Romanized Transliteration of gaumi salaam
"Gaumee mi ekuverikan matee tibegen kureeme salaam,
Gaumee bahun gina hyo du'aa kuramun kureeme salaam.
Gaumee nishaanang hurmataa eku bo lambai tibegen
Audaa nakan libigen e vaa dida-ak kureeme salaam.
Nasraa nasiibaa kaamyaabu-ge ramzakang himenee
Fessaa rataai hudaa ekii fenumun kuriime salaam."
Translation
"We salute you in this national unity.
We salute you, with many good wishes in the national tongue,
Bowing the head in respect to the national symbol.
We salute the flag that has such might ;
It falls into the sphere of victory, fortune and success
With its green and red and white together, and therefore we salute it."
In public events and in schools the national anthem is sung to show patriotism. Many people believe that patriotism is a virtue. This is what the political world and popular media in many countries portray patriotism to be. For some people patriotism means to fight in defence of one's country, to kill or to die for it. For others just cheering their national football team will do it.
The Soviet Union was short on freedom and democracy, but the one thing it had plenty of was patriotism. President Vladimir Putin wants to boost Russia's patriotism and has made it as one of the priorities. The Russian government has approved a $17m programme that will urge youths to mark military victories, and will fund the re-introduction of military-style games in schools.
After Japan's defeat in the 2ND World War, the country has adopted a pacifist constitution to demonstrate that no-one has anything to fear from a more patriotic Japan. But now, Japan's lower house of parliament has passed a bill encouraging teachers to instill patriotism and respect for tradition in their students. The bill, which will now go to the upper house, would change the country's education law for the first time since it was enacted in 1947. The bill which was strongly backed by former prime minister Abe calls on teachers to instill thinking among students "respecting tradition and culture and loving the nation and homeland."
If one were to define patriotism, it does not merely indicate morals or ethics. Patriotism relates to a sense of belonging for the country that we are born in. It is about a feeling of national pride and love for the nation. Extreme patriotism is one reason for the Japanese military aggression and territorial expansion prior to the 2ND World War. Hence not all patriotism has produced good results.
In times of war, citizens show their patriotism by supporting their troops. Although 70 per cent of the American population is opposed to the war in Iraq now, yet all of them support their troops who are in harm's way.
Recently I asked someone who replied emphatically, "Yes, I love my country." When I pressed further to explain, a more cautious reply came, "Well, I love the islands, they are beautiful but I don't like the system in Maldives." My guess is that many of us would ruefully agree to this statement given that we are on a self-destructive path and our loyalty and love have become concepts applicable only to our personal self.
In the first line of our anthem, we salute our unity. Where does this unity exist in Maldives for us to be able to do that? We do everything that is counter productive to the concept of unity. We have lost our unity of purpose for common good completely. If we believe scientific predictions, even the natural forces are stacked against us. The rising sea level may sink our islands into the sea before we are able to extricate ourselves from the dark hole that we still continue digging deeper.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Gandhi's triumph of non-violence changed the world
Mahathma Gandhi was the pioneer of a civil disobedience movement that brought the British empire down to its knees and gained independence for India.
This was a defining moment in the history of the 20th century that inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
Gandhi is the man Albert Einstein, the famous scientist is quoted to have said, "Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this, ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."
This was a defining moment in the history of the 20th century that inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
Gandhi is the man Albert Einstein, the famous scientist is quoted to have said, "Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this, ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
What kind of capitalism for us!
After the collapse of communism in Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, when it comes to the prosperity and growth of an economy, the choice is no longer between socialism (or communism) and capitalism. Rather, the choice is between forms of control of the economy that are all arguably capitalistic, in the sense that the bulk of the means of production are in private hands.
Yet across the globe, we see a remarkable variety in capitalist systems – and in performance. There are capitalist societies whose record of innovation and growth is remarkable. The United States is a prime example, as are many of the most industrialized countries of Europe and several other economies that are moving toward the forefront. And there are several apparently capitalist nations, including several in South America, in which growth has been slow – and, in some instances has managed to decline – despite the outpouring of productivity-enhancing innovations in the world economy.
According to a Financial Times article, Europeans have little faith that their continent can compete economically with fast-growing Asian countries – but are even more convinced that it should not become more like the US.
The wary attitude of Europeans towards US-style capitalism and the gloom of many about economic prospects are revealed in an FT/Harris poll.
Asked whether the European economy could compete effectively against rising economies in Asia, such as China and India, almost two-thirds of French respondents said No.
The figures for Italy, at 56 per cent, Germany, at 45 per cent, and the UK, at 41 per cent, were lower, but still higher than the percentage saying Europe could compete with such Asian countries. The difference was accounted for by those who were not sure.
When asked whether Europe’s economy should be more like that of the US, the results were clear-cut. Those saying it should not, included 78 per cent of Germans, 73 per cent of the French, 58 per cent of the Spanish. In both Italy and the UK, 46 per cent opposed the US model.
Among those polled in the US, 30 per cent thought Europe should be more like the US.
So clearly, the European Union countries are struggling to define what is the best free-market, capitalist economic system for them.
Europeans are concerned that multinational corporations are seen as more powerful than governments, and those polled generally believed that regulations protecting workers’ rights should be strengthened rather than relaxed.
How do we feel about the capitalism that we are following in Maldives. Do we need to liberalise our economy further, do we need to strengthen workers rights, do we need more competition avoiding the forming of monopolies or what else do we need to do to create a just and progressive society?
How do we address the imbalances in our economy such as income levels and widening gap between the rich and the poor? These imbalances can be addressed when the people and the government work to improve the well being of every individual.
The Japanese language has a term 'Kyosei' which means ‘to live and work together for the common good.’
