tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58106927400406899052024-02-21T09:28:44.358-08:00the world in which ruchi lives...Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-29552902762551832302015-03-18T04:05:00.002-07:002015-03-18T04:05:16.316-07:00Why does it matter?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It has been
two months since the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hebdo_shooting" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Paris</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hebdo_shooting" target="_blank"> attacks</a> and yet I feel the need to publish <a href="http://ruchiworldview.blogspot.in/2015/03/recruiting-liberals-part-one.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. I spent weeks after the attack
taking in all the news I could, weighing in all the responses I could, and
trying to form my own view of it. Why does it matter so much to me? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The first,
very simple reason is that the religion we speak of runs in my blood. Well, it runs in my family. Oh, fine, my larger, nationwide family,
if you must insist. Anybody who has grown up in </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">India</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> listening to our music, reading our
literature, looking at our poetry, architecture and paintings will understand
me when I say that Islam is a part of us, and it certainly is a part of me; my
mind and soul. Urdu remains the most romantic tongue to my ear and quotes from
Akbar Birbal stories (known to me only in my own <i>Marathi</i> mother tongue) appear
promptly in my mind to illustrate some random point in everyday conversation.
Do not even get me started on classical music or painting or films! Some of our
best, most loved, artistes belong to said faith. I defy anybody who tries to
convince me that Islam is separate from me. And it is heartbreaking to know how
many would immediately attempt to do exactly that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Secondly, I
have fallen hopelessly in love with </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Britain</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (and the larger idea of European
unity). Having studied there and tasted true freedom there; having seen in
practice, theories and projects I had only read or thought about, from
experiments in environment to inclusive culture and arts, enhanced
communication and liberties, this set of countries, especially Britain, has
made an impression on me. It was there that I met some of the most, courteous,
humble, passionate and kind human beings I’ve known. The </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">personality</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, the core </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">character</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> of the country seemed to fit me like nothing else had ever done. And I am filled with
apprehension and sadness at the thought that people espousing these ideals might
be under threat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have
often dreamt of our own neighbouring countries (including the separated sibling
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pakistan</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">) having relations akin to the European union;
of being able to travel to and from these countries freely and learning about
them and sharing their culture. I admit I am too utopian for my own good. We
have a very long way to go, but it is such a pity that those who have made
great progress in neighbourhood ties are themselves being pulled back in time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And then
thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, there’s that innate part of being an artist. Of having a view and
expressing it. In a way and form that I hone and nurture and perfect. That I
work on, and think about, and relook at. None of that is by any means trivial,
and I pity those the most who have not learned how to appreciate (and that
includes to critique) a piece of artistic expression. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So it is
really no surprise that the incident is a direct assault on much that I hold
dear, a lot of which constitutes my identity. One may even credibly say that I
have been very, very, deeply offended. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But as a
mature adult, I must make my peace with it and allow my mind to proceed to <a href="http://ruchiworldview.blogspot.in/2015/03/recruiting-liberals-part-one.html" target="_blank">the understanding of the problem.</a> And in parting, I have to say in the loudest
voice I have, that I stand in solidarity with </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Europe</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, and hope that nothing (including themselves) destroys
their inclusive culture of tolerance and unity. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-76010507403206126912015-03-18T04:02:00.002-07:002023-07-28T20:17:22.686-07:00Recruiting the liberals - part one<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Over two months ago, a few
gunmen, invoking the religion Islam, killed cartoonists over a drawing. While violence of
any kind always upsets me very much, the nature of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hebdo_shooting"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Paris attacks</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> struck a particularly painful note, making me
wonder <a href="http://ruchiworldview.blogspot.in/2015/03/why-does-it-matter.html" target="_blank"><u>why it mattered so much more to me</u></a>. It triggered a personal
study, and in the light of these findings I feel responsible to respond. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stories
within Islam:</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The first myth to debunk is
that there is one Islam. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course there are many
voices in Islam. A religion is what its people make it. Throughout history,
people of different faiths have found ways to practice what they felt was the
path to god. Some were pathbreaking, and others ordinary, some rebelled and
created alternatives and some obediently ploughed on the beaten track. And
strangely, the rebels and original thinkers are the ones we celebrate and
remember. Even today, many Muslims hold very strong, tolerant and liberal views.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A current, European example
is the very same French Muslim policeman, Ahmed Merabet, who died doing his duty
to protect the Charlie Hebdo office from the terrorists. While he lay injured,
the gunmen <i>stopped </i>to shoot him. Of Algerian origin, he identified
strongly with French secular principles of liberty, equality and fraternity and
died defending his fellow countrymen’s freedom of expression - a truer Muslim
to me than any violent one. Please listen to his brother’s moving speech <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/10/charlie-hebdo-policeman-murder-ahmed-merabet">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We have known Rumi, Akbar,
Ghalib, and other brilliant Muslims who were ahead of their time (and often
criticised by the orthodoxy). The Indian subcontinent especially has a
tremendously rich and liberal heritage. Where then, have the
liberal Islamic traditions disappeared? Unfortunately, this twelve century
old heritage has now been denied by a mere six decade old intolerant, orthodox
'Islamist' ideology. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Changing
traditions and the rise of 'Islamism': </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To understand how a rich, twelve
century old Islamic tradition has turned overwhelmingly gruesome and extreme today, one must look at the political scene in recent times. This
has mainly been the 'political' spread of Wahhabism or Salafi Islam. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The short explanation is <a href="http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/02/religion/islam/the-saudi-arabization-of-islam">here</a>,
