The Present Israel Crisis, July 2014

People all over the world seem to be fuming over Operation Preventive Edge being launched by Israel to attack Hamas militants in Gaza. In the ensuing attacks, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians. Many people are blaming the Israelis for being atrocious and brutal and not respecting human rights.

However much I detest the killing of innocents in a war, I cannot help but having sympathy for the Israelis. The situation is not easy. Gaza is controlled by Hamas, whose constitution demands the total obliteration of the Israeli state. They try and attack Israeli civilians whenever they have the opportunity. But the problem arises when Israel responds to such attacks and decides to bring the perpetrators to justice. Hamas quickly hides behind civilian cover. They use human shields to protect themselves and fire rockets from heavily populated urban areas where it is virtually impossible to hit them without getting civilians killed. They even hide weapons in schools and hospitals knowing well that Israel would generally avoid bombing them http://www.thestatesman.net/news/67507-UN-Chief-outraged-at-weapons-found-in-UN-school-in-Gaza.html . Thus, whenever Israel tries to attack a militant who has taken cover behind civilians, some civilians are killed in the process. The whole international community then jumps up to admonish Israel and call it names. What about the fact that even in the 21^st century, a country refuses to acknowledge another country but rather vows to destroy it completely? Iran has vowed to eradicate Israel from the map and has openly supported Hamas militants and encourage them with words and deed to keep attacking Israel.

When faced with such a situation what would you do? Will you refrain from attacking the militants who keep firing rockets at your citizens, or keeps murdering them, because attacking them will kill other civilians? Will you stand with hands in your pocket as others around you vow to kill you? Or will you act for your self-preservation? Will you try to remove the threat that you face? Israel is doing what it has to to survive. It is militarily more powerful than Hamas so their action is much larger in scale than Hamas, and therefore comes under scrutiny. Israel did agree to a ceasefire but Hamas refused. Does Hamas not care for the lives of the Palestinians in whose name they fight? Israel seems ready to stop this carnage but Hamas is not.

It is time we stood back and took stock of the whole situation instead of jumping to the same conclusion every time violence breaks out in Gaza vis-à-vis that Israel is murdering Palestinians in cold blood. It is time we acknowledge the breaches committed by Hamas of both human rights and international laws. Israel is right to suspect the verdict given by any UN investigation of the situation as every other time in the past the international community has been swift to blame Israel for every escalation in violence in that area. Maybe Israel is to blame for using more military might than necessary, but that does not mean that the entire international community just sidesteps the role that Hamas has played in escalating the violence and continuing to endanger the lives of the common Palestinians whom they proclaim to be fighting for. It is time we called a spade, a spade.

The World Cup Fever

"Competence is one of the most underrated qualities in life" -Patrick Neate

Ukraine Burning: Peaceful Protests, Riot Police and Democracy

A demonstrator waves the Ukrainian flag as the riot continues.

Ukraine is boiling in the midst of anti-government protest and a river of blood flows at the Maidan Square where the Ukrainians are protesting against the government with clashes between them escalating. The Ukrainians are calling for peaceful protests but alleging that the government is using violent means to curb the protest. At this stage it would be a good idea to look at what has led to such a crisis in Ukraine.

An Orthodox priest prays between the police and anti-government lines.

President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine, who belongs to the Party of Region, had been promising the citizens that he was eager to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union that would create closer economic and political ties between the EU and Ukraine. Ukrainians were eagerly looking forward to the signing of this treaty. But Russia was not too happy with the prospect of Ukraine allying with the EU as Russia wanted it to join its own union. Thus, Russia started applying economic sanctions on Ukraine. Ukraine depend heavily on Russia for its supply of natural gas and oil and feared an escalation of prices. On 21^st November, 2013, President Yanukovych suspended talks with the EU over the agreement and signed a treaty with Russia by which Russia promised to buy a substantial amount of government bonds and subsidize oil and gas prices.

A banner mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin at the protesters' camp in central Kiev.

Tens and thousands of protesters, mostly students and middle class people, poured into the Maidan Square, which had been the center for the Orange Revolution in 2004 that had kicked Yanukovych from his then post as Prime Minister, to protest against the government’s decision not to sign the agreement with the European Union. President Yanukovych responded by passing ananti-protest legislation that prohibited the use of loud speakers, among other stricter measures, without prior police permission. Protests erupted anew in response to this legislation and the protesters started demanding a change in the political power structure of the government as they felt that a lot of power was vested in the hands of the President.

Protesters hurl Molotov Cocktails at the police, who responded with stun grenades and rubber bullets.

Riot police throwing petrol bombs or Molotov Cocktails at protesters.

Medics evacuate an injured.

As anti-government protests swelled and people started putting pressure on the government with the Opposition joining in, the President responded by ordering riot police to crackdown on the peaceful protestors at the Maidan Square. (This might have been President Yanukovych’s revenge for his ousting from power via the Orange Revolution in 2004 that had also started at the same place, the Maidan Square) This led to bloody clashes between the protestors and the authorities. Many have been killed and thousands injured with the government deploying truncheons, tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets (some allege that live ammunition has also been used) to combat the protestors. But instead of subduing the protestors and their democratic zeal, this has only strengthened their resolve to seek a change in the government and the power structure of their country. Even though the Ukrainian government, including Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, resigned on 28^th January, 2014, President Yanukovych still is in power and his authoritarian power was amply demonstrated when in February, a few days back, he ordered crackdowns on the peaceful protestors leaving many dead and hundreds injured. The protestors did respond to the crackdowns by retaliating, throwing bricks and bottles at the police and the riot police. Protestors are now calling for everyone to be peaceful in their protest despite the actions of the government.

