Gordon's D-ZONE

Why Michael Jackson is not a good role model

2009-07-04T12:51:00.006+02:00

Jackson's death has been in the news for more than a week since 25 June. Hysterical fans grieving ... speculation about the cause of his death ... gossip on the fate of his children ... etc. However, I was surprised to hear that major leaders within the Afro-American community declared Michael Jackson a role model for future generations.

I was rather unsure whether I heard that statement well. Yes, he was very successful as a pop singer - in fact he was regarded as the 'king of pop'. It's even true that the boy Jordan Chandler who accused him of sexual abuse confessed he had lied about Jackson. But Michael Jackson, a role model for future black generations? I just don't agree.

Yes, he gained success in music. But, did they perhaps forget that Jackson also chose to undergo surgery to become whiter? Is that the actions of a man comfortable with who he was and of his black heritage? On the other hand, does that only affirm that being white is better and that black people should aspire to be white?

By proclaiming Michael Jackson as a role model, I fear that the Afro-Americann community is sending the wrong signals to young black people. This message, simply put, is that it's not really ok to be black but you can get better results in life if you are white. It's like telling me that if you want to be respected in society, it would have been better to be non-disabled. In this sense, the logical conclusion to this reasoning is that a society which holds white, male, heterosexual and non-disabled people on a pedestal - ignoring other groups - is a good society!

Deadly Decisions

2009-06-28T17:50:00.004+02:00

I recently read a story regarding a Swiss-based assisted suicide clinic Dignitas.The story appeared on The Guardian and it revealed how a significant number of UK residents who made use of this service could have lived for more years if they had been provided with treatment and support that was available in the UK. It was particularly shocking to me because one of the victims of the Dignitas service was a person with rheumatoid arthritis, one of the conditions I acquired in 1999.

The findings revealed by this news article exemplify a deadly trend in our way of thinking about disabled people and their value to society. Indeed, at times, I suspect some governments would prefer giving us the death sentence rather than providing us with rights, including the right to access support services. Moreover, even if the interviewed doctors seem to be appalled by the premature killing of people having arthritis, or paralysis (for example), the deaths of other people with conditions such as MS are glossed over.

The problems with euthanasia are many. Personally, I can understand why some people might wish to end their lives. The fact is that when you acquire an impairment or a medical condition, it takes some time to adjust. And going on in the beginning is always hard and painful – even with support or lack of information. So, imagine someone waking up every day to face another day, not knowing if there will be an end in sight. This isolation and feeling of helplessness is a great source of pain and can often lead to suicidal feelings too.

Not to mention the pressures some disabled people may face from family members, or dealing with the guilt of being a burden. Undeniably, these are painful feelings and make you wonder whether you’re being selfish for wishing to live on. Unfortunately, in these circumstances, euthanasia – short of suicide – becomes a rather tempting option. And yet, euthanasia remains a final solution and an irreversible one. When there may be other solutions that could help in improving the situation.

However, euthanasia has implications far beyond the personal. It upholds an idea that death can be a way out of problems. It encourages a world view where we should give up living when we are faced by a stumbling block. Finally, it implies that there are lives not worth living. And this is the saddest part of all because decisions of this kind are never made in a clear state of mind – and sometimes forced by doctors or family members. And if I think about it, if you consider my impairments and medical conditions, my life could be easily regarded as one not worth living. But is it?

Forgetting Life

2009-06-26T18:00:00.004+02:00

No one knows what there is awaiting us at the end of our lives. Atheists affirm that there is nothing. Simply an emptiness where we just disappear from history into a place, if you can call it that, with no meaning and no future. On the other hand, those who believe in God believe that yes, there is life beyond death.

To be honest, I am unsure myself of the answer to the question of whether there is an after-life. Not that I am in any hurry to satisfy my curiosity, and so I hope the grim reaper delays the answer for more years to come. Even if there was one time when I was really close to finding out the answer myself - following an episode of kidney bleeding in 1998.

However, I thought about death even before I had that episode. My brother died a few months after my birth and I am still unsure of what came of him. Or whether he's watching me after all those years. It may be a silly hope, I admit, but I want to believe in an after-life. On the other hand, the question of whether there is an after-life or not is not deadly important (I couldn't resist the pun)..

I mean if you consider the zillions of things which could have gone wrong in the formation of terrestrial life. The many other factors which could have annihilated the human race, preventing our evolution. And, as for me, I wouldn't be here if my family line hadn't survived through life in different environments, wars upon wars, diseases and natural disasters. And yet, with all this, I might not have been born either. Without chronicling my medical history, I am astonished that I made it to this day. If I had been born in a different time, or even another country, I might also have disappeared from blogging history. OK, forget the part on 'blogging history'... I do get carried away during these moments.

What I mean to say, it may make more sense to live our life to the full now rather to dwell on the fate that is out there. While, as I said in my previous posts, we should be aware of our own mortality, this should make us appreciate more of what we have and strive to improve on what is wrongly denied us or from others. Life is too unique and precious to debate on who is right or wrong, if there is a heaven or hell, if you;ll end up in nirvana or stuck in samsara. Not that I don't appreciate a philosophical argument of this kind once in a while.

Now anyone fancy playing hangman?

Sympathising with Caliban

2009-06-22T18:07:00.006+02:00

As I was reading the book The Creative Fire by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, I came across the myth of Caliban. Although I was familiar with the character of Caliban found in Shakespeare's play > The Tempest , I was faced with a different kind of beast.

In this myth, Caliban is condemned on both counts. First, his body has been changed to become an ugly reptilian-like creature, and second, he is forced to live in a hostile swamp - away from all human contact. However, as in The Tempest, Caliban is obsessed with a woman who he wishes for himself. In the original myth, Caliban sends one of his creatures to steal the soul of his love interest each night when she is asleep to make her love him. However, Calibaan's attempts to seduce the object of his desire are to no avail as she refuses to give in to his advances.

On reading this myth, I felt that I could identify with many of Caliban's thoughts and feelings. Yes, his actions were most certainly wrong and ineffective. But it would be too easy to condemn Caliban if it weren't for the fact that there were times when I was made to feel quite like Caliban.

Not that I have lizard-like features as such. I don't have an extendible tongue or the capability to climb walls, for example. However, I did feel that my physical impairment at times caused discomfort among some. Or even shock, perhaps... The fact is that it's not uncommon to find that the so-called 'deformed' body has been used in myths and literature to denote impurity of some sort or other. Moreover, the implication of the term 'deformed' also implies the notion of a 'form', I allegedly deviate from. In this sense, Caliban and many people who are considered 'deformed' or 'imperfect' can be outcasted and made to feel unwelcome simply because of how we appear to them.

But then, surely I don't live in a swamp? No, but then again, I can say that I do experience a similar form of isolation. This is because the environment I live in is difficult for me to negotiate as I encounter different obstacles ranging from bad pavements to lift-less buildings.