though I recommend a longer one <a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/hussain280213.htm">here</a> (minus the
lean towards conspiracy theory) and ask the reader to embark upon a personal
study to understand the subtleties. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Much more engaging is the
reading of “<a href="http://nation.com.pk/columns/07-Jul-2014/the-sheepification-of-bakistan">The
Sheepification of Bakistan</a>” in which Mina Malik-Hussain (a feminist Muslim
from Lahore) describes how ‘insiduously, The Arabs crept up on us’, how ‘Ramzan
became Ramadan’, and how “Now </span>it was cool to sound Arab, and soon enough
it began to be increasingly desirable to look it.” It is a must read, very
endearing!<br />
<br />
I could hug the writer when her impassioned words ring out “…really enough
is enough. This is Pakistan,
formerly of the Indian Subcontinent. This is still the place where people knew
Farsi and had read the Baburnama in the original. This the land of kings and
warriors, a civilization as old as the Indus. Where does
Saudi Arabia,
that land of the crazed Bedouins so uncivilized and jangli that they needed the
best of our Prophets to come save them, get off on telling us how to be Muslims?” <br />
That, right there, is my Pakistani sister reclaiming our shared roots (I
can't explain why, but at those words, my soul feels the joy of discovering a
long lost companion)!<br />
<br />
Following this beautiful article is another one by Shireen Azam<b> </b>describing
how, within the Indian scene, <b>“</b><a href="https://kafila.online/2014/09/15/a-short-memoir-on-the-arabisation-of-islam-in-india-shireen-azam/">Khuda-Hafizbecame Allah-Hafiz</a>”<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A political explanation is
here in this little clip (the crux is between minutes </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2:50 to
3:45</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">)</span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is certainly the political scene that inspired this
change, and with it came a dangerous consequence. Religion was brought slowly and inconspicuously, from
the personal space to the political space. And to describe this new political ideology, we use the
word “Islamism”.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Part two will be posted shortly)</span><br />
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Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-44767780769146062882014-02-18T05:05:00.000-08:002014-02-21T18:26:55.480-08:00It's about Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<![endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5bZEF4FFKX7SzzzjWCnbjRMPivxMagvBJSerNWpF9yFYD2J2WjeLg3pCR_DJA01aSIEYFfweY-Ys7-HKu8uW3x_IKqBBO01klPTvIC5VNaEhOvuip11qsG0DI5PirQxBeD8rb0CZUkA/s1600/Feb+itsaboutlove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5bZEF4FFKX7SzzzjWCnbjRMPivxMagvBJSerNWpF9yFYD2J2WjeLg3pCR_DJA01aSIEYFfweY-Ys7-HKu8uW3x_IKqBBO01klPTvIC5VNaEhOvuip11qsG0DI5PirQxBeD8rb0CZUkA/s1600/Feb+itsaboutlove.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a>In December 2013, the Supreme Court of India <i>re</i>criminalised
homosexuality and turned the clock back three years. It overturned the Delhi
High Court ruling of 2009 in support of LGBT rights (which was a truly sane,
just and far-reaching step if you ask me) - a ruling that had given hope to
many in the LGBT community to come out of the closet and feel safe. My
respect for the highest court of the land has evaporated quickly at this
blatant denial of basic human rights.
<br />
I have begun to be more and more certain that the larger social problems in
our country (and perhaps the world) always boil down to certain individual
personality defects to be found in these decision making groups. The only explanation
to the above mentioned Supreme Court absurdity is homophobia – a fear of
same-sex partnerships. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I chanced
upon a very nicely made BBC documentary recently called ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ytwGW9eO0" target="_blank">Out There</a>’, that
explores the lives of LGBT people all over the world, studying their lives, how
they are viewed, accepted and in many cases, prosecuted. I highly recommend
watching it. It sheds a lot of light on the main fears of homophobes the world
over. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">No bias is harmless. Anti-Semitism, though
baseless, gave rise to the Holocaust. Underestimating homophobia can lead to
mass prosecution of innocent people, and in today’s day and age, it would be an
enormous, unforgivable shame if we were to allow that to happen.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While
homophobia has many forms, these few points below usually form the basis of all
arguments against homosexuality.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Homosexuality
is unnatural / created by modern culture:</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Both
untrue. Many species in nature exhibit homosexual behaviour. It is not recent
either… there are records from ancient </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">India</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> which look at this behaviour in a
more holistic way (read more <a href="http://devdutt.com/blog/did-homosexuality-exist-in-ancient-india.html" target="_blank">here</a>).
Ideas of unnaturalness and immorality have come to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">India</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> from colonial </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Britain</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (and the law that the SC upholds is of
their making). Either way, it is not a good enough reason to make it criminal.
Plastic is both unnatural and modern – can we then pass a law making all
plastic users criminals?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Homosexuality
may involve addiction, violence and power:</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Correction
– All relationships may involve addiction, violence and power. And of course
that is wrong. We want healthy, happy people everywhere and if something stops
that from happening, we must take the required measures. If there is substance
abuse, we need therapy and rehabilitation. If there is violence and crime, we
need medical care, prosecution and rehabilitation. In fact, let me add, if
there are medical reasons against homosexual practices, by all means let there
be awareness and healthcare options, just like with heterosexual practices.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our country
is riddled with injustice and bias in every sphere. We are all guilty of
wronging each other, based on caste, region, background, sex, disability. It is
always wrong, no matter who does it. Singling a community out doesn’t help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Homosexuality
may spread and threaten ‘normal’ relationships:</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is an idea that the LGBT community ‘recruits’ people
to be like them, that if such behaviour expands it is a threat to reproduction
and that human population will fall. Even as I type this, the ludicrousness of
the idea makes me chuckle. I don’t quite see eye to eye with the fears of
declining population (atleast speaking for my 1.2 billion strong India).
As for the ‘recruiting’, if the mass of heterosexual movies, drama, literature,
poetry constantly bombarded on gay individuals does not change their inner
feelings, how can a small group influence the majority? In fact, this idea
comes more from people who reduce this love to sex. They disregard all the
gentleness, trust, companionship and respect that is part of all relationships
and focus on the physical act. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Most gay
people stress again and again that what ‘normal’ people do not get is that it’s
about love. I agree that it is something one may not understand. I admit I do
not fully understand it yet myself, but the only sane solution to that is to
observe it more deeply. Suppressing and punishing, I’m afraid, will just make
it worse. And love is mysterious enough, even in its most ‘normal’ form! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But there are ways for us to feel and understand what such relationships can be (and often are) about. Literature, music,
