Playing the enemy

by John Carlin

This is a book that truly inspires. I think the author wants to deliberately focus on the Rugby World Cup of 1995 and the rapprochement that it wrought between ordinary black and white South Africans. He chooses to completely disregard the Inkatha-ANC violence in the context of a power shift and focuses on how Mandela won the white South Africans over to the idea of a "rainbow nation". Reading these books makes you want to cry out for the same sensibility in other societies torn by violence and hatred.

I think this group of folks who formed the first government of post-apartheid South Africa were an absolutely exceptional group. Walter Sisulu, Bishop Tutu, Cyril Ramaphosa, Uncle Thabo et al are very good folks compared to the surrounding statesmen of Africa. Of course, Mandiba Mandela's role was the key to the thaw in relations between the various white and black communities.

Back to the book at hand. It is a truly inspiring work that seeks to look at various personalities at all levels of society in South Africa and explains their transformation in their own words.

Read this and go to sleep dreaming better dreams. Tomorrow will look rosier...

When times are tough most of us would yield to visceral fears,rather than move to dispel them by sensible and compassionate behavior. I was just perusing my Facebook connections and I found that several of my friends had changed their middle names to Hussein, just to chide some of us who find significance in such baseless and tribal identities.

I admire such people and feel that by such a small act, they have made a significant gesture towards denting the "us" and "them" game that is being played in some Republican circles. I have read some ghastly, stupid, and downright racist viral mail coming out of that camp.

It is a reminder to us all of how much decency exists even in such troubled times. To talk of such decency, please see this endorsement of Mr. Obama by Gen. Colin Powell.

It is quite ironic that the word "Hussein" is derived from "husn" meaning beauty. This word literally means "beautiful little one".

We have often heard the refrain that goes like this "let them come to power and then they will become more lenient/tolerant/inclusive....". It is mostly true on past evidence, however the baying of hounds can never be really quelled. Please read this article.

I do understand that the NY times is a leftie rag but the point is well made. The fact that black supremacists took over the civil rights agenda has hurt this society very much. Perhaps not as much as the KKK but the difference is merely of degree, not of kind.

If Maharashtra and Mumbai in particular, lets Messrs. Thackeray and other divisive groups continue to set the agenda, the 1000 point drop in the market today will seem pleasant in comparison to the loss of social structure and camaraderie among the various different folk that make Mumbai tick. As Indians, all we have really is the "idea" that is India. Sing the national anthem to yourself and you will get a similar perspective. Yes, we belong to an ancient and very powerful( in terms of moulding us together) Hindu culture, but it takes but a few bombs, a dozen epithets, a few lynchings to destroy decades of civility and decency.

Some would even argue that we first need to build up some acceptable organic social fabric before we talk of the damage to the same. We have been too taken with the idea of mutual "tolerance". I hate this word with a passion because today's tolerance is tomorrow's genocide. We need to build among us, pockets of affection, slowly, sometimes painfully, one person at a time.

This Diwali, I feel scared that some would seek to disrupt the festive spirit by sowing more discord and dissent among us. I pray that we can all dedicate ourselves to the ultimate triumph of Good over evil. I do not mean in a violent way. Look upon it as the forming of a pearl in an oyster. It takes decades but the intruding piece of garbage is moulded to a beautiful and precious thing. Let us hope that our disagreements are like that and that we like each other for our values rather than in spite of them.

Have a Blessed Diwali!!

It is amazing how we can trace the history of this bird through the myths of various religions and ideologies. It catches the fancy in mysterious ways for such an unassuming bird.

It is considered to be the bird that was the special messenger from King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba in Jewish/Muslim folklore. Ustad Fariduddin Attar in his famous "Conference of the Birds" , names it the wisest of birds and all the other birds regard it as the carrier of Solomon's wisdom.

This little creature with just a crest to its name has lots of fame. It is revered in Chinese poetry as a celestial messenger often bearing news of the spring and features in Aristophanes work too.

One could argue that Aristophanes work and Ustad Attar works draws from similiar sources as both regard the Hoopoe as the King of Birds. How did these legends and fables from far away sources get so mixed together?

This little bird has a connection to ancient Egypt too. It is depicted as a spectre of Horus that indicates joy and affection. There are friezes of the bird in delightful color in some of the ancient tombs too.

What is the story of Oz but a stylized description in the modern literary way, an adaptation of both these works. I do doubt that the Wizard of Oz was ever penned in the knowledge of this tale of a group of radically different but very similar characters searching for a King's/Wizard's healing touch.

All this about a little innocuous bird....

Urdu Poetry Archive

Without its poetry, Urdu struggles to survive. Its poetry, be it Ghalib,Iqbal, Faiz or Majaaz makes it a transcendental means of communication.

Enjoy the link above.

Vintage Tea Leaf

This is a great place to have tea in the afternoon. We usually go on any empty stomach so we can enjoy their scruptious sandwiches and lovely tea.

Tomorrow we are going again with friends and hope to have fun.

Right near by in Long Beach is Acre of Books, on 240 Long Beach Blvd. What a lovely bookstore this is.

Have a great weekend!

There is so much fighting going on about renting or buying one's home in Los Angeles that one can take very extreme positions either way.

However this wonderful article in NY times explains things rather well and dispassionately.

A very worthy read, I think

We went and got a Philips HDTV and now are in the process of getting DishNetwork to give us a good deal on the pricing. This whole duopoly that the satellite providers providers enjoy is one of those wonderful problems inherent in an economy where certain costs, though inherently variable, are actually fixed by the "standard of living" principle.

For our ease, we need


Microwave Oven
Conventional Oven
Dishwasher
Laundromat
Cable TV
Fan or A/C depending on the climate
Cell Phone
Massive Beds
DSL connection

All these costs are inherent in any living condition in California. Curiously, one finds that some of these have become so much of a part of life that they are not even included in this list. Central heating, for example.

For every few years,we add to this list. One could argue that a digital video recorder is part of this list now. I mean, I love mine and cannot abide by ads on TV anymore.

So, the more we buy and consume and don't save, such duopoly's can charge whatever they can get away with. What a great business to be in!

Today we start to talk about Hajj and the best books that will lead you to ponder over this absolutely cataclysmic event in your life. Please prepare your mind for an immersion in something that you have an idea about but no clear view of, if it is your first Hajj.

Please also be aware that all reading and looking up terms and prayers stands meaningless when you stand at Arafat or make your Tawaf around the Kaaba. No Dua matters, only your heart beats to a rhythm that you can not identify later. Faith, takes over...and for those like I, who question their faith repeatedly it is a watershed event where doubts do not strangle your mind and, thoughts though they do stray, are more often focussed on the Talbiyah than on anything else. Even the delirium of fever can be a blessing in disguise.

So dear prospective Hajji, read but reflect more..

1. HAJJ: Reflection on Its Rituals by Ali Shariati

Dr. Shariati presents a very esoteric but practical explanation of Hajj and its rituals and how they are grounded in the myths of our Deen. Almost a Sufi style of writing.

2. One Thousand Roads to Mecca: Ten Centuries of Travelers Writing About the Muslim Pilgrimage by Michael Wolfe

You will find yourself very much in tune with other Hajjis of ages gone by. Some went in good times and others in times that were bad for the Ummah. All underwent considerable hardships quite akin to your own.