking on it, pass it on without checking what lies behind actually exists or not. I received a forwarded email from a group. I am pasting the forwarded "news" for your interest:
Nasa - Sunrise from the West
The science of astronomy states that the speed of planet Mars has been decreasing in its course toward the eastern direction in the past few weeks to the level we notice the "waver" between the east and the west..and on Wednesday the 30th of July the planet movement stopped going toward the eastern direction.. Then in the months of August and September...Mars changed its course in the opposite direction to the West- and that until the end of September..which means the sun will rise now from the west on Mars!! And this weird phenomena of the opposite movement called "Retrograde Motion" Most scientist state that all the planets will go through the same once at least and our planet Earth is one of them. Planet Earth will move in the opposite direction some day and the sun will rise from the west!!
This might occur soon and we are unaware! The rise of the sun from the west is mentioned in the hadith and this is the major sign of the day of judgment, most if not All, the minor signs have occurred. Wake up.
Our beloved messenger Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "One of the signs of the hour..the sun will rise from the west, where no longer tauba(forgiveness) will be granted" !!And the strange thing..most of our Shariah scholars mentioned that the rise of the sun from the west occurs only once..on that day..the sun will rise from the west..then again from the east..and continues until Allah wishes..and this is similar to what is happening to Mars..it stops, then it changes its course of direction for a short period of time..then returns to way once it was.
And Abdullah Bin Amro (R.A.) said: (I memorized from the messenger (SAW) a hadith I will never forget..I heard the messenger of Allah (SAW) say: The first aya to come the rise of the sun from the west) [Ahmad]
And the messenger SAW "Allah (SWT) places HIS hand at night to forgive his morning sinners, and places in the morning to forgive his night sinners until the sun rises from the west" [Muslim]
This piece of news is very important as it brings with it a great sign of warning and remembrance of the coming of a new WORLD - the world of he Hereafter When we show this hadith that was told 1400 years ago about this miracle..you will see InshaALLAH, a lot will rivert to right path...And the muslims if they see this phenomena happening in
Mars..who knows maybe it would bring them closer to our CREATOR.
May Allah (swt) keep all of us in the Right path and provide us with
success in this world as well as in the hereafter.
When I read it first, I thought, well, this is very important news. But why have I not read about any such news in any of the local or international newspapers? Nor I have seen any such news on T.V. So I googled it, by simply typing: Nasa - Sunrise from the West. All I found in the search results was, the forums, where this news was being posted and the people’s commenting on it. I did not find, any newspaper revealing such a story. It is interesting to read the discussions on the chat forums. They actually believe that this is a true story and are actually building facts and false theories around it. Without even finding out the actual source. It is also interesting to note, how such a story is then linked to Hadith and the revelations in the Quran. Apart from this, the above pasted article has got so many, spelling mistakes and errors that it, in no way looks like a published piece.
One of the things that is the most interesting is that, whenever we hear a news and there is a course of religion or a reference of Hadiths attached at the end of it, we do not think beyond that. Rather we think, this had to happen to this is happening. I am not denying the fact that the revelations made by the Quran and as described by the Hadiths are not happening. But I am strictly against the rotation of false news and then linking it to the Quran and the Hadiths.
We don’t realize, but this is a very important issue. It is time, that we all must try and find the real sources behind all the rumours and the news that we are surrounded with. Otherwise, as a result we face consequences as depicted in the movie Delhi-6 and so many more that still lay unrevealed!
Also read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_New_Delhi#Last_sightings
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/all-views/159958-nasa-sunrise-west.html
http://my.opera.com/mailmurshed/blog/index.dml/tag/Nasa%20-%20Sunrise%20from%20the%20West
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3430
The idea behind it is very simple, I wasn’t aware that it was a true incident that took place. I googled it today, to find out that it was actually true. It is amazing to see, how in our society, people just build on to things that never exist. The fact that we never think about ‘the source’ it is coming from. But just that someone said it somewhere, and someone might have seen it somewhere. Without even thinking if ‘it is actually true’. Such news are so easy to float around, but then it is scary to think about the consequences it then makes and the shape it takes with each one, adding a new part to it.