films and art open windows of empathy into worlds
and feelings unknown to us. And it is always true that the weakest of us are represented least.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are
very few sensitive films about the subject I have come across - Wilde and
Birdcage come to mind. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115685/" target="_blank">Birdcage</a> is one of the gentlest, most hilarious but
endearing movies I have seen on the subject, tickling you innocently as it
delves subtly into the deeper personalities of the characters, while <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120514/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Wilde</a> is
the more intense, darker and sadder one, with the protagonist (the 19<sup>th</sup>
century author and poet Oscar Wilde) struggling with ideas of Victorian
morality and his own innate sense of what is good and noble.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Author
Vikram Seth penned down the poem below after the SC’s disappointing stand (and
it is free for anybody to share or use).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Through love's great power to be made whole<br />
In mind and body, heart and soul -<br />
Through freedom to find joy, or be<br />
By dint of joy itself set free<br />
In love and in companionhood:<br />
This is the true and natural good.<br />
To undo justice, and to seek<br />
To quash the rights that guard the weak - <br />
To sneer at love, and wrench apart<br />
The bonds of body, mind and heart<br />
With specious reason and no rhyme:<br />
This is the true unnatural crime.</i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And yet, this
is difficult for many to understand. As Stephen Fry says in ‘Out There’, <i>“It’s
extra-ordinary to think that after two hundred thousand years on the planet,
humankind is still struggling with how some of us love”</i></span></div>
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Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-55539272917114400172013-07-01T06:31:00.002-07:002013-07-06T05:01:30.796-07:00Summerhill Part Two – School Meeting and Views from the Principal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Continued
from <a href="http://ru-chii.blogspot.in/2013/06/summerhill-part-one-school-tour-and.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>)</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We have
lunch and then explore the gardens. As my friends happily swing on the swings
(one also went up the tree-house – don’t we all have children inside us?), I
notice that behind the swings are little paths that go into little caves of
shrubbery. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>On the other side is a
small meadow where a young girl is sitting peacefully,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reading alone. She is lost in her book and
does not notice me, and since I like it that way, I quietly retrace my steps and rejoin
my friends. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But I love the fact that even in the midst of the calm, close-knit
community, there are still places to be on your own, seemingly solitary, for
those days when you wish to be so...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US">Right - The tree-house</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Below - The hidden paths behind the swings</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we enter
the meeting room and find places to sit, we are politely asked to “Please wait
outside, as the children will vote on whether they’d like you to be part of the
meeting”. Surprised and impressed, we trail out again, and wait for the
verdict. Happily, they allow us in, but it is impressive to know that they have
an option of keeping us out. Once inside, they also vote on whether we are
allowed to take photos and videos (photos are okay with most but videos turned
down, with the result that we aren’t to take photos of the dissenting students
or any videos whatsoever). </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The meeting
is perhaps the most impressive thing in the whole visit. The children sit
quietly, some comfortably on the floor, some on the benches on the sides of the
room, some on the stairs and one even on the banister! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Chair
(the previously mentioned teenage girl), we were told later, was voted for in
the previous meeting and has absolute power. She could mete out punishments or
fines for misbehaviour, or throw someone out if they disrupt the
proceedings (during the session we witness, none are required, just a firm
instruction to a new boy, who is hiding up the stairs sitting at the very top, to
come down and join in nicely. After two failed attempts of ‘Come sit down here,
please’, she raises her voice and says ‘I’m going to fine you if you don’t come
down at once’ and is promptly obeyed). There are two meetings each week, and on
Friday the next week’s Chair is decided. Few students do it, and they are
normally the older ones, because you need experience, authority and
fairness, as you have to keep about 70 children and 10 or more adults calm and
interested for about an hour in addition to taking care of business.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is a
general meeting and a tribunal meeting – general where they discuss laws, or
events, or new proposals for something. Tribunal is where you’d bring someone
up for misconduct. The Chair has a previously prepared list of what is to be
discussed, which includes proposals, notices or announcements amongst others.
When someone needs to say something in a meeting, they speak to the Chair and
Secretary (the record keeper and organizer of the meeting who assists the
Chair) and are listed down before the meeting – they are given their chance to
speak when their name is called out during the meeting.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we
settle down, the Chair reads the agenda for the day and the meeting begins. A
few people make announcements about the week’s schedule, outings and events.
The next thing on the agenda is a proposal by a child. He seems to have been
“gated” previously (a sort of punishment, I assume, similar to being grounded,
where one is unable to participate in events or go out) and is seeking to get
that cancelled for the weekend when he wants to meet his parents. People raise
their hands to respond and the Chair lets them speak one at a time (if you’re
not picked, you don’t get a chance, but nobody seems to mind). Some suggest
that he could be let off for the weekend and add an extra day to his punishment,
some say add extra two days, some say gated is gated. As these are heard, the
Secretary quickly compiles the options and the Chair promptly reads them out,
then takes a vote which is something like this…</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All in
favour of proposal?” (Some hands go up)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All in
favour of proposal but adding another day?” (Clear winner)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All in
favour of proposal but adding extra two days?” (Some other hands…)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“All
against all?” (Barely one or two)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Carried by
adding an extra day!”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No time
lost. It is amazing to see how quick and crisp and aptly worded the meeting is.
It reflects not only a clarity in the discussion, but a clarity of thought
among the students, a sense of fairness, a sense that the ideas are more
important than the people who are saying them (no idea comes twice, there is no
redundancy, hands are raised only by those who have something to add), and
appreciation is conveyed by the generous “Hear hear!”s called out when fair
things are said.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The second
memorable case is a boy bringing up another boy for breaking his chair. What
pleases me is that the second child does not deny the charge even for a moment.
The question of a suitable solution (or what we'd unkindly call a
punishment) is brought to the community. One suggests a fine, but others don’t