What kyosei means to us in business: it reminds us of our responsibility to create a new vision of work that fosters the long-term sustainability of people, profits, and the planet.
The interests of employees, customers, owners, and stakeholders are all honoured equally, that is how kyosei is meant to work. We need to find our own kyosei to share our prosperity in a more equitable and just manner.
Yet across the globe, we see a remarkable variety in capitalist systems – and in performance. There are capitalist societies whose record of innovation and growth is remarkable. The United States is a prime example, as are many of the most industrialized countries of Europe and several other economies that are moving toward the forefront. And there are several apparently capitalist nations, including several in South America, in which growth has been slow – and, in some instances has managed to decline – despite the outpouring of productivity-enhancing innovations in the world economy.
According to a Financial Times article, Europeans have little faith that their continent can compete economically with fast-growing Asian countries – but are even more convinced that it should not become more like the US.
The wary attitude of Europeans towards US-style capitalism and the gloom of many about economic prospects are revealed in an FT/Harris poll.
Asked whether the European economy could compete effectively against rising economies in Asia, such as China and India, almost two-thirds of French respondents said No.
The figures for Italy, at 56 per cent, Germany, at 45 per cent, and the UK, at 41 per cent, were lower, but still higher than the percentage saying Europe could compete with such Asian countries. The difference was accounted for by those who were not sure.
When asked whether Europe’s economy should be more like that of the US, the results were clear-cut. Those saying it should not, included 78 per cent of Germans, 73 per cent of the French, 58 per cent of the Spanish. In both Italy and the UK, 46 per cent opposed the US model.
Among those polled in the US, 30 per cent thought Europe should be more like the US.
So clearly, the European Union countries are struggling to define what is the best free-market, capitalist economic system for them.
Europeans are concerned that multinational corporations are seen as more powerful than governments, and those polled generally believed that regulations protecting workers’ rights should be strengthened rather than relaxed.
How do we feel about the capitalism that we are following in Maldives. Do we need to liberalise our economy further, do we need to strengthen workers rights, do we need more competition avoiding the forming of monopolies or what else do we need to do to create a just and progressive society?
How do we address the imbalances in our economy such as income levels and widening gap between the rich and the poor? These imbalances can be addressed when the people and the government work to improve the well being of every individual.
The Japanese language has a term 'Kyosei' which means ‘to live and work together for the common good.’
What kyosei means to us in business: it reminds us of our responsibility to create a new vision of work that fosters the long-term sustainability of people, profits, and the planet.
The interests of employees, customers, owners, and stakeholders are all honoured equally, that is how kyosei is meant to work. We need to find our own kyosei to share our prosperity in a more equitable and just manner.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Is Pyrard's opinion true for Maldivians?
Writing about the state of affairs in our country on his blog , Simon writes that we lack ambition and foresight. We lack the power of forward thinking. This is the case today and this was the case 400 years ago when Pyrard wrote in his journal:
“In my opinion, it is the easy means of living which renders [Maldivians] indolent and negligent, and this prevents them getting rich; for most of them care only for the wherewithal to live, without ambition, desire, or trouble for aught beside.”
Here are my comments that I posted on his blog:
"Pyrard's observation of Maldivians being indolent and negligent in 1602 when he was held captive in Male', does not add up for me.
That was probably the worst period in our feudal history, when our rulers- the sultans were involved in brutal and messy successions. We were also captured and occupied by the Portuguese. Our people were helpless then as they appear to be now, although there is more outrage expressed now.
If Pyrard had said our rulers were greedy and self-serving and failed to empower our people and improve their lives, that I can accept.
I agree with the problems in our country that you have outlined here and the contradictions imposed on our society. As you said we can sell and serve alcohol to foreigners but we can't have a casino. Both alcohol and gambling are prohibited for Muslims. We have allowed alcohol but cannot allow gambling to foreigners citing religion. These kinds of contradictions are all around us.
As noted by Dr.freex here, it is futile to compare Maldives to Singapore or Malaysia. Few can match our hypocrisies, double standards and injustice when we are a 100 per cent Muslim country.
It is true that our present situation is pathetic, but I don't believe it is because we are born lazy. Take the special majlis amending a constitution that took seventeen years to make. Three years and millions of rupees have spent but still the job is not done. Half the time meetings are cancelled becoz our handsomely paid members don't show up and there is no quorum for the meeting. Does this happen becoz the people are lazy?"
Let us cast our thinking back by two generations, say to the 1950s. This was the period when Maldives did not have mechanized dhoanis and mechanized boats to transport goods and ferry people from island to island. The islanders used sailboats or dhoanis with sail that used wind power to carry their dried fish to Male' where Male' merchants will buy and store them while awaiting shipment to Ceylon by the government. The islanders would buy their provisions and other items from Male' shops and sail back to their island.
For the islanders, it involved hard work. The fishermen set out at dawn in search of bait fish, which were caught and kept alive in a specially prepared compartment of the dhoani and they sailed out to the sea and returned in the evening with the day's catch. Fish would be distributed and the women played an important role in cooking the fish during the night and drying them in the sun for several days.
Maldives did not have tourism those days. For the merchants in Male', life was better than those of the islands, in this centrally controlled economy.
The traditional dhoani built out coconut timber is the most common means of travel in the Maldives. The islanders built their own transport infrastructure, i.e, their own craftsman built their travelling dhoanis by their own design and skills passed on from generation to generation. Today imported timber is used widely in dhoani building. Over the centuries the basic design of dhoani remained unchanged.
Battheli is a type of large multi-sailed ocean going vessel used in the Maldives. It is used for inter atoll transport, as well as overseas travel and trade.