We are constantly involved in this habit to forward emails and news around to everyone without checking their source. I keep receiving forwarded emails that have no authentic source attached to the news. And if we just look at the news itself, we instantly believe it and then base our thinking on it, pass it on without checking what lies behind actually exists or not. I received a forwarded email from a group. I am pasting the forwarded "news" for your interest:
Nasa - Sunrise from the West
The science of astronomy states that the speed of planet Mars has been decreasing in its course toward the eastern direction in the past few weeks to the level we notice the "waver" between the east and the west..and on Wednesday the 30th of July the planet movement stopped going toward the eastern direction.. Then in the months of August and September...Mars changed its course in the opposite direction to the West- and that until the end of September..which means the sun will rise now from the west on Mars!! And this weird phenomena of the opposite movement called "Retrograde Motion" Most scientist state that all the planets will go through the same once at least and our planet Earth is one of them. Planet Earth will move in the opposite direction some day and the sun will rise from the west!!
This might occur soon and we are unaware! The rise of the sun from the west is mentioned in the hadith and this is the major sign of the day of judgment, most if not All, the minor signs have occurred. Wake up.
Our beloved messenger Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "One of the signs of the hour..the sun will rise from the west, where no longer tauba(forgiveness) will be granted" !!And the strange thing..most of our Shariah scholars mentioned that the rise of the sun from the west occurs only once..on that day..the sun will rise from the west..then again from the east..and continues until Allah wishes..and this is similar to what is happening to Mars..it stops, then it changes its course of direction for a short period of time..then returns to way once it was.
And Abdullah Bin Amro (R.A.) said: (I memorized from the messenger (SAW) a hadith I will never forget..I heard the messenger of Allah (SAW) say: The first aya to come the rise of the sun from the west) [Ahmad]
And the messenger SAW "Allah (SWT) places HIS hand at night to forgive his morning sinners, and places in the morning to forgive his night sinners until the sun rises from the west" [Muslim]
This piece of news is very important as it brings with it a great sign of warning and remembrance of the coming of a new WORLD - the world of he Hereafter When we show this hadith that was told 1400 years ago about this miracle..you will see InshaALLAH, a lot will rivert to right path...And the muslims if they see this phenomena happening in
Mars..who knows maybe it would bring them closer to our CREATOR.
May Allah (swt) keep all of us in the Right path and provide us with
success in this world as well as in the hereafter.
When I read it first, I thought, well, this is very important news. But why have I not read about any such news in any of the local or international newspapers? Nor I have seen any such news on T.V. So I googled it, by simply typing: Nasa - Sunrise from the West. All I found in the search results was, the forums, where this news was being posted and the people’s commenting on it. I did not find, any newspaper revealing such a story. It is interesting to read the discussions on the chat forums. They actually believe that this is a true story and are actually building facts and false theories around it. Without even finding out the actual source. It is also interesting to note, how such a story is then linked to Hadith and the revelations in the Quran. Apart from this, the above pasted article has got so many, spelling mistakes and errors that it, in no way looks like a published piece.
One of the things that is the most interesting is that, whenever we hear a news and there is a course of religion or a reference of Hadiths attached at the end of it, we do not think beyond that. Rather we think, this had to happen to this is happening. I am not denying the fact that the revelations made by the Quran and as described by the Hadiths are not happening. But I am strictly against the rotation of false news and then linking it to the Quran and the Hadiths.
We don’t realize, but this is a very important issue. It is time, that we all must try and find the real sources behind all the rumours and the news that we are surrounded with. Otherwise, as a result we face consequences as depicted in the movie Delhi-6 and so many more that still lay unrevealed!
