Holy shit

"More trouble over free speech in France. I sometimes feel their policy is defective -- why do the Charlie Hebdo cartoons have to be their only example of freedom of expression?"

I couldn't agree more with my cousin's thoughts!

There is racism in France which needs to be seriously addressed. When I was in Paris for a short translation project, I was alarmed in Montpellier where I was studying at the time, about 'racism' in Paris; lo and behold I bumped into a grocery shop whose owner said he had nothing for people like me. When I asked as to what he meant by 'people like me', he ignored me and asked his employee to show me the door. I was thrown out.

I am sure I am not the only one solitary example. Of course my love for France and everything French enabled me to royally overlook this, but this attitude of displacing anger (in most cases with valid reasons) on arbitrary people causes negative vibration and it does set a sad example about the country that gifted democracy to the world. In case, you are naive enough to misunderstand, I am not, in any way, advocating the scoundrels who take it on them as a messenger of their prophet and behead people for what they say to keep committing such crimes, I'm trying to throw some light by wearing a black hat.

Happy birthday, dear Gandhi.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has been studied throughout the world, as he is, even today. However, we have not applied him in our day to day lives. His followers, known as the Satyagrahis, had to take eleven vows and had to live by them in their thoughts, words, and actions. 

Eleven vows of the Satyagrahis: 

1. Non-violence
2. Truth
3. Non-stealing
4. Celibacy
5. Non-possession
6. Body-Labour
7. Control of the Palate
8. Fearlessness
9. Equal Respect for all Religions
10. Swadeshi (use of home manufactures)
11. Freedom from Untouchability.

These eleven principles should be observed as vows in a spirit of humility. The Mahatma, in his ashram in Wardha, ate chapatis, boiled beets, some raw vegetables, and oranges for lunch. On the side of his plate was a large lump, a paste, of very bitter neem leaves which he ate slowly, relishing it bit by bit.

Walk the talk

He is perhaps the last leader who has ever walked on the world living up to his words. The nonviolent voice of Gandhi appeals to man’s highest conscience. Nations of the world, two hundred thirty-three beautiful countries of the world, need to unite and concur on one common point, so they no longer align with death, murder in the name of patriotism, nationality, they align with life. Instead of indulging in destruction (a lose-lose approach), the countries need to focus on construction (a win-win approach); all the fluttering flags should sing an emphatic no as a global anthem and say that they're no longer with the Annihilator, they are with the Creator.

Forgiveness

Mahatma says, ‘One should forgive, under any injury. It hath been said that the continuation of species is due to man’s being forgiving. Forgiveness is holiness; by forgiveness, the universe is held together. Forgiveness is the might of the mighty; forgiveness is sacrifice; forgiveness is quiet of mind. Forgiveness and gentleness are the qualities of the self-possessed. They represent eternal virtue.’  

Non-violence

Non-violence is the manifestation of the law of forgiveness and love. Gandhi proclaims, ‘If loss of life becomes necessary in a righteous battle, one should be prepared, like Jesus, to shed his own, not others’, blood. Eventually, there will be less blood spilt in the world.’ That is why, leaders shouldn't send soldiers and warriors in the battle, they should go there themselves, if at all.

Through his conviction on non-violence, Gandhi won political concessions for his land than have ever been won by any leader of any country except through bullets.

Happy birthday dear Gandhi, give us the moral strength so we can apply you in our daily lives and make the world a better place to live. The world is obliged that you lived and walked on its soil. Rest in real power, always.