Odi is the local name for large, sea and ocean going sail vessels, used for inter atoll and overseas trade and travel.
For the most part, life on the islands was one of subsistence. The merchants in Male' were more into making money and they had an advantage over the islanders since Male' was the Capital as well as the commercial hub. Even most of the uninhabited islands in the outer atolls were leased to landlords sitting in Male' who in turn subleased them to the islanders for a higher rental.
My feeling is that this is the type of lifestyle that Pyrard referrd to as "the easy means of living which renders [Maldivians] indolent and negligent, and this prevents them getting rich, for most of them care only for the wherewithal to live, without ambition, desire, or trouble for aught beside.”
I couldn't disagree more. Maldivians were hard working people who provided for their families and wanted to give a good life to their children. They did the best they could.
In 1974, the first mechanized dhoani was launched, under a government sponsored project, revolutionizing not only the local boat building industry, but all aspects of the country’s sea transport system.
This was a major transformation and a turning point for the Maldivian economy, its inter island transport system and perhaps its way of life as well.
By this time a Japanese company under a deal negotiated by the government kept three freezer and six collector vessels to buy fresh fish from the fisherman. The fisherman could sell their catch and get paid on the spot.
The first fish canning plant was established on the island of Felivaru, as a joint venture with a Japanese firm, in 1977.
Tourism was introduced to the Maldives in the early 1970s. There were many people who began to see life working on the tourist resorts or serving the resorts as a better opportunity than toiling in the hot sun fishing. As tourism expanded and became the lead industry, fishing gradually took a back seat in the national development of the country.
The tourist dollars and various grants and loans from international lending agencies started flowing in from this time onwards up to now. We have several Maldivian graduates returning from overseas universities and our businessmen are now more preoccupied with making money.
In the past, everyone had to be productive and did something that contributed to the good of society. Today, the very people who endured hardship growing up are overindulging in providing for their children. Some of these pampered children are able to live off their parents wealth even as adults. An increasing number of younger persons are struggling on drug addiction. There are others are trapped in poverty as the country advances, because of the inequitable distribution of wealth.
What is happening during this Ramadan is a good reflection of our current society. We have foreign Imams preaching, we have political parties Imams preaching, in fact we have more preaching than at any other time in our history. Yet we find that every Ramadan breaks the previous Ramadan record for criminal behaviour and robbery. This cannot happen from a people who are just laid back and lazy.
“In my opinion, it is the easy means of living which renders [Maldivians] indolent and negligent, and this prevents them getting rich; for most of them care only for the wherewithal to live, without ambition, desire, or trouble for aught beside.”
Here are my comments that I posted on his blog:
"Pyrard's observation of Maldivians being indolent and negligent in 1602 when he was held captive in Male', does not add up for me.
That was probably the worst period in our feudal history, when our rulers- the sultans were involved in brutal and messy successions. We were also captured and occupied by the Portuguese. Our people were helpless then as they appear to be now, although there is more outrage expressed now.
If Pyrard had said our rulers were greedy and self-serving and failed to empower our people and improve their lives, that I can accept.
I agree with the problems in our country that you have outlined here and the contradictions imposed on our society. As you said we can sell and serve alcohol to foreigners but we can't have a casino. Both alcohol and gambling are prohibited for Muslims. We have allowed alcohol but cannot allow gambling to foreigners citing religion. These kinds of contradictions are all around us.
As noted by Dr.freex here, it is futile to compare Maldives to Singapore or Malaysia. Few can match our hypocrisies, double standards and injustice when we are a 100 per cent Muslim country.
It is true that our present situation is pathetic, but I don't believe it is because we are born lazy. Take the special majlis amending a constitution that took seventeen years to make. Three years and millions of rupees have spent but still the job is not done. Half the time meetings are cancelled becoz our handsomely paid members don't show up and there is no quorum for the meeting. Does this happen becoz the people are lazy?"
Let us cast our thinking back by two generations, say to the 1950s. This was the period when Maldives did not have mechanized dhoanis and mechanized boats to transport goods and ferry people from island to island. The islanders used sailboats or dhoanis with sail that used wind power to carry their dried fish to Male' where Male' merchants will buy and store them while awaiting shipment to Ceylon by the government. The islanders would buy their provisions and other items from Male' shops and sail back to their island.
For the islanders, it involved hard work. The fishermen set out at dawn in search of bait fish, which were caught and kept alive in a specially prepared compartment of the dhoani and they sailed out to the sea and returned in the evening with the day's catch. Fish would be distributed and the women played an important role in cooking the fish during the night and drying them in the sun for several days.
Maldives did not have tourism those days. For the merchants in Male', life was better than those of the islands, in this centrally controlled economy.
The traditional dhoani built out coconut timber is the most common means of travel in the Maldives. The islanders built their own transport infrastructure, i.e, their own craftsman built their travelling dhoanis by their own design and skills passed on from generation to generation. Today imported timber is used widely in dhoani building. Over the centuries the basic design of dhoani remained unchanged.
Battheli is a type of large multi-sailed ocean going vessel used in the Maldives. It is used for inter atoll transport, as well as overseas travel and trade.
Odi is the local name for large, sea and ocean going sail vessels, used for inter atoll and overseas trade and travel.
For the most part, life on the islands was one of subsistence. The merchants in Male' were more into making money and they had an advantage over the islanders since Male' was the Capital as well as the commercial hub. Even most of the uninhabited islands in the outer atolls were leased to landlords sitting in Male' who in turn subleased them to the islanders for a higher rental.