Also read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_New_Delhi#Last_sightings
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/all-views/159958-nasa-sunrise-west.html
http://my.opera.com/mailmurshed/blog/index.dml/tag/Nasa%20-%20Sunrise%20from%20the%20West
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3430
20 February 2009
Gasping for air
Dark night…
Silence-loneliness,
Breathlessness-dizziness,
Palpitations and heaviness!
Awakening of a new dawn...
with some old feelings for long!
Crunching of the chest,
gasping for air,
fading breath...
This might be it!
This might be the end!
So soon, not known,
Heart is racing and I am falling numb.
Shall I stay?
Or travel to the other place?
What is here seems to still hold…
So many things left untold….
Scared to death or for death?
What is this feeling?
I don’t know…!
Silence-loneliness,
Breathlessness-dizziness,
Palpitations and heaviness!
Awakening of a new dawn...
with some old feelings for long!
Crunching of the chest,
gasping for air,
fading breath...
This might be it!
This might be the end!
So soon, not known,
Heart is racing and I am falling numb.
Shall I stay?
Or travel to the other place?
What is here seems to still hold…
So many things left untold….
Scared to death or for death?
What is this feeling?
I don’t know…!
17 February 2009
The role of 'Maids' in our society.
A couple of weeks back, I was looking at an album on my friend’s profile on Facebook. It was a Birthday album of a little girl. What really struck me was, not the lavish birthday party, which was thrown for a little girl aged 4 but the fact that the mom’s were busy socializing, where the kids were shown in the other picture with their maids. So much so, that in one of the pictures which was the cake-cutting picture, I did not see the mom’s around but all the maids with the kids.
It made me at unease. I began to wonder, in our society, we actively put the burden of our work on others. Well one of the arguments is that, these people (the maids and the servants) are there to work and we provide them with employment. But then, it has also become a social symbol. We very proudly say, the number of servants and maids we have. Besides, all this, the main issue that struck me was, that the kids were being handled by the maids and not their mothers. So their mothers were at the time of the birthday party busy socializing their kids were with someone else.
Apart from this, I sensed an untold feeling, a fear an emotion in the pictures. I saw a kind of helplessness on the faces of the maids was, that the poor maids, who were carrying those little ones, and actively involved in managing them. They might have wondered, or fancied coming to such parties, dreamed of having such birthday’s for their kids but, these kids who they were with were not their own. I was wondering if they were wishing at that point of time that they were with their kids and if their kids were there to see and celebrate such an event. On the other hand, the fortunate ones the elite mom’s who were there with their kids, were obviously not there with them. So the kids might be wishing if their mom’s could spend sometime with them rather than chitchatting.
This is the dilemma of our society. I am not against, employing maids. But those pictures just raised a number of questions in my mind. Why, the mother’s could not spare sometime, keep the maids at home and be with their kids. Or if the maids were there, they could still be actively engaged with the kids.
Parents in the west work, full or part-time, based on the understanding and law that one of parent/adult/grandparents have to be home to be with the kids. In some of the cases, they hire a nanny or a baby sitter, but that is just for some special occasions and not always. One of the reasons is off course that a babysitter or a nanny is not affordable for all households. Apart from this, single parents do get compensation to be with their kids at home. But we don’t have any such issues in our society. That one of the partner has to work, to make ends meet. I am aware of the issues that the kids do face later in the west. But that is when they go for their schooling but during their early ages, they are very much in contact with their parents unlike the social structure in our society. Our society is socially rich, our culture is deep and relations are tied up together. The pictures that I saw were not of all working mothers but those belonging to the elite, showing their status to carry maids.
I felt after looking at those pictures, the sadness, when you have something, a blessing, that you are in the position to be with your kids, and you leave them to be handled by someone else. And on the other side, the maids, who wants to be with their kids and there they are, because of circumstances handling someone else’s.
It made me at unease. I began to wonder, in our society, we actively put the burden of our work on others. Well one of the arguments is that, these people (the maids and the servants) are there to work and we provide them with employment. But then, it has also become a social symbol. We very proudly say, the number of servants and maids we have. Besides, all this, the main issue that struck me was, that the kids were being handled by the maids and not their mothers. So their mothers were at the time of the birthday party busy socializing their kids were with someone else.
