tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62067560234812015622024-03-10T00:44:51.937-08:00Peace Calls Peace calls us to smile more, deep breath often and always respect other people's rights! Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-71674930807991612432024-03-07T06:37:00.000-08:002024-03-07T08:31:01.323-08:00I am not OK<p>I am writing this on behalf of thousands of people, particularly the humanitarian workers around the world, who are not perfectly ok. Many of us are tired, angry, disappointed, frustrated and experiencing hopelessness and helplessness like never before.</p><p>With the climate crisis on the rise and more high impact disasters happening all over the world, the humanitarian community is working overtime. Many people are physically tired and have no time to rest. Covid too has had direct and indirect toll on our bodies and minds. And let’s not forget the life continues at personal level too with its ups and downs.</p><p>In addition, there are several armed conflicts going on the world today e.g. Ethiopia, Ukraine, Sudan, the Middle East to say a few. Every war, small or big, causes unnecessary human suffering. The closer one is to the war, the more horrifying experiences. Individual suffering cannot be compared between wars. Every mother feels the same intensity of pain when her child is killed regardless of the context. There’s no war that is reasonable or justified. This article does not in any way tries to undermine the horrors happening in other war theaters in different parts of the world. </p><p>However, what we are witnessing in the Middle East is beyond anything we have seen in our lifetimes. I would have never imagined that after all the hard lessons the world learned from the holocaust, we would find ourselves in a similar situation again. All the humanitarian systems and laws seem to be failing one by one. Unfortunately, as a secondary impact, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are on the rise in other parts of the world putting our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters at risk. Hate seems to be taking over love and peace.</p><p>The statistics related to human suffering are harrowing. We have lost over 25 thousand children right in front of our eyes and many more are being killed either by bombing or by starvation! Humanitarian workers, journalists, and civilians are being slaughtered with no accountability. As a humanitarian worker to see my colleagues being killed while delivering the mission on both sides hurts in a peculiar manner. </p><p>Politically, I am neutral, so I don’t take sides in a conflict. However, I stand firm on the side of humanity and strongly condemn the repeated violations of the International Humanitarian Law and the basic human rights of the people on both sides. Our brothers and sisters from all sides have demanded ceasefire but those in power seem to have lost sight of what is right for their own interests in the long run.</p><p>It is extremely difficult to watch the ongoing horrific madness. I acknowledge our pain is nothing compared to those who are waiting for their family members to return from Hamas control or those who are seeing their family members being killed by Israeli forces for months. Our pain is just there and swelling up a bit more every day in our broken hearts.</p><p>We may look ok and we might be participating in all the activities as normal but deep inside we are not ok. I personally feel physically and mentally tired. I often tear up thinking about what is going on. Since the leaders of this world have been gravely disappointing, I look to God for answers. My mentors have encouraged me to focus on what is my role amid the agony of humanity instead of worrying about the things I cannot control.</p><p>As humanitarian workers, what is our role? Our role is to alleviate suffering. And the hardest part in this war is that most of us cannot assist. We cannot go and embrace the jarred souls, we cannot bring hope to them, we cannot share a meal with dignity with the starving people, we cannot offer a safe place where they can rest peacefully and that we cannot tell them that this will be over soon.</p><p>I feel my role is also to speak for my colleagues who are not ok but have to go on living life because they are not directly involved in the war. My colleagues, including my husband who is a humanitarian as well, and I often share our frustrations, disappointments, and sadness with each other. One of my colleagues told me that he wept for an hour after listening to Hind’s, a little girl who was bombed, last interaction with the Red Crescent personnel. Another colleague from Sweden shared that she couldn’t hold her tears as she watched protest in Stockholm. Another colleague who reached out about his heightened concerns about the rise in anti-Semitism in the US and how school buses are removing Jewish names to circumvent attacks on the children. I am grateful my leadership who not only checks in with me regularly but also gives me the space and grace to embrace how I exactly feel. I hope more and more leaders share the same compassion with their team members.</p><p>My dear friends and colleagues, let us acknowledge our feelings and take time to care for each other and for ourselves even though it may feel useless or petty in front of the misery of the people experiencing the war. Let us take breaks to rest, go for walks, eat balanced diets on regular intervals, exercise, sleep well, pray/meditate/reflect and prioritize our wellbeing. Let us also support each other, look for signs of stress and burnouts in our colleagues, remind them of self-care gently, create a safe space for them to share their feelings, and normalize self-care in workplaces! Let us be ready to serve and to heal wounds when the time comes! In the end, peace will prevail! </p><p><br /></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-7895089645188857202023-11-01T07:01:00.001-07:002023-11-01T07:01:35.957-07:00It's An Unfair World But What's My Role? <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>It is an unfair world,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Powerful justify injustice,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Powerless are often hopeless,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Hard to find the ever attainable peace!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Individual lives have differing costs,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>'Where' one is born usually decides 'how' one dies,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Hard to separate the right from wrong,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>When the light is blurred with the clouds of lies!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The greatest weapon used is language,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Hostages are called detainees,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Terror is named revenge,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> The assassins hide behind babies!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>But in this unfair world,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Brave souls create kind moments,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Not swayed by any rhetoric or fear,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Healing, and peace emerge by their engagements!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Yes, it is an unfair world,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>But let us be audacious,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Let's press for peace and compassion,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>And create little gardens of kindness!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Let's refocus on who's the enemy,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>No, it is not the humans on the other side,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>It is the division, lies and suffering,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Defeating them is the real fight! </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Justice will not be apprehended forever,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The violent will be held accountable,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The innocent will live peacefully,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>In a world where we all will be answerable!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Ultimately, the creator will take back the control,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Just like rain and grace come down impartially,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>All people will have access to resources,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>And humans will treat humans generously! </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-3029450487115011852023-10-21T12:06:00.000-07:002023-10-21T12:06:06.880-07:00Is the land bigger than humans?<strike><strike></strike></strike><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mahatma Gandhi rightly said, 'an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind'. What is going in Gaza is not wise, the powers that are engaged on both sides are addressing the situation in rage and in the spirit of revenge. First the heinous attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli civilians and now the response from Israel is not respectful of the rule of <a href="https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1/rule14">proportionality in the war.</a> On both sides, children, elderly, people with disability, women and men who are not combatants have been displaced, injured and killed, this is not fair, right, just, and/or acceptable. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">We need to explore ways to seek justice through just ways. We can do that by focusing on our value systems, our religious texts, and through diplomatic dialogue and seeking a resolution through the <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/home">International Court of Justice</a>. If engaging in war is the only option then the states must follow </span><a href="https://worldjusticeproject.org/about-us/overview/what-rule-law" style="font-size: 17px;">the Rule of Law</a><span style="font-size: 17px;"> and the <a href="https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/other/what_is_ihl.pdf">International Humanitarian Law</a> so that the impact on civilians is minimized. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">We can chose and promote love, compassion and humanity regardless of who we are and where we stand!</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Strong arguments on both sides,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">But the strongest one gives life,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hatred, anger, and desire for revenge on both sides, </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Love, compassion and humanity is missing in this fight!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.8px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Is the land bigger than humans?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Is history more important than the present and future?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Is God really present in the massacre of children?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Killing innocent is ok says which religious literature?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0VvjNqwPsDne488JtfDr3BZ-Etc-ukVcCimcCzrJwMNPXBy6BI5Px8FqNAmz8h7knPQpdm5QSrpjcccsmHtNNxJ0gwJsxV593lstSeF8RrNU1VaujmHzGQDLzHTZExfLQYjgSSF0H_PSPbLzuebTMNVVSVhqTT2BSRNncAL3AVp2-LD53-SzEi_xrpQ/s1280/hamas%20attack.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0VvjNqwPsDne488JtfDr3BZ-Etc-ukVcCimcCzrJwMNPXBy6BI5Px8FqNAmz8h7knPQpdm5QSrpjcccsmHtNNxJ0gwJsxV593lstSeF8RrNU1VaujmHzGQDLzHTZExfLQYjgSSF0H_PSPbLzuebTMNVVSVhqTT2BSRNncAL3AVp2-LD53-SzEi_xrpQ/s320/hamas%20attack.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: https://www.clearwatertimes.com/world-news/100-dead-in-hamas-surprise-attack-in-southern-israel/</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.8px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This is not about protecting a people,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This is about human slaughter and acts of horror!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">No, this is not about God or a higher cause,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This is about lust for control and power!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26.8px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSLS4zUnFU82N5uWB1LWBQ3Q1PK-BbI2auOdwgk-yhyqtYQky6-rG6s4TiNjb0939bTYX_RyIAKTslzcac9dMTT7w_oPJM2xgzqQRUnjrIa7B9kVmnKHyqldF9KjQwzQv9Y-_EiwUO9DwODCiwvlMXrcd0nyS8YJ3A6lDlq79xegi1YBij07IO3JpI9sM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSLS4zUnFU82N5uWB1LWBQ3Q1PK-BbI2auOdwgk-yhyqtYQky6-rG6s4TiNjb0939bTYX_RyIAKTslzcac9dMTT7w_oPJM2xgzqQRUnjrIa7B9kVmnKHyqldF9KjQwzQv9Y-_EiwUO9DwODCiwvlMXrcd0nyS8YJ3A6lDlq79xegi1YBij07IO3JpI9sM" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/poll-most-americans-fear-broader-conflict-may-arise-from-war-between-israel-and-hamas<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This madness has to stop now!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Say what is wrong is wrong, now!