The recent news reminded me very much of the book, "Ismael" by Daniel Quinn. Last week, a few brands of pet food were recalled from the shelves, because they believed that they are tainted with rat poison. These foods have caused gradual terminal illnesses for dogs and cats, and there is even a rumor that it maybe a deliberate act. And I am thinking that wow!! We are in 21st century and in the height of civilization, and we pride ourselves for the movement of animal rights , yet we are no different than other countries that kill animals deliberately. At least they have a good reason for that, what about us?
With only one difference, we kill them in style. We bring them home, we are nice to them. We buy them toys and clothes and we buy the best ready food for them. When they become sick, we take them to the veterinarian and pay hefty doctor bills and then they die. This is American style, versus, a strayed dog walks in the street and a few people just kill it with a knife.
Where I grew up, we fed our leftover food to our cats and dogs. We fed them the beef bone or the chicken skin or meat. Whatever we ate, the dog ate and that was the end of the story. We did not have ready and prepared food for ourselves, forget about our pets. When did we start to compromise our welfare with convenience. Life has become a lot easier, because we do not need to work harder physically, yet the world has become a stranger place as weirdos start killing our pets by poisoning their ready made food. Now our minds are in a whirlwind and the worry starts to consume our lives. Would I be the next target?
The way I see it, the more we get civilized, in our minds, the less human we become. As if we have never left the stone ages, and that is what I got from the book Ishmael. I am baffled by the exposure of all the sick minds around the world. I believe that the psychos have always existed, but as the population grows, so does the number of them and as the technology advances, we share more knowledge together, and as we supposedly advance further in life, the methods get more sophisticated and in greater numbers.
It seems that the simplicity of life serves the people and the planet a lot better. I just don't understand why we cant' contend with it. What exactly is it that we are looking for?
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Remember what you wish for, you may get it!
This is my favorite chinese proverbs of all times, and this is a small example of what it means to me.
Two months ago, I was nominated the president of one of many clubs that I attend. Not quite a US or any other country president, but a president none the less. I was proud and pleased and soooo naïve!
And of course I learned a lot about me and people and there were times that I really could identify for the real presidents!! It is not an easy job, even at the scale that I am. I learned that people can be very rude and disrespectful, and while I was not a president, I was treated far better, maybe like an ally?? I am still me, the same old blunt, frank and honest person that they admired, yet this presidency has put a dent into this situation.
Secondly, I thought that being an honorary president is quite easy, especially if we are dealing with adults who are highly educated with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Boy how wrong I was. They elected me to this position, yet they have no regards for my views, directions or thoughts. They deviate from the guidelines and the bylaws and they go to any extent to achieve their goal, something exactly like 4teen would do. They get bossy and rebel against authority. When I try to make a move, I have to be very diplomatic and believe it or not very firm and sometimes by saying, because I said so! They do not complain when I have to take the hit for unpleasant situations and mistakes, but they do have a problem with me setting guidelines with rules and regulations to follow.
Was I like this to the past presidents?? Am I a control freak and that is the reason for this happening? Do I need to become a dictator to make my club to fear me and respect me out of that? I guess with every power comes responsibility and of course the price.
I am not sure that I want to pay that price and gruel over it. So America rest assured that I will not nominate myself for the presidency ever. As for the club, I am going to make this work, despite all. I will do what I think is right and with the help of some allies we will prevail!!
Well, for one thing, being a president is off my system and I do not need to see a shrink for that. Also, I can not complain that this is not a land of opportunity, because it is.
The other thing is that I learned that I do not want to be a president of anything anymore; well maybe if they pay me enough, I will reconsider!!
Did I say that everyone in this club is woman??
Two months ago, I was nominated the president of one of many clubs that I attend. Not quite a US or any other country president, but a president none the less. I was proud and pleased and soooo naïve!
And of course I learned a lot about me and people and there were times that I really could identify for the real presidents!! It is not an easy job, even at the scale that I am. I learned that people can be very rude and disrespectful, and while I was not a president, I was treated far better, maybe like an ally?? I am still me, the same old blunt, frank and honest person that they admired, yet this presidency has put a dent into this situation.
Secondly, I thought that being an honorary president is quite easy, especially if we are dealing with adults who are highly educated with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Boy how wrong I was. They elected me to this position, yet they have no regards for my views, directions or thoughts. They deviate from the guidelines and the bylaws and they go to any extent to achieve their goal, something exactly like 4teen would do. They get bossy and rebel against authority. When I try to make a move, I have to be very diplomatic and believe it or not very firm and sometimes by saying, because I said so! They do not complain when I have to take the hit for unpleasant situations and mistakes, but they do have a problem with me setting guidelines with rules and regulations to follow.