Not to mention the fact that there are also implicit cultural barriers that are not easy to overcome if you're disabled. And this brings me to the last point that I feel draws me nearer to Caliban. The fact that Caliban, for all intents and purposes, is denied love. True, he is obsessed with his desire to possess this woman. But I expect the fact that Caliban was also an ungodly sight to behold didn't help his case a single bit.

Even if I'll leave it to my readers to decide from my profile photo whether I qualify as an ungodly sight, I think that many ideas about disabled people we are exposed to as children exclude us from love or equal relationships to that of others. Indeed, we are always expected to be 'normalised', to fit in and to accept our perceived misfortunes. Like Caliban, we are made to feel frustrated in our pursuit of love because we are at times perceived, often in secret, as not human enough.

This affinity with Caliban that I feltt on reading the myth proper is not without its dangers. We can't be obsessed with goals we cannot reach. We don't even want to waste our life in pursuit of things which remain beyond our control. However, there is much to be said in defence of Caliban since some of us may experience a sense of loneliness and isolation akin to the one faced by him. However, unlike Caliban, we still have the chance to fight the 'swamp' unless we don't lose ourselves into a hopeless obsession to become 'normal' when we are already fully human as we are now.

But, admittedly, it's not always an easy thing to do. But that might make it even a more worthwhile goal.

I'm Afraid of Fear!

2009-06-08T09:43:00.005+02:00

It was Franklin D Roosevelt who once said, “The only thing to fear is fear itself”. These words were spoken during his inaugural address as US president when America was facing hard economic times during the 1930s Great Depression. While much can be said about the relevance of these words to our own times, with the collapsing markets and global recession, I want to focus more on the impact of economic collapse on society, and more specifically on the destructive power of fear.

Another episode from the 1930s can help us understand how easy it is to create a state of fear in the population. The event happened on a Halloween night of 1938. The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) had scheduled an adapted version of HG Wells’ “War of the Worlds”. However, the only idea that was retained from the original text was the one relating to Martian invasion. In this sense, the radio script contained references to real places in the United States with the Mars invaders landing in a part of New Jersey.

Orson Welles, who was an actor, producer and performer wanted to change the script in such a way as to make it more realistic sounding and the production now took the form of a music variety programme (which was common at those times) interspersed with news bulletins about the Martian invasion. No big deal, isn’t it? However, for many of those tuning in later and missing the introduction stating that this was simply a radio play; this was the end of the world as they knew it. Shockingly, many did believe that they were doomed and many people in the West and East coast of the US started fleeing their houses, calling the police and trying to save themselves and their families. Despite the disclaimers that were aired once the studio was given an indication of the impact of this broadcast outside, the damage had been done.

Why did people believe that Martians had invaded Earth? Apart from the realism of the production, there are a number of factors that made people panic in such a way. First, there was almost unquestionable faith in what radio says as a means of mass communication. Second, Americans were already at high stress levels with the looming of war in Europe. Finally, Americans were still facing the economic difficulties of the Great Depression.

All these reasons may have played a key role in creating panic and to fool otherwise rational people into believing Martians were planning to take over. However, the over-arching reason that I can think of to account for this irrational behaviour is our fear. Today, as in the 1930s, we are still plagued by the same fears, albeit going by different names. We fear uncertainty. We fear war – this time from North Korea or Al Qaeda. We fear for our future. We are more suspicious of people who come from outside our culture.

The economic downturn forces us to become ever more hostile to immigrants, people who have different beliefs or traditions. Unfortunately, our media does not help to educate us but is often agenda-driven and encourages us to inflate our fears by throwing data, statistics and claims about our impending doom. No wonder the far right is growing again in Europe. We are afraid of so many things. New scary things. Global terrorism, unemployment, material loss and climate change.

In this, the late 1930s has also much to teach us. A man rose in Germany during a time when Germany had lost World War I and was recovering from economic ruin. This man blamed the foreigners for Germany’s collapse, more specifically what he called the ‘polluting Jews’. He wanted all Jews, gipsies, and others to be denied their rights. He then also wanted to annihilate those he deemed a threat to the pure German ‘race’: starting with disabled people and then passing on to the Jewish people, gipsies, homosexuals, communist sympathisers and so on. They were bringing the German economy down and taking up German jobs, he said.

The man, as you can probably tell, was Adolf Hitler and his state was now called the Third Reich. And how did Hitler come to power? How do leaders who feed on hate, racial intolerance and half-truths gain power? Because they feed on our fear. On this natural instinct that can save us but that can ultimately destroy us. Sadly, in a Europe plagued by economic problems, we risk losing our humanity and give in to our tendencies to give in to fear. And believe that not Martians, but foreigners are planning to invade us. And that would be repeating history wouldn’t it? If not ending it…

An Elusive Silence

2009-06-04T18:57:00.001+02:00

Stop for a minute. Can you hear the noise around you? Can you notice any lights or other visual distractions around you? If you’re living in a populated area, you now probably realise that we’re being over-loaded by sounds and images. All the time.

Last night, for example, I had difficulty sleeping as someone in our neighbourhood decided to play new age music till late in the night. And I don’t like to listen to those loud beats and rhythms at that time! Especially if I want to get some rest after a day at the office. However, this sensory bombardment I faced seems to be a characteristic of modern technology. Instead of spending time reflecting on life, we are often forced to hearing and seeing diverse stimuli without actually listening or engaging with them.

Yes, I find technology has opened a lot of possibilities in my life today. Indeed, thanks to the computer and the internet, I can manage work and life in general - even more than before due to my visual impairment. But all technology has its downside. If we become too dependent on it to get solutions and advice – even opinions – we risk losing the capacity to think critically or reflect on what we consume. It’s like believing that the picture of a dog, for instance, IS a dog! OK, it’s Thursday evening and I’m out of better examples.

What I am trying to say is that there is sometimes too much happening in our life that we fail to experience life itself. Instead, we tend to be engaged in a reactive mode where we are stuck in our world view and where moments of silence remain elusive. and if you think about it, that’s not a very happy life to live…

Look In to Reach Out

2009-06-01T18:09:00.004+02:00

It’s unusual for me to write on a Monday. At work, it was a bit hectic and I should be relaxing. The weekend was mainly characterised by reading, checking FaceBook and surfing the net for anything interesting. Right now I’m interested into learning about the origins of creativity and how the mind works in producing creativity. It’s really fascinating how complex our minds really are and how we take our consciousness for granted.

For you to read this post, for example, you need to be able to read or hear language, decode the meaning and coordinate your body to access the information from this page. And that’s not mentioning keeping the body functioning by inhaling and exhaling, etc. I guess I am rediscovering the joy of learning about new things. Or, rather, to learn a bit more about myself and my position in the world and in the universe.