Apart from this, I sensed an untold feeling, a fear an emotion in the pictures. I saw a kind of helplessness on the faces of the maids was, that the poor maids, who were carrying those little ones, and actively involved in managing them. They might have wondered, or fancied coming to such parties, dreamed of having such birthday’s for their kids but, these kids who they were with were not their own. I was wondering if they were wishing at that point of time that they were with their kids and if their kids were there to see and celebrate such an event. On the other hand, the fortunate ones the elite mom’s who were there with their kids, were obviously not there with them. So the kids might be wishing if their mom’s could spend sometime with them rather than chitchatting.
This is the dilemma of our society. I am not against, employing maids. But those pictures just raised a number of questions in my mind. Why, the mother’s could not spare sometime, keep the maids at home and be with their kids. Or if the maids were there, they could still be actively engaged with the kids.
Parents in the west work, full or part-time, based on the understanding and law that one of parent/adult/grandparents have to be home to be with the kids. In some of the cases, they hire a nanny or a baby sitter, but that is just for some special occasions and not always. One of the reasons is off course that a babysitter or a nanny is not affordable for all households. Apart from this, single parents do get compensation to be with their kids at home. But we don’t have any such issues in our society. That one of the partner has to work, to make ends meet. I am aware of the issues that the kids do face later in the west. But that is when they go for their schooling but during their early ages, they are very much in contact with their parents unlike the social structure in our society. Our society is socially rich, our culture is deep and relations are tied up together. The pictures that I saw were not of all working mothers but those belonging to the elite, showing their status to carry maids.
I felt after looking at those pictures, the sadness, when you have something, a blessing, that you are in the position to be with your kids, and you leave them to be handled by someone else. And on the other side, the maids, who wants to be with their kids and there they are, because of circumstances handling someone else’s.
16 February 2009
Dreams
Dreams are continuous never ending,
If you achieve them you want the other thing.
Dreams provide hope,
What you aspire and desire for,
Dreams are a reality that you haven’t yet achieved,
Once you achieve they are no longer desired.
But dreams are important for they give u a meaning to stand up and achieve something.
Dreams! What are dreams?
Fantasy, reality or just something you haven’t achieved?
Dreams are like stars on the sky you want to reach,
Once you get there they no longer mean anything.
Why are there dreams just for hope or to give us something to look for?
Dreams are about things you think would change your life,
Dreams should remain dreams for if you achieve them they lose their meaning.
If you achieve them you want the other thing.
Dreams provide hope,
What you aspire and desire for,
Dreams are a reality that you haven’t yet achieved,
Once you achieve they are no longer desired.
But dreams are important for they give u a meaning to stand up and achieve something.
Dreams! What are dreams?
Fantasy, reality or just something you haven’t achieved?
Dreams are like stars on the sky you want to reach,
Once you get there they no longer mean anything.
Why are there dreams just for hope or to give us something to look for?
Dreams are about things you think would change your life,
Dreams should remain dreams for if you achieve them they lose their meaning.
14 February 2009
Selfish Beings!
Innocence of childhood,
Wrapped in the warmth of parents,
Playing around them,
Happy and healing,
Corruption takes over,
Values are distorted!
All the rules are broken,
The innocence is long forgotten!
Helpless creatures-
Humans become!
Wisdom is tarnished,
Hopes are broken,
Eyes hard to meet them,
Becomes difficult to take care of them,
So surrounded with, the world around-
Worry less where you were born!
Self is disgusted!
Loneliness surrounds,
Future takes over past is gone,
Selfish is human,
Looks ahead not at what’s gone!
Wrapped in the warmth of parents,
Playing around them,
Happy and healing,
Corruption takes over,
Values are distorted!
All the rules are broken,
The innocence is long forgotten!
Helpless creatures-
Humans become!