My feeling is that this is the type of lifestyle that Pyrard referrd to as "the easy means of living which renders [Maldivians] indolent and negligent, and this prevents them getting rich, for most of them care only for the wherewithal to live, without ambition, desire, or trouble for aught beside.”
I couldn't disagree more. Maldivians were hard working people who provided for their families and wanted to give a good life to their children. They did the best they could.
In 1974, the first mechanized dhoani was launched, under a government sponsored project, revolutionizing not only the local boat building industry, but all aspects of the country’s sea transport system.
This was a major transformation and a turning point for the Maldivian economy, its inter island transport system and perhaps its way of life as well.
By this time a Japanese company under a deal negotiated by the government kept three freezer and six collector vessels to buy fresh fish from the fisherman. The fisherman could sell their catch and get paid on the spot.
The first fish canning plant was established on the island of Felivaru, as a joint venture with a Japanese firm, in 1977.
Tourism was introduced to the Maldives in the early 1970s. There were many people who began to see life working on the tourist resorts or serving the resorts as a better opportunity than toiling in the hot sun fishing. As tourism expanded and became the lead industry, fishing gradually took a back seat in the national development of the country.
The tourist dollars and various grants and loans from international lending agencies started flowing in from this time onwards up to now. We have several Maldivian graduates returning from overseas universities and our businessmen are now more preoccupied with making money.
In the past, everyone had to be productive and did something that contributed to the good of society. Today, the very people who endured hardship growing up are overindulging in providing for their children. Some of these pampered children are able to live off their parents wealth even as adults. An increasing number of younger persons are struggling on drug addiction. There are others are trapped in poverty as the country advances, because of the inequitable distribution of wealth.
What is happening during this Ramadan is a good reflection of our current society. We have foreign Imams preaching, we have political parties Imams preaching, in fact we have more preaching than at any other time in our history. Yet we find that every Ramadan breaks the previous Ramadan record for criminal behaviour and robbery. This cannot happen from a people who are just laid back and lazy.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Black O-pium energy drink gets ousted
I wonder whether anybody got drunk on the black o-pium energy drink for it to be banned in Maldives.
This is a Thai energy drink with mushroom extract in it.
It is a lightly carbonated energy drink that uses the same formula (with the exception of carbonated water) as its non-carbonated counterpart.
As reported on Haveeru, the NCB said in a statement that although there were no traces of any narcotic drugs in the drink, the NCB believed that the name of the brand and the phrases used in promotions and advertisement for the product encouraged people to abuse its namesake drug.
Maldives may have insulted the Black O-pium energy drink, but when the action comes from a country that is desperately trying to control an out-of-control drug crisis, we just have to treat it as a lesser evil.
So we bid adios to the funky looking drink , not for its fault but because we as a people failed to stop an onslaught of drugs by greedy traffickers who have addicted an alarming number of our younger generation. Any product that carries an unsettling name may find similar trouble, since our society is at the edge of an abyss.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Politicians battle over Lord Ram's existence
Here is the kind of incident that can lead to an explosive situation when politics is mixed with religion and religion is used as the punching bag to achieve political and economic objectives.
DMK Chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday said there was no historic proof of Lord Ram's existence.
There was also no proof of Lord Ram having constructed a bridge and being an expert in engineering, he told a TV channel.
The Opposition BJP leader Mr. L.K. Advani addressing a press conference said he respected Mr. Karunanidhi’s right to be an atheist. But he should know that he had no right to show disrespect to Hinduism. Every citizen had a constitutional duty not to hurt the religious sentiments of any community. Being the Chief Minister of a State, Mr. Karunanidhi’s constitutional duty was even higher.
The central issue here is the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project which proposes linking the Palk Bay (sea between South India and Sri Lanka) and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal through the shallow sea sometimes called Setu Samudram, and through the island chain of Rama's Bridge, also known as Adam's Bridge.
Due to shallow waters, Sethusamudram presents a formidable hindrance to navigation through the Palk strait. Though trade across the India-Sri Lanka divide has been active since at least the first millennium BCE, it has been limited to small boats and dinghies.
The Tamil Nadu government wants to carry out the dredging proposed in the Sethusamudram project to allow naviagation for larger ships which will bring tremendous economic benefit but a large Hindu majority object to it on religious grounds and the project has been put on hold.
According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, the islands were built by an army of monkeys to allow Ram to cross the Palk Strait that separates India and Sri Lanka and rescue his kidnapped wife.
A campaign by Hindus against the creation of a sea lane they say would destroy a sacred site rocked the Indian cabinet yesterday as ministers clashed over the now-suspended project.
In a report submitted to the Supreme Court, which is examining the project, the Culture Ministry said there was no proof the events described in the Ramayana ever took place or that the characters in the epic existed.
Meanwhile, Hindu nationalists in the northern state of Punjab burnt effigies of Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born leader of the ruling Congress party.
"How would a Christian know about the Hindu religion?" cried protesters led by former Test player Navjyot Singh Siddhu, a Hindu nationalist MP.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has put on hold the half-billion-dollar plan to dredge sandy shoals in a strip of sea between India and Sri Lanka after Hindus objected, saying the formation was created by the God Ram.
This situation clearly demonstrates that although Indians do have freedom of speech, being a multi cultural and multi religious society, they must respect each other's faith and feelings. Unless cooler heads prevail incidents like this where passions run high, can very easily lead to deadly consequences.
Karunanidhi still maintains his stand. "You tell me whether Rama lived. I had only stated that there was no person in the name of Lord Ram. What is wrong in that?" he asked.
DMK Chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday said there was no historic proof of Lord Ram's existence.
There was also no proof of Lord Ram having constructed a bridge and being an expert in engineering, he told a TV channel.