Yes, last week was one full of contrasts. On one hand, I was happy that I had more free time to use for my reading but, on the other, I was saddened by the fact that I realised that I couldn’t continue feeding the feelings of love that had been developing for a person in my life. I won’t go into details about who she was but suffice it to say that it was the right thing to do dealing with my ‘love sickness’ given our particular life circumstances. Actually, a creative poem "Loving ... Her" [from my Zyhil blog] as I dealt with my emotions.

I don’t mean to say that I simply buried my feelings or turned my heart to stone. If the latter was true, I’d probably be undergoing a post-mortem exam right now. It means that even if our relationship is great, both have made different plans for our futures – and that’s life! In the past, I would have blamed my impairments right away. While this might apply in some cases, I don’t think that impairment is the reason for this sad result this time round.

In fact, the more I thought about this in the past, the more I realised that if a person thinks of you differently because you’re disabled, then what sense is it to pursue such a relationship in the first place? And often times I find that it’s far too easy to fall into the trap of believing a relationship is the be all and end all of our success or our happiness. It’s equally dangerous to equate success in love to your self-worth as a person. As a disabled person, I did feel of less value when I was not treated or valued as any other man because of my impairments. I can now assert that it’s foolish and can only lead to unhappiness.

To be in a relationship... It’s a great thing, I admit, but not the only great thing about our existence. I want to be in a relationship one day but I don’t want to force myself into one! I find that there is so much to learn about the world – not to mention about ourselves – that opens up a great number of connections and different kinds of relationships that may be very fulfilling.

That ‘s why I am trying to invest more time and energy in building a relationship with myself. That sounded very bad. What mean to say is that before I can give to another, I first need to know who I m better and what I can offer. Without knowing ourselves, we can only offer so much. And risk discovering a truth about who we are that puts us at odds with who we thought we were. To put it simply, I can’t believe in another unless I believe n myself. The alternative would be co-dependence.

Memento Mori [2]

2009-05-22T17:35:00.001+02:00

We move on as if we are immortal, untouchable by death, Living life escaping from death deluding ourselves that we will never die. And when death strikes close, our world suddenly collapses. We are left with a sense of unreality. As if this 'sudden change' could never have happened.

I don’t want to live like these others. I don't want to close my heart to the pain of other people. I don't want to find excuses for the state of poverty in our world. I don't want to seek refuge in prejudice to justify injustice and hate. I don't want to belong to the unquestioning herd. I always tried to do what is right. I failed at times but I tried.

A life I want to live again is a life where I am truly myself. A life, which requires me not to hide behind the mask of conformity. I have to lead a way of life that requires of me to rise from mediocrity and the status quo and espouse, again, the creativity and energy that life has given me.

Here, I return back to the beginning of my previous post. I want to understand myself. That is why I need to distance myself from the world at times. My life has to continue of course. But if I'm to find true happiness, what is required of me is to discover the purpose of my existence. This journey may take a lifetime. It will be full of ups and downs. Occasions when all seems to be going perfect and others when I feel stuck in an abyss of emptiness and despair.

There have been times when the pain was so great, living appeared not worthwhile. Times when the future seemed obscure and limited. These are the times when we have to prove ourselves. Many a life has perished at the sight of doom.

After all, our life may be just a road to discover why we are here, to know who we were at one point in our histories - to realise who we were always meant to be. For we all know where this road will lead. Not to Rome. Only to death! And in this awareness of my own death, I hope to have lived a life as close to what I was meant to live. For it's quite tragic to die without realising your own purpose.

Memento Mori [1]

2009-05-21T17:35:00.000+02:00

I woke up empty inside. In fact, I didn’t sleep that much either. It’s now more than a week since I resigned from my position within my organisation. Not that I’m regretting taking this decision. After all, I did want to dedicate more time to understand myself better before continuing with my commitment in disability activism. Or with life itself.

And life never works out the way you plan it. I was filled with great enthusiasm when I embarked on disability activism. And yet, there is still part of me that has been longing to get out. A side of me that I have so often obscured and hidden away from the world. As a child, I was taught a lot of lessons about life.

What about these lessons? We were taught not to lie, to be honest. Yet, out there many lie all the time. We thwart facts to suit our own agendas. We cheat social services and our governments. Worse of all, we lie to our loved ones and to ourselves.

We are also told to love and respect each other as brothers and sisters. Yet, the conflict between our brothers and sisters in the Middle East and in other geographical regions, the rising demons of xenophobia and racism in Europe, the implicit anti-Arab sentiments on one hand and the Anti-Semitic discourses on the other tell a different story. As we preoccupy ourselves with the state of our economies, we close our eyes to the poverty and suffering of other nations. We avoid this reality, which has been with us for decades.

But then, we have become numb to the death of others. We witness endless killings projected onto our TV screens, learn about them through our radio sets and find them stamped on our newspapers. The reality of death has been commercialised and trivialised. The death of a person is just another item on the list of everyday news. As insignificant as yesterdays gossip. We don't stop and think that a unique person has been lost to the world. - The creation of whom was a singular event in the history of the universe, a person who is irreplaceable. A life that no one can live again.

To be continued ...

Letter: A Passage to Independence

2009-05-10T16:20:00.007+02:00

I have read with interest the many contributions regarding independent living for disabled people in this newspaper. As a person with a disability, I have a personal interest in any discussion on this important right.

However, the issue of independent living is not a simple topic and requires us to have a clear policy that addresses the situation of people with disabilities having different impairments, as well as those individuals who have complex or maximum support needs.

It's crucial to point out that independent living goes beyond the provision of accessible housing or personal assistance and support. Undeniably, these are two central principles underpinning independent living but they do not guarantee this right. In fact, the philosophy of independent living stresses the importance of having an opportunity to choose how we live our lives and thus exert self-determination. In this sense, personal assistance that does not fulfil these two principles cannot guarantee our independence on their own.

Agenzija Sapport has been doing a great job in ensuring disabled people continue living in their own communities. Moreover, at the basis of its mission statement is a commitment to involve disabled people at every stage of service provision.

However, Sapport is forced to work within limits - both in terms of financial and human resources. It cannot be emphasised enough that this agency needs more state funding to ensure it continues assisting people with disabilities remain in the community and contribute to work while participating in the life of their community.

However, for us to have the opportunity to live independently, we also need to have equal access to mainstream buildings and services, to transport and housing, for example. In addition, we should not be excluded from education and employment opportunities and to be given chances like our able-bodied peers.

Such access would enable us to be empowered while being active contributors in our society while helping the economy by being workers and consumers.

On another note, we need to revise our current benefit system by assigning benefits to people with disabilities according to their particular impairment needs and social situation. This would ensure that people with disabilities and families requiring substantial financial assistance receive adequate aid.

I believe that people with disabilities should involve ourselves in any debate on independent living. I feel it's important for us to transcend our own impairment group and recognise the right for independent living as the right of every disabled person - irrespective of impairment. As a person with a physical disability, I cannot ignore the importance of intellectually disabled people having their right to independent living respected. In addition, we also need to be open to the views of parents of people with disabilities, who cannot represent themselves on this matter.