find that useful. Another suggests that the boy could go to the woodworking studio
and make another chair. One teacher then asks if the original chair can be
mended, and if so, could the boy take responsibility for getting the chair
fixed. This solution seems to appeal to everyone. But to add, a child suggests
that the boy could mend the chair and get a new chair too. There’s an immediate sharp
response of, “Why would anyone need two chairs?” and it is followed by a well-distributed chorus of “Hear
hear!” </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It isn’t
hard to see that there is a strong sense of what is ‘fair’. If you ask me, such
things are only taught by example and practice. No theory or laws can decide
for you what is justice or what is goodness… even what is happiness. You can
never define these, you just know them when you see them… </span><br />
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<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><i>Top and below - Woodwork in the gardens</i></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the end
of it, we walk out smiling. Not just because of how civilized and mature the
discussions are (it is something to be respected, especially if you’ve ever
seen the way adults discuss in meetings, or court, or worse, in parliament!), but
because they are about little things. Insignificant they may seem, perhaps, but
they shape the child, teach him/her how to respond to a disagreement or wrong done to them or others. It is the
little problems that grow into big problems, and you cannot solve a larger
problem if you haven’t learnt how to deal with smaller ones first. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We then
have a conversation with the principal Zoë </span>Neill Readhead. She tells us<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> that everything in this community
is open and if someone does something seemingly wrong, it is encouraged to just
confess and get over it. The principal also laughs about gossip. “We love our gossip,”
she says, “We always know what’s going on where”. But it is never harmful; the
students know it and are comfortable with it because nobody is judged. When
asked if the freedom is sometimes ‘too much’, she says “We believe in freedom,
not license.” When one realizes that others’ freedom is just as valuable as
one’s own, it makes them caring and responsible. Surprising to many who are new
to this idea is how well it works. There is barely any destructive behaviour –
for example smoking isn’t banned but anybody who may want to smoke would have to compulsorily
attend a ‘Smoker’s Talk’ regularly – a sort of lecture which gives them
information about possible health problems, etc. A similar policy is in place
for drinking and sex. Knowing the risks and consequences itself makes children
more responsible and accountable for their actions.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Inspite of
the openness (or perhaps because of it), it is a controlled atmosphere; students are chosen on the basis
of how well they will fit into the community. There is a varied mix of
backgrounds and nationalities that the children come from, and it is a very
inclusive community, but some personality filters are in place. </span></span></div>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="color: #76a5af;">Clockcards - Each child has a wooden block that can be hung to indicate where they are in the school</span></i></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The more
technical things (OFSTED reports, legal issues, insurances, finances, and other
things, which I won’t go into here) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">are discussed and so are the
limitations. This kind of school is resource-intensive, not easy to replicate
without enough money or space or people. As the government is reluctant to fund
and support the endeavour (without exerting control), Summerhill has to financially take care of itself (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Zoë sadly admits that it is better to shut down Summerhill rather than let the government impose restrictions on it)</span></span>. That has the unfortunate effect of making it elitist – beyond reach of the
lower sections of society. But as Zoë says, “Are we then saying it is
better not to have Summerhill at all?"</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgji9fSD5a8U1LRoeEEPABeR6r5iNd02Jc4riXzT0THnYXQwIMhq6BlmoC54MvuuP32kvbs-9xW2dis9GNYiUD6fV9VgFCspDFrvugfphI_53PGPPu36WHJQ_QOVt-mBRfAp4jsrUx00U/s1000/blog11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgji9fSD5a8U1LRoeEEPABeR6r5iNd02Jc4riXzT0THnYXQwIMhq6BlmoC54MvuuP32kvbs-9xW2dis9GNYiUD6fV9VgFCspDFrvugfphI_53PGPPu36WHJQ_QOVt-mBRfAp4jsrUx00U/s200/blog11.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="color: #76a5af;">View of the schoolrooms and garden</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
question is one of preserving and experimenting with an ideal in an
increasingly non-ideal world. What the significance of such a place is, is discussed in this </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">very <a href="http://thinkalittletoday.blogspot.in/2012/10/appreciation-of-educational-models-part.html" target="_blank">insightful article</a> about Summerhill</span></span> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">a friend of mine has written</span></span></span></span>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you ask me, a large number of the world's problems will be solved in a few generations' time if governments all over the world direct maximum resources to liberal, free education, health and nature conservation. But that is a much complex, wider discussion altogether.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
must be said for now, is that we need more such spaces and chances for children
to really grow into resourceful, responsible, loving adults – something we are
definitely short of. </span></div>
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</div>
Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-74657932422040711332013-06-03T20:38:00.000-07:002013-06-30T22:51:12.337-07:00Summerhill Part One– School Tour and Informal Discussion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Last week two
friends and I had an opportunity to visit a lovely school in </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Suffolk</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> called </span><a href="http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Summerhill</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">School</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. Founded in 1921 by a visionary
named A.S. Neil, the school is one of the first of its kind. Formerly described
as a ‘free school’ and increasingly called a (more reserved and respectable)
‘democratic school’, it is one of the few institutions in the world that
practices an educational model where students are strong decision makers in the
running of their school and, in effect, their lives. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we
approach the office, we see a view of the very pretty school building, and the
path that curves and leads up to it. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is a sign that makes me smile. It
says, ‘Beware! Children Playing!’. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpBHp7l25sCwNsHHV6KfTfB3q7wWswLBiObqjVPZSwXvz5fLv4shyphenhyphenQCODrWSLG1e6omaMf2j_Nf7jGxU2VaBzKT_FkslefwyqdJHkzDzD6jZ0fapfxkUuHgPL1HfH8T_LBczJrrlC2J0/s1600/blog+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpBHp7l25sCwNsHHV6KfTfB3q7wWswLBiObqjVPZSwXvz5fLv4shyphenhyphenQCODrWSLG1e6omaMf2j_Nf7jGxU2VaBzKT_FkslefwyqdJHkzDzD6jZ0fapfxkUuHgPL1HfH8T_LBczJrrlC2J0/s200/blog+02.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><i>Above - The happy signpost</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><i>Left - The main school building</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aizBnzXqGAUXBfE4pNEfcABHBczi0WHio1Idr_6dcMaaMpmLTl-juYauabRrtyd08Y5RuTbVBHEOjnVgM-Ov8L9XfeEIUVcBKIoeBao6R8NlyYMQxOq4lB7QJlD14hRJXOJRO_nbSFA/s1600/blog+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aizBnzXqGAUXBfE4pNEfcABHBczi0WHio1Idr_6dcMaaMpmLTl-juYauabRrtyd08Y5RuTbVBHEOjnVgM-Ov8L9XfeEIUVcBKIoeBao6R8NlyYMQxOq4lB7QJlD14hRJXOJRO_nbSFA/s320/blog+01.jpg" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are other smaller signs in the office,