Smoke rises over the centre of Kiev as opposition supporters set fire to tyres.

Heavily armoured protesters shield themselves from police fire amid flaming barricades.

As Ukraine burns, we the citizens of the world look on; we, who call ourselves liberal and espouse democracy, just speak of high ideals while innocent people are dying and being injured in trying to live these ideals. Where are those that were so eager to give democracy to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan? What are they doing now when the people of Ukraining are fighting for democracy and human rights? Are the democratic rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian people not so important because they lack economic value? It is easier to fight when your own tail is on fire but it is the mark of humanity when you fight for the rights of others. This is the time for action and be inspired by the zeal and ideals of the Ukrainian people – this is the time to act.

Anti-government protesters gesture at a barricade.

[Photographs: The Telegraph]

The Tibetan Crisis

With the Syrian crisis and other conflicts raging around the world the attention of the world leaders, the world media and the people in general has been diverted to the refugee situation in these areas. But these conflict torn regions are not the only ones whose inhabitants have to suffer the tragedy of being driven out of their homeland and become refugees. Attention nowadays seems to have been diverted from a major crisis situation that has led to most of the people from that land becoming refugees in others vis the Tibetan crisis.

The Tibetan crisis has been successfully suppressed by the Chinese government from making the media splash that other conflicts seem to have, while being far more disastrous than quite a few others. China, using its military might has been trying to eradicate the centuries old culture, tradition, religion and language of the Tibetan community. Not being just satisfied with the occupation of Tibet, China is doing everything in its power to consume the Tibetan tradition with its state-driven policies. The Chinese military occupation and state-sponsored terror in the region has forced most of the Tibetans to move out of Tibet and seek refuge in other countries, mainly in India.

In India, the Tibetan community, under the leadership of the Dalai Lama, its religious leader, has created the Tibetan Government in Exile with its headquarters in Dharmashala. Here the Tibetan refugees have endeavoured to protect and sustain their centuries old traditions, religion and language. But their condition as refugees is not something to be proud of. Tibetan refugee camps are spread across many cities in India and the condition of these camps is dismal. The squalid living conditions, the poor sanitation and he lack of social and cultural integration into the local community is a major problem that the Tibetans have to face in their everyday life. There is hardly any effort from the government to help them integrate or to provide schemes for their economic development. Tibetans have been engaged in menial labour in the cities and their condition is deteriorating over the years.

With so much international effort being put into combating problems faced by refugees around the world, it is time that the international community pay more attention to the refugee situation in Tibet. China has so far been able to divert attention from Tibet but it is time that this changed. The Tibetan refugees  have been suffering for too long and it is time we, as the people of the world, as global citizens, did something about it. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Ode to an actor

Awesomely powerful - is all that I can say about Philip Seymour Hoffman's acting. He was brilliant in all the characters he played, breathing life and spirit into each and every one of them. The first time I encountered Philip Seymour Hoffman was when I watched the movie Synecdoche, New York (2008). I was left stunned by his very natural and powerful acting. This led me to watch his other movies like Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), Scent of a Woman (1992), Owning Mahowny (2003), Charlie Wilson's War (2007), The Savages (2007), Boogie Nights (1997), Twister (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), The Big Lebowski (1998),Patch Adams (1998), Magnolia (1999), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Almost Famous (2000), Red Dragon (2002), 25th Hour (2002), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Cold Mountain (2003), Moneyball (2011), The Ides of March (2011), Doubt (2008) and The Master (2012); not to mention Capote (2005) for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor. In each and every one of them he never failed to impress me with his acting irrespective of the prominence of his character. He was also quite famous in the theater circle as a director and actor, but I have not seen any of them so far. 

I will definitely miss his presence on screen and, I am sure, so will others all over the world. I sometimes wonder why such talented people die so young - does not seem to be right. I am a bit late in writing this in tribute of this great actor but better late than never. Here are a few images from his life.

Origins of the Hijab / Turban

      Walking down the roads of Berlin you come across people from all over the world and listen to so many different languages. One of the things among these that you will notice is Turkish women wearing the hijab. I have always just noticed that and walked on without another thought. But recently I have been wondering why is it that certain societies have taken to turbans and hijabs while others have not. I tried to search around in the internet trying to find an answer to my question but came up with only with the different types of head-dresses in existence (and extinct) some of which I had never heard of before. So I put my grey cells into action and came up with a very satisfactory explanation for this phenomena.

     According to my theory, head-dresses, especially the turban and hijab are closely associated with the traditional geographical location of the society or community. If you take a closer look at the geographical origins of people who wear turbans and hijabs, you will notice that they almost always originate from arid regions of the planet. It is people from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Saharan and sub-saharan Africa, Punjab, and such other arid places who have taken to these kinds of head-dresses.

     Coming from an arid region where the availability of water is limited, if not scarce, bathing too often is a luxury they could not afford. The region being arid also meant that there was always dust and sand being blown about by the wind. In such an environment keeping long hair open would only make them dirty, thus requiring frequent washing. To reduce the necessity for frequent baths in a region with limited water supply, it was a very natural move to cover one's hair. Since women generally have longer hair than men, it becomes more necessary for them to keep their hair covered in such conditions. The covering of the hair, thus originated as a response to the environment, which has, over the years been assimilated into the culture of the people originating from these arid areas. Over years, the turban and hijab became a part of the identity of the respective communities and societies.

     I will refrain from providing empirical data sets and statistics, as I believe they just complicate and narrow our perception of the issue at hand, and it is the broader picture that we need to keep in mind. I am not saying that my theory has no holes in it, just that I have not been able to notice any so far. I would be really glad to know your opinion regarding this and whether you have any alternative theories to suggest.

[Photos: courtesy the internet]