Only by being a united front can we truly move forward on this and other issues. However, a word of caution: although we should welcome the interest of political parties on this and similar issues, we should be careful not to turn this issue into a partisan issue.

Source:

Cardona, Gordon C. (10/05/2009) "A Passage to Independence" in: The Sunday Times of Malta Online, http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090510/letters/a-passage-to-independence (Accessed 10 May 2009)

Letter: Unethical Behaviour

2009-05-03T16:33:00.005+02:00

I feel that the conduct of both Malta and Italy in relation to the rescue of the stranded immigrants was unethical, despite any other claims to the contrary.

While I recognise that the problem of irregular immigration is putting considerable pressure on European states, especially those bordering the Mediterranean Sea, I still believe that both our country and Italy should have taken immediate action to ensure that these people are saved.

Malta and Italy preferred instead to engage in a war of words while the immigrants aboard the Turkish vessel were facing deteriorating conditions putting their lives in danger. Indeed, both Malta and Italy chose to use these immigrants as human pawns to make a political point. I feel it is unethical to put lives in needless danger, just to prove that one country is right.

Unless, of course, one is not using utilitarian ethics where lives can be sacrificed if they fulfil some other purpose.

My intention here is not to debate whether Malta or Italy were right to refuse to take in these immigrants. My point here is to highlight the fact that, beyond the regulations set by international law, these immigrants are human beings like us and should have been promptly rescued.

Had Italy not decided to intervene, and had lives been lost in the process, who would have been responsible?

Would we dismiss such a tragedy and add it to the list? Would we try to downplay the deaths of these people by using faceless terms such as 'boat people' and 'illegal immigrants'?

It may be pertinent to cite the principle set forth by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant here - that people must never be used as a means but always as ends (my paraphrase).

If the future of Europe is characterised by such hard and cold political responses to the problem of immigration, then this is not the Europe I wish to belong to.

After all, Europe's very foundation was built on respect for human rights.

Source: Cardona G. (2/5/09) "Unethical Behaviour" in The Sunday Times of Malta Online: Letters, Available from: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090503/letters/unethical-behaviour (Accessed 3 May 2009)

Related article:
STOM Interview: Losing our humanity

A Life Apart

2009-05-01T10:10:00.007+02:00

A boy is surrounded by doctors forming part of a medical team. He is told to follow the instructions. He is called by many names, but none are his own. He hears of his spasticity, his abnormal hands and his walk, they call a ‘scissor gait’. He knows that he is the subject.

As they continue to scrutinise his body, he feels strangely flattered by the specialist's attention. Yet, he knows, these medical experts are solely interested in his condition. Crushing all illusions of his humanity.

In the adjacent ward, a girl is naked as male doctors casually inspect her body. “It's a routine”, she tells herself. Yet, she still feels that it's as if she is just another mannequin - not regarded as a girl or a human being. No one even mentioned her birth name and the experts stood chatting amongst themselves.

The boy and girl glanced at each other as they were transferred on their wheelchairs to another room. They never talked but seemed to know they shared the pain. They would never meet again. Was the girl sent to a segregated institution?

A boy troubled by his own mortality strolled across his school’s corridors. His gait would appear ‘unnatural’ to many. But he was never bothered by it. One time, he realised that his walking appeared weird to other children his age.

However, he was unconsciously preoccupied by an idea of perfection in body and mind. Consequently, he rebelled against his own body. He disavowed the implication that he was 'abnormal', or 'defective'. Yet, he still loathed his impairment and denied what he regarded an ‘imperfect body’.

He cried, at times, and when he did, his tears expressed a burning passion to make right a silent injustice. The oppression of an imposed self-definition – To be told he was simply deformed, of less value than that of so-called ‘normal’ others. His life purpose only utilitarian.

"Do I only serve as an inspiration to others?” he asked. "Am I just a stepping stone for other people's salvation? Am I really a unique individual?"

He felt unfairly robbed of his claim to humanity by science and religion. It seemed God was punishing him for a great sin he had committed in his early childhood perhaps? His impairment akin to Cain’s cursed mark proclaiming a hidden sin to the world.

As a youth, he felt an outsider. Not belonging anywhere and often lost in thought. He tried to fit in. He did at times feel, yes, 'normal'. Alas, only few could relate to his experience. He hid away behind his shame by becoming another person - an impostor. But this conflicted with his desire to be valued as a complete person. His longing to be honest with himself. A wish to be free to fully express who he really was.

When the youth became an adult, he read about how society could exclude him because of the way his environment was designed. Not to mention the negative attitudes about impairment he was all too familiar with. An epiphany called “The social model of disability!” He could change his situation. He didn’t have to despise his impairment any more. Thus, he reclaimed part of his identity. He was largely disabled by a society which didn't take his impairment and that of others into account.

An adult now, he still seeks to be free from social straitjackets. True, His future and his past remain intrinsically linked. The various roles he has adopted are still part of him. The memories, the sense of isolation and of alienation appear at times. They are like haunting spirits. Yet, they are not threatening as long as you are ready to acknowledge they are an essential component of your unique experience as a human being.

This account is not really sad or tragic, for these ideas too are part of the oppression. Indeed, this story highlights the destructive power of prejudice and exclusion. Yet, it reveals that beyond our impairments, there is a unique individual with his/her own perspectives and experiences. At the same time, we are faced by a shared history of oppression and discrimination. In order to express who we really are, we often have to fight such exclusion which threatens the very fabric of our individuality.

My House in Malibu

2009-04-25T11:15:00.004+02:00

I need to make a short announcement. In the last few weeks, I was playing around with creating a new blog dedicated to my creative self. To be honest, as a child, I had always dreamed to become a published author… with my own house in Malibu, sipping my orange juice as I typed away on my laptop next to my swimming pool ump…I think I put to many possessives there.

OK, I haven’t attained writing fame, or a house with a swimming pool in Malibu. Although I can still have orange juice - even if it gives me heartburn! I also have my own laptop too, even if it has become rather slow lately. I am digressing big time, am I not? So, here goes my announcement:

New Blog Launched!

Yes, I launched a new blog called Zyhil. It’s the second best thing to attaining world fame as a best-selling author, don't you think? Sadly, I do lose out on the many luxuries and lavish lifestyle I could have had (sigh!)

But I should be more cheerful as this blog should complement my online book Cosmos Online which means I have 3 electronic offspring (without the need of changing any cyber-diapers).

Currently, most of Zyhil's contents have appeared before on this blog. However, I've recently added some new content and I hope to contribute to this blog on a regular basis in the future.

The latest posts I've added include a brief account of a boy living in the streets of a 'great city' entitled Street Boy. The other post is a poem dealing with the often painful experiences of love and contains personal reflections on the meaning of life. The poem is called Cinders but you got to read it to discover why I called it so. Enjoy!

