Monday 3 February 2014

[www.keralites.net] Invaders or Insiders?

 

Invaders or Insiders?


 

I have been hearing for most of my 66 years, people blaming Muslim and British invaders for our ills. But my question as to why we have failed to set matters right even after 66 years of independence have fallen on deaf years, and so have my questions as to how places like Malaysia, Singapore, Korea etc forged ahead though they too had their share of invaders. In our persistent efforts to find scapegoats we have overlooked the role of insiders in our past.

Take Ramayana for instance. It was Kaikeyi prodden on by her maid Mandara – both of them insiders - who forced Dasarath to send Ram into the forests. But the insiders are forgotten as we focus on Ravan the invader and he is blamed for causing the war. It was Laxman who chopped off Soorpanaka's nose and ears who forced Ravan to abduct Sita. But Laxman the insider too becomes a Hero at the expense of Ravan the invader.

Later on comes the Mahabharath. Here they are insiders all the way who are pitted against each other. Later on we see Buddhists and Jains and Sikhs – all of them insiders - pitted against Brahmanism and the Vedas. Even now we see Dravidans and Dalits and Maoists pitted against Brahmanism though again outsiders like Christian Missionaries and Muslim are often targeted as the villains of the piece.

In the bible we see less of these problems from insiders in the beginning  for the simple reason that the Jews were a wandering tribe for most of their history and the problems from without overshadowed the strife within . But here again we see King David pitted against his son Absalom. But later on Christianity gains the upper hand and we see Christian Rome pitted against Christian Constantinople leading to the first schism in Christianity into the Western and Eastern churches. Later on we see different sects of the fragmented Catholic Church – such a Protestants, Anglicans and a few hundred others – shedding at each other's blood. Now there are some 40000 sects in Christianity pitted against each other. Though there is no more bloodshed, they look on each other with suspicion even as they preach love of neighbour.

In Islam things go even further. Right away after Muhammad's death all hell breaks loose with erstwhile colleagues baying for each other's blood for succession to Muhammad's throne.  The outcome was three of the first four successors to Mohammad's throne – the four Kalifs all of whom under Mohammad – were stabbed or poisoned to death by Muslim insiders. Still later on Muhammad's two sons Hassan and Hussein, were killed by none other than invaders – Hassan was beaten like a dog to his death and Hussein was poisoned. We also see Mohammad's wife Ayesha going to war against Ali, Mohammad's cousin and son-in-law. Even now Muslims terrorists kill more Muslims than outsiders. But this fratricidal violence between insiders  is hushed up as Muslims the world over paint the US and the West as the ultimate devil.

I don't have any problem with any Chinese for the simple reason I do not know any Chinese. The same goes for any foreigner. My problems are with people I meet in my daily life – my associates, my relations, my friends etc. The highest incidence of violence in the world is accounted for by domestic violence where spouse is pitted against spouse, children against parents, sibling against sibling, in-laws against in-laws and so on. So our penchant for blaming invaders and outsiders for our problems is ridiculous as most of our problems are due to insiders, people whom we trust. In fact all or most of our problems come from trusting. Thus no one can defraud us unless we trust others. Without trust there cannot be deception at least at the personal level.

If India lags behind it is mainly due to the all-pervading corruption in which we Indians leach and parasite on each other with no pity or qualms. Unless and until we set our own house in order, there is no point in blaming invaders and foreigners and capitalists for our problems.

 


 
--
 
Regards

 
Xavier William

 
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." Hitchens

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[www.keralites.net] Fwd: Free Thinkers Suck [1 Attachment]

 
[Attachment(s) from Murli dhar Gupta included below]

 

You are the rebel who doesn't follow the herd, and accept whatever the government or media tell you without questioning. You the 'free thinker' for yourself, and form your own opinions based on credible, objective evidence and logical thinking. Your life is focused on finding the truth beyond what anyone has said, or beliefs cast to the masses. You are humanities rebel able to think freely. Why can't everyone cast out the 'log in their eye' to see the 'poison' to the truth? Why can't everyone break down the mental and emotional barriers to the road in which you don't perceive as the 'road to hell'.