Wisdom is tarnished,
Hopes are broken,
Eyes hard to meet them,
Becomes difficult to take care of them,
So surrounded with, the world around-
Worry less where you were born!
Self is disgusted!
Loneliness surrounds,
Future takes over past is gone,
Selfish is human,
Looks ahead not at what’s gone!
Regret!
Someone makes a journey and someone stays,
They don’t even give you any warning to say,
That this might their last day,
Someone goes away in a faraway land,
Leaving everyone behind,
So much you remember later, that you wish have said!
Things to do before they had left,
Face the reality of life, would you treat them
Any different if they were still there?
Look around and think,
People you are surrounded with,
Be nice and love them irrespective of what they say,
As this regret might be there to stay,
Care for the ones that remain,
For you don’t know whose next!
They don’t even give you any warning to say,
That this might their last day,
Someone goes away in a faraway land,
Leaving everyone behind,
So much you remember later, that you wish have said!
Things to do before they had left,
Face the reality of life, would you treat them
Any different if they were still there?
Look around and think,
People you are surrounded with,
Be nice and love them irrespective of what they say,
As this regret might be there to stay,
Care for the ones that remain,
For you don’t know whose next!
Farewell
Sweet smile, soft voice and those lovely hazel eyes.
That cute face to die for and the tenderness to hold,
You took my hands when we first met,
I was nervous, you made me at ease, smiled and looked ever so great.
Hours of talking, that I did with you,
You really loved me like my own Nan would do!
You did take my side and were always there,
Then why couldn’t you have stayed?
You told me, you missed us,
Then why did you left us away?
I wish we were there, when you were taking your last breath.
Just to tell you how much we cared!
I wish I had seen your face,
Kissed you on your forehead,
And bid you my last farewell,
When they took you to the other place.
Your memories will always last,
But your touch was one of its kinds..
Tell me where will we find such innocence
And love in these times?
You prayed for us when you were here,
It is now our time!
We will love you forever,
Our love for you will last lifetime!
That cute face to die for and the tenderness to hold,
You took my hands when we first met,
I was nervous, you made me at ease, smiled and looked ever so great.
Hours of talking, that I did with you,
You really loved me like my own Nan would do!
You did take my side and were always there,
Then why couldn’t you have stayed?
You told me, you missed us,
Then why did you left us away?
I wish we were there, when you were taking your last breath.
Just to tell you how much we cared!
I wish I had seen your face,
Kissed you on your forehead,
And bid you my last farewell,
When they took you to the other place.
Your memories will always last,
But your touch was one of its kinds..
Tell me where will we find such innocence
And love in these times?
You prayed for us when you were here,
It is now our time!
We will love you forever,
Our love for you will last lifetime!
7 February 2009
Will I ever get there?
I saw them playing, clicking pictures
I gently asked ‘can I come up’?
They shrugged me off
And said go away, this is not your place!
I was cleaning the table
Where I saw his mother
Feeding him gently
Telling all the stories I never got a chance to hear
I silently whispered,
I wish I had a mother
Look I’m just here
Would you keep me like your son?
I was picking up the plates where one of it fell
A scream came my way ‘can you do one thing straight?’
I looked around and all went black
My cheek turned red, it hurt so bad; did I just get a slap?
I was cleaning the room
When my heart started to pound
Just touched a toy lying around
And then came he crying about!
I tried to explain
I just wanted to play
‘They are expensive’ they said
‘Have you even seen your face?’
I sobbed and cried
No one seemed to have cared
I have a heart too, am I not a child?
Is it my fault, if I’m born in a no-where town?
I picked myself up, brushed myself off
My stomach crunched, and my eyes felt numb
But those images kept flashing that day
And I kept asking myself, 'will I ever get there?'
I gently asked ‘can I come up’?
They shrugged me off
And said go away, this is not your place!
I was cleaning the table
Where I saw his mother
Feeding him gently
Telling all the stories I never got a chance to hear
I silently whispered,
I wish I had a mother
Look I’m just here
Would you keep me like your son?