The Opposition BJP leader Mr. L.K. Advani addressing a press conference said he respected Mr. Karunanidhi’s right to be an atheist. But he should know that he had no right to show disrespect to Hinduism. Every citizen had a constitutional duty not to hurt the religious sentiments of any community. Being the Chief Minister of a State, Mr. Karunanidhi’s constitutional duty was even higher.
The central issue here is the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project which proposes linking the Palk Bay (sea between South India and Sri Lanka) and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal through the shallow sea sometimes called Setu Samudram, and through the island chain of Rama's Bridge, also known as Adam's Bridge.
Due to shallow waters, Sethusamudram presents a formidable hindrance to navigation through the Palk strait. Though trade across the India-Sri Lanka divide has been active since at least the first millennium BCE, it has been limited to small boats and dinghies.
The Tamil Nadu government wants to carry out the dredging proposed in the Sethusamudram project to allow naviagation for larger ships which will bring tremendous economic benefit but a large Hindu majority object to it on religious grounds and the project has been put on hold.
According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, the islands were built by an army of monkeys to allow Ram to cross the Palk Strait that separates India and Sri Lanka and rescue his kidnapped wife.
A campaign by Hindus against the creation of a sea lane they say would destroy a sacred site rocked the Indian cabinet yesterday as ministers clashed over the now-suspended project.
In a report submitted to the Supreme Court, which is examining the project, the Culture Ministry said there was no proof the events described in the Ramayana ever took place or that the characters in the epic existed.
Meanwhile, Hindu nationalists in the northern state of Punjab burnt effigies of Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born leader of the ruling Congress party.
"How would a Christian know about the Hindu religion?" cried protesters led by former Test player Navjyot Singh Siddhu, a Hindu nationalist MP.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has put on hold the half-billion-dollar plan to dredge sandy shoals in a strip of sea between India and Sri Lanka after Hindus objected, saying the formation was created by the God Ram.
This situation clearly demonstrates that although Indians do have freedom of speech, being a multi cultural and multi religious society, they must respect each other's faith and feelings. Unless cooler heads prevail incidents like this where passions run high, can very easily lead to deadly consequences.
Karunanidhi still maintains his stand. "You tell me whether Rama lived. I had only stated that there was no person in the name of Lord Ram. What is wrong in that?" he asked.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Abusive language and name calling
When you hear a person hurling abusive language at another, it is generally a cry for attention by someone who feels in some way inadequate. Sometimes such outbursts are followed with over-the-top aggression. These actions reflect how desperate a person is. Nobody wins in needless negativity and name calling.
Recently there was an incident inside the Parliament in Maldives where one Member of Parliament is alleged to have abused another Member of Parliament and the case is now being fought in the court for defamation of character.
Politicians debate and make laws in the parliament which is an important pillar in a democracy. Politicians also seek to influence us to endorse their policies or turn out to vote for them in elections. The language they use has meaning and affects people who hear them.
The denigration and degeneration of our society in Maldives is at an all time high and we have to take action to reverse this trend.
We are a nation of people who do have values. Freedom of speech doesn't mean we use abusive language and name calling without consequences.
While most of us would fall short of the standards expected from us from time to time, those of us like politicians who are in the public eye and are seen as role models must try to live up to our standing in society.
Insulting an opponent is not going to achieve a victory, rather it appears to be an admission of defeat from the moment it begins.
Our children are not growing up in a perfect world. When we make a mistake, when our politicians make a mistake, we and they need to accept responsibility and offer an apology. Once we start doing that as a nation we can begin to clean our act. That will be a good beginning for our children who can see the adults respecting each other.
We can stop our elected officials from using abusive language and the next time they come around campaigning for election, we have to warn them that we are watching them and will not tolerate any name calling in public.
There are abusive Narcissists in all societies, they have to face their own internal demons and change their behaviour through counselling and treatment. Abusive behavior can also result from mental health issues or disorders like uncontrollable rage, drinking, drugs or impaired brain functioning. Such people will need medical treatment to deal with their problems.
Recently there was an incident inside the Parliament in Maldives where one Member of Parliament is alleged to have abused another Member of Parliament and the case is now being fought in the court for defamation of character.
Politicians debate and make laws in the parliament which is an important pillar in a democracy. Politicians also seek to influence us to endorse their policies or turn out to vote for them in elections. The language they use has meaning and affects people who hear them.
The denigration and degeneration of our society in Maldives is at an all time high and we have to take action to reverse this trend.
We are a nation of people who do have values. Freedom of speech doesn't mean we use abusive language and name calling without consequences.
While most of us would fall short of the standards expected from us from time to time, those of us like politicians who are in the public eye and are seen as role models must try to live up to our standing in society.
Insulting an opponent is not going to achieve a victory, rather it appears to be an admission of defeat from the moment it begins.
Our children are not growing up in a perfect world. When we make a mistake, when our politicians make a mistake, we and they need to accept responsibility and offer an apology. Once we start doing that as a nation we can begin to clean our act. That will be a good beginning for our children who can see the adults respecting each other.
We can stop our elected officials from using abusive language and the next time they come around campaigning for election, we have to warn them that we are watching them and will not tolerate any name calling in public.
There are abusive Narcissists in all societies, they have to face their own internal demons and change their behaviour through counselling and treatment. Abusive behavior can also result from mental health issues or disorders like uncontrollable rage, drinking, drugs or impaired brain functioning. Such people will need medical treatment to deal with their problems.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Will a recession hit our shores?
More and more economists are predicting about the severity of the bad US housing loans and its impact on the global markets.
Commerce International Merchant Bankers (CIMB Malaysia) chief economist Lee Heng Guie told StarBiz that it could result in an implosion in funds and banks that are holding these bad loans,” Lee said, citing US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's estimate of a total loss of US$100bil due to subprime loans.