Was I like this to the past presidents?? Am I a control freak and that is the reason for this happening? Do I need to become a dictator to make my club to fear me and respect me out of that? I guess with every power comes responsibility and of course the price.
I am not sure that I want to pay that price and gruel over it. So America rest assured that I will not nominate myself for the presidency ever. As for the club, I am going to make this work, despite all. I will do what I think is right and with the help of some allies we will prevail!!
Well, for one thing, being a president is off my system and I do not need to see a shrink for that. Also, I can not complain that this is not a land of opportunity, because it is.
The other thing is that I learned that I do not want to be a president of anything anymore; well maybe if they pay me enough, I will reconsider!!
Did I say that everyone in this club is woman??
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Moral or cultural exchanges?
In Herouxvill, Quebec in Canada, the authorities have passed a law to ban immigrants from stoning women. Authorities had a bit of controversary over this new law, but the councilman has assured all the residents that when it comes to some cultural difference, the immigrants should abide to the laws of the region. And that gets me a bit confused.
I thought that people immigrate because they want to better their lives; why else would they want to travel to an unknown land, with a different culture language and climate faraway from family and friends, unless running away from something illegal.
If I want to live my life exactly like what it was back home here in this new adopted home, why did I burden the hardship? And if I am here, because I do not like my life style there, and was incapable to change it, why am I doing the same thing here? Do I make sense?
Immigration is not an easy as it is spelled and I know it because I am a pro and have done it twice around and I can tell you a lot about it. But through hardship of adapting and adjusting, I know that although changing habits and cultures are very challenging, I think that I have made a few things work better for me than before. I have tried to blend the best of every culture that I have been ever exposed to and make a new way of life for me and yet preserve my identity. Believe me that I still have my accent intact!
I have not become fully American, and I have not lost all my ethnic background. I cherish my family tradition and embrace it with whole heart and pass it on to 4teen, and at the same time, I love the opportunities and possibilities that this land has provided for me without binding me down for being a woman, minority or social class barriers.
I know that this last sentence will bring a lot of adversary opinion, but in relation to many other countries, we all have it better here. Many things were not to my liking in the country that I was born and grew up, and I try to get rid of them now. On the other hand, many things are cold and impersonal here and I try to bypass them. I have learned to speak the language here fluently. I have adapted to customs and the ways that things are done in this country regardless, but I enjoy the convenience that this country offers me.
The way I see it, if one wants the convenience and abundance of this country, something should be paid in exchange and abiding by it’s rules is part of the game. You could not change the way of life and how things work in your country and you come here for a fresh start. If you try to make it like how it was back home, then what is the difference between you and the regime in power there? Again, why did you come here?
I thought that people immigrate because they want to better their lives; why else would they want to travel to an unknown land, with a different culture language and climate faraway from family and friends, unless running away from something illegal.
If I want to live my life exactly like what it was back home here in this new adopted home, why did I burden the hardship? And if I am here, because I do not like my life style there, and was incapable to change it, why am I doing the same thing here? Do I make sense?
Immigration is not an easy as it is spelled and I know it because I am a pro and have done it twice around and I can tell you a lot about it. But through hardship of adapting and adjusting, I know that although changing habits and cultures are very challenging, I think that I have made a few things work better for me than before. I have tried to blend the best of every culture that I have been ever exposed to and make a new way of life for me and yet preserve my identity. Believe me that I still have my accent intact!
I have not become fully American, and I have not lost all my ethnic background. I cherish my family tradition and embrace it with whole heart and pass it on to 4teen, and at the same time, I love the opportunities and possibilities that this land has provided for me without binding me down for being a woman, minority or social class barriers.
I know that this last sentence will bring a lot of adversary opinion, but in relation to many other countries, we all have it better here. Many things were not to my liking in the country that I was born and grew up, and I try to get rid of them now. On the other hand, many things are cold and impersonal here and I try to bypass them. I have learned to speak the language here fluently. I have adapted to customs and the ways that things are done in this country regardless, but I enjoy the convenience that this country offers me.
The way I see it, if one wants the convenience and abundance of this country, something should be paid in exchange and abiding by it’s rules is part of the game. You could not change the way of life and how things work in your country and you come here for a fresh start. If you try to make it like how it was back home, then what is the difference between you and the regime in power there? Again, why did you come here?
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