I was picking up the plates where one of it fell
A scream came my way ‘can you do one thing straight?’
I looked around and all went black
My cheek turned red, it hurt so bad; did I just get a slap?
I was cleaning the room
When my heart started to pound
Just touched a toy lying around
And then came he crying about!
I tried to explain
I just wanted to play
‘They are expensive’ they said
‘Have you even seen your face?’
I sobbed and cried
No one seemed to have cared
I have a heart too, am I not a child?
Is it my fault, if I’m born in a no-where town?
I picked myself up, brushed myself off
My stomach crunched, and my eyes felt numb
But those images kept flashing that day
And I kept asking myself, 'will I ever get there?'
Setting dreams on fire.
Setting dreams on fire,
tearing all hopes gathered together…
But something stops me,
Tells me I can still achieve whatever I desire!
Setting dreams on fire,
Burning all what I aspired…
A voice comes from within and says;
What’s stopping you from reaching there?
Setting dreams on fire,
losing all the strength puckered,
And as I look in the mirror….
my image, tells me this is not the face of a loser!
Setting dreams on fire,
Fading deep down in the ocean,
And let myself drown, but my body resists and says;
You can swim this water!
Setting dreams on fire,
Will lead nowhere but frustration.
Don’t squelch flow against the current,
Forget the failure and get what u desire!
tearing all hopes gathered together…
But something stops me,
Tells me I can still achieve whatever I desire!
Setting dreams on fire,
Burning all what I aspired…
A voice comes from within and says;
What’s stopping you from reaching there?
Setting dreams on fire,
losing all the strength puckered,
And as I look in the mirror….
my image, tells me this is not the face of a loser!
Setting dreams on fire,
Fading deep down in the ocean,
And let myself drown, but my body resists and says;
You can swim this water!
Setting dreams on fire,
Will lead nowhere but frustration.
Don’t squelch flow against the current,
Forget the failure and get what u desire!
5 February 2009
Ashes of Hope
Hopes being tarnished
Dreams being thrashed
Esteem being lost
Pride is there no more
Things change suddenly
Tears shed endlessly
Hurt's so deeply
Broken up to the highest degree
Sun brings no change
Moon seems so gloomy
Each day remains the same
Look everywhere for change
Things remain the same
Mind too occupied lost somewhere
Hurt so much, tears seemed to have dried away
Why do I find no way?
Dunes of sand I see everywhere
No hope for rain, only despair
Such is the agony
If you listen with open ears
Feelings can’t be told
My fears can’t be sold
They lie deep inside me
Burning every inch of me
Why do I feel sad?
When everything seems all right
No one will ever know
What lies within my eyes.
Dreams being thrashed
Esteem being lost
Pride is there no more
Things change suddenly
Tears shed endlessly
Hurt's so deeply
Broken up to the highest degree
Sun brings no change
Moon seems so gloomy
Each day remains the same
Look everywhere for change
Things remain the same
Mind too occupied lost somewhere
Hurt so much, tears seemed to have dried away
Why do I find no way?
Dunes of sand I see everywhere
No hope for rain, only despair
Such is the agony
If you listen with open ears
Feelings can’t be told
My fears can’t be sold
They lie deep inside me
Burning every inch of me
Why do I feel sad?
When everything seems all right
No one will ever know
What lies within my eyes.
Whispers in the darkness.
Whispers in the darkness
Of silence and loneliness
Mind wanders, runs and thinks
Things achieved and yet to achieve
Mystery continues and seems endless
Things come up and hang there
Worries seems to have no boundaries
Imagination speaks more than it should allowed to be
Thoughts stride like waves on the shore
Shutting doors, windows everything around
Let there be not air to breathe
Cascade in a box let the world die for me
Just lie in, don’t speak!
Leave the world behind
Shut everything for me
close my eyes and let me be in peace.