You spend countless hours researching answers that are 'hell's road' to being stuck in a world that is moving faster and faster beyond the donkey and bullock cart. Is it just 'mental masturbation' that stays within you, and few others if any? Staying in the 'football locker room' studying all the plays but never going on the field to show others what you have learned is a path that serves no one, not even yourself in this time of great need of positive, conscious action to open the minds and hearts of everyone!

It is a 'team effort' that begins with a lone voice in the wilderness, but one that needs to interconnect itself with others who are open, or who are vulnerable to being open. You may have heated debates with friends and relatives that even demolish their more closed opinions, but isn't that like talking to the trees? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IN THE WORLD? Free thinking needs to inject itself into the world that will receive it to give it the juice needed for more action. Surfing on the computer and over the water coolers of offices is like the sound of one hand clapping, or a tree falling in the forest. Silence is golden, but not always!

To talk, and not walk your talk is to lubricate useless chatter! Nothing happens when nothing happens! Better to talk and think less, and do more of action for your thoughts that make it a better world for yourself and others. First, always focus on you, and who you are. The mind is a 'trip', and a purveyor of fantasy thoughts that are just smoke in the wind unless put to the best of uses. Love yourself before loving others. Thoughts unmanifested are just clouds passing in the sky. Love yourself first, and give thoughts manifested from the heart with no expectation of results.  'Free thinkers' of a better reality, are only high on thoughts at best. Time to become real, and make reality better through action!

 

Arhata
 

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[www.keralites.net] Be there...

 

Prince
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Prince

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[www.keralites.net] Why are ?Pound? and ?Ounce ? Abbrevi ated as ?lb? and ?oz??

 
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[www.keralites.net] Fwd: Subha Vasant Panchami

 

 Subha Vasant Panchami 

 

Fun & Info @ Keralites.net
 

 

 

Subha Vasant Panchami by mho

Fun & Info @ Keralites.net

 

Vasant Panchami (Nepali: वसन्त पञ्चमी Hindi: वसन्त पञ्चमी), sometimes referred to as Saraswati Puja (Bengali language:সরস০বতী পূজা), Shree Panchami, or the Basant Festival of Kites is a Sikh and Hindu festival held on the fifth day of Magha (in early February) marking the start of spring and the Holi season. On this day
Hindus worship Saraswati Devi, the goddess of knowledge, music, art and
culture.

Vasant Panchami is the first and more minor of two spring-themed festivals in Hindu culture. Vasant Panchami initiates the spring festive cycle and heralds its summation that occurs with Holi.The
seasonal aspects of the festival are more significant in Northern India
due to the sharper contrast between the winter and the spring,however
the festival's religious and cultural significance are emphasized
across all celebrating regions. In ancient Indian literature, Vasant
Panchami is associated with Shringar Ras and the festival was celebrated
in this tradition.Celebrations today still honor Kamadeva, his wife Rati, and his friend Vasant (the personification of Spring).

In modern times, however, Vasant Panchami day is more commonly associated with Maa Saraswati, the goddess of learning, wisdom, knowledge, fine
arts, refinement, science and technology.The Goddess Saraswati is worshipped and the day is treated by celebrants as Saraswati's birthday.
People worship Goddess Saraswati to attain enlightenment through
knowledge and to rid themselves of lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance.


Fun & Info @ Keralites.net

Vasant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Indian month of Magh (spring season, January to February).It is celebrated as Saraswati Puja primarily over eastern parts of India, and as Sri Panchami in other parts of Bengal. In the Punjab region, Basant is celebrated as the Basant Festival of Kites:


Fun & Info @ Keralites.net 

Fun & Info @ Keralites.net
 

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