Delinquency rates for subprime loans were high at 13.8% in the first quarter this year, he said.
An article in Economist.com, titled 'Heading for the rocks' gives three scenarios.
• Scenario 1. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s central forecast, to which we attach a probability of 60%, sees the impact being contained by timely monetary policy action, with only a modest effect on the global economy.
• Scenario 2. Our main risk scenario, with a 30% probability, envisages the US falling into recession, with substantial fallout.
• Scenario 3. Should the US enter recession, another, darker scenario arises: that corrective action fails, and severe economic repercussions cascade from the US into the world economy with devastating effect. We attach only a 10% probability to this outcome, but the potential impact is so severe that it warrants careful consideration.
Scenario 1 is a normal capitalistic phenomenon that sees periodic corrections in the financial markets. The other two scenarios pose more serious questions and wide ranging global impact on financial markets. In any case a recession would see people losing jobs in the US and elsewhere in the world.
Consumers will have less spending power and the leisure and travel industry will take a hit. This is where Maldives will get effected.
One wonders whether Maldives which is heavily dependent on foreign tourism, is able to see the dark clouds on the global economic horizon. What kind of an impact will the Maldives experience if there is world wide recession in the near future?
This question is pertinent because our political parties are busy raising the tempo of discontent and divisiveness after the recent referendum for governance and everyone has someone to blame. It seems, the more action we take to solve our problems, with a strange multiplier effect the number of problems increase.
Just when you think that we have hit the bottom and things could not get any worse, the next incident makes you sway your head in disbelief. Our problems have become so enormous that we have reverted to the law of the jungle.
In an article on Haveeru Online yesterday about increased theft during Ramadan, there was a photo of a person who was involved in a theft last year, being paraded half naked on the road after shaving his head. A group of people around him were ridiculing and some laughing at him.
The man has committed a crime and should be punished according to the law. To take joy in a man's misery in that manner is unbecoming of civilized human behaviour. It is reminiscent of the dark age. I have never imagined of such a sight in Maldives, the 100 per cent Muslim country that earns its living as the peaceful idyllic sunny paradise.
Commerce International Merchant Bankers (CIMB Malaysia) chief economist Lee Heng Guie told StarBiz that it could result in an implosion in funds and banks that are holding these bad loans,” Lee said, citing US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's estimate of a total loss of US$100bil due to subprime loans.
Delinquency rates for subprime loans were high at 13.8% in the first quarter this year, he said.
An article in Economist.com, titled 'Heading for the rocks' gives three scenarios.
• Scenario 1. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s central forecast, to which we attach a probability of 60%, sees the impact being contained by timely monetary policy action, with only a modest effect on the global economy.
• Scenario 2. Our main risk scenario, with a 30% probability, envisages the US falling into recession, with substantial fallout.
• Scenario 3. Should the US enter recession, another, darker scenario arises: that corrective action fails, and severe economic repercussions cascade from the US into the world economy with devastating effect. We attach only a 10% probability to this outcome, but the potential impact is so severe that it warrants careful consideration.
Scenario 1 is a normal capitalistic phenomenon that sees periodic corrections in the financial markets. The other two scenarios pose more serious questions and wide ranging global impact on financial markets. In any case a recession would see people losing jobs in the US and elsewhere in the world.
Consumers will have less spending power and the leisure and travel industry will take a hit. This is where Maldives will get effected.
One wonders whether Maldives which is heavily dependent on foreign tourism, is able to see the dark clouds on the global economic horizon. What kind of an impact will the Maldives experience if there is world wide recession in the near future?
This question is pertinent because our political parties are busy raising the tempo of discontent and divisiveness after the recent referendum for governance and everyone has someone to blame. It seems, the more action we take to solve our problems, with a strange multiplier effect the number of problems increase.
Just when you think that we have hit the bottom and things could not get any worse, the next incident makes you sway your head in disbelief. Our problems have become so enormous that we have reverted to the law of the jungle.
In an article on Haveeru Online yesterday about increased theft during Ramadan, there was a photo of a person who was involved in a theft last year, being paraded half naked on the road after shaving his head. A group of people around him were ridiculing and some laughing at him.
The man has committed a crime and should be punished according to the law. To take joy in a man's misery in that manner is unbecoming of civilized human behaviour. It is reminiscent of the dark age. I have never imagined of such a sight in Maldives, the 100 per cent Muslim country that earns its living as the peaceful idyllic sunny paradise.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Enforcing Death Penalty
Islamic Democratic Party leader Umar Naseer has said that if he is elected president in the next election in 2008 he would impose capital punishment for drug offenders. He said that all locals and foreigners who are caught with proven evidence of using drugs would receive the death penalty.
Speaking to a reporter of Miadhu, he said that within a month of his election as president, social harmony will be reinstated.
These are lofty objectives even if it comes on campaign trail.
Social harmony is an important goal for a stable and better life for every citizen in society. It is the government's responsibility to create the conditions conducive for development of social harmony.
Social harmony does not come about when rulers of a country are focused to divide and rule, an outdated tactic still being used in some countries.
The death penalty is about ending a person's life and since it removes any chance of rehabilitation, careful consideration must given before carrying it out.
Singapore is one country that carries out death sentences where the appeal has been turned down, so its population knows precisely what will happen to them if they are convicted of murder or drug trafficking.
In most countries that practice capital punishment today, the death penalty is reserved as punishment for premeditated murder, espionage, treason, or as part of military justice. In some countries, sexual crimes, such as adultery and sodomy, carry the death penalty, as do religious crimes such as apostasy, the formal renunciation of one's religion.