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Everyone, come together and amplify the call,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Stop the war on humanity, NOW!! </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 17px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL55wFDXKR_QAuXdcITpXQQtz7v3hQ665eDGR110Nno5K1Oq59v7NAFPKVfq3IJXxVo_QXep4fZFIeWqkfCjWgh1ian8LqeoU7w4NwSuOKE-NycIUuLc2T3hHiZv5YYSvSlVs69U0G8QUYN1OKE6QrH238wCZJAxWNcYTnYA-XZhj0NDe1w0WNaJepaxQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL55wFDXKR_QAuXdcITpXQQtz7v3hQ665eDGR110Nno5K1Oq59v7NAFPKVfq3IJXxVo_QXep4fZFIeWqkfCjWgh1ian8LqeoU7w4NwSuOKE-NycIUuLc2T3hHiZv5YYSvSlVs69U0G8QUYN1OKE6QrH238wCZJAxWNcYTnYA-XZhj0NDe1w0WNaJepaxQ" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Button credit: https://www.lbjstore.com/stop-the-war-now-original-anti-vietnam-button.html</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-48972754749720672922023-10-16T17:25:00.006-07:002023-10-16T17:25:48.297-07:00Practice Self-care in tough times! <p> To all my humanitarian friends who hurt because of their helplessness of not being able to intervene to alleviate human suffering. We watch the pain of innocent people and just hope and pray that the craziness will be over soon. But in many cases the wars continue for weeks, months and years even today in 2023! No technological innovation has found a way to stop wars! It’s hard to sit and watch children being killed, being orphaned and forced to watch the violence against their own parents! </p><p><br /></p><p>These extraordinary times demand that you take a little break from thinking about those who are out of your reach and indulge in self care before you collapse! For those of us who are paying attention to the suffering of the civilians on both sides, the heartache is probably double fold! But what is that we can do? I personally struggle with many questions. They say it is about religion, but is God ok with this craziness?? They say it is about the land, but do they want the land for the living or for mass burials?? I also know this is for the lust for control! But you know what, no one will live forever to retain this control. As they are killing women and children on both sides, one day they will perish too! Ultimately, no human being controls anything forever! Either you rape, oppress, and kill or you spread smiles, gift peace and support life! They have the choice, we have the choice, what will we select? </p><p><br /></p><p>I am going to choose to lean into my personal peace practices, as and when I can, so that I can spread smiles, gift peace and support life when I have the opportunity to do so! What about you? #selfcare #peace #relax #deepbreathe #war</p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-86413401956225820462023-05-02T18:28:00.006-07:002023-05-02T18:30:25.877-07:00Migrants Deserve Compassion <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Last week we were in Puerto Rico for vacations. We were staying at a government property on a mountain right by the ocean and enjoying the view, the weather, and our time together!</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">One morning, we saw some commotion around the property and wondered what is going on? There was a helicopter hovering around the shore making loud noise. There were a lot of border security personnel looking up and down the shore. My husband asked one of them, what is going on? And they told us that a boat full of migrants from Dominican Republic was seen by the shore and the people on the boat were now hiding in the area. The team was looking for them so that they could put them back on an official boat to send them back to their home country. Several hours later, the officials were still looking for the migrants. I asked them if they had found any, and they said no. One official told me that some of them were injured.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK752sSB7yWxc5yB_z7BM6t89iI8FjVdUVqztxrGF0zgHkgatfHl2e1z6b7Dg8FzyN6Sy6jY4Jc7zhUHlVnAUC7fApJppTSnxkRDtuwycQNJQUmI7L1o6ruZoUeu7L1TL9htvr2eUJWO8zGSLeLUpvEc2zhtDe15x_JQr590haIh-xh_SzjotPOSE/s1802/IMG_0909.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="1094" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK752sSB7yWxc5yB_z7BM6t89iI8FjVdUVqztxrGF0zgHkgatfHl2e1z6b7Dg8FzyN6Sy6jY4Jc7zhUHlVnAUC7fApJppTSnxkRDtuwycQNJQUmI7L1o6ruZoUeu7L1TL9htvr2eUJWO8zGSLeLUpvEc2zhtDe15x_JQr590haIh-xh_SzjotPOSE/w263-h320/IMG_0909.PNG" width="263" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Anjana Dayal de Prewitt</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">As a humanitarian worker and an immigrant myself, I couldn't stop thinking about the people who were trying to find refuge in Puerto Rico, which is part of the United States, looking for their sharer of the ‘American Dream’. It pained my heart to think that they were hiding in fear hungry, injured, and tired. My aching heart was filled with so many questions, what if I encountered one of them, how will I interact with them and what will I say to them? I found myself having a conversation with one of them in my imagination and here’s how it went:</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>What am I supposed to do?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Tell the truth or hide you?</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>I know, life has not been fair to you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Misery everywhere is looking for you!</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Wish I could do something for you!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>What I have, I could share with you!</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>No matter what, may God protect you!</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>The security forces and the ocean surround you,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>In addition to the fear that hounds you!</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Do you have children with you?</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>I heard you have some injured with you.</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>I wish I had an answer for you,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>But right now, I only have my concern for you!</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>I know it’s not sufficient for you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>I wish I had more for you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>I wish I had more to offer you.</b></span></i></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Once again as a humanitarian worker, I felt so helpless! I wish, in this world, we were allowed to share more! I understand that next week on May 11th, <span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration will expire. </span><a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/white-house-to-end-covid-19-emergency-declarations-on-may-11" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2c30;">It also will mean the end of Title 42, a border policy that expanded expulsion powers based on the emergency declaration. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2c30;">The end of Title 42 is expected to coincide with an increase in border crossings and asylum claims.</span></a></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope that compassion will be </span>integrally<span style="font-family: inherit;"> mixed in the policy and the actions related to our response to the incoming migrants seeking refuge from their suffering and distress! I hope for a world where the resources are shared more equitably and the borders are a bit porous that protect not only the people within the lines but also those who need to desperately come inside! Maybe, letting people stay in the country permanently is not always the answer but I hope that the answer is always wrapped in generosity, empathy and kindness. </span></span></p></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-6446826407911303962023-03-29T14:02:00.002-07:002023-03-29T17:31:06.915-07:00Modi's India<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As an Indian American woman, who loves her birth country, I am always trying to understand what is going on in the country and how the world is perceiving current India. India, just like it's people, is complex and has many flavors. The current situation in India looks different from different angles or in other words there are several sub situations at play.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On one hand, India finds itself in the middle of a geopolitical setting with actors like Russia, China, Pakistan in the immediate proximity but also the US and its agenda in the region. From that perspective, both Russia and US desire to have India as their ally regardless of the neutral agenda that India has had right from its independence. Because of this reason, US ignores violations of human rights or attacks on the democratic values and seeks to build a deeper relationship with the current administration.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is projected as the most popular leader of the country so far even though he was only able to acquire 37.4% of the votes in the 2019 general elections<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[1]</sup></span>. He is praised by the mainstream media and supported by almost all the top industrialists in the country. His party, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), is the biggest political party in the world. He is a great orator and seems to connect with people at least in the states where Hindi is spoken/understood. If one sees India from the perspective of the mainstream media, then the country seems to be doing really well!</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There's another perspective, the one of the religious minorities, independent journalists who have lost their jobs, activists who are in jail<span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: line-through;">s</span> and many others who pay attention to what is going on to the basic human rights of the minorities and to the state of democracy in the country! From this angle, one can see homes being destroyed by bulldozers, churches and mosques being vandalized, individuals being harassed and/or lynched because of their religion! This perspective reminds us of Modi and his supporters who are accused of perpetrating the Gujarat riots in 2022 and it feels like that mindset has spread to other parts of the country now!</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggrm1vr5yESh6EFL2xY00POX66Hn767l23_WBPWIFU06olv8fKALAE0b89RajemH6h7SrwscHfdlTkId2pXRj1MAUB1imKgrpcbKjSF7Nv9jK_CcdChZaWdj55IVn0A3UxQDeCNxZ2MpcRZedsYh5iNwtnGOGhYTSdzHn4t_62IHtVLPOebRmzBoUw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="784" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggrm1vr5yESh6EFL2xY00POX66Hn767l23_WBPWIFU06olv8fKALAE0b89RajemH6h7SrwscHfdlTkId2pXRj1MAUB1imKgrpcbKjSF7Nv9jK_CcdChZaWdj55IVn0A3UxQDeCNxZ2MpcRZedsYh5iNwtnGOGhYTSdzHn4t_62IHtVLPOebRmzBoUw" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Umar Khalid, student activist in jail since 2020. </span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/umar-khalid-is-an-intelligent-man</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">From the internal politics perspective, hundreds of opposition leaders are being investigated by different government institutions. Some key opposition leaders are in jail or are being threatened to be put in jail. While there are independent reports that may have information about corruption in large scale conglomerates closer to the current administration, there are no open investigations going on against them. If the opposition parties collectively demand for investigations, the ruling party disrupts the parliament, the microphones are muted, and the sessions are suspended. Most recently, the main opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi from Indian National Congress party has been disqualified from his membership in the Parliament for a speech he made in 2019<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[2]</sup></span>. These actions are seen as the direct action to undermine democracy in India.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR2o1aywFzvYB_zPXuQw9_HxYvj4TnyxIaywmnKhioZdCftUf2M-g74k259LqXyeqTooZ1cGezRms6sXsVadw3LcNZvHK9wWsVuxjQDm28G_1sVv64_FXZnz6c2_0Jm_UsUQcGje2TKWizc-OA29ghly0CfT1hzVB1TlHpGYDVP3BzG74kZLC1V5LN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR2o1aywFzvYB_zPXuQw9_HxYvj4TnyxIaywmnKhioZdCftUf2M-g74k259LqXyeqTooZ1cGezRms6sXsVadw3LcNZvHK9wWsVuxjQDm28G_1sVv64_FXZnz6c2_0Jm_UsUQcGje2TKWizc-OA29ghly0CfT1hzVB1TlHpGYDVP3BzG74kZLC1V5LN" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rahul Gandhi, main opposition leader, has been facing several legal trials. </span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2022/07/26/rahul-gandhi-detained-by-police-during-congress-protest.html</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Modi hails from Hindu radical organization founded about 100 years ago called, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This organization was founded on fear. In the words of its founder, <i>‘If the Hindu culture perishes in Hindusthan (India) itself, and if the Hindu society ceases to exist, it will hardly be appropriate to refer to the mere geographical entity that remains as Hindusthan. The entire society should be in such a vigilant and organized condition that no one would dare to cast an evil eye on any of our points of honour</i><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><b><i><sup>[3]</sup></i></b></span><i>.” </i>BJP and RSS far right ideologies facilitate and encourage attacks on religious minorities, especially if one is seen as a threat to Hindus or even the Hindu belief system. For example, people have been lynched just on the doubt that they eat beef<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[4]</sup></span>. Modi has never put out a statement condemning these horrific acts. The voice of resistance is smothered by misusing investigative agencies, putting people in jails, demolishing their homes, and blocking them from mainstream media. Given what all is happening, India seems to be under a fascist rule.