Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Every time Jeremy Copeland posts a new article on his India life, I am already so hungry for it. He has been keeping me pretty excited about his CBC commentary since we returned. Now, he is starting to get to the real gritty issues, where when trying to apply logic to Indian thought process, actions, and religious obedience just does not work.
While traveling India, Angelo and I discovered that when something doesn't make sense, we need not attempt to figure it out, rather observe and add it to what we had just experienced or witnessed. With our prerogative to think things through for ourselves, we get a notion that this is a universal activity. In truth, we have that privilege and many do not, considering that what family, caste and religion dictate are the undisputable rule for many. Worlds outside of these and innumerable other subjects are not considered.
In Varanasi, the home of the holy Mother Ganges, we realized that if these people coming to pay respect to the great river recognized and verbalized her ailing condition, it would flare up in the face of beliefs and disrupt their very fabric of living. Therefore it continues to carry pollution of the city's waste, remains of the dead, the refuse of human excreta, laundry detergent and bodily cleansing activities. It is a dynamic place, holding onto traditions unquestioningly century after century. It is a cycle, with incredible momentum. I was in awe of its life force. In fifty years, will it look the same? I believe so, despite the direction it appears to be heading ecologically speaking.
This brings me to Jeremy Copeland's article on Female Feticide. There are many commercials with giant Bollywood stars speaking out against the common practice of female feticide in India. This is a strong indicator, in terms of statistics and by observing first-hand treatment of women in India, that is a huge issue worth knowing about and subsequently trying to figure out what to do about it.
More and more, I'm faced with the beauty of the fact of where I've been born and raised. Despite my idiosyncrasies in fitting in with my life in suburbia, I have a great life. One needs to remember and play out a dynamic life every day to do justice to those that aren't so privileged.
Another great informative essay on the subject here.
While traveling India, Angelo and I discovered that when something doesn't make sense, we need not attempt to figure it out, rather observe and add it to what we had just experienced or witnessed. With our prerogative to think things through for ourselves, we get a notion that this is a universal activity. In truth, we have that privilege and many do not, considering that what family, caste and religion dictate are the undisputable rule for many. Worlds outside of these and innumerable other subjects are not considered.
In Varanasi, the home of the holy Mother Ganges, we realized that if these people coming to pay respect to the great river recognized and verbalized her ailing condition, it would flare up in the face of beliefs and disrupt their very fabric of living. Therefore it continues to carry pollution of the city's waste, remains of the dead, the refuse of human excreta, laundry detergent and bodily cleansing activities. It is a dynamic place, holding onto traditions unquestioningly century after century. It is a cycle, with incredible momentum. I was in awe of its life force. In fifty years, will it look the same? I believe so, despite the direction it appears to be heading ecologically speaking.
This brings me to Jeremy Copeland's article on Female Feticide. There are many commercials with giant Bollywood stars speaking out against the common practice of female feticide in India. This is a strong indicator, in terms of statistics and by observing first-hand treatment of women in India, that is a huge issue worth knowing about and subsequently trying to figure out what to do about it.
More and more, I'm faced with the beauty of the fact of where I've been born and raised. Despite my idiosyncrasies in fitting in with my life in suburbia, I have a great life. One needs to remember and play out a dynamic life every day to do justice to those that aren't so privileged.
Another great informative essay on the subject here.