In many countries that use the death penalty, drug trafficking is also a capital offense. In China human trafficking and serious cases of corruption are also punished by the death penalty.
Speaking to a reporter of Miadhu, he said that within a month of his election as president, social harmony will be reinstated.
These are lofty objectives even if it comes on campaign trail.
Social harmony is an important goal for a stable and better life for every citizen in society. It is the government's responsibility to create the conditions conducive for development of social harmony.
Social harmony does not come about when rulers of a country are focused to divide and rule, an outdated tactic still being used in some countries.
The death penalty is about ending a person's life and since it removes any chance of rehabilitation, careful consideration must given before carrying it out.
Singapore is one country that carries out death sentences where the appeal has been turned down, so its population knows precisely what will happen to them if they are convicted of murder or drug trafficking.
In most countries that practice capital punishment today, the death penalty is reserved as punishment for premeditated murder, espionage, treason, or as part of military justice. In some countries, sexual crimes, such as adultery and sodomy, carry the death penalty, as do religious crimes such as apostasy, the formal renunciation of one's religion.
In many countries that use the death penalty, drug trafficking is also a capital offense. In China human trafficking and serious cases of corruption are also punished by the death penalty.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Drug addict finds happiness reading a book
An anonymous drug addict writes the following.
"It is difficult for me to recount the experience that led to such chaos and upheaval in my life, but I think I should give testimony to the miraculous influence Edward's work has had on my life.
I would like to say that without the support of my mentor and his instructions to read Edward's book "The Happiness Purpose" and to carry out the practises on pages 238-239, I doubt if I would have been here today to write this testimony.
I am most grateful to Edward de Bono for the simple wisdom in his work. It saved my sanity and most likely it saved my life."
On the two pages of the book the anonymous writer referred to, De Bono outlines a suitable setting for thinking practice.
The specific areas where training can make a difference are:
1) Being positive.
De Bono says people who have a naturally negative or pessimistic nature may have to make deliberate efforts to develop positive attitude.
2) The shrug
Avoid being bullied by circumstances or even slaved by one's over-reactions. Assessing whether something is really important or threatening before reacting. It is a matter practicing the cutting off of reactions by a mental 'shrug.'
3) Awareness Activity
This includes practice in sensitivity and awareness. It means practice in being able to look at the moment and enjoy it instead of just looking through the moment to what comes next. Be in the moment and enjoy it.
4) Decision and Problem Solving
This is one area people need practice to develop strategies and habits of mind. Quite often it is a matter of getting used to looking at priorities or on concentrating on what one is prepared to give up. Practice can include making a number of small decisions confidently and tackling small problems.
5) Thinking
This area needs lot of practice. Practice should be an intellectual experience. Utilizing a variety of approaches within thinking and problem solving allows the issue to be addressed from a variety of angles, thus servicing the needs of all individuals concerned.
The thinking hats are useful for learners as they illustrate the need for individuals to address problems from a variety of different angles. They also aid learners as they allow the individual to recognize any deficiencies in the way that they approach problem solving, thus allowing them to rectify such issues.
Read more about thinking hats here.
Edward De Bono, the author of the concept of lateral thinking puts forward a plan for living happily with oneself and with the rest of the world. Its 'The happiness Purpose.'
"It is difficult for me to recount the experience that led to such chaos and upheaval in my life, but I think I should give testimony to the miraculous influence Edward's work has had on my life.
I would like to say that without the support of my mentor and his instructions to read Edward's book "The Happiness Purpose" and to carry out the practises on pages 238-239, I doubt if I would have been here today to write this testimony.
I am most grateful to Edward de Bono for the simple wisdom in his work. It saved my sanity and most likely it saved my life."
On the two pages of the book the anonymous writer referred to, De Bono outlines a suitable setting for thinking practice.
The specific areas where training can make a difference are:
1) Being positive.
De Bono says people who have a naturally negative or pessimistic nature may have to make deliberate efforts to develop positive attitude.
2) The shrug
Avoid being bullied by circumstances or even slaved by one's over-reactions. Assessing whether something is really important or threatening before reacting. It is a matter practicing the cutting off of reactions by a mental 'shrug.'
3) Awareness Activity
This includes practice in sensitivity and awareness. It means practice in being able to look at the moment and enjoy it instead of just looking through the moment to what comes next. Be in the moment and enjoy it.
4) Decision and Problem Solving
This is one area people need practice to develop strategies and habits of mind. Quite often it is a matter of getting used to looking at priorities or on concentrating on what one is prepared to give up. Practice can include making a number of small decisions confidently and tackling small problems.
5) Thinking
This area needs lot of practice. Practice should be an intellectual experience. Utilizing a variety of approaches within thinking and problem solving allows the issue to be addressed from a variety of angles, thus servicing the needs of all individuals concerned.
The thinking hats are useful for learners as they illustrate the need for individuals to address problems from a variety of different angles. They also aid learners as they allow the individual to recognize any deficiencies in the way that they approach problem solving, thus allowing them to rectify such issues.
Read more about thinking hats here.
Edward De Bono, the author of the concept of lateral thinking puts forward a plan for living happily with oneself and with the rest of the world. Its 'The happiness Purpose.'
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Gender equality for Civil Service Commission?
In a recent interview with Haveeru Online, the Commissioner of Human Rights has expressed concern that members who are appointed to the 5-member Civil Service Commission are all men. Two female candidates proposed by the government were not confirmed by the parliament.
I am unable to understand if the Human Rights Commissioner is asking for a quota-based approach to have some number of women representing women on the Civil Service Commission(CSC).
I am under the impression that the Human Rights Commissioner is referring to the job market, discrimination in employment and differences in compensation.