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Modi is accused of allowing the Gujarat riots of 2002, where over one thousand people were massacred. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat then. Recently, BBC released a documentary confirming Modi’s hand in the Gujarat riots. The administration not only banned the documentary in the country, but they also raided BBC offices in the country<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[5]</sup></span>. These actions were taken based on the fear that this documentary might impact the results in the upcoming General Elections in India in 2024.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Given how the Modi government is allegedly misusing the central investigative agencies against several opposition leaders<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[6]</sup></span>, it seems that they do not want to take any chances in the elections next year. This strategy seems to be grounded in fear. Several opposition party leaders expressed that the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi happened because Modi is afraid of him<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[7]</sup></span> as the former has been asking questions about how Modi’s connection with Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[8]</sup></span> industrialist who is the founder and chairman of Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate involved in port development and operations in India.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Modi has been spending more money on his own image management and political ads<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[9]</sup></span> than on program implementation. For example, 80% of the funding for ‘beti padao, beti bachao’ program was spent on ads<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[10]</sup></span>. India has seen the highest unemployment rates under Modi<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[11]</sup></span>. The World Happiness Report 2022 ranked India 136<sup>th</sup> — tenth from the bottom of the list<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[12]</sup></span>. In the 2022 edition of the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, India fell to the 150th position, its lowest ever, out of 180 countries<span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[13]</sup></span>. There are many other statistics and facts to illustrate that India is going downhill from the development perspective. Modi’s failures are in front of him despite his ‘popularity’ and that is why he seems to be afraid of facing free and fair elections.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">While it is understandable for the US to ignore the current situation in India to pursue American interests, it may not be a good idea in the long run. If India goes to one party system by silencing the opposition and obliterates democracy, it will inadvertently become closer to Russia and China! If India and its democracy is not protected by Modi and his insecurities, not only the west will lose a great ally, but the world will also lose the symbol of unity in diversity and spirituality! It is time to support the majority of Indian people which includes the religious minorities! It is time to speak up for the dying soul of India! It is time to save the largest democracy of the world before it is too late! Personally, I feel the India I grew up in and the India of Gandhi is slowly fading away!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifF1ueJc9E6nAEGOfJUcHv9PMnBuKaxOyR-cnG6WDW1qI4jHBHaWhRXYmiqk6XbZbCCvHG3j9_9wO3n3s9zH4_qbta0Ffzf72-tbhxZpljPfpnB413QAJLBFtqSYtFBl5tuNx_2JcH04z9HcmT5t7IFkA_Z6vC0teKHrPzWsFgS4FYwG-6QU6Sgv6-" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifF1ueJc9E6nAEGOfJUcHv9PMnBuKaxOyR-cnG6WDW1qI4jHBHaWhRXYmiqk6XbZbCCvHG3j9_9wO3n3s9zH4_qbta0Ffzf72-tbhxZpljPfpnB413QAJLBFtqSYtFBl5tuNx_2JcH04z9HcmT5t7IFkA_Z6vC0teKHrPzWsFgS4FYwG-6QU6Sgv6-" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: https://www.goalcast.com/top-20-inspiring-mahatma-gandhi-quotes/</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">References </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[1]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/analysis-highest-ever-national-vote-share-for-the-bjp/article27218550.ece"><span class="s3">https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/analysis-highest-ever-national-vote-share-for-the-bjp/article27218550.ece</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[2]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/india/rahul-gandhi-disqualified-parliament-hnk-intl/index.html"><span class="s3">https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/india/rahul-gandhi-disqualified-parliament-hnk-intl/index.html</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[3]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.rss.org/Encyc/2015/3/13/Vision-and-Mission.html"><span class="s3">https://www.rss.org//Encyc/2015/3/13/Vision-and-Mission.html</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[4]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/07/india-modi-beef-lynching-muslim-partition/533739/"><span class="s3">https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/07/india-modi-beef-lynching-muslim-partition/533739/</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[5]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/02/14/1156726845/indian-tax-authorities-raid-bbc-weeks-after-it-airs-documentary-critical-of-modi"><span class="s3">https://www.npr.org/2023/02/14/1156726845/indian-tax-authorities-raid-bbc-weeks-after-it-airs-documentary-critical-of-modi</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[6]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://thewire.in/politics/opposition-petition-supreme-court-cbi-ed"><span class="s3">https://thewire.in/politics/opposition-petition-supreme-court-cbi-ed</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[7]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/modi-is-afraid-of-rahul-gandhi-allege-congress-leaders/article66658289.ece"><span class="s3">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/modi-is-afraid-of-rahul-gandhi-allege-congress-leaders/article66658289.ece</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[8]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/business/adani-modi-india.html"><span class="s3">https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/business/adani-modi-india.html</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[9]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/07/21/modi-government-has-spent-over-rs-900-crore-on-media-ads-since-2019"><span class="s3">https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/07/21/modi-government-has-spent-over-rs-900-crore-on-media-ads-since-2019</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[10]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.thequint.com/news/india/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-80-funds-spent-on-ads-says-parliamentary-committee"><span class="s3">https://www.thequint.com/news/india/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-80-funds-spent-on-ads-says-parliamentary-committee</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[11]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/indias-jobless-rate-rises-16-month-high-830-dec-cmie-2023-01-01/"><span class="s3">https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/indias-jobless-rate-rises-16-month-high-830-dec-cmie-2023-01-01/</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[12]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/india-ranks-very-low-in-world-happiness-report/article65241462.ece"><span class="s3">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/india-ranks-very-low-in-world-happiness-report/article65241462.ece</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></p><p class="p2" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: underline;"><sup>[13]</sup></span><span class="s2" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-the-worrying-state-of-press-freedom-in-india/article65384769.ece"><span class="s3">https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-the-worrying-state-of-press-freedom-in-india/article65384769.ece</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-75032841823114037702022-12-31T07:08:00.004-08:002022-12-31T07:08:34.524-08:00Ready for 2023<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Looking out of my window and reflecting on this last day of 2022! I feel ready to walk into 2023 with a heart filled with gratitude and hope! Happy New Year, all!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooQOPqCAp7_cxyFma9zqEppFblRJLyHTMrhFEkm3xrEDAHTEmce2DJWiFJg76w1BNmXkhmk_rJNLsJmqRNYBpHO3mPjHEzP8lt1PvAbGFpHdbJ3lO3en2WSYk8ZJZJEJfWovoeTQ4dP4S_We7xDVyDvPcEMEBO41_YQKdTVknlJya0TFER-cRB7e5/s4032/IMG_8253.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooQOPqCAp7_cxyFma9zqEppFblRJLyHTMrhFEkm3xrEDAHTEmce2DJWiFJg76w1BNmXkhmk_rJNLsJmqRNYBpHO3mPjHEzP8lt1PvAbGFpHdbJ3lO3en2WSYk8ZJZJEJfWovoeTQ4dP4S_We7xDVyDvPcEMEBO41_YQKdTVknlJya0TFER-cRB7e5/w300-h400/IMG_8253.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grateful for all the challenges we overcame together. 2022 was not easy from any perspective but nothing stopped us from taking the next desired step! It is on us if continue to focus on the challenges and the pain and suffering they brought or focus on how we moved forward to next steps in our lives! I am grateful to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">God, family, friends, work, new opportunities and connections! Grateful for being successful at the business love in this world! Grateful for the faithful peace that never left my heart no matter what happened, </span>courtesy<span style="font-family: inherit;"> my creator! </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am hopeful for what is coming in the next year and beyond: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><ol class="ol1"><ol class="ol1"><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As an individual, I hope to continue to evolve and learn!</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As part of my immediate and extended family, I hope for health and happiness for all us!</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As part of my country and this world, I hope for peace and reconciliation. To my brothers, sisters and those who sail between being my brothers and/or sisters:</span></li><ol class="ol1"><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s connect and chat regardless what makes us different or alike!</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s focus on more listening than reacting. Listen to listen!</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's accept that is is ok for another human being to think differently. Different is different and not necessarily wrong!</span></span></li><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let's remember that change is the only constant. Sometimes change is too hard but we can allow ourselves to grow, evolve and transform just like the nature does as the seasons change!</li><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let's learn to be united while respecting each other's desired boundaries and identities!</li><li class="li1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let's heal and flourish together! Sharing makes the food tastier and the time merrier! They say, no one ever became poor by sharing! Life is beyond what meets the eye and even the sky is not the limit!! Crawl, walk, run, fly, imagine... let's break the chains of hatred and control through the courage that comes from LOVE! </li></ol></ol></ol><div>Peace Is Possible.</div></div>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-69630336859447292282022-06-24T15:30:00.003-07:002022-06-24T19:59:00.382-07:00Remember, We Are Free! <div>Yup, a lot of us are angry and disappointed. And possibly a lot among us are happy because the Supreme Court's decision of overturning Roe vs. Wade falls in line with our belief system. All emotions are valid because everyone has the right to have their own opinions and belief system. And precisely that is why my heart is heavy today because the decision today will prohibit thousands of young men and women from acting according to their needs and values. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the very core of my heart, I too believe in saving lives. From that perspective, one can call me pro-life! And I think we should do everything to save lives everywhere, which includes those of our enemies in foreign countries where we wage wars and of those who we deport to high risk contexts to die! I would be most grateful if we didn't have to send our precious men and women to conflict areas where not only we lose so many of them to death but countless lives are damaged and destroyed due to physical and mental trauma. Wouldn't it be great if our Supreme Court and Congress could strengthen laws that would stop the killing of little children in the schools. But not seeing much movement and sentiment for saving lives in other contexts, I question the motivation of the decision today especially when it puts lives of so many women in danger. And that is why my heart goes out to every sister who is feeling angry, fearful, crushed and disappointed today. </div><div><br /></div><div>To all those who are hurting today, I want to remind that unity and allyship can mitigate risks to lives of numerous vulnerable women who will be negatively impacted by today's decision. Let's do everything to uphold and encourage each other with compassion and grace! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">My sisters, do not despair,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Embrace peace and power</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Your anger and fear is justified,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Turn it into passion and vigor!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember when Rosa refused to leave her seat,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">You too, my sister, stay strong on your feet!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember when Susan got arrested for voting,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Each other's rights we must continue promoting! </span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Gandhi questioned the law through Satyagraha,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember, you too possess the power of Freya,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">They used force to put MLK behind the bars,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">But they could never hold a movement in a jar!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Liberty is more powerful than repression </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Freedom is more resilient than oppression,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">It's time to indulge in some good trouble,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember, fighting for our basic rights is not indiscretion!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>This might a moment when we are down and under,</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>But like Maya, We Will Still RISE,</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>So many examples and shoulders to climb on,</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Let's grab our share of the free skies!</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="subbuzz-picture js-subbuzz__media js-pinnable xs-col-12 xs-block" height="218" src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2020-10/8/15/asset/37b1127cdb90/sub-buzz-161-1602169967-15.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: start;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/scotus-overturn-roe-explainer</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-41269461338463282542022-06-02T14:14:00.006-07:002022-06-03T13:06:33.541-07:00My Inner Story...<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My hypocrisy </b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I tell myself that I am perfect for the moment and yet let insecurities take birth!</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My privilege </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Insights bestowed on me through interactions with multitudes from the globe!</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My vulnerability </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I belong everywhere a little bit and nowhere fully!</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My power </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I own who I am and I belong to the Great I am! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>What's your story? </b></i></span></p><p><br /></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-61580170602099910362022-03-19T08:13:00.006-07:002022-03-21T15:04:42.679-07:00Who Is A Good Refugee?<p>There<span style="font-family: inherit;"> are </span>several<span style="font-family: inherit;"> news stories coming </span>out<span style="font-family: inherit;"> of Ukraine that confirm, once again, that </span>often<span style="font-family: inherit;"> refugees have to face the racism and discrimination based on their race, color, and origins! Humans are humans, </span>their<span style="font-family: inherit;"> need for </span>treatment<span style="font-family: inherit;"> with dignity, food, water and shelter </span>remains the same! And once they receive the safe shelter, studies tells us, most refugees contribute in the host society in a meaningful way. This poem calls for compassion for all refugees no matter how they look or where they come from!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Amoakohene Ababio Williams, 26, originally from Ghana, says he was separated from his Ukrainian wife, Sattennik ..." height="400" loading="eager" src="https://static.nationalgeographic.co.uk/files/styles/image_3200/public/mm989522030401576.jpg?w=1600&h=2001" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Amoakohene Ababio Williams, 26, originally from Ghana, says he was separated from his Ukrainian wife, Sattennik ..." width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/03/fleeing-war-facing-racism-refugees-from-ukraine-meet-challenges-at-europes-borders</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>So who is a good refugee,</i></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The one who looks like me?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who is a good refugee,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With whom I have the most similarity?</span></div></i></span></div>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Refugees shouldn’t be defined </i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>by how they look.</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>It’s about their fear and suffering </i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>that made them seek refuge! </i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Don’t look at the color of their skin,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Look at the scars from their journey,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Don’t welcome them based on their clothing or culture,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>It’s for the fear of life from which they’re fleeing! </i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Be the becan of hope for the vulnerable,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Be the host full of compassion,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Receive<span style="font-family: inherit;"> them in love to share in hope,</span></i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Engage with empathy without discrimination!</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>It’s ok to be temporarily uncomfortable,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>In order to save the precious lives,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>With their diverse skills and knowledge,</i></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>They will contribute to the society and thrive!</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>So, who is a good refugee,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>That shouldn’t even be a question!</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Welcome everyone regardless of their race and origin,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><i>Just because</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> of </i></span></span><i>their needs empowered by your compassion! </i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-46748969971839863052022-02-28T05:46:00.007-08:002022-03-11T17:37:14.304-08:00Where is Love?<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yesterday the preacher, Richard H Kottemann, in our church inspired this poem! Let's keep fighting for love in our own ways, please! No time to lose focus! </span><i> </i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Where is love</i></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>when we need it the most?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Where is love<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>when so many lives are being lost?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Listen, love is alive,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>But living in parts!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Pieces of love<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>are hiding in separate hearts!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aj io ip" height="426" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*KefIdW2czRGFS1VTOrmDGg@2x.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: start;" width="386" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: https://psiloveyou.xyz/for-the-love-of-humanity-300d882ded8d</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>We, the soldiers of love,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>need to bring our hearts together!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>And join the ‘me worlds’ and<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>broken pieces of love we gather!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Love will show the way<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>through this dark tunnel!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>All the care and support <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>we channel through the love funnel!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Search your hearts<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>my dear friends,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i> each one of us<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>possess the various love strands!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="fullscreen" height="181" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Zykht+OML._AC_SL1000_.jpg" style="height: 510px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; text-align: start; width: 564.430244941427px;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: https://www.amazon.com/Bothy-Threads-Heart-Cross-Stitch/dp/B00CL975PG</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Let's make a tapestry of love,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>To cover those suffering in the cold,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Let’s send a message with the humanitarian dove,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Love is peaceful and yet bold!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>The oppressor must be defeated,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>We cannot just give in,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Hate and greed must be depleted,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Because love always will win! </i></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-72051575211010810102022-02-13T07:00:00.005-08:002022-02-13T07:00:45.412-08:00Standing Up for Love! <p>Greetings readers! With changing times, I am adopting newer ways of expression. Trying to make videos and reels to reach out to those who are not into reading but want to learn more about inner, interpersonal and global peace. As I continue to learn how to be more peaceful and loving, I reproduce my learning in simple ways for my brothers and sisters who are also on their path of love and peace. Here's one such video! Trying mix the mediums here, hoping the readers of this blog will accept watching the videos too! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CYhmhI95fo8" width="320" youtube-src-id="CYhmhI95fo8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-53175249835069319072021-08-21T16:36:00.004-07:002021-08-22T02:23:35.890-07:00An open letter to the Taliban Leaders <p> <span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;">Dear Taliban leaders, I greet you in peace!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;">Congratulations on the newfound power and I believe you will do everything to sustain and maintain it in a responsible manner with Allah’s, the most merciful, help! Brothers, I reach out to you today to urge you for peace, peace in your own hearts and peace for your own people regardless of their gender and political opinions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I urge you to let Allah take control! I urge you to seek His wisdom and guidance as you pray</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">. Please remember that forgiveness is more valuable than punishment. I urge each one of you to take time to read the Holy Quran. Please remember as the ruler, you have much greater responsibility than as a fighter. I urge you to adhere to what Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said including about taking care of women and children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;">I urge you to convince and compel your regional and grassroots leaders to follow your instructions of maintaining peace and non-violence. If you want the people of Afghanistan to follow your guidance, you first need your own local leaders to follow your guidance. It doesn't make sense that you talk about peace and amnesty for all at the national and international levels but your local leaders continue with their violent acts. This makes the rest of us think either you are being hypocrites, or you are not in control of your own soldiers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;">Yes, there will be disagreements between people with different political opinions and ideologies. However, as the new ruler, you want to find ways to bring prosperity, development, unity and peace for your constituents. Power, as you know, brings great responsibility. As the people of Allah, what does that responsibility mean to you? How do you think Allah wants you to rule? Do you think that Allah wants you to go towards violence or does he want you to go towards mercy, compassion, forgiveness, unity, and love for His creation?