Mind wanders, runs and thinks
Things achieved and yet to achieve
Mystery continues and seems endless
Things come up and hang there
Worries seems to have no boundaries
Imagination speaks more than it should allowed to be
Thoughts stride like waves on the shore
Shutting doors, windows everything around
Let there be not air to breathe
Cascade in a box let the world die for me
Just lie in, don’t speak!
Leave the world behind
Shut everything for me
close my eyes and let me be in peace.
4 February 2009
The Trail.
Satisfaction, content and happiness
Words can't define their essence
Easily lost cannot be stolen
Found in little things.
Struggle continues each day
Difficulties pave their way
Gales come and stride away
Forces easily get there and prevail
So hard it is to get there
Understand the meaning behind all the trails
Quintessence is hard to comprehend
For if you get them easily, they are forgotten
Fight is a must!
Strive and achieve what you deserve
Stand like a mountain
Be that rock and get what you truly want!
Resistance will pay off someday
Never loose faith, stand up and face your fate
For satisfaction, content and happiness are a necessity of life
Find them, get them and hold them tight!
Words can't define their essence
Easily lost cannot be stolen
Found in little things.
Struggle continues each day
Difficulties pave their way
Gales come and stride away
Forces easily get there and prevail
So hard it is to get there
Understand the meaning behind all the trails
Quintessence is hard to comprehend
For if you get them easily, they are forgotten
Fight is a must!
Strive and achieve what you deserve
Stand like a mountain
Be that rock and get what you truly want!
Resistance will pay off someday
Never loose faith, stand up and face your fate
For satisfaction, content and happiness are a necessity of life
Find them, get them and hold them tight!
2 February 2009
Fair Trade.. is it really?
I have seen many customers at Marks and Spencer's paying a higher price to buy 'Fair trade' items. Once a customer told me, “I would rather go for the Fair Trade items, so that it could benefit the poor people and they get a fair price for their work”. Well, I thought... is it really Fair trade?
What is Fair trade? I just searched on the Internet to find a definition and according to The Fair-trade Foundation it is:
“Fair-trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. If fair access to markets under better trade conditions would help them to overcome barriers to development, they can join Fair trade.”
So Fair trade means, creating opportunities for workers and producers, giving them a fair price for the good purchased so that their conditions can get better off. But is this really the reality? I know this is how is should be but is it really how it is?
During my undergrad, we attended an additional certification course of the ISO-9001. It was just a 2-day certification course. We were more interested in getting the certificate then actually listening to what the course instructor was teaching. But it seemed pretty much basic for us. It seemed as if it was just normal, this is how it should be, there should be proper lighting, there should be an adequate space, fire exits etc. But when I was doing an internship, at a Textile firm and I realized that things are not the way they are supposed to be. That Textile mill was ISO certified, but when I spoke to one of the colleagues I asked him, do you really follow ISO? He said, 'Well we do get visits from officials ever so often to see if we are following it or not, but when they are due, we change the things a little bit and get the certification". I know ISO is not related to Fair Trade in any way. But the reason to mention ISO is, that things are not being implemented the way they should be. There was a big board that crossed through my eyes every day I walked in through the main doors; it was the Wal-Mart compliance board. I can't recall all the points, but the one that really stunned me was, that the daily wage for labour workers would be a minimum of 99 rupees (approx 70-80 pence) per day. I don't really understand how 99 rupees per day can benefit employees. I wondered is it really compliance? Is it really being followed? So I am not entirely sure, if compliances really works and completely unsure how Fair-Trade would work? There are only particular lines that are Fair trade. But first of all, the market is so competitive, that how are the producers supposed to get a fair price for it? And even if they do will they really pass it on to the labour working on daily wages? And for once if I think that this extra margin that they do earn for Fair trade is being passed on... how is it exactly being passed on?
In a textile mill, there are large orders processing all together. So for instance, a few labour workers are working on Type A non fair trade and a few on Type B fair trade items, in the end how will their wages be decided? Will the labour workers working on the Type A be less fortunate then the Type B workers?
