Of course, nobody has the time to realise, and fully understand, how frightening the situation is in India, today. Is this where we are headed? Looks the same to me.
Whether it takes place in Afghan wastelands, in Mangalore or in Margaret Atwood’s dystopian republic of Gilead, one thing is obvious: every form of religious coercion involves the regulation and control of female behaviour.>>> Indian Express
Apart from the reference to women as 'female', and by extension passive, entities, the rest of it sounds about right.
This might be extreme pessimism, but we should not head down this path.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Goodbye to the ex-president
One of the (very, very) few untainted politicians of the country passed away today. As one of the wise and tremendously fair-minded individuals involved in the drafting of the Constitution of India, his death, at the ripe old age of 98, is a blow to the country that is currently at cross purposes with its own diversity.
Rest in peace, Mr Venkataraman.
Rest in peace, Mr Venkataraman.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A Pessimist's Obama Wishlist
It's impossible to prioritise them in order of urgency. They're all urgent. Red-alert urgent.
1. Combat human rights violations. In all forms. Let's start with ending wars: Gaza-Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, India-Pakistan, Sudan, Zimbabwe, to begin with. Restoration of civil liberties: China, Guantanamo Bay, Iraq prisons. Undoing Bush's doings inside the United States: wiretapping, torture (basically everything that compromised on ideals in favour of "safety"), the Patriot Act, the abysmal healthcare system, gay rights...again, to begin with...
2. The environment. I think this needs more work than just signing the Kyoto Protocol (which expires in 3 years in any case). A lot more work. And imagination. Good luck.
3. The economy. Oh god.
C'mon, get cracking!
1. Combat human rights violations. In all forms. Let's start with ending wars: Gaza-Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, India-Pakistan, Sudan, Zimbabwe, to begin with. Restoration of civil liberties: China, Guantanamo Bay, Iraq prisons. Undoing Bush's doings inside the United States: wiretapping, torture (basically everything that compromised on ideals in favour of "safety"), the Patriot Act, the abysmal healthcare system, gay rights...again, to begin with...
2. The environment. I think this needs more work than just signing the Kyoto Protocol (which expires in 3 years in any case). A lot more work. And imagination. Good luck.
3. The economy. Oh god.
C'mon, get cracking!
Time will tell
It finally happened. Barack Obama is now the president. For real. Bush is history. It's like the whole world got a shot of endorphins, the way people are behaving. Not a bad thing to happen. Hope, after all, is what keeps everyone going, and it's in terrible shortage today. Nice speech also, although I expected something more. But I suppose this high-expectation-followed-by-slight-disappointment feeling is something I'll have to get used to, as there's absolutely no way he can match up to the unfair standards I have decided to judge him on.
Anyway, right now, it's easy to find Obama-gushing, but it would be prudent to look at some brickbats as well. Disappointingly, and perhaps not surprisingly, they're mostly from the right-wingers of the world.
After being led down completely by Tony Blair, I don't blame this guy for his lack of eagerness to embrace Obama's message of Change, but bashing Obama as someone who can just give a good speech is a bit of a stretch. And then, also, Obama might make unpopular decisions, but that's hardly different from what Bush did. It's just that, this time, the choices will be unpopular with a different group of people. It is what happens when parties change at the helm.
But this part his rant got to me:
The most powerful nation on earth is confronting its worst economic crisis under the leadership of its most extremely liberal politician, who has virtually no experience of federal politics. That is not an opportunity but a catastrophe.
Weelll, right now it all depends on who's doing the judging. But, as with everything else, time will tell, and in just a few days we'll all know how right or wrong we were. The truth is anyone will look brilliant after George Bush, so maybe this "Obamamania" is an overreaction. But, personally, when I hear someone (and not just someone, but a President who's a civil rights lawyer and, happily, a "most extremely liberal politician") declare that "we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals," it can only be a good thing. Maybe not as good as we all want---and hope for---but good, nonetheless. I'm a cynic when it comes to the current state of the world, but I feel if there's any hope for improvement, it's quite possibly in Obama's hands.
So consider my fingers crossed.
But say something about Gaza already, damnit!
Anyway, right now, it's easy to find Obama-gushing, but it would be prudent to look at some brickbats as well. Disappointingly, and perhaps not surprisingly, they're mostly from the right-wingers of the world.
After being led down completely by Tony Blair, I don't blame this guy for his lack of eagerness to embrace Obama's message of Change, but bashing Obama as someone who can just give a good speech is a bit of a stretch. And then, also, Obama might make unpopular decisions, but that's hardly different from what Bush did. It's just that, this time, the choices will be unpopular with a different group of people. It is what happens when parties change at the helm.
But this part his rant got to me:
The most powerful nation on earth is confronting its worst economic crisis under the leadership of its most extremely liberal politician, who has virtually no experience of federal politics. That is not an opportunity but a catastrophe.
Weelll, right now it all depends on who's doing the judging. But, as with everything else, time will tell, and in just a few days we'll all know how right or wrong we were. The truth is anyone will look brilliant after George Bush, so maybe this "Obamamania" is an overreaction. But, personally, when I hear someone (and not just someone, but a President who's a civil rights lawyer and, happily, a "most extremely liberal politician") declare that "we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals," it can only be a good thing. Maybe not as good as we all want---and hope for---but good, nonetheless. I'm a cynic when it comes to the current state of the world, but I feel if there's any hope for improvement, it's quite possibly in Obama's hands.
So consider my fingers crossed.