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Think about capacities and capabilities that you need to rule your beautiful country in </span><span style="font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">the long term</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">. In addition to money and power, you need political goodwill from around the world and more importantly, within your own country. It is true that not everybody is going to like you or trust you. But it is one of your </span><span style="font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">primary</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> responsibilities that you do everything to gain </span><span style="font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">the</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> trust of your own people!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">How do you plan to deal with the disagreements with your people? With the gun and/or with threats? That approach will not work to gain the goodwill of the people. Help your local leaders to learn how to </span><span style="font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">actively</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> listen and engage in peaceful dialogue with people who may disagree with them. Shooting someone is easy but winning trust, confidence and love of people is hard</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">. I urge you to give rest to your weapons and use your heart to rule and Inshallah, may you succeed to bring peace and prosperity to your nation! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">May Prophet’s (PBUH) last sermon guide and remind you to treat </span><span style="font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">the</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> women and children under your care kindly! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyloaded" height="225" id="MTk1Ojk1Mw==-1" nitro-lazy-empty="" nitro-lazy-src="https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/source/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH.jpg" nitro-lazy-srcset="https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-200x113.jpg 200w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/source/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH.jpg" srcset="https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-200x113.jpg 200w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://cdn-aodch.nitrocdn.com/JHahMMFjoqNZJfNdqTajMEoPIcuPBrWe/assets/static/optimized/rev-472551b/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Last-Sermon-of-Prophet-Muhammad-PBUH.jpg 1920w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://quranforkids.com/last-sermon-prophet-muhammad/</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"><o:p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont; font-size: 13pt;">More Reading:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://muslim.sg/articles/5-incredible-lessons-from-the-prophet-s-last-sermon">https://muslim.sg/articles/5-incredible-lessons-from-the-prophet-s-last-sermon</a><o:p></o:p></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-90483565733191002672021-08-17T04:27:00.004-07:002021-08-17T06:50:26.871-07:00 Not all is lost in Afghanistan! <p><span style="font-family: arial;">I feel sick to my stomach, like thousands of other people, as we see the visuals on television and internet coming from Afghanistan. It’s hard to even imagine the fear amongst the people in Afghanistan, both local and expats, who are living through the transition in power in the country. Needless to say, I am afraid for the safety and well-being of those who are not seen as Taliban supporters especially the women and girls who are empowered to share their educated voice in the dialogue related to decisions about their lives and the fate of their beloved nation. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My family members have deployed to Afghanistan multiple times and I have had opportunities to learn about their experience as foreign soldiers in Afghanistan. I also have had conversations with friends who were born and raised in Afghanistan and have family members living in different parts of the country. I remember helping <a href="https://www.usip.org">US Institute of Peace</a> as they were finalizing a course on Engaging with Religious Leaders Overseas, which was going to be used to build capacity of personnel working in Afghanistan and other countries in the region. All these experiences included deep conversations and each one of those conversations ended with the same conclusions that war is not the answer and local Afghans need to take the lead in designing their own fate. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We can spend weeks, months and even years to talk about what went wrong, who is to be blamed, how many US administrations share the blame or the violent history of Taliban regime but it’s not going to help the current situation. However, it would be beneficial for the people of Afghanistan, thousands of mutli-country military personnel and civilians who sacrificed or risked their lives and their family members to strategize about how do we salvage and build on the work that has been done till date.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead of spending too much time on feelings of betrayal, defeat and fear we should all engage in defining solution focused strategies. There has to be a way to find peace in the country without the soldiers and guns in Afghanistan. There has to be a way! As they say, <b><i>'Anything War Can Do, Peace Can Do Better!'</i></b></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Per the Human Rights Watch article by Heather Barr from March 2020, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/05/crucial-moment-womens-rights-afghanistan" target="_blank">"In February, a Taliban leader wrote</a><a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/05/crucial-moment-womens-rights-afghanistan" target="_blank"> “[W]e together will find a way to build an Islamic system in which all Afghans have equal rights, where the rights of women that are granted by Islam — from the right to education to the right to work — are protected.” </a>We need to relentlessly work towards finding common ground <b><i>not between 'western values and Taliban thinking</i></b> but between <b><i>Progressive</i></b> <b><i>Islamic teaching and Taliban thinking</i></b>. It is crucial to include Islamic scholars, men and women, from Afghanistan and the surrounding region to lead the dialogue. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let’s look at what has been done that is positive! I believe the best part of this 20 year old war is that there have been a whole generation of women who have been educated. There are articles all over the internet about how the rights of the Afghan women are under serious threat and it is absolutely true. However, very little is being written about the power and resilience of educated and self-aware women. They are the change-makers around the world and they will lead the long lasting change from within in Afghanistan too! </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Young men and women who grew up in Afghanistan and have known what freedom looks like and have the potential of being the long term peaceful fighters for their freedom. They need safe spaces where they engage in dialogue with other youth in their country about their desired future and ways to get there! The youth of Afghanistan must be empowered to hold their leaders accountable to ensure the Islamic values of education and empowerment of women are instilled in the country. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The role of faith-based leaders is crucial as well. We know there are local scholars of Islam who understand and believe in the progressive nature of teachings of the Holy Quran. They must add their voice in the new religious agenda in the regional and national politics of the country. While I am not an expert of Islam, I know that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) believed in the empowerment of women. The progressive Islamic leaders must continue to diplomatically engage with other religious leaders who have more conservative view on women rights and education and navigate them towards the most merciful God. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We need to find ways to <b><i>support and connect the women, youth and the progressive faith-based leaders in the country</i></b> so that they can sustain their inner strength and engage those in power to hold them accountable in peaceful and diplomatic ways. The Taliban wants to remain in power and they understand their atrocities and violations of basic human rights made them lose this same power in the past. While they have started their new reign with similar atrocities and violations of human rights, there are frail indicators of potential evolution. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We know they have agreed for international aid organizations like</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a href="https://www.unicef.org" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">UNICEF</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> to continue the work. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Not only this generation of Taliban leaders know better, the people they hope to rule now know better too! </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I urge the international community that they focus on supporting the local people, not in a patronizing manner but in a genuine fashion truly believing in their power, wisdom and commitment. We need to take actions in consultation with the experts from the region and establish all possible mechanisms to ensure peace on the ground. While it is time for the Taliban to move forward and away from their oppressive ways, it is also the time for the western powers to move away from their condescending ways and just support Afghans the way they want to be supported! </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Anything War Can Do Peace Can Do Better Digital Art by David G Paul" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="254" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/small/flat/round-beach-towel/images/artworkimages/medium/1/anything-war-can-do-peace-can-do-better-david-g-paul-transparent.png?transparent=1&targetx=-2&targety=-3&imagewidth=788&imageheight=788&modelwidth=788&modelheight=788&backgroundcolor=ffad33&orientation=0&producttype=beachtowelround&imageid=5447020" style="height: 180px; margin: 8.399999999999991px auto; width: 180px;" width="254" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://pixels.com/featured/anything-war-can-do-peace-can-do-better-david-g-paul.html</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">More information:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/taliban-womens-rights-afghanistan-gender-equality/</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/least-27-children-killed-and-136-injured-past-72-hours-violence-escalates</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/05/interview-why-now-time-support-womens-rights-afghanistan</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.golocalprov.com/news/this-woman-created-a-program-to-educate-afghanistan-women-now-she-is-heartb</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/17/international-community-gave-taliban-platform-situation-for-women-scary-afghan-women-network-2345894.html</span></li><li>https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/05/crucial-moment-womens-rights-afghanistan</li><li>https://anjana-prewitt.blogspot.com/2012/04/us-in-afghanistan.html</li></ul></div>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-73679794447781111492021-03-20T06:51:00.005-07:002021-03-20T08:39:43.200-07:00The Right Path and the Right Gait? <p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">What is the right path?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">And who knows it?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Even if you find it,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">How do you walk righteously on it? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">What is the right pace? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Who knows the best gait for it?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Is it the fastest sprinter,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or the most thoughtful wins it? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Is it an individual quest,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or we collectively walk on it?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Can anyone critique the walk,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or the Creator only has the right? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Do all the walkers on the path look the same,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or different people walk on it?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">And the flowers and the weeds,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Do they grow together on it? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Is it a mistake</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or the Creator so designed it? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Does everyone has the view of the stars,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or only a few have the advantage for it?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Is the focus on the destination absolute,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or can you care for the weak on it? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Is walking the most important,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Or is it okay to rest on it? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">What is the right path?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">And who knows it?</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Even if you find it,</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">How do you walk righteously on it?</span></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-18424784787654604382020-12-26T06:43:00.001-08:002020-12-26T06:51:32.127-08:00Ready to Wake Up? <div style="text-align: left;">God reinforced his greatness in a powerful way through the conversations with my dear brother Amjad Saleem, the works of Karen Armstrong, Isabel Wilkerson and mediations on the Bible as I was preparing for the last couple of sermons. While this poem was brewing in my heart for weeks, it was penned down in just few minutes... The bottom line is that God is greater than whatever we imagine God is!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The one they call omnipresent,<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They try to captivate in religious cages,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The one who is more fluid than the sunlight,</div><div style="text-align: left;">They struggle to control through their holy pages!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sure, specific gatherings are pleasing,</div><div style="text-align: left;">When they glorify the unseen One,</div><div style="text-align: left;">But, all diverse cries raised up,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Are also received with love in heaven! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What wise fools they are,</div><div style="text-align: left;">They forget who is the master!</div><div style="text-align: left;">They recreate and reconstruct,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The original creator!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The so-called leaders of people,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Divide and part their followers,</div><div style="text-align: left;">By separating themselves from their kin,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The simple just follow the orders! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Time to embrace each other,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Regardless of religion and color!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>My sister and brother,</div><div>Wake up from the slumber!</div><div><br /></div><div>Look, there is access,</div><div>The barriers are false and deceiving,</div><div>Reach out and embrace the One and all,</div><div>Let love and compassion do the leading! </div><div><br /></div><div>Drop the fear of the humans,</div><div>The accountability is to the One above,</div><div>The earthly shame is just a sham!</div><div>We are surrounded in divine Love! </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-11326535892757756492020-11-27T18:33:00.007-08:002021-01-09T02:08:26.947-08:00Let's unshackle each other! <div style="text-align: left;">Anyone who thinks that it is only the slaves who lived in the chains is wrong! So many of us are in invisible shackles today, bound by hatred, racism, implicit biases, fears, jealousy and all kinds of other unnecessary negative feelings and emotions. Just like a pig feels happy in the swamp, we seem to be okay living with this filth! Some of us occasionally come out, take a bath and stay clean for some days and then go back to our inner rubbish and some have become very comfortable in the mire of hatred! It's time to stop complaining against the poor, whining about sharing with the single mom with two children seeking refuge at the border, suspecting a group of children standing in the corner and hating the white man just because he reminds of generations of oppression! Brothers and sisters, it is time to break-free of bitterness and resentment and embrace forgiveness and love! Yes, some times it is very hard to forgive, especially when there is injustice and structural oppression! However, we have the capacity to claim justice by focusing on achieving the desired success and lifting each other in the process. Resentment and anger binds us, focusing on the future in forgiveness frees us! It is time to break the chains! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Freedom all around us,</div><div style="text-align: center;">But are we truly free?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bound in the unseen chains,</div><div style="text-align: center;">We seem to be happy n'glee!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wake up, humanity,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unshackle each other,</div><div style="text-align: center;">One is chained by hatred,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Another one by fear!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Why do you disown your sister,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Is it because of her color?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who do you fool, my brother,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Didn't she come from the same creator?</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No, this was not the way,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Equality is the only reality,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Open your eyes, my beloved,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unity will lead to true liberty!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Come, taste the freedom love brings,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Feel the breeze of forgiveness,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Promenade in the path of sharing,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, dance to the tune of oneness! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The creator laments the abhorrence,</div><div style="text-align: center;">No religious act is greater than love,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Remember where we came from,</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the way to our home above!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to wake up,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to be free,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to relearn humanity,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to unchain you and me!</div><div><br /></div>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-37709614704376844822020-11-02T05:07:00.003-08:002020-11-03T12:05:19.595-08:00To you, Tat!<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This poem is for a powerful woman in Louisiana. Her name is Arizola Spears and she is 92 years old. Throughout her life she always fought for civil rights and the right to vote for all. She had contracted COVID-19 a few weeks ago. But you know what, not only she </span>conquered<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the virus, she went ahead and voted in these very important </span>presidential<span style="font-family: inherit;"> elections in </span>the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> United States. If she, at 92 after surviving corona virus, is not tired, how can we? Her </span>grit and grace inspires all around her and everyone that hears of her and what she has achieved! </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSSGYpthRYdd9ZXxI7LxDgsWRmuXL2yl6ZoPHIehrS9jy8K54iemKksCGFTa1oY1ky0Uz6mG8MCFd5wCN837_wxogZNi_Nl2O2_69p4PXHKY1K_VojQINPv5u7OAt_PZ_ANGxgrb9jg0/s1131/123_1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSSGYpthRYdd9ZXxI7LxDgsWRmuXL2yl6ZoPHIehrS9jy8K54iemKksCGFTa1oY1ky0Uz6mG8MCFd5wCN837_wxogZNi_Nl2O2_69p4PXHKY1K_VojQINPv5u7OAt_PZ_ANGxgrb9jg0/s320/123_1.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Arizola Spears<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I hardly know you,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And we have never met</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yet you inspire every bit of my being,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ever beautiful, Tat!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I had heard of your strength,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Your sophisticated style,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Your hard earned stature in the society,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And even in the storms, that resilient smile!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am in awe as I learn,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the depth of your strength,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the grandeur of your style,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Your endurance and its length!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Not even COVID-19 could stop you,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You conquered the virus with elegance,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And cast your vote at 92 years,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To defeat the systemic arrogance! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i>Know your daughters and granddaughters</i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i>and even strangers like me,</i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i>Are invigorated and awakened,</i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i>By your words, actions, and energy!</i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i>Thank you, Tat!</i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><i>If you'd like to listen to the post, <a href="https://anchor.fm/anjdayal/episodes/A-powerful-woman-in-Louisiana-elrke9">click on this link</a></i></p>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-82945592160519904712020-09-03T06:40:00.004-07:002020-09-05T12:09:09.250-07:00NO LAW AND ORDER WITHOUT PEACE AND JUSTICE!<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband and I have participated in peaceful protests several times and have never thrown a stone or burned anything and I have never seen another person walking by me do anything violent either. People standing up for basic human rights shouldn't be seen as a threat to law and order. It is a scared act done in love for fellow human beings.</span></span></span></h4><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, there are violent people who come in all colors and from all political affiliations and ALL of them should be brought to justice. We should NOT close our eyes when few protestors burn a building, it is not correct. Similarly, we should not look the other way when a boy walks by the protesters and kills them. And just like we say there was ONE person who shot and killed the protesters and NOT his entire group, we should be able to say only a FEW protesters burned the shops and only a handful of protests included violence. Let's at least agree to this!</span></span></h4><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now what is more serious from law and order and religious perspective I will leave it up to you for research and introspection between killing human beings and destroying buildings. Also, I leave it to you to decide who you want to empathize with more, those who are standing up for their basic human rights after hundreds of years of brutality and injustice vs. those who are upset because people are standing up for their basic human rights.</span></span></h4><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I come from India, Mahatma Gandhi's country, I believe in Peace and Nonviolence and I also believe in standing up for my rights and of my fellow human beings. And I am not sorry if I offend you by supporting the peaceful protests and the protesters. THERE IS NO LAW AND ORDER WITHOUT PEACE AND JUSTICE!</span><br /></span></h4><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_XHHZUwautL-w_y2evVTDjIzV2j4Y8aKXOXINr9zNEUOVOi5C88tYYfBZkDkSH6w3jlylksoFcvOp_3fI5h60r4173GwGFnYpDGiE_Q6mcrdog81huFUeHkb5OBANDDEULZvlSOHI7g/s1024/9faf13a2-ea60-4bc7-851d-cb3a709db62e.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_XHHZUwautL-w_y2evVTDjIzV2j4Y8aKXOXINr9zNEUOVOi5C88tYYfBZkDkSH6w3jlylksoFcvOp_3fI5h60r4173GwGFnYpDGiE_Q6mcrdog81huFUeHkb5OBANDDEULZvlSOHI7g/w300-h400/9faf13a2-ea60-4bc7-851d-cb3a709db62e.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-90259593419781162922020-06-01T13:50:00.001-07:002020-06-01T13:50:32.429-07:00Peace Seeks Justice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Yes, the country seeks peace.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>But the angry protestors seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The grieving mothers seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The oppressed generations seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The homeless seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The innocent in the prison seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Those silenced by power seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The children separated at the border seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Those trafficked to brothels seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Those who are still bought and sold seek justice,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Yes, the country seeks peace,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>But peace seeks justice! </b></i></span></div>