asking visitors not to take anybody’s photographs without their permission, to
not go into children’s living spaces or touch their belongings, etc.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The
visitors (we are among the many who have come on this Open Day) are comprised
of interested parents, curious educators and enthusiastic teachers - some
wanting to enlist their children, some to join the school, and some to start
similar models elsewhere. As the visitors slowly start interacting, a few
teenagers walk up to us and ask us to divide into groups for a tour of the
school.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XQk8RZUxVL1OGQIQH0pdstUHegvrFzxQehh-snWUShQEFkLA5pVzrC52XZHUY4e1kkYXiGegcEAjJrNiVsZvTcdc196TRMbIB0fJC_GHaQwvkEcgP8mMqngpWmVlUMS24YW6AtuZKaY/s1600/blog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XQk8RZUxVL1OGQIQH0pdstUHegvrFzxQehh-snWUShQEFkLA5pVzrC52XZHUY4e1kkYXiGegcEAjJrNiVsZvTcdc196TRMbIB0fJC_GHaQwvkEcgP8mMqngpWmVlUMS24YW6AtuZKaY/s320/blog5.jpg" width="225" /></a>We’re
assigned to two charming young lads who lead us in. As we walk around we notice
children on bicycles, skateboards, swings and some of the youngest ones on a
trampoline! There are unicycles lying around in a couple of places too. Many
children are wandering about (it happens to be an absolutely lovely, sunny
day) and give us friendly smiles.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is a very informal tour. The boys chat with us, tell us where they live, what they
like. We’re taken to the woodcarving studio where students can make anything
from little shields and swords to chairs (even the skateboard ramp outside has
been made by a student with the woodcarving incharge’s help!), to the science
rooms, past the lunch area to the meeting room (which was then empty and housed
a table tennis table), art rooms and a small common room for the children to
relax and read or just hang out. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6tAx-dr6W6wMOkhE0lkYqnd0U_CLOD_jxdx4XTNbWQrDSXeGvkPKpt1uJZzy7qyXs-MSFw2lMi-p2ie9U-eKrv5OqwpV7QDV1daj4gjVheKyqNOJREFOJF1Aup-Tw4Uwg_KvagtBrp8/s1600/blog6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6tAx-dr6W6wMOkhE0lkYqnd0U_CLOD_jxdx4XTNbWQrDSXeGvkPKpt1uJZzy7qyXs-MSFw2lMi-p2ie9U-eKrv5OqwpV7QDV1daj4gjVheKyqNOJREFOJF1Aup-Tw4Uwg_KvagtBrp8/s400/blog6.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><i>Above - Indoor hang-out room for 9 to 12 year olds stocked with games and reading material<br />Below - Science rooms for all classes</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfuF5otaCLgVo-1XUcT0OpwRox82J7fItM-oQhOF2wCic5aOqzWnNmToncZ-HGDYu01PU4sBZ5WGLnGAtQNs0vnJGjbTs0r7UHn4YRfrQZMu0mUnvX8tbwFkjU9btrTGCTgwseB_bME0/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfuF5otaCLgVo-1XUcT0OpwRox82J7fItM-oQhOF2wCic5aOqzWnNmToncZ-HGDYu01PU4sBZ5WGLnGAtQNs0vnJGjbTs0r7UHn4YRfrQZMu0mUnvX8tbwFkjU9btrTGCTgwseB_bME0/s200/blog3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINvApolhMIypXG7l2lx5hlBGtxk5_jxIlzR9BezyjzYdf7-_3QumH20dU51WTqq5yzQSgbWvDk1UKQHrmsOKGPLoJlPk7uq_XG-VjNX0kNKIcus3hMzuni8c7CgugHh-SJ8aXBmRr5MY/s1600/blog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINvApolhMIypXG7l2lx5hlBGtxk5_jxIlzR9BezyjzYdf7-_3QumH20dU51WTqq5yzQSgbWvDk1UKQHrmsOKGPLoJlPk7uq_XG-VjNX0kNKIcus3hMzuni8c7CgugHh-SJ8aXBmRr5MY/s320/blog4.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLcYmqWLsULlQ8xd46h1JC7jtff6SgWaPiVf3e41gMQBlDjPTVi8Me0CQ8ZKVY0xcy1G5nUuGnQrpRHHb-ISY8W5L119wX4RMDMCuX3U5swU8o59TrNph9vYUi8Z-rD3nEpocRygmBAk/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLcYmqWLsULlQ8xd46h1JC7jtff6SgWaPiVf3e41gMQBlDjPTVi8Me0CQ8ZKVY0xcy1G5nUuGnQrpRHHb-ISY8W5L119wX4RMDMCuX3U5swU8o59TrNph9vYUi8Z-rD3nEpocRygmBAk/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLcYmqWLsULlQ8xd46h1JC7jtff6SgWaPiVf3e41gMQBlDjPTVi8Me0CQ8ZKVY0xcy1G5nUuGnQrpRHHb-ISY8W5L119wX4RMDMCuX3U5swU8o59TrNph9vYUi8Z-rD3nEpocRygmBAk/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLcYmqWLsULlQ8xd46h1JC7jtff6SgWaPiVf3e41gMQBlDjPTVi8Me0CQ8ZKVY0xcy1G5nUuGnQrpRHHb-ISY8W5L119wX4RMDMCuX3U5swU8o59TrNph9vYUi8Z-rD3nEpocRygmBAk/s320/blog2.jpg" width="249" /></a><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we walk outside, a passing teacher calls
out to us, laughing, “Don’t listen to <i>them</i>! They’re just <i>children</i>!”
at which our two teenagers grin mischievously! They show us the swimming pool
(which needs cleaning, and the students would help with that), the Big Beech –
their largest tree, which has a huge ladder built onto it and rope to swing on
(“But we don’t go there much, there are many rules about it”), and the many
swings and benches all around.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55aKWkXsVHtJWy0W8qpGyMPdanp2a6eZaNXfl0moBOA-_yq_3h1UgHPtcBWZa8d19QD4o1wDrHbwmPqs3p7G1Pc1BW7_IsqYrmOyI0XxycX2CNmxlqPbuQDklAIdE6GnPNW5VpWjMSpM/s1600/blog16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55aKWkXsVHtJWy0W8qpGyMPdanp2a6eZaNXfl0moBOA-_yq_3h1UgHPtcBWZa8d19QD4o1wDrHbwmPqs3p7G1Pc1BW7_IsqYrmOyI0XxycX2CNmxlqPbuQDklAIdE6GnPNW5VpWjMSpM/s400/blog16.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><i>Above - Skateboarding ramp made as a woodwork project<br />Below - The Big Beech and our two young guides</i></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After the
little tour of the school, we speak to one of the teachers who has been at
Summerhill for about 12 years. We also get to see the Law Book, which has about
200 laws that the children follow. (“There are some silly laws, too,” says our
teenage tour guide, with a chuckle “So sometimes we get rid of them if
everybody agrees we don’t need<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>them”) There
are rules like ‘You are allowed a lie-in on your birthday’ or ‘16 year olds are
allowed out till </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8pm</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’. Most laws can be
changed or modified by the students in the meetings, by majority vote. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The teacher explains how things work, what
students learn, how other schools find it difficult to follow these concepts.
This is also more of a discussion, with the visitors asking all sorts of
things, including how often children are allowed to go out, whether they have
compulsory lessons, how many choose to attend the meetings, how do they handle
violence (“We haven’t even had a fist fight” says the 13 year old student who is joining the discussion), what if a child doesn’t want to do anything at all, and many more.
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKEDlAaZULZ8cCHsjNBxXGezMIfD5-ulQxM2xEa_35TOLHwXSPzs2t0WrJWR9VObv_LZ37mkgaUM4_Vdr2GmA3TjWZWknUC3xfmxG0pvqmo7kM0nJtuQ4J8bjJQ2q6sH-dG0yYW98Azo/s1600/blog8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKEDlAaZULZ8cCHsjNBxXGezMIfD5-ulQxM2xEa_35TOLHwXSPzs2t0WrJWR9VObv_LZ37mkgaUM4_Vdr2GmA3TjWZWknUC3xfmxG0pvqmo7kM0nJtuQ4J8bjJQ2q6sH-dG0yYW98Azo/s320/blog8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><i>Above and below right - Art room and <br />indoor area for games and books </i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtq1GkhdeWwTsqxMaCoGP8dx5SMngcXEdYaw1Fr_3SsCkLAdRYIYKaj8TvpLmKXxQvihJYdXXfSLutabi-9N9apULJTUp9zIi3HvGjTdeKiT6OSX4YL_0jKudiY9WyxdOOTePMowsObI/s1600/blog7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtq1GkhdeWwTsqxMaCoGP8dx5SMngcXEdYaw1Fr_3SsCkLAdRYIYKaj8TvpLmKXxQvihJYdXXfSLutabi-9N9apULJTUp9zIi3HvGjTdeKiT6OSX4YL_0jKudiY9WyxdOOTePMowsObI/s320/blog7.jpg" width="254" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The teacher
answers it all in a wonderful spirit, laughing and joking as he enters the
finer points of the discussion. “Our textbooks are designed to keep 30 or more
children busy,” he says, when asked about how children manage to study if they
spend so much time at play, “So they have a lot of repetition within them,
there are examples and many problems to solve. But once you get rid of all the
extra bits, it’s really quite simple and do-able”. And play is always a type of
study, he insists. The conversation veers to flaws in the existing educational
models the world over. The Finnish system is mentioned, as are other schools
that are trying similar things. However the world is yet to catch up.