The Aftermath - Europe now decided?

2009-04-20T07:46:00.002+02:00

At last, some common sense prevailed following Italy's decision to take up the stranded immigrants as we read that they are being landed on Italian territory. Or did common sense really prevail?

Undeniably, it's good news that the people on the ship have been saved and are not at risk of starving or dehydration but the fact remains that the dispute between Italy and Malta is far from resolved and both countries will argue their case in front of the European Commission. However, I won't go into that in this post.

The fact is that I believe that the standoff is far more serious than the coverage it has received. In fact, if it had been simply a dispute over some unwanted cargo, then I wouldn't write about it at length. On the other hand, what was at stake here was human life - forget the definitions of these people set by international law for a minute. If neither Italy nor Malta had intervened, the result would have been far worse than a temporary strain in Italian-Maltese relations.

Indeed, it is precisely this precedent where people were used as a means to make a political point that is of serious concern. Whilst this represents a full breach of the immigrants' human rights, it is also an unethical position for any country to take.

For if this will be the way European member states will be settling the immigration issue in the future, then I expect more people will be sacrificed on our seas as countries immerse themselves in political disputes and clinical political strategies.

To conclude, it might be appropriate to cite the often forgotten principle of Immanuel Kant, which affirms that human life should never be used as a means to an end but as an end in itself (my paraphrase). Sadly, it appears that as far as this dispute goes, we have chosen to treat human lives as a means to prove a point.

Related post:

The Human Cost of Europe's Indecision

The Human Cost of Europe’s Indecision

2009-04-19T15:05:00.010+02:00

I have followed the problems faced by the influx of ‘illegal immigrants’ and the impact this is having on European member states close to the Mediterranean Sea, including Malta. I believe that there should be action by the European Union to address this issue. However, I also believe that Europe cannot honestly claim that it has nothing to do with this emerging problem. Indeed, European states (especially ex-colonial powers) were very eager to exploit African resources and manpower in the past.

In this sense, it’s horrible to hear that Italy and Malta are squabbling over who should take over the responsibility of taking up the 154 immigrants who were rescued by a Turkish vessel. It is horrible because while my own country and Italy are debating on the issue of whether Italy or Malta should bring these very same people in their respective countries, these people are dying as the situation on their vessel deteriorates and supplies of food and water are slowly depleting. Yes, they're at sea waiting for these two European member states to decide on who is responsible for their rescue.

Even if Italy or Malta may be right on their interpretation of international law, the fact remains that in the course of their confrontation, they are ignoring the basic right to life of these people. In other words, their conduct here flies hard in the face of any convictions they claim to have on the value of human life. It seems, however, that if you’re not a European, your life is at the mercy of politicians who prefer to waste time debating on whether they should rescue you rather than rescuing you now from the sea and settle the technical stuff later.

It’s when I read stories such as this that I feel ashamed of being Maltese, or even to be a European. These are not the principles Europe was built on. At least, this is not the European Union I wish to be living in.

More about this story:

Pregnant woman's funeral on stranded cargo vessel

Malta, Italy row over migrants

Dispute turns into war of words

Migrants wait on rescue ship as Malta and Italy debate their fate

Note: The term ‘illegal immigrant’ is denoted to every person trying to access another country with no legal permit or who has over-stayed permitted limits. However, a number of countries with no rule of law will not issue any valid legal documentation to escape such a country. Thus an ‘illegal immigrant’ can later prove to have a valid claim for ‘refugee’ or ‘humanitarian’ status depending on the country they are escaping from.

Disability: A Form of Apartheid?

2009-04-04T14:25:00.004+02:00

After finishing reading Nelson Mandela’s account of his movement’s struggle against apartheid, entitled “Long Walk to Freedom”, I could not help noticing the similarities between the struggle of black South Africans against an oppressive apartheid system (instituted by Afrikaans rule) and our struggle, as disabled people, against a disablist system. I admit that I always felt close to the black civil rights movement. As a boy of about 9, I used to love reading about how Martin Luther King Junior brought about the changes in the US. Indeed, the legacy of Martin Luther King Junior is more significant to this generation since Barrack Obama is the first Afro-American to attain the highest position in the United States.

Yes, I felt that I could identify with the cause of racial equality but I didn’t know why I did at that age. The fact was that I was white. And I didn’t even have black friends or relatives. But, in retrospect, I suspect my feelings of ‘not fully belonging’ in my society or, in some way, I was considered ‘not normal’ were probably the reasons why I felt ill at ease with such ideas as patriotism. For, in truth, was I really being treated like any other Maltese boy of my age when I was 9? Although I tried to deny it, the fact was that I was not.

Mandela talks of how he used to look up to the ‘(white) British gentleman’ as the ideal he should strive for as a South African when it was still under British rule. In fact, the educational system was geared towards bringing this about. However, in the process, Africans were urged to deny their language and their pride in who they were – including their history and traditions. While the idea of a disabled culture is a controversial one, there is certainly a non-disabled ideal of 'normality' many of us had to aspire to. I spent many a day in my childhood praying God to ‘straighten my legs’, or want to have a more masculine body.

There was also a time when I had to do a lot of physiotherapy to get my legs straightened. Indeed, the messages we get from the media is that our bodies are faulty and imperfect. Although some may strongly disagree with my position to stop my exercise regime, I decided that I wanted to live my life as I was – I didn’t want to spend hours doing meaningless exercises to get closer to what mainstream considered ‘normal walking’. I wanted to live my life… and have real friends!

However, the problems we face are not simply overcome by dismantling disablist attitudes. In fact, like in the apartheid system, we often have experienced segregation. In some countries, this is still a daily reality. A few examples of what I mean should help clarify:

Segregated education: Non-Inclusion and Special schools – The word ‘special’ here is a nice word for ‘segregated’. In fact, the end result is the same. In Malta, disabled children started being integrated into the mainstream in the late 80s. Even if services offered by these schools can help, no child should spend all his/her childhood in segregated educational settings where no real socialisation occurs.

Segregated buildings: Inaccessible buildings – No, there aren’t buildings where only disabled people or non-disabled people can enter. However, if you have an inaccessible building, it pretty has the same effect.

Segregated transport: Inaccessible public transports – Again, we don’t have buses for disabled or non-disabled people but the very fact that a number of buses cannot board a wheelchair user or offer other services to disabled users means that, for many of us, public transport is not a viable option. In addition, as a user of accessible transport, I find that the cost to use such transport (in spite of subsidies) is steep when compared to regular public transport.

Problems accessing employment – Of course, there is no sober employer who will openly declare he or she would not employ a disabled person. But if you look at the low rate of employment for disabled people across Europe and in Malta, you then start wondering. Not only are workplaces often inaccessible to some of us but some employers are even reluctant to make them accessible or even consider a disabled applicant who uses assistive equipment but is equally qualified to a non-disabled one. May be this same employer is more comfortable giving away thousands for charity during Christmas time instead?