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Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-81715209461275710572020-05-31T14:27:00.001-07:002020-05-31T14:43:47.122-07:00Crime: Tall, Dark and Handsome! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why are people called 'black'? I have been to Africa multiple times and I have not seen one black person in my life! Most were darker than my skin but all </span>various<span style="font-family: inherit;"> shades of brown. As a matter of fact, most indigenous African communities do not call their people black. 'Black' terminology was created by people who were designing a system and ideology that would oppress those who did not look or talk like them. Those people travelled around the world to </span>conquer<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the diverse lands and the indigenous communities because they were greedy and mean. They carried the simple to </span>foreign<span style="font-family: inherit;"> lands and exploited them as slaves! And because every one is equal, they could not keep them as slaves for too long, even though there were systems, infrastructures and laws in place to protect their atrocious scheme! At the end of a very long day, humans beings were able to prove they were always equal! Slavery had to be abolished, at least on the face of it! However, the western societies kept the term 'Black' to define and categorize people. Many in those societies never came to accept that 'black people' were equal to them! They embraced two lies at the same time because no human being is really black and none is lower than the other ever! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The saga of hatred for fellow human beings and love for inequality continues in the United States of America. Not all are racists but there are enough to keep the system discriminatory against those of darker skin and on top of that if you are a grown dark man, things can be worse for you. There is no end of stories where a dark, tall and handsome boy or a man was brutalized or killed just because of how they looked. Nothing, their degrees, wealth, social standing or their hard-work could save them from the wrath of a police officer who saw them as a lesser human being! On May 25th, another man called, George Floyd, was killed by a cop, named Derek Chauvin, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The cop pressed his knee on the neck of George while he was handcuffed and suffocated him to death! All of this was recorded on the camera and eventually the entire world saw the horrendous crime. However, none of that triggered immediate arrest of the cop, it took the system four days and several protests on the streets to make that happen! Horrific events like these and sub-events within these events make people angry, helpless and hopeless! Not all but some do get aggressive because this murder is just one more injustice on top of all the oppression for generations, and worse, the possibility of swift change is very little! My heart goes out of every angry and hopeless youth who is out there fearing for themselves and their loved ones. If you are asking me why am I so impacted since I am not categorized as 'black', I am sorry for you! Those who misuse power against one person/group, they will do it again against another person/group! Moreover, Martin Luther King Jr. said, "</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;">Injustice</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> anywhere is a threat </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: inherit;">to</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> justice everywhere". Not only we should all be outraged now but we should sustain it until the system is changed </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">substantially</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">because</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> majority of those in power will not do anything out of their own good will! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I am not George Floyd,</i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>And I can still breathe!</i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>But it becomes hard to breathe,</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>to think about all those</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>who couldn't breathe before him</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>just because they looked like him</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tall, dark and handsome!</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It becomes harder to breathe to realize </i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>that the beautiful souls were killed</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>by those who were paid to protect them</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Just because they were</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tall, dark and handsome!</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>People's protests are wronged,</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If few become violent,</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Even though MLK Jr. said,</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Riots is the language of the unheard"</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>They will be sent home,</i></b></div>
</span><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just because the majority of those </span>protesting are</i></b></div>
</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Talk, dark and handsome!</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>My hope is gasping,</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>My desire for justice is diminishing,</i></b></div>
</span><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Because the protestors will be criticized,</i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The protests will be silenced,</i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Unfortunately, like my brother George,</i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Discrimination too is;</i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Tall, dark and handsome!</i></b></div>
</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Racism is so tall </i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>that it touches the top authority,</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>it sits on the highest hill of power!</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The system is so dark </i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>that many are blinded </i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>to the fear, pain, and suffering </i></b></div>
</span><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and </span>atrocities<span style="font-family: inherit;"> of the </span>oppressor<span style="font-family: inherit;">!</span></i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the </span>crime<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is disguised handsomely,</span></i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>because<span style="font-family: inherit;"> it is carried out </span></i></b></div>
</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>over and over again</i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>by the owners of law and order!</i></b></div>
</span><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Hey Derek, how hard is it to understand</i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>that even though George had killing looks,</i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>He shouldn't have been killed, </i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>just because he was:</i></b></div>
</b><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Tall, dark and handsome!</i></b></div>
</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It suffocates me to think of those </i></b></div>
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>who may not be able to breathe in the future, </i></b></div>
</span><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Because they are, like my son,</i></b></div>
</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Talk, dark and handsome!</i></b></div>
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are lot more articles and videos that explain the generational systematic oppression of blacks in the US, here are a just a few articles to support my points above: </span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Discriminatory Practices in the American Criminal Justice System: The Politics of Policing and Punishment: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2713810</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/04/09/views-of-racial-inequality/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Police Brutality - An Anthalogy : https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Ic_UBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT4&dq=police+brutality+in+america&ots=z95ASmk1pt&sig=BHXMXjPGzRnvAIXJPAiGBLIIy_Q#v=onepage&q=police%20brutality%20in%20america&f=false</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Police Brutality in the United States: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Police-Brutality-in-the-United-States-2064580</span></li>
<li><h1 class="o-post__title o-post__title--large" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 35px; margin: 10px 0px 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Racism, Inequality, and Health Care for African American: </span><span style="font-size: small;">https://tcf.org/content/report/racism-inequality-health-care-african-americans/?agreed=1</span></span></h1>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-78036607022468095972020-05-31T04:24:00.001-07:002020-05-31T04:44:18.706-07:00Stress and anxiety in times of Quarantine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's a talk on dealing with Stress and Anxiety during COVID-19 times. Some simple tips and techniques for coping. Hope it is helpful! </span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BnNR9iIc0UE" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-1841823332866732612020-05-12T17:57:00.001-07:002020-05-20T04:50:00.097-07:00Fear in times of COVID-19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
COVID-19 is impacting all of us in some way or the other. We are experiencing various emotions as we are practicing social distancing and staying home. We are witnessing thousands of people dying due to this pandemic and worse, some of us have lost a dear one to this disease. If you or someone you know is feeling afraid because of the factors related to COVID-19, please listen to this talk. This talk is hosted by Jorge Brito from the American Red Cross delegation and we I share some simple ways of dealing with fear no matter where you are in the world. Please leave feedback or questions, I will try to respond in a timely fashion.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tv7TddIFqW8" width="480"></iframe></div>
Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-20402527745124855632020-04-14T06:46:00.000-07:002020-04-14T06:54:32.241-07:00Peaceful Grieving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Almost two million people have contracted COVID19 and until today 120,863 people all over the world have died and we don't know how many more we will lose to this pandemic!</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>My heart goes out to those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones. The world has never seen such ruthless attack on the human race before and all of us are affected in some way or other. Like many others, I too have been wondering what if COVID19 comes close and takes away someone I love or if I am taken away from my dear ones. I am not afraid of dying because I believe in life after death. However, I know there's nothing harder than losing someone you love! The poem here is the culmination of the insights I have gathered in the last decade as I have been grieving the loss of my father. I hope it will speak to someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one and looking for hope and healing! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Life is more than what meets the eye,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It is stronger than what this earth can bind,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>People transition to the other side,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Traveling on the higher tide! </i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>They continue to live in another style,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>They also exist in the fruits of their earthly life,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Their souls may have changed the garb,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>In our thoughts, they still abide! </i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Grieve the loss , because it is right,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Know they still cherish your smile,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Celebrate their life on this earth,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Before they took the heavenly flight! </i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It is hard to accept their demise,</i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Maybe you couldn’t even say goodbye, </i></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Breathe deeply and let this moment slide,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This wound will slowly heal and you will survive! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And one day, we will all meet gay and bright,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Until then, share what’s inside,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Talk, write, or sing, oh dear, unwind,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>With hope, take another stride!</i></span></div>