But say something about Gaza already, damnit!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Another bubble burst
The reassuring sense of prosperity, and the resultant careless disregard for quality and substance, has come back to bite the elite in the ass. And since there's no longer any money to throw around, the art market is one of the biggest casualties. And this is definitely good news for those concerned with trivial matters like talent and creativity and hard work.
For those who, over the last few years, have been wondering why seemingly terrible works of art are being bought for a lot of money, it's because of rich people who have a lot of cash, but know nothing about art. Who believe that if the price is high, then it must be worth that amount. The fact that the price tag was clipped on by "art consultants" who were luring the moneyed people didn't matter when the money was available. But now that it's not, the fake inflation of prices is starting to matter. Of course, this goes for everything that can be bought with money. But art somehow stands out, because it had become a popular commodity in the last few years, and an idiot-proof instrument for investment. But, hey, now that the money is draining out, maybe quality will rule (ironic how it's the opposite of the whole meritocratic concept of capitalism. But that argument's for another time.)
Now, we're getting to re-learn that art is something that can't truly be "bought", no matter how much - or little - it costs. Much like education, whose price tags will also, hopefully, come down in the near future.
For those who, over the last few years, have been wondering why seemingly terrible works of art are being bought for a lot of money, it's because of rich people who have a lot of cash, but know nothing about art. Who believe that if the price is high, then it must be worth that amount. The fact that the price tag was clipped on by "art consultants" who were luring the moneyed people didn't matter when the money was available. But now that it's not, the fake inflation of prices is starting to matter. Of course, this goes for everything that can be bought with money. But art somehow stands out, because it had become a popular commodity in the last few years, and an idiot-proof instrument for investment. But, hey, now that the money is draining out, maybe quality will rule (ironic how it's the opposite of the whole meritocratic concept of capitalism. But that argument's for another time.)
Now, we're getting to re-learn that art is something that can't truly be "bought", no matter how much - or little - it costs. Much like education, whose price tags will also, hopefully, come down in the near future.
Goodbye and Good Riddance, Asshole
The village idiot has said the final tata with a 13-min address. Among the lies that came spewing out of his mouth, "I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right." and "I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind."
Other gems:
"If America does not lead the cause of freedom, that cause will not be led." This isn't a Bushism. He's saying no other country is capable of leading the cause of freedom. Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay and the Patriot Act? Swept under the carpet of denial and retrospective falsification.
"When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror." Ah, so does this explain what happened in the 2004 American elections?
"America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict [terrorist attacks]." Yeah, right.
"America must maintain our moral clarity." You can't maintain something you don't have.
My favourite?
"Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time, everywhere." And, yet, he cannot see it when he's giving orders for war. George W. Bush and introspection can never be used in the same sentence. Although I just did.
Goodbye.
Other gems:
"If America does not lead the cause of freedom, that cause will not be led." This isn't a Bushism. He's saying no other country is capable of leading the cause of freedom. Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay and the Patriot Act? Swept under the carpet of denial and retrospective falsification.
"When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror." Ah, so does this explain what happened in the 2004 American elections?
"America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict [terrorist attacks]." Yeah, right.
"America must maintain our moral clarity." You can't maintain something you don't have.
My favourite?
"Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time, everywhere." And, yet, he cannot see it when he's giving orders for war. George W. Bush and introspection can never be used in the same sentence. Although I just did.
Goodbye.
Update on the "CC2C" crap
The NYT, as usual, has a clueless, pandering-to-exotic-Indian-cinema "good" review. What is also said is: In a film impressed with Chinese gadgetry — including a pair of leg cuffs that help the dance-challenged — and with scenes set in the sleek urban landscape of Shanghai, it’s hard not to see a broader point: India, don’t be afraid of China’s accomplishments. Be yourself. You will succeed.
Where did that come from? Again, clueless. This time culturally.
But here's the good part:
Read bad review here and here.
And here.
And as this review rightly says, If only "Taare Zameen Par" could have gotten its hands on that magic potato [of worldwide Warner Bros-backed publicity].
When will the Hindi film industry learn that mediocrity can only work so many times?
Where did that come from? Again, clueless. This time culturally.
But here's the good part:
Read bad review here and here.
And here.
And as this review rightly says, If only "Taare Zameen Par" could have gotten its hands on that magic potato [of worldwide Warner Bros-backed publicity].
When will the Hindi film industry learn that mediocrity can only work so many times?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
51-crore P.O.S.
This movie cost a bomb to make, and it doesn't even get basic facts right.
But, first, the trailer:
It's releasing tomorrow. There are so many fucking prejudiced stereotypes in just this 2:51 min trailer. If there's any doubt: I don't think I will watch the full movie at all. There's enough ignorance and stupidity around without having to pay for 2.5 hours of it.
But, first, the trailer:
It's releasing tomorrow. There are so many fucking prejudiced stereotypes in just this 2:51 min trailer. If there's any doubt: I don't think I will watch the full movie at all. There's enough ignorance and stupidity around without having to pay for 2.5 hours of it.
Selective hearing/ seeing/ understanding
While we're all paying close attention to what's happening in and with Pakistan, here's a hardhitting glimpse into the goings on in Sri Lanka. We don't know much about it because the media doesn't think it's important enough to cover. The latest victim (although he was no victim) is Lasantha Wickramatunga, editor of The Sunday Leader in Colombo. He was shot dead, the final, successful bid on his life after numerous threats and murder attempts. He wrote this editorial with instructions to publish it after his death---he was that certain of it. If it makes you feel worse: he leaves behind a wife and three children. And greater despair for those who followed him and his "call of conscience."
Rest in peace.
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