Summerhill was radical in 1921 and it is radical even now. “I call it
a problem of educational religion,” says the teacher, talking about why this may be, “where
you believe (and are scared by being told) that success is economic heaven and failure,
economic hell.”<span style="color: red;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As the
teacher speaks to us, the teenage girl (who will later chair the school
meeting) sits next to him completely at home as if it is a family discussion
she is sitting in on. The few times she does speak, her manner betrays a sense
of confidence and wisdom, but most of all, a deep love for her school. We break
for lunch after this, and are to reconvene in the meeting room to witness the
school meeting (or so we think!)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(More to
come</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> - <i>a second
post about the school meeting and a talk with the principal will follow shortly.)</i></span></div>
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Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-80029094539605546132013-01-07T20:45:00.000-08:002016-01-15T09:42:44.698-08:00The Bat and the Manjaa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">(Warning - slightly distressing image below)</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The other
day, as I sat bent over my drawing, I got a frantic call from my mother. She
was downstairs trying to stop our fellow colony residents from burning dried
leaves under healthy trees (just one of the many tree-loving things she does).
‘Come down at once!’ she said, ‘There is a bat and it is injured.’ Injured, it
appeared, by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manjaa</i> thread used
for flying kites.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Words like
that seem to pierce my soul and fill a strange kind of fear in me. I suddenly
become highly receptive, imagining and feeling all sorts of things that might
have happened to the poor creature. Armed with a pair of scissors, a clean rag
and some water, I rushed down to find the bat lying face down with a badly
broken wing. It seems it had been caught in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manjaa</i> hanging from the trees, struggled to get out and become even
more entangled. The watchman saw it hanging and tried to get it down, the
result of which was it crashing to the ground. It lay there, not moving, a
crowd of children around it, but everyone too afraid (perhaps, thankfully) to
touch it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m not a
vet and we couldn’t have done much. I gave it some water that it frantically
tried to drink, and then tried to cut away the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manjaa</i> and clean the wound. It was a bad wound with the wing torn
and part of the bone sticking out. As I tried cutting the thread away, gingerly
so that it would hurt least, it struck me how strong it was. It was almost like
wire and the wing was so tightly wrapped up in it, it was impossible to get it
out. We decided to bring it upstairs at home to get away from the crowd; the
poor thing must have been terrified. As I carried it in my arms, held up by
rags and my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dupatta</i>, it felt so much
like a baby, but one that was far beyond me in the way it was silently suffering.
I think that was when it died. Because when we opened the door and lay it down,
it wouldn’t move. It didn’t respond to anything. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7la9IFl8LZVP4NfWIBH36gvAhOGKrbNsUfixi8uA4iRkbDsvCtkyVHJ9IDTdtXGVR4mN81IClYvJ1pgzIo9AQrom9gMVFeQXhYBii_mpY1xQ48pDGjx49yKR4CFROhhH6-CcJ0CHbaU/s1600/bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7la9IFl8LZVP4NfWIBH36gvAhOGKrbNsUfixi8uA4iRkbDsvCtkyVHJ9IDTdtXGVR4mN81IClYvJ1pgzIo9AQrom9gMVFeQXhYBii_mpY1xQ48pDGjx49yKR4CFROhhH6-CcJ0CHbaU/s400/bat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Maybe it
was trauma of being handled, or the impact of falling from such a height, or
that the intensity of the wound had finally triumphed. We will never know. But
I do know that a strong piece of string, hanging in a tree and obstructing animals’
natural movement, did not belong there. And even after that, as I tried to get it
out of the dead bat’s mangled wound (it just seemed something that needed to be
done), it wouldn’t come out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manjaa</i> has left a permanent wound on my
mind. I think kite flying is a beautiful sport. But I think we have to be more
responsible with what we leave behind after we’re done with it. It seems too
sad and horrible that a simple thread left innocently behind should be the
cause of so much suffering, not just for animals but also other people. No
sport is worth that kind of pain.</span></div>
</div>
Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-26982673116726450562011-07-15T02:39:00.001-07:002011-07-15T02:39:25.770-07:00DesensitisedThe girl who lost her father in 26/11 says “Keeping him alive isn’t doing anything… if it made us safer, I would say keep him alive!” I wonder if she ever thinks of the same thing in reverse. She goes on to say to others like her with a loss, “Someday we will get justice, and if not we will have to fight!” <br />“Why wait?’ says the former police officer sitting next to her, “Why not fight now?’ She falters but fires back, “Because I still have faith that the government will act. The moment we lose that faith, we will fight”<br /><br />And if they fight, my friends, they will fight with anger and hate, the anger and hate that slowly seep in and have been doing for some time now. The anger and hate that do not dissolve in understanding. It will see no sense, it will be insane. Because we are ignoring the ideological aspects of the fight. Nobody is discussing that. <br /><br />The anchoress asks repeatedly, “But how will hanging him help? Terrorists have an agenda and individuals won’t make a difference to it.” I admire her. My heart goes out to the way she tries to bring up and let people see the issue of capital punishment. But the question wavers in the air and then just gets lost in the hate, no answers given.<br /><br />There are fears expressed. Valid, all of them. We got used to corruption, and it is now part of our lives. We got used to poverty, we barely notice it now. Will we soon get used to terrorism too? Make our lives uglier day by day and get immune to it, immune and unfeeling?<br />We make a noise, yes. “Happy Birthday, Kasab, have a blast!” was on the web a mere half hour after the blasts. And fact is, it wasn’t even his birthday. A rumour tweeted by some celebrity. A sick hoax or a gruesome joke, it proves how easily we shift focus. It shows how cynical we are, not even a moment of shock or sadness before we could make fun of it, before we even knew all the facts of the blast. “Hang him!” we screech at our loudest. We hurl curses at politicians, we revel in cynicism and contempt.<br />Drama, really, isn’t it? <br /><br /><br /><br />How many of us, who haven’t lost anybody to the attack really feel the loss? How much of our ‘anger’ is real, and how much just seasoned reaction? All we do is place blame. Because it’s the easiest thing to do.<br /><br />South Mumbai, who made a lot of noise the last time around, proved their indifference by their abysmal voter turnout. How many of us know what our local police station does to protect us? How many of us know the nearest blood bank? How many of us know basic first aid?<br /><br />Even more importantly, how many of us have mature solutions to the problem. Do we know why terrorism exists? What’s the root of it that needs to be weeded out? Ways to stop it before an attack? Practical solutions that can and should be implemented? Except the chant of “Hang him!” what have we got? <br />We’re in this together. The people who help the most in such situations are ordinary citizens. They carry the injured, they spread messages, they help out. That’s not ideal, but that has helped us.