Segregated sanitary facilities: Claustrophobic toilets – Well, I leave that to your imagination. Just note that an accessible toilet has been used by some irresponsible people as a store, or as a repository – sometimes even being locked. Let me not talk about the one time I was going to burst while waiting for the key to come!

Segregated Housing: Residential Institutions – Perhaps the worst kind of segregation is when you are forced to live apart from other people solely on the basis of your impairment. As explained in an earlier post, such settings can do much to kill any motivation you might have, let alone to aspire for freedom or equality.

All this reveals that there are many similarities between the apartheid system and the state of disablement. Our struggle may be only different, and perhaps more difficult, because we are often the only ones in our family with an impairment which increases the risk of internalising our oppression and believing, as many of us do in our early years, that we should accept unequal treatment. Incidentally, there was also a notable disabled activist who joined during the struggle against apartheid: Vic Finkelstein. His work reflects the parallels between his struggle against apartheid and his later involvement in disability activism.

To conclude this rather long post, I wish to quote part of Mandela’s concluding paragraph to his book:

“I was not born to be free. I was born free.”

However, as illustrated through Mandela’s account, freedom can be denied. When that happens, it’s not enough to be satisfied with the status quo but we must work towards the dismantling of the barriers that prevent us from achieving equality which involves a degree of responsibility. At the end of the day, any struggle for equality, is a fight to regain our very basic right to be acknowledged as part of humanity.

April, the Cruelest Month

2009-04-01T19:14:00.003+02:00

Cruellest it's perhaps not a good idea to start off a new month with such a gloomy title. However, April brings with it many things I can do without, such as the heat, and insects. Let's not start about insects. Of course, April 1st is synonymous with another tradition I have come to fear - April fool's day... Perhaps it's like Friday the 13th for me as I'm always at the lookout for some practical joker.

However, I don't think that I'm being melodramatic if I believe that there is something quite spooky about April fool's Day. Waking up in the morning with the feeling that today something rotten will happen. That they will trap me. That they will say something which I don't believe because it's April 1st and then, it ends up being true! How's that for a joke... a joke that wasn't even a joke to begin with...

No, credibility goes out of the window on this day. That is why I am somewhat reluctant to announce any news or updates on this day. It's a day which lacks credibility and which forces people to think about each thing they happen to hear. And ask the question... is this really true?

On the other hand, it may be a good idea for us to take on board the April Fool Mindset (AFM) because it puts on guard against being misled by inaccurate or partial reporting and one-line titles to reports. There have been many of these over the past months but I won't elaborate on those. Yes, it's the credibility issue again.

As I was saying, it may be prudent during these times, when realities are being contested and when everything is relative, to be more alert to what you read and consume. This is all part of the AFM set of principles. As a disabled person, I am bombarded with titles and labels that drive me crazy. A heading which you should avoid reading when I'm in your vicinity is the following:

BRAVE HANDICAPPED, WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, OVERCOMES ITS DISABILITY!

Ok. I'm pushing it but I have read more disturbing headlines and news items in the past. So, I won't be surprised to read at least half of those adjectives in a heading. And why I wrote 'it'... because we're often considered 'asexual'. And that, I'm afraid, is not an April fool.

Well, I guess I've done enough complaining about April and, yes, April fools. So I'll end here without further ado. And apologies to T S Eliot for not analysing the meaning of the post title taken from his famous poem, “The Wasteland”.

Please note: if you circulate this post to 100 of your friends you'll receive 99 complaints and 1 insult. You've been warned!

Capturing the Moment

2009-03-28T11:41:00.009+01:00

There's much good to say about the times we're living in. I can't imagine living in a world where diseases were a constant threat, where the infant mortality rate was extremely high and when food, water or shelter was scarce. This is not even mentioning the benefits technology and medicine have brought to us.

However, in spite of all such richness, I do feel that we're losing out on other, equally important, values. We live in a fast food world where our communication speeds have multiplied over the course of decades. We made a transition from using letters to email, and now even to updating our status via our mobile phones. And yet, we seem to want more and more ways of keeping in touch.

We seek social networks, join Facebook, and try to keep up with a myriad of virtual and real social groups. Advocate for our right to speak and, yet, silence those who contradict us. But then, are our families stronger? Are the rights of others being upheld and respected? Are we really connecting with others? Are we even taking time to get to know who we really are?

I suspect that the answer to many of these questions is simply ‘no’! But this is not because we do not want to connect or find value in life beyond the material happiness we surround ourselves with but because we are not stopping to reflect on our position in the world and on the reason we're here.

There were many periods in my life when I found myself alone. Perhaps this is one of those times and the reason why I am writing a post about it today. However, contrary to popular belief, this feeling of being alone isn't a negative feeling as such. It only got a bad reputation because of the Valentine Card merchants 

No seriously, being on my own at times helps me get in touch with who I am. Or rather, discover who I have become over the years. Most importantly, these peaceful instances when I can be free from distractions, I realise that, yes, there are certain important things in my life. I find that there is an aspect of me that is unique, and that there is a degree of sacredness to this life. That being here and knowing you are here is a privilege not to be wasted capriciously.

Of course, during these moments of stillness surrounded by the sound of classical music at times, brings back both positive and negative memories and emotions. Yet, even if we might want to forget the painful aspects of our past and present, these are still a living part of us and, thus, they need to be acknowledged. I believe that this is what there is missing in many people's lives today. We fill it with things that appear (or are made to appear so) important to our happiness, but lose track of what really matters to us. We seem to repress the answers to our happiness by indulging in quick fixes.

And I'm afraid that no amount of money, no kind of technology, no discovery (however groundbreaking) and even no form of drug, can give you an answer to the questions:

“What makes me happy?”

What should I strive for?

And often, those who dare ask those questions.

Those who challenge the reality projected through media...
Those who are not happy with the injustice and inequalities in the world and who believe that change is possible...

Those are the ones who feel alone and estranged by a fast world obsessed with instant happiness.

A world where people do not stop and think. A world of fleeting dreams and promises but with lack of commitment and drive to deliver.

A world where most do not take the time to capture the moment and end up trapped in a cage they believe is the universe.

Make Independent Living a Reality ...

2009-03-24T17:29:00.001+01:00

When we talk of independent living, we're referring to our right as disabled people to have a choice over our lives which includes access to the support and resources necessary to exert our self-determination. Indeed, the philosophy underpinning independent living is one that recognises the right of every individual to decide for him/herself.

The European Network on Independent Living is lobbying for this right to be recognised on a European level, in accordance with Article 19 of the UN Convention Rights of Disabled People (more info on the link provided). However, for this right to become a reality, your help and support is needed.

I urge you to sign the petition found at:

THE EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

If you are also a member of an NGO working in this field, I encourage you to pass on the message, so that this crucial right is recognised and given to us all.

