Friday 1 July 2011

Political travesty continues in Bangladesh

I had intended not to discuss politics in this blog... particularly the politics of confrontation that is so prevalent in my native Bangladesh. But it pains me to see the country spiral its way back again into political confrontation that has more to do with who's in power and and who gets the privilege than actual democracy or nation building.

The latest issue is the abolishment of the caretaker form of government. For the uninitiated (and there should be plenty worldwide because the caretaker government is a Bangladeshi homemade solution fed on general distrust by the opposing party for the government in power, whoever that may be on the given moment) the last three general elections in Bangladesh had been observed under the caretaker government, or an interim government, that takes over for three months in order to run government functions and organise a 'fair & free' election.

This arrangement has worked because previously the opposing party was convinced that the party standing down from government would rig the elections to win office back (whether they did or not). I think that the party would eventually rig the election because they would be blamed for it anyway!

Of course the concerns were not entirely unfounded either; even with the provision for a caretaker government, the party in power would retire a 'partisan' chief justice (often early) or delay the retirement of certain chief justices (suspected of partisan sentiments for the opposing party) because the chief of the caretaker government would be the immediate retired chief justice.

Now the provision to hold elections under a caretaker government system has been rescinded and the constitution amended to reflect the change. The amendment was passed 291 to one in favour of the amendment – with the chief opposition party boycotting the parliament to mark their protest.

Normally boycotting the parliament would be considered a strong opposition protest were in not for the fact that the opposition (to whichever government is in power at the time) always boycotts the parliament... only to make a brief appearance (inevitably followed by a walk-out) a day or two before the last day of absence (in this case 90 days) to protect their seat and ensure it not being declared vacant.

Bangladesh is possibly the only country in the world where the parliamentary system of government suffers chronic ineffectivity because parliament is consistently boycotted by the opposing party. Ostensibly opposition is fought on the streets (and the detriment of the masses and business interests) but never dealt with in parliament.

Retracting the caretaker government system will only result in increased anarchy as the current opposition will embrace it as a legitimate reason to shut the country down through violence and strikes... all in the name of protecting the people from the 'dictatorial' influences of the government. No matter that the current opposition party at one point, while in power, condemned the caretaker government system as archaic and unnecessary too (to say nothing of their once strong stand against political violence and strikes by opposition forces when they were in power).

The people of Bangladesh have very short memories but are also hostage to the respective political travesty of the government party and the opposition party. Time has been ripe for our own 'Arab Spring' and taking the country back from the hooligans and the inept.

Unfortunately that's always been easier to say.

Thursday 30 June 2011

Our future is powered by a collective history

There is a school of thought that a person is really limited by his imagination... okay, it's not really a “school” but a “reasoning” of thought. And I subscribe to that thought school.

In my mind, a person's limitations is mostly in the person's mind.

(Of course there are other limitations such as phobias that put a brake on progress sometimes; and while it is easy for someone who does not suffer the same phobia to advocate “no worries” - phobias are by definition irrational fears and very “real” in the person's mind so cannot be just wafted away with hollow sounding reassurances.)

The greater the capacity to imagine, the bigger the chances of creating something magical. History is dotted with examples of people who have imagined the possibilities and used their curiosity and ingenuity to create what in their times were nothing short of “magic.”

We take the telephone, the television, the radio for granted... yet there was a time when none of these existed. Of course there were a fair share of skeptics. These people in seats of power and influence (no one ever documents the words of the average person on the streets... unless its a poll of some kind.) who, in their authority, discredited these inventions as pointless and something that would never catch on. Alas, they are now mere footnotes in history and are forever destined to ridicule for their lack of vision.

I came across a item in The Economist recently that suggested a fascinating concept that links the development of man (or at least the evolution of ideas and imagination) over the last two millennnia. It suggests that “arguing that one person's life is just as much a part of mankind's story as another's. If people do make history, as this democratic view suggests, then two people make twice as much history as one.”

A result of this idea is that 28% of all history made since the birth of Christ was made in the 20th century – an equation that is basically powered by virtue of the size of the population.

Following is the item from The Economist:

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Two thousand years in one chart

An alternative timeline for the past two millennia
SOME people recite history from above, recording the grand deeds of great men. Others tell history from below, arguing that one person's life is just as much a part of mankind's story as another's.

If people do make history, as this democratic view suggests, then two people make twice as much history as one. Since there are almost 7 billion people alive today, it follows that they are making seven times as much history as the 1 billion alive in 1811.