<br /><br />The former police officer makes very clear points about our response… police beats, he says, are simple ways to feed intelligence… but police personnel are busy escorting politicians, when they should be patrolling areas, befriending shopkeepers and keeping an eye out, but keeping in touch with a well networked group of normal citizens in the area. Do we know the state of our police forces well (in a non-filmy way, rooted to reality)? Start with basics, shouldn’t we?<br /><br />Blame the politicians, yes, but force them to see the solutions. You want to show them the strength of the masses, show them that masses can think and know how to fix the problem. Show them that you care by thinking of preventive measures in your own area, and push for it to happen. <br />We live in a democracy, not a dictatorship. It is designed to give us control over the government. Beyond just votes. Use that control! If the government is failing, it means we, as people of India, atleast the educated and aware ones, are failing.<br /><br />The reasons we’re not driven to do all this, is not because we don’t have time (we have enough to spend many whole days on facebook), or because we don’t have the capacity, it is because we don’t care enough.<br /><br />We’re desensitized. Accept it, and we might have a chance to change.Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-12188806302816057932011-07-15T02:37:00.001-07:002011-07-15T02:37:32.938-07:00Chant“Hang him, hang him!” chant the crowds, not knowing why, not seeing how it will keep them safe. The only thoughts furiously coursing in them are those of revenge, the revenge they name justice. They are wronged, oh yes. His blood would be what would have to pay for that. Not today maybe. But they cannot rest till it is shed. Or until they see sense.<br /><br />Do they not see that he is a soul condemned? He was meant to die. He was meant to die like the others who accompanied him. His blood means nothing to the killers. If anything, keeping him alive has said something to the teenagers who can be like him. Something that would make them see… mercy exists. Because in their worlds, it most likely doesn’t. In their worlds, you hit and one hits back. An eye for an eye. They don’t know otherwise. Hang him, sweet crowds, but you would only reinforce their belief. You think they are afraid of death? You thing a hanging will scare them off? It will just prove to them that blood is returned by blood. And they’re not afraid to have the last word on that.<br /><br />It is much more, much deeper what they look for. It is distorted meaning. An answer to ‘what am I meant to do?’ It is the wrong answers that are causing this pain. Your chants don’t solve that.<br /><br />And you. <br />Volatile, explosive, restless, you. But also, indifferent, cynical, hardened, you.<br />If I could I would make you see. Your explosion seems not to last, your restlessness seems not to find purpose. Your indifference grows, and yet you know it not. Your cynicism cuts, it is much sharper than any blade. But it the way you have been hardened, that makes me cry. <br /><br />But the anger swells, the crowds chant louder. For years, all they do is chant. No thought, no sense. <br />And then the hate pours out. It is ruthless, emotionless, because all feeling has been numbed. All that has remained is hate. Pushed too far, wronged too long, and left with an inability to forgive or remedy. <br /><br />Insanity arrives, and following it closely, bloodshed.Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-50680736564873859922009-02-05T08:13:00.000-08:002014-02-16T01:14:52.750-08:00Weird Lesson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From a time I don't even remember how long, I have been learning a lesson which has proved very valuable in many ways. It's really very simple, almost laughably so! And even if I cannot seem to find a good reason as to why it is so, inwardly, I know it's just right… or rather, it would be wrong if it wasn't so… because I've come to believe nothing can be really proved true, all you can prove is that it's converse is false…<br />
<br />
So, the big secret.<br />
When you get where you've been trying to get with all your might, leave! When you get what you've been dying to get, shun it. When you learn all the rules of the game, break them.<br />
<br />
Weird! Why on earth would we do all that, slog so hard, when we want to throw it all away in the end? It's absurd. It's silly. It's an excuse made by people who never really get there. I gave myself all these answers, trying desperately to find sense in something that seems so pointless!<br />
<br />
My first taste of this inexplicable rule was while learning art. I'm strangely drawn towards simplicity, and this trait manifested itself in my art too… but I quickly realized that I could only reach it when I was done perfecting the complex. When you can understand the complexities involved, when you can be perfect at handling them, then you can say, “I don't care about these”. Not until then.<br />
<br />
The rule, almost sinisterly, finds roots in every aspect of life. It applies everywhere, almost like a trap, and a denying soul feels it closing in. But shake off the inhibitions and embrace it, and it gives you a sense of power. And a beautiful sense of security. Something that cannot be taken away… or maybe something that you don't care if taken away…<br />
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There is a danger though… most of the times we have no clue we are in this. No clue that what we want is something we won't want once we get it. It is by no means easy. Many don't ever realize it… maybe because many just never reach their goal. And most don't understand it. Perhaps that's why we see so much dissatisfaction…?<br />
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And as if to add a finishing touch, it spins itself a converse. It makes you value things that you do not have or levels that you haven't reached… as if a particular thing needs to be earned. You have to be worthy of something to get it. It gives you an essential reason to change, develop, improve in order to achieve something. It is transformative for those who dream of, say, ideals… for such it is the 'guiding light' that shows them the way. And you follow the light. Only to realize that when you reach, it isn't the light you want to see. But then, what do you want to see?<br />
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Meantime, you have traveled and come far.<br />
And we come to another (cliché) thought.<br />
That beauty lies not in the goal but the journey… (?)<br />
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As if I haven't really said anything new in this post. Just discovered for myself (have I yet?) what others have already discovered…</div>
Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-58607014927515904092008-11-30T00:31:00.000-08:002014-02-16T01:15:22.495-08:00Terror 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This post is a sort-of addition to the post labeled ‘terror’.<br />
I wish to stress upon what we consider as facts, and how anger and hatred (or simply bias) might influence our interpretation of these facts.<br />
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A simple fact. ‘Jihad’ supports attacking people. Try to dig deeper and you find it initially had 2 meanings… one more radical, one less so. One, that jihad should target even muslims who interpret their faith differently, attack and get rid of them… and two, the one that rejects the ‘legal’ definition (as armed conflict) and insists on withdrawing from worldly concerns to achieve spiritual depth. Islamist scholars are still deciphering the true meanings (in an uncanny resemblance to hindu literature) as meant by the Quran. (also read comments on the earlier post)<br />
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Of course, there have been people who have interpreted it wrongly and unethically, and used that interpretation for their own interests, whatever they may be… but if you realize, this is true for almost every religion I know of. Nag Panchami wasn’t made to stitch snakes’ mouths and make them drink milk (which they can’t digest), but to respect the spirit of the snake who ate the farmers’ enemy (rodents, if you didn’t get that)…<br />