In reality, I guess there is no fair trade. I do not really think that the extra money, if the producers get any, benefits the labour workers in any way. Will they think about deepening their own pockets, and will pass it on to their sales and marketing team rather than to increase the wages of the labour workers and that too just for a particular line. Which might not be significant at all!
I have also seen here, a debate about child labour. I am not in favour of child labour but I have one question, what after you ban child labour? Are you going to feed their families? Provide them with education? If not, then, what will those poor kids end up like? Being street beggars? The question is that people in the west do not understand the level of poverty and that it cannot be cured easily. They just think, that if they ban child labour that will be it! They just think that if they pay more money for buying a 'Fair trade' item, then this benefit will surely go to them... But are things this simple?
It is just a marketing tactics. I have seen, two exactly same T-shirts, of nearly the same quality, one with a higher price for being 'FAIR TRADE' they other a cheaper make... but ultimately they both come from the same place, both made under the same circumstances and both produced by the same people, earning exactly the same!
What is Fair trade? I just searched on the Internet to find a definition and according to The Fair-trade Foundation it is:
“Fair-trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers and workers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system. If fair access to markets under better trade conditions would help them to overcome barriers to development, they can join Fair trade.”
So Fair trade means, creating opportunities for workers and producers, giving them a fair price for the good purchased so that their conditions can get better off. But is this really the reality? I know this is how is should be but is it really how it is?
During my undergrad, we attended an additional certification course of the ISO-9001. It was just a 2-day certification course. We were more interested in getting the certificate then actually listening to what the course instructor was teaching. But it seemed pretty much basic for us. It seemed as if it was just normal, this is how it should be, there should be proper lighting, there should be an adequate space, fire exits etc. But when I was doing an internship, at a Textile firm and I realized that things are not the way they are supposed to be. That Textile mill was ISO certified, but when I spoke to one of the colleagues I asked him, do you really follow ISO? He said, 'Well we do get visits from officials ever so often to see if we are following it or not, but when they are due, we change the things a little bit and get the certification". I know ISO is not related to Fair Trade in any way. But the reason to mention ISO is, that things are not being implemented the way they should be. There was a big board that crossed through my eyes every day I walked in through the main doors; it was the Wal-Mart compliance board. I can't recall all the points, but the one that really stunned me was, that the daily wage for labour workers would be a minimum of 99 rupees (approx 70-80 pence) per day. I don't really understand how 99 rupees per day can benefit employees. I wondered is it really compliance? Is it really being followed? So I am not entirely sure, if compliances really works and completely unsure how Fair-Trade would work? There are only particular lines that are Fair trade. But first of all, the market is so competitive, that how are the producers supposed to get a fair price for it? And even if they do will they really pass it on to the labour working on daily wages? And for once if I think that this extra margin that they do earn for Fair trade is being passed on... how is it exactly being passed on?
In a textile mill, there are large orders processing all together. So for instance, a few labour workers are working on Type A non fair trade and a few on Type B fair trade items, in the end how will their wages be decided? Will the labour workers working on the Type A be less fortunate then the Type B workers?
In reality, I guess there is no fair trade. I do not really think that the extra money, if the producers get any, benefits the labour workers in any way. Will they think about deepening their own pockets, and will pass it on to their sales and marketing team rather than to increase the wages of the labour workers and that too just for a particular line. Which might not be significant at all!
I have also seen here, a debate about child labour. I am not in favour of child labour but I have one question, what after you ban child labour? Are you going to feed their families? Provide them with education? If not, then, what will those poor kids end up like? Being street beggars? The question is that people in the west do not understand the level of poverty and that it cannot be cured easily. They just think, that if they ban child labour that will be it! They just think that if they pay more money for buying a 'Fair trade' item, then this benefit will surely go to them... But are things this simple?
It is just a marketing tactics. I have seen, two exactly same T-shirts, of nearly the same quality, one with a higher price for being 'FAIR TRADE' they other a cheaper make... but ultimately they both come from the same place, both made under the same circumstances and both produced by the same people, earning exactly the same!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