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Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6206756023481201562.post-64651491774585500672020-01-26T16:35:00.000-08:002020-01-26T16:35:23.214-08:00Happy Republic Day, India! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Like in the past, we visited the Indian embassy today to celebrate the Republic Day of India, it is the day when the Constitution of India was established. There is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi right in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington DC. I looked at Gandhi ji's statute and pondered on the Constitution of India and teared up because of the prevailing situation in my motherland. I have been following news stories where the <a href="http://ramachandraguha.in/archives/godse-worship-goes-mainstream-hindustan-times.html" target="_blank">assassin of the Mahatma is being glorified</a> and <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/led-by-the-people-indian-constitution-caa-protests-6225047/" target="_blank">systemic efforts are made to undermine the constitution of India </a>by the leaders of the current ruling party in the country! </div>
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I stood there, gazed at the feet and the determination in them. He was certainly not about himself or his party. He was called the Father of the Nation because he had truly learned to value and accept every single member of his country regardless of their caste, socio-economic status, gender or religion. I wondered, if he is watching us, he must feel sad that the values of non-violence and secularism are not being upheld in the country. I wondered what he thinks about the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/world/asia/india-protests-police-muslims.html" target="_blank">violence against minors</a> by the police in Uttar Pradesh, how he feels when the <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/why-is-indias-right-wing-defaming-the-women-protesters-of-shaheen-bagh/" target="_blank">women in Shaheen Bagh are insulted and defamed</a>, while they are protesting peacefully, how his heart hurts when <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/treated-like-criminals-by-cops-jamia-students-1628534-2019-12-16" target="_blank">the students in Jamia Millia Islamia are treated like criminals by Delhi Police</a> or when the international media reports on s<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/world/reports-of-hate-crime-cases-have-spiked-in-india/" target="_blank">ubstantial increase in hate crimes</a> in the country (please click on the blue letters for more details). I was filled with a realization that Mahatma Gandhi's soul is hurting and so are hearts of his followers!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflecting and in conversation with Gandhi's statue in Washington DC. 26th January 2020</td></tr>
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Gandhi ji helped us win freedom from Britishers in the past and today his values can help us win freedom from hatred, social discrimination and violence in the country. It is time to apologize to the great soul! Let us refocus on the teachings and values that helped gain our freedom and were so thoughtfully woven in the Constitution of India. I feel so grateful for, and proud of the millions of people, especially the students and the women of India, who are standing peacefully against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and the looming National Register of Citizens that fundamentally attack the secular component of the Constitution of the country. Every peaceful protestor fighting for his/her rights keeps Mahatma Gandhi alive in this world! </div>
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As I paid tribute to Gandhi ji today, a poem began to emerge in my awarenesses... </div>
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<b><i>Bapu, sorry, we are failing you, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Some of us are forgetting your teachings,</i></b></div>
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<b><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">In </i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><i>the</i></span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> land of unity in diversity,</i></b></div>
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<b><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We are </i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><i>witnessing</i></span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> lynchings!</i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI5J-z1fHXFRg08zfOFopHxUHx_tmDaBo3CzBI_fX6PavgdHmOAzTHvzx_XqjF-AU_dBvmuKIXBEBHCm7pvRo8n3d6bHwPBxpGGyXy9_mLHBSdUUAyr_rAfo3PK9-CCbDynSsRob9-kg/s1600/Lynching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI5J-z1fHXFRg08zfOFopHxUHx_tmDaBo3CzBI_fX6PavgdHmOAzTHvzx_XqjF-AU_dBvmuKIXBEBHCm7pvRo8n3d6bHwPBxpGGyXy9_mLHBSdUUAyr_rAfo3PK9-CCbDynSsRob9-kg/s320/Lynching.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-lynching/mob-in-india-kills-three-on-suspicion-of-cattle-theft-three-arrested-idUSKCN1UE127</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><b><i>Erroneous</i></b></span></span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><i> discourse is hateful,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Some are even glorifying your assassin, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Sorry, we have let violence slip </i></b></div>
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<b><i>in our streets, universities and our reasoning!</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcSp7wNK6MZL1iOBq5uLdIoDxzhSzy8iMkDIFBGQFERDBpQoyFH7Ela1Pl_YdkMe7PMD0x9aHl17ayzGv5no_vYpwdq896dnktFmiF8vgsqaOBRSlTjoFvXQxRxF_2_WbtY_lzC3sLp8/s1600/TV+Debate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcSp7wNK6MZL1iOBq5uLdIoDxzhSzy8iMkDIFBGQFERDBpQoyFH7Ela1Pl_YdkMe7PMD0x9aHl17ayzGv5no_vYpwdq896dnktFmiF8vgsqaOBRSlTjoFvXQxRxF_2_WbtY_lzC3sLp8/s1600/TV+Debate.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/how-indian-news-channels-are-peddling-hatred-against-muslims-on-primetime-tv-1.67265166</td></tr>
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<b><i>Sorry, our students are no more safe</i></b></div>
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<b><i>if they say freedom,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Sorry, our mothers are insulted </i></b></div>
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<b><i>when they say freedom!</i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirIgIXarkcBLX5H4K9-VcdWmEq42YrnyndhDQJvn9hyUzdD-LWg_KdWtiDQYXiRuIY6p38QrgfBAYpA4ITI6yMosrUKNirxZ3VDN82CdQcnCRqRYMmfxhWRwTAx3G0WPvhnpbJjvCs-8/s1600/jamia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirIgIXarkcBLX5H4K9-VcdWmEq42YrnyndhDQJvn9hyUzdD-LWg_KdWtiDQYXiRuIY6p38QrgfBAYpA4ITI6yMosrUKNirxZ3VDN82CdQcnCRqRYMmfxhWRwTAx3G0WPvhnpbJjvCs-8/s320/jamia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jackboots-in-jamia-millia-islamia-university/cid/1727353 </td></tr>
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<b><i>Sorry, for some, 'azaadi'</i></b></div>
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<b><i>has become a dirty word,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Sorry, communal hatred,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>we couldn't curb!</i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBlJC23us3A7NuwGnVnG8sI6OB0vo8loNFc36J6qhspW1v2CUncnHTG1P5Vr7QN0sADQPA7lFY_88ZHYfPhQ5gm7nBu35TJ9Uzjf182w2HCfx2NzoGoMDA88FKOXgW6KV8H6SLxx9mNE/s1600/azadi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1038" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBlJC23us3A7NuwGnVnG8sI6OB0vo8loNFc36J6qhspW1v2CUncnHTG1P5Vr7QN0sADQPA7lFY_88ZHYfPhQ5gm7nBu35TJ9Uzjf182w2HCfx2NzoGoMDA88FKOXgW6KV8H6SLxx9mNE/s320/azadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://kafila.online/2016/03/05/a-conversation-about-the-meaning-of-the-word-azadi-freedom-in-the-wake-of-events-at-jnu/</td></tr>
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<b><i>But, Bapu, aren't you proud,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of the Indian youth,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Singing freedom on the streets</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the sound, your soul does it soothe? </i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40kiJbsigaC-nTctbRFnLMA5RDHViFPfr_bbDuUkb0nSS5DYQRoUcNt0RWgv6QYbVVQHRJg5S1kiMvrl9UeHwQk3a4gD1YbIm84ZtDtDOrsyk6cmPS2jyAskL-rtaP3ti6ECsseSuJMU/s1600/singing+students+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="435" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40kiJbsigaC-nTctbRFnLMA5RDHViFPfr_bbDuUkb0nSS5DYQRoUcNt0RWgv6QYbVVQHRJg5S1kiMvrl9UeHwQk3a4gD1YbIm84ZtDtDOrsyk6cmPS2jyAskL-rtaP3ti6ECsseSuJMU/s320/singing+students+.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/cover/sing-a-song-of-freedom/article30532807.ece</td></tr>
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<b><i>And do the women of India,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of all ages and walks of life,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>give you hope,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>that the Idea of India will thrive!</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDlPtRvVbFi6jOezgJ2DapeRbwio6U-p3qRGQO_n48e-3sYjMUp3S5b0yHWwKqxPtxP7bVQUhVADZE4Yh9Fv1qqzdCMlLZurMw0dHLSzRFvBV6BHDJTU9WAO4m_5pofbvSoeUYnwQljw/s1600/shaheen+bagh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="650" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDlPtRvVbFi6jOezgJ2DapeRbwio6U-p3qRGQO_n48e-3sYjMUp3S5b0yHWwKqxPtxP7bVQUhVADZE4Yh9Fv1qqzdCMlLZurMw0dHLSzRFvBV6BHDJTU9WAO4m_5pofbvSoeUYnwQljw/s320/shaheen+bagh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shaheen-bagh-protesters-a-fight-for-childrens-future-women-at-delhis-shaheen-bagh-to-ndtv-on-citizen-2164028</td></tr>
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<b><i>Bapu, 'Inquilab' is still alive,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The desire for equality is alive,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Even though there's oppression,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>'Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna' is alive!</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKfLhhtowESHZnvjKuhGpLcUwccEai75TojgL7-2WZLCCAW5AqbTe6PxzPK_WcTWcftKXNDI11mKAjcvU7C2vnaYQbQTMdz7jif4VF04UGkwGWxoSutY3vljJ_o9559JsZFpXhgVcVpw/s1600/sarfaroshi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="435" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKfLhhtowESHZnvjKuhGpLcUwccEai75TojgL7-2WZLCCAW5AqbTe6PxzPK_WcTWcftKXNDI11mKAjcvU7C2vnaYQbQTMdz7jif4VF04UGkwGWxoSutY3vljJ_o9559JsZFpXhgVcVpw/s320/sarfaroshi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.thehindu.com/books/till-hate-do-us-part-poetry-has-brought-together-people-across-the-border/article30533509.ece</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><i>When the police charged the </i></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><b><i>latthis,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><b><i>With roses, those students replied,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><b><i>In the rallying youth of India, </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><b><i>Bapu, Gandhigiri is still alive!</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qhwj2G_nknQ2Q_hVXvvoqFDoSH2WGZdU4ugIJ95NM-IxcAht_Nb7fX_EPpaJSIIE6GDnOrRYFbScdDxxzFBGYAvufnKSUn5pSbzQk8IrzceMzMl_47gdijrFgchTiH4uLixinZS8Zzs/s1600/roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qhwj2G_nknQ2Q_hVXvvoqFDoSH2WGZdU4ugIJ95NM-IxcAht_Nb7fX_EPpaJSIIE6GDnOrRYFbScdDxxzFBGYAvufnKSUn5pSbzQk8IrzceMzMl_47gdijrFgchTiH4uLixinZS8Zzs/s320/roses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/amid-anti-caa-protests-in-delhi-pic-of-girl-giving-rose-to-cop-goes-viral/story-V9qiMmJZXNRkWVKoU871UL.html</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jai Hind! Inquilab Zindabad! </b></span></div>
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Anjana Dayal de Prewitt (Gudia)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13896147864138128006noreply@blogger.com2