The chart below shows a population-weighted history of the past two millennia. By this reckoning, over 28% of all the history made since the birth of Christ was made in the 20th century. Measured in years lived, the present century, which is only ten years old, is already "longer" than the whole of the 17th century.

This century has made an even bigger contribution to economic history. Over 23% of all the goods and services made since 1AD were produced from 2001 to 2010, according to an updated version of Angus Maddison's figures.


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While what the item says might be so, I think that the chart is also powered by the greater imagination of people, unleashed by the technological inventions and advancements of the 20th century, as well.

Man is limited by his imagination, and as our imaginations take physical or practical manifestations it opens up possibilities for greater advances. And with it promise of greater achievements and bigger evolutionary milestones for the history books.

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Losing perspective for the elderly

Never what you expect...
Slightly belated but I thought I should write a 'Father's Day' post. As a father myself I thought it would have been rather self-congratulatory... and that would be so out of my basic character (but again, maybe not).

I received this poem over electronic mail from my dad this morning that reminded me that while I am a father, I will always be a son too. And while I get lost in the day-to-day activities of fatherhood and acting the grown up in the family (a desperately up-hill battle for me), I admit I forget to give my father credit for all the work he has done.

While fatherhood is a thankless job... it is one that leaves you with moments of immense pride that is often times difficult to contain. Thanks enough, I think.

But when we age (and we all do), there are many things that we dream that never get done owing to pressures to always be mature and level-headed; even when it is out of character for aspirational young men with visions of conquering so much.

The bitter pill made even more so, when the very people around you fail to give you credit that you too once had dreams. Old people were once young, they too had dreams of falling in love, of romance. Moments of rebellion. They too had grade problems and worries of discipline's harsh hand; fears that they might not be good enough.

Then, by the time they conquer their dreams and overcome their hurdles they probably find that they have become too weary and spent... and old(er).

The poem that my dad sent me was penned by a man who had died in a geriatric ward of a home in Nebraska. The nurses discovered it among his meagre possessions. Copies were made and distributed. The poem became a powerpoint presentation and even appeared in a Christmas edition of a medical new journal. Eventually the poem has been making its way through the internet.

The tile speaks of his pain... the poem talks about his life and his dreams.

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Crabby Old Man

What do you see nurses?... What do you see?
What are you thinking... When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man... Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit... With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food... And makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice... 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice... The things that you do.
And forever is losing... A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not... Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding... The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?... Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse... You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am... As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding... As I eat at your will
I'm a small child of Ten... With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters... Who love one another

A young boy of Sixteen... With wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now... A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty... My heart gives a leap.
Remembering the vows... That I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now... I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide... And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty... My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other... With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons... Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me... To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more... Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children... My loved one and me ..

Dark days are upon me... My wife is now dead.
I look at the future... I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing... Young of their own.
And I think of the years... And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man... And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age... Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles... Grace and vigor depart.
There is now a stone... Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass... A young guy still dwells,
And now and again... My battered heart swells
I remember the joys... I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living... Life over again.

I think of the years . All too few... Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact... That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people... Open and see...
Not a crabby old man Look closer... See... ME!!

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This brings me to a Talatism truth I had coined about the people around me: We are not always what we think we are; we are not always what others think we are; but we sometimes become what we think others think we are.

My dad is not a crabby old man, he just thinks we think he is because he thinks we think he is. We don't think it. Isn't it time maybe you told your dad too? I think that would really be a “Father's Day.”

Monday 27 June 2011

Divine guidance... from an 'herb'

My last post three days ago (apologises for regular readers who found no activity over the weekend) was about God speaking to some people and how most of us perceive it (or my assumptions about it).

The following post was scheduled for Saturday, but couldn't get published. Divine retribution for my tongue and cheek gall, do you think?

Anyway, along the lines of justifying ones actions “because God said so,” comes a story from Connecticut where a man was has been accused of breaking into a stranger’s home because God made him do it.

He didn't break in to steal anything but proceeded to use a fireplace poker to smash statues — including a Roman soldier figurine — and a marble table.

The homeowner returned to find that the man had also taken a shower and dressed himself in the clothing of a former resident who had died. When confronted he said "a light from above told him to do this," and that "God wants me to help the world." He told the homeowner that he meant no harm.

When the homeowner fumbled with the phone as he attempted to call 911, this “actor of divine instruction” proclaimed that it was proof that “God will not let you use the phone.”

I think God later changed His mind because the call did go through and the police made an appearance without any more incident.

When questioned by police in custody he told the cops that he'd smoked "a strange strand of herb." You think?

The man was charged with burglary and criminal mischief. He has since been released on $50,000 bond and is due back in court on July 6.

God Willing.