Thanks a lot.

Obama's bowling blunder

2009-03-22T15:03:00.007+01:00

I don't usually follow Jay Leno's The Tonight Show as it's aired days later on local TV. Indeed, I probably missed Obama's first appearance as president on this show. However, thanks to youtube, I managed to watch the now notorious segment where Obama says his poor bowling ability of 129 is only good enough for him to compete on the special olympics. Here is the video and the transcript of the short excerpt below it:

Transcript:
Jay Leno: “[Has the White House bowling alley yet been] burned and closed down?”
Barack Obama: “No, no. I have been practicing . . . I bowled a 129.”
Jay Leno: “That’s very good, Mr. President.”
Barack Obama: “It’s like — it was like Special Olympics, or something.”

Admittedly, it must be stated that Obama issued an immediate apology following his remarks to Special Olympics chair Tim Shriver but I feel a bit ambivalent about whether as a disabled person, I should feel offended or not by this joke. On the one hand, I know that disabled athletes put a lot of effort into competing on the so-called "special olympics" but, on the other hand, I am not happy with the fact that the special olympics are held separately from mainstream olympic events.

If Obama's joke had been sexist, homophobic or even racist, the public outrage would have been greater. Of course, we cannot forget that The Tonight Show by its very structure is a relaxed show that encourages guests to loosen up. Perhaps, for a few seconds, Obama forgot he was president... But would it make any difference if he wasn't the president?

Would his comments been taken so seriously? Had this happened before the US elections, would some people not have voted Democrat? These are only speculations of course...

However, there are some things that worry me. The first being that Obama appears to have a slightly disablist bias - at least in relation to any attempts we make at sport - despite all words or rhetoric to the contrary.

But then, the thing we need to consider is that an over-reaction on the part of the disabled community to such a joke might be counter-productive. I'm not saying that Obama was justified or anything in his stupid banter. However, as a disabled community, I think we should take this remark and use it as an opportunity to delve further into the issues we face - and clearly state why such a remark is disablist - rather than take a defensive or antagonistic position against politicians. Moreover, I believe it's essential to emphasize the fact that we, as disabled people, can laugh at ourselves - if jokes are not about our impairments (directly) but about the often ludicrous situations we find ourselves in...

In fact, this seems the approach being taken by representatives of the Special Olympics. They are taking Obama's statement as an opportunity to raise awareness about sports and the efforts made by disabled athletes in sporting events.

Undoubtedly, sports isn't the only issue we need to draw politicians' attention to. However, it's a start in the task of underlining our prevalent invisibility in many other areas of life and on the importance of having the UN Convention ratified by all countries to assure our rights are respected and our voices heard.

Judging Others' Lives

2009-03-15T14:50:00.009+01:00

The last month was filled with disappointment on one hand and excitement on the other. However, all my concerns revolved around the issue of life. How much do we value another person’s life? And on what grounds?

Of course, the issue of whether Eluana Englaro should live on sparked a lot of debate on an international level. Eluana, who had been in a coma for more than 16 years, was deemed by her father as being kept alive ‘against her wishes’. According to news reports, doctors interviewed agreed with the father's testimony. Ultimately, the final decision was taken. Eluana should die through the cessation of feeding. She eventually died on 9th February.

Inasmuch as modern medicine is greeted as a ‘miracle’, it raises ethical issues that cannot be simply resolved in terms of good or bad. Having said that, I believe that the interests that were being safeguarded through Eluana’s murder are those of others. The decision of whether this woman should die wasn’t a decision relating to her wishes but more to the wishes of her parents and those who were pro-death (or those supporting the so-called ‘ right-to-die’).

Indeed, if you think about it, no one considered that Eluana may be quite happy where she was. Many tried to picture themselves in ‘her situation’ but, alas, none of them were! It’s this rashness to assume that a disabled person or someone who cannot voice his/herself that really worries me. A quick judgement that reduces the value of who we are to how productive we are, to how much we contribute to society or how much we consume. And even if we get that right, there is also the risk that the way we look to others may seriously reduce our life expectancy.

On this point, the view persists that it must be awful to be disabled. It must be terrible to be in a coma for more than 16 years. But the point is, you’re not there and you cannot decide for me or that person. Inasmuch as our judgment about the quality of another person's life may be close to the truth, such a judgment can only be made from our own point of view that may, or may not have, a bias and a model of the world that fails to recognise different ways people can live or prosper.

Needless to say, having no voice has a further disadvantage. It’s difficult as it is to make your point when you can speak. But it’s often the case that people who are not recognised as ‘persons’ with rights are easily turned into objects that are open to exploitation by politicians and scientists alike. I’m talking about Obama’s decisions to allow US funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) here. The unborn are another ‘voiceless’ majority. But because they have no voice, they can be denied their protection under the law where it is legally sanctioned.

While ESCR could hold a 'promise' for the discovery of new cures and treatments for the world, at what cost? Obviously, the cost is the destruction of human life. I correct that. It's the use of another life to sustain another - or worse to manipulate an embryo into becoming another human organ. And if you think about it, it’s not that far from Mary Shelley’s idea of creating a living thing out of dead people’s body parts. In fact, the only thing Shelley got wrong was that instead of using cadavers to build humans, modern Dr Frankenstein is using living and developing human beings as spare parts. That is, unless you believe, that the nine months of pregnancy your mum withstood have nothing to do with the fact you’re here today.

Frankly, I believe that more money should be invested in adult stem cell research or even into the benefit of using the stem cells present in the umbilical chords of babies. On this matter, financial reward is being given for research that takes an easy way out. Some people may be offended if you compare such experimentation with those Nazi experiments on Jews to find out what temperature extremes our human body can survive, so I won't.

Now, a different subject altogether. Remember I had launched my new blog Cosmos Online a few months back. It's been offline for some time. Fortunately, I had the chance to use my free time to update Cosmos Online by identifying labels for each chapter, revamping the site design and making it easier for you to follow Namuh’s story. Moreover, I have changed my blogger icon on both this blog and on Cosmos Online, so when you bookmark them I hope they stand out from the others.

Incidentally, the original book Cosmos was written in part of my life where these ethical issues worried me. In this sense, re-reading what I wrote back in 1999 rekindled my pro-life passion and, simultaneously, my love of writing. While free time is precious now, I am toying with the idea of writing a social novel now – or something along those lines. I also managed to figure out how to turn a power point presentation into a you tube video. In fact, here is my first you tube video – which is a promotion for the updated Cosmos Online blog:

Yes, it’s not exactly a work of art but as my first attempt, I hope it’s bearable to watch at least. Well enough said…

A Time for Valentine?

2009-02-14T10:18:00.005+01:00

It's a cold day without the warmth of love,
On the day lovers walk hand in hand

Dancing to the couple’s song.

The lonely wanderer is not alone,
But he feels that isolation from a place within.

