My change in the world
They say that change is the only constant in life, and that I cannot agree with more, it is isn't it. So when there's a a contest rolled out asking you what would you like to change, it's easy to just say EVERYTHING!
But, that's only because that's the easiest thing to say. I want you to turn your favorite musical composition- music that makes you happy and read the rest of this post.
No seriously, it makes a difference. Go ahead.
I think the one main thing I'd change in this world, is the way we treat our animals. Living on the Outer Ring Road in Bangalore, there's a carcass of a dead dog evey other day. Thanks to our friendly neighbourhood truck driver. I've always wondered if the truck stopped to turn around to find out what that thump was, or if he was too sleepy to realise there was a thump at all. Just like that, a life lost.
There are lives lost, then there are those for whom lives are trivialised. Driving through the Ring Road again, just the other week, I remember seeing two men lifting a big stone slab together with some difficulty and plop it onto a cart driven by a bullock. Large horns and white skinned, this animal had been reduced to prodding rib cages. The bad news was, that this was only the first slab of stone on that bullock cart for that bullock. We all know how they get driven, slapped, poked and pushed till they cannot move anymore. To either be sold for leather or eaten.
Add to this an image of chicken in coop, baby goats running around with their ears flapping to later be sacrificed in the name of God. I have known people who object to the use of flowers in prayer(they look prettier on the plant), who sacrifice goats in the name of religion.
There is one street dog in our area, where one side of the dogs face has been peeled back, possibly by a thrown stone. He no longer has a lip on one side, just teeth. He survived, to his own detriment. Yes, cringe.
Cringing doesn't make a difference, going out and doing something about it does. I know that everyone of us sees this, but we don't tune into it, and realise that we can do something about it.
To sin by silence, when we should protest,
Makes cowards out of men.
The human race
Has climbed on protest.
Had no voice been raised
Against injustice, ignorance, and lust,
The inquisition yet would serve the law,
And guillotines decide our least disputes.
The few who dare, must speak and speak again
To right the wrongs of many.
Speech, thank God,
No vested power in this great day and land
Can gag or throttle.
Press and voice may cry
Loud disapproval of existing ills;
May criticise oppression and condemn
The lawlessness of wealth-protecting laws
That let the children and childbearers toil
To purchase ease for idle millionaires.
Therefore I do protest against the boast
Of independence in this mighty land.
Call no chain strong, which holds one rusted link.
Call no land free, that holds one fettered slave.
Until the manacled slim wrists of babes
Are loosed to toss in childish sport and glee,
Until the mother bears no burden, save
The precious one beneath her heart, until
Gods soil is rescued from the clutch of greed
And given back to labor, let no man
Call this the land of freedom.
Wilcox, Ella Wheeler
It is my hope, that this very small post can make some impact in whoever reads this. There's more to say, more to share, but I hope the next time you listen to you're favorite song, you remember that you have the power to change this world, but that change can only begin when you change yourself.
****************************************************
http://facebook.com/sftimetochange
But, that's only because that's the easiest thing to say. I want you to turn your favorite musical composition- music that makes you happy and read the rest of this post.
No seriously, it makes a difference. Go ahead.
I think the one main thing I'd change in this world, is the way we treat our animals. Living on the Outer Ring Road in Bangalore, there's a carcass of a dead dog evey other day. Thanks to our friendly neighbourhood truck driver. I've always wondered if the truck stopped to turn around to find out what that thump was, or if he was too sleepy to realise there was a thump at all. Just like that, a life lost.
There are lives lost, then there are those for whom lives are trivialised. Driving through the Ring Road again, just the other week, I remember seeing two men lifting a big stone slab together with some difficulty and plop it onto a cart driven by a bullock. Large horns and white skinned, this animal had been reduced to prodding rib cages. The bad news was, that this was only the first slab of stone on that bullock cart for that bullock. We all know how they get driven, slapped, poked and pushed till they cannot move anymore. To either be sold for leather or eaten.
Add to this an image of chicken in coop, baby goats running around with their ears flapping to later be sacrificed in the name of God. I have known people who object to the use of flowers in prayer(they look prettier on the plant), who sacrifice goats in the name of religion.
There is one street dog in our area, where one side of the dogs face has been peeled back, possibly by a thrown stone. He no longer has a lip on one side, just teeth. He survived, to his own detriment. Yes, cringe.
Cringing doesn't make a difference, going out and doing something about it does. I know that everyone of us sees this, but we don't tune into it, and realise that we can do something about it.
To sin by silence, when we should protest,
Makes cowards out of men.
The human race
Has climbed on protest.
Had no voice been raised
Against injustice, ignorance, and lust,
The inquisition yet would serve the law,
And guillotines decide our least disputes.
The few who dare, must speak and speak again
To right the wrongs of many.
Speech, thank God,
No vested power in this great day and land
Can gag or throttle.
Press and voice may cry
Loud disapproval of existing ills;
May criticise oppression and condemn
The lawlessness of wealth-protecting laws
That let the children and childbearers toil
To purchase ease for idle millionaires.
Therefore I do protest against the boast
Of independence in this mighty land.
Call no chain strong, which holds one rusted link.
Call no land free, that holds one fettered slave.
Until the manacled slim wrists of babes
Are loosed to toss in childish sport and glee,
Until the mother bears no burden, save
The precious one beneath her heart, until
Gods soil is rescued from the clutch of greed
And given back to labor, let no man
Call this the land of freedom.
Wilcox, Ella Wheeler
It is my hope, that this very small post can make some impact in whoever reads this. There's more to say, more to share, but I hope the next time you listen to you're favorite song, you remember that you have the power to change this world, but that change can only begin when you change yourself.
****************************************************
http://facebook.com/sftimetochange
Comments
First visit. Read all current posts, the ones of recipe were glanced through as these made me feel hungry. The story of Love, Adventure and Miracle was very interesting with good happy ending. I fully agree with you on internet censorship move. No is my opinion too. Let there be some agency to keep check on objectionable contents and take action against the culprit but why deny everyone benefits of getting information on just a click. The diary of young woman bring out how we are still not changing with time. This one shows that we need to have our human side awakened to see right behaviour towards all.
Take care