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We base our conclusions upon whatever information (correct or incorrect) we know. We try to figure out whether the (super-ancient) people who ‘made’ religion meant this or that, and which exactly should we follow. But what we don’t realize, is that in the end, we only act upon “our own” interpretations. <br />
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My purpose for bringing hate and anger into the picture was simply this. Anger does not allow us to interpret a piece of information in a stable, logical way. We see only what we want to see, we infer only what we want to infer, and we believe only what our “aroused” emotions allow us to believe.<br />
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I understand the situation isn’t so innocent and naïve… all I’m saying is that feeling anger limits our capacities of solving it, and unknowingly, we do more harm than good.<br />
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I quote a common sentiment I’ve heard,<br />
“terrorists feel what they feel because of religion and we feel what we feel because they killed our loved ones/mumbaikars/indians.”<br />
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(If I’m a fanatic) I feel hatred because of my religion… what does this mean?<br />
Because I feel my religion is under threat… I feel as if someone will “harm” what I do or what I believe… simply, I feel threatened. All over the world, for ages, people have done enough to fuel this feeling. Even now, there are people around me who are, knowingly and unknowingly, fuelling it.<br />
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And to be really honest, we feel anger because they killed some of us… which might mean we feel ‘we’ have lost someone and ‘we’ (or people close to us) might be next. Isn’t this also simply a feeling of being threatened? And ‘they’ are fuelling it.<br />
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What’s sad is that we are allowing our anger to be fuelled by them.<br />
When you go deep and think of the cores that both arguments have, you will realize that they are shockingly similar. What I’m proposing, is a total shift into a stable and ethical zone, which is difficult, but not impossible.</div>
Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5810692740040689905.post-18836539527042838992008-11-29T09:14:00.000-08:002014-02-16T01:15:09.024-08:00Terror<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3 days ago, a group of terrorists armed with advanced weaponry entered the city where I live, from the sea. They targeted the CST railway station, and a few 5 star hotels around the place. They shot out and killed the best in the police force. They threw out hand grenades and killed and injured many. <br />
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They are 21 to 28 year olds... some of them my age, and they are consumed by hatred. They fire at innocents not knowing that this won’t help anything. They have been brainwashed to numbness, they don’t feel their victims' pain. They don’t regret it, for they think they are doing it for a purpose.<br />
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And as I type this, I hear news of deaths, I am hearing news of the end of this encounter with terror... I am hearing angry reactions, I am hearing shouts of jubiliation from a crazy crowd that has gathered at the site 'celebrating' the end of the encounter (and hampering or even endangering NSG's work)... <br />
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I feel no joy at the deaths... innocents, soldiers, police, terrorists... advanced weapon wielding terrorists who are my age…. I feel only terrible sadness.<br />
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How do we solve this? What causes this immense hatred? Who fuels it? Why? I find answers and they all seem hopeless... <br />
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I feel a mixture of emotions - sadness, pity…. but surprisingly, no anger or hatred… for I truly believe in peace…<br />
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But I cannot peacefully believe in peace… for my lack of anger angers angry people even more… <br />
They say “Enough is enough! Pakistan has to pay!”<br />
“Blast every single one of those bastards!”<br />
“Peace can’t be a reality till you clear all those ‘weeds’!”<br />
“Go light a candle if you want to be peaceful!”<br />
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(sigh…)<br />
Sometimes I think… that’s exactly how the terrorists feel…<br />
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Yes they’re wrong. They’re terribly wrong in killing innocents… but they have their side of the story… valid or invalid.<br />
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Azam, the boy who was captured, is 21. On questioning, he wasn’t ready to talk. When he saw his friend’s (mutilated) body though, he broke down and told everything. Said “I don’t want to die! Put me on saline” (oh, the ignorance!) He said they didn’t know it was a suicide mission (though knew it to be risky)… they thought they were going back (their leaders had probably told them this so they wouldn’t hesitate!) and when the questioning was done he was saying “Now I don’t want to live!”<br />
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I can’t imagine going through that… being cheated on life… killing remorselessly thinking he’s avenging or earning something for someone… not knowing none of it is true… and he’s my age… I don’t know anybody who’d go through that emotional pressure and be able to think sane. In fact people who are perfectly safe sitting in their own houses aren’t thinking sane at the moment. It is a mass psychological problem… on so many levels, going on for just too long… and the solutions, I’m afraid, have to be ‘thought’ out carefully. <br />
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I want this to end too… I realize it will be harsh. I also realize there are people who are beyond change… brainwashed for years to the core. Strict action is necessary because it acts as a deterrent.<br />
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And there have to be deterrents on every step of the process. They could use transport very easily because we have low security (sometimes this means we have good security but corrupt officials). They had underworld links (some links point to Dawood). They supposedly lived in the city for a while a few months ago. Maybe we need stronger records of identity of our own (huge) population?<br />
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We have flaws at every level. We have a badly managed police force (and some good people trying to make it technologically advanced and improve working conditions) which nobody cares about till we need them to work (for us).<br />
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We have politicians playing double games… all this while the BJP was against Hemant Karkare (calling him a villain)… and now their hearts are filled with sorrow at his demise. The opposition uses the attack as a tool to pull down the government, slamming it for inadequate security, though even with the opposition in power there wouldn’t have been much change… and we all know this. It won’t be a surprise if I found out some politicians even knew about the whole plan.<br />
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We have an easy don’t- care attitude, which still… STILL doesn’t let us be alert enough for terror. It seems Mr. Karkare had ‘in person’ visited 5 star hotels and told them to beef up security because he had been warned about possible attacks.<br />
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We have a media which is not-so-responsible (to be polite)… when Mr. Qureshi said, “This isn’t a Pakistan problem, this isn’t an India problem, this is a GLOBAL problem…” (and yea, I heard the live interview), the headline that flashed below said “NOT PAK PROBLEM – QURESHI”… <br />
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We fuel anger and hatred. We jump to conclusions. We act in haste. And we screw up. Time and again.<br />
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Sad.</div>
Ruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18320051236756858785noreply@blogger.com15