The child may know not what abandonment means,
But it can still haunt his dreams.

Time moves on without caring
About who lives or dies,

Or about who loves or is unloved.
And with time comes death - what then?

Would it matter if you cried,
Cursed the heavens for the desert
You feel inside?

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Will love survive?

Yet, as the solitary traveller
And the outcaste child looks back,
They recall the love that once filled
Their spirit with endless happiness,

And for a moment

The world around them is bliss.

The cold did fade, and the pain recede,
They were no longer discontent but happy.
Happy in their solitude.

For another’s love may touch their being.
And leave that unique gift of joy,
Many have talked and written about.
But this may never happen.

And then, they would not see,
The love they wish so hard for,
Was part of them.
And if that love is cherished,
They will be ready to share it.

If the master of time will permit.

R is for Recession

2009-01-31T11:54:00.003+01:00

Since the conflict in the Gaza strip, the world has continued with its changes. If you follow the news, you cannot help reading about the recession, and its consequent effects on world economies. And of course, the start of Obama’s term in office – but I hope to tackle this topic in the future. As you can tell from the title, the topic is the economy – or more specifically economic recession. I admit that I’ve never been interested in how money works - although I do like spending it once in a while… anyhow, I cannot pretend to write a post that can provide an economic analysis of the now notorious R-word.

However, it is clear from the reports that the R problem has been culminating over many years due to abuse and unscrupulous lending. Now, large banking institutions have become bankrupt, companies have closed and many others are sacking employees at an alarming rate. These are not happy times. At the same time, I cannot help drawing parallels between the R effect and our precarious environmental situation.

While countries around the world seem to pay attention when their economies are falling, the same cannot be said when their attention is drawn to the impact of human activity on the environment. Perhaps they believe, like some disillusioned scientist, that we will soon discover the secret of immortality? Or save the planet in an instant when the inevitable happens?

Nor did the oil crisis seem to open the eyes of world leaders to the fact that we should seek alternative sources of energy. And believe me that is only one small aspect of the problems we might face with our environment. In a few years time, we won’t be worrying about the fact we don’t have oil for our cars or to satisfy our electricity needs. We will be worrying about getting supplies of safe water to drink!

Undoubtedly, we are already faced with serious challenges that, it appears, are being taken for granted. Sea and air pollution… global warming… Are these familiar? Probably. Unfortunately, in the same way we may have become used to hearing about war in the world, we seem to have become apathetic about the gravity of these issues. Ironically, we are then worried about saving the world economy more than we are about preserving our world ecology.

I believe that both require urgent attention at this time. And while we’re talking about global cooperation on many matters, why not wake up to the fact that ecological disasters do not give a toss about national barriers or international borders. There, I got it out of the system!

2009 - Peace between Israel and Palestine?

2008-12-31T19:30:00.004+01:00

At the time of writing, Israel and Palestine are still in a state of war. This is now the fifth day of fighting. The fighting in the Gaza strip is a manifestation of a conflict that started off since the state of Israel was founded in 1948. Unfortunately, no peace agreement has lasted for long in the conflict between the leaders of Israel and Palestine. But what is at the root of this conflict?

Many explanations for this strong enmity that apparently exists between Israel and Palestine can be proposed. It could be due to the fact that the Israel achieved statehood at the expense of resident Palestinians then living in the area who lost claims to their homeland and who were excluded from certain regions by those supporting claims to the idea of a Jewish state (see this link for a complete history). But, in whatever way you account for it, the fact remains that people have died and are still dying right to this day.

I believe that 2009 should not be simply about making resolutions. Can Israel and Palestine resolve their differences and make peace? Possibly. But before that happens, both parties need to commit to a state of peace and in being ready to agree on a just compromise that recognizes the mistakes of the past. Naturally, the fact Hamas remains adamant on using force adds further challenges to finding a solution. On the other hand, it is undeniable that a channel of communication should be opened up between Israel and Palestine if anyone wants the conflict resolved.

Of course, we cannot pretend that the past hasn’t happened. But perhaps it is proper to mend this protracted conflict before more people die. We cannot change the history of Israel and Palestine, but we can change the future we leave the next generations of Israeli and Palestinian children. For, at present, more and more children in these areas are only learning to hate each other further - and even dying for reasons that are beyond them - and beyond us all. Otherwise, a legacy of bloodshed and divisions between brothers, sisters, families will persist.

I wish that peace will be achieved and sustained in the Middle East by 2009. However, before that can happen, real work and sacrifice must occur from both sides and channels of communication are truly opened for possible reconciliation. It’s too easy to say that both parties should bury the hatchet - yet the reality is that war and conflict can only lead to further resentment and destruction. It will take strong will to turn the clock back. Yet, the effort must be made – for the sake of both Israeli and Palestinian people. For the sake of world peace.

Update: Help by signing this AVAAZ petition...

Wishing you all a happy 2009 full of peace and prosperity!

A True Meaning of Christmas

2008-12-24T15:41:00.003+01:00

Today, getting out of bed was quite a struggle with the cold weather and my sore throat which is getting worse. Before Christmas Eve, I wanted to write a few lines on the true meaning of Christmas but as I read over the net for inspiration, I didn't seem to get any.

Honestly, I don't find this season to be that joyous any more. As a child, I might have looked forward to a present or two, but now it's getting hard to ignore that Christmas has lost its significance and it can revive a few painful memories. Like the one time I realized that the charity telethons that aired during this time considered people (or children) like me who had physical impairments as 'less fortunate' people in need of 'charity'. It was a blow to a part of me that still revolts on hearing those words uttered over and over again.

Christmas of 2003 was particularly full of this stuff - especially if you switched on local TV. Even if by then I should have grown in my resilience, such messages of being charitable to disabled people made me feel small and inferior. And it still does drive me nuts.

So I know, to a certain extent, what it feels like to be at the 'receiving end' of these telethons. At least, I know that being talked down in that way does not exactly help build a positive self-image.

Apart from that, I wonder why year after year, people seem to gain a sense of satisfaction with giving money to what they consider 'less fortunate' people without even bothering to ask themselves - why is their a need to collect money? Oftentimes, even the most poor among us are not poor out of irresponsibility or simple misfortune, but due to a society that excludes them (or us) from accessing equal opportunities, better deals in education and generally, leaving society unchanged. And such a status quo also leaves poverty and injustice unchanged.

This is a sad story, but it's true. It doesn't matter if you have all the good intentions in the world. If society or the world fails to give you an opportunity, you're screwed! I don't want to end this post on a negative note. Even if I know that after Christmas and New Year are over, we'll return to reading about war and poverty in the world. Or doing things as we used to do.

On the other hand, a part of me still hopes that there'll be a real change in my life and in that of others. Even a little transformation that helps us realize that we can make a difference not just by using words to pay lip-service to the Christmas spirit but becoming truly involved in creating a better world where everyone - in spite of our differences - truly has a place to shine.