Isn't there gender equality in Maldives, meaning men and women having the same rights and obligations, and everyone having the same opportunities in society?
I can understand there being some ingrained prejudice just like many other countries. But does that deprive women from fulfilling their full potential in terms of reaching higher ranks of public sector service? Is there discrimination in employment and compensation in Maldives because they are women?
Why aren't there more women contesting or being nominated on the basis of merit for posts of the commission when we have the talent?
The Civil Service must be managed by the best people and putting forward the best man or woman on the basis of merit to go through the process of nomination could solve this problem. If members are selected on this basis and not on the basis of throwing a dice, the civil service which is an important pillar will be served by the best people.
The Human Rights Commissioner has to make himself more clear. If there is injustice against women and only women can solve their problems, if that is what is alluded to, then we will find our society getting compartmentalised along those lines.
I am unable to understand if the Human Rights Commissioner is asking for a quota-based approach to have some number of women representing women on the Civil Service Commission(CSC).
I am under the impression that the Human Rights Commissioner is referring to the job market, discrimination in employment and differences in compensation.
Isn't there gender equality in Maldives, meaning men and women having the same rights and obligations, and everyone having the same opportunities in society?
I can understand there being some ingrained prejudice just like many other countries. But does that deprive women from fulfilling their full potential in terms of reaching higher ranks of public sector service? Is there discrimination in employment and compensation in Maldives because they are women?
Why aren't there more women contesting or being nominated on the basis of merit for posts of the commission when we have the talent?
The Civil Service must be managed by the best people and putting forward the best man or woman on the basis of merit to go through the process of nomination could solve this problem. If members are selected on this basis and not on the basis of throwing a dice, the civil service which is an important pillar will be served by the best people.
The Human Rights Commissioner has to make himself more clear. If there is injustice against women and only women can solve their problems, if that is what is alluded to, then we will find our society getting compartmentalised along those lines.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Ramadan is also our month of price gouging
With the coming of the holy month of Ramadan, the price of basic and essential food items have exorbitantly increased in Maldives.
There are reported cases of profiteering by some traders leading to the unreasonable price increases.
In a free market, intense competition among suppliers and reasonable diversity of stock must be made available for consumers. If this were the case, no supplier is going to resort to hording of products to increase price because consumers can always buy from another supplier.
In Maldives there is a need for tougher preventive and punitive measures.
The experience of this problem in other countries shows that legislation against profiteering is difficult and expensive to implement and the effectiveness inconclusive.
The theory is that when there are many sellers, and many buyers, prices will find their own equilibrium. Many countries have found that legislation has not been very effective and increasing competition was a more effective solution.
In Singapore, the NTUC Fairprice formed in 1973 as NTUC Welcome Supermarket, in order to solve the rising oil and daily prices then due to inflation maintains a basket of 400 essential items for which they have pledged to keep prices low.
NTUC Fairprice conducts regular price surveys which demonstrates their commitment to keeping prices low for the benefit of their customers.
There are reported cases of profiteering by some traders leading to the unreasonable price increases.
In a free market, intense competition among suppliers and reasonable diversity of stock must be made available for consumers. If this were the case, no supplier is going to resort to hording of products to increase price because consumers can always buy from another supplier.
In Maldives there is a need for tougher preventive and punitive measures.
The experience of this problem in other countries shows that legislation against profiteering is difficult and expensive to implement and the effectiveness inconclusive.
The theory is that when there are many sellers, and many buyers, prices will find their own equilibrium. Many countries have found that legislation has not been very effective and increasing competition was a more effective solution.
In Singapore, the NTUC Fairprice formed in 1973 as NTUC Welcome Supermarket, in order to solve the rising oil and daily prices then due to inflation maintains a basket of 400 essential items for which they have pledged to keep prices low.
NTUC Fairprice conducts regular price surveys which demonstrates their commitment to keeping prices low for the benefit of their customers.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
How about making English as our working language?
Maldives is using English as the Lingua franca, primarily in conducting our international business and our cultural, political and diplomatic exchanges.
Because of the influence of the British empire, the English language has spread across the world, making it a global language widely used in communications, science, business, aviation, and entertainment.
While English is not an official language in many countries, it is currently the language most often taught as a second language around the world. Some linguists believe that it is no longer the exclusive cultural sign of "native English speakers", but is rather a language that is absorbing aspects of cultures worldwide as it continues to grow.
With a population of 3.89 million living on a small island of 640 square kilometers, about 3.5 times of the size of Washington DC, Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world.
After its independence in 1965 from the British, Singapore decided very early on to make the three native languages, Chinese, Malay and Tamil as official languages, and use English as the working language so that no race would have an advantage. All four languages are official and equal. Singapore needed to develop and promote international commerce for its survival. So the English language became critical to its success.
The status of English as a country's official language does not necessarily correlate with the number of English-speakers in that country.
When we look at our neighbour and emerging Asian superpower India, we find India, with a population of 1.1 billion, has fewer than 200,000 native speakers of English and approximately 100 million second-language English speakers (who form less than 10% of its population).
India's linguistic picture is complex. According to the Constitution of India, "Hindi in the Devanagari script" is the official language of the union and English the 'subsidiary official language'; however, English is mandated for the authoritative texts of all federal laws and Supreme Court decisions, and (along with Hindi) is one of the two languages of the Indian Parliament.
In Maldives, the rich have perpetuated an elite upper class leaving the poor to perpetuate an underclass. This situation creates intractable problems for society like abuse of drugs, poor discipline in schools, and emerging gangsters which we are seeing all around.
We have to find a way to empower our kids with the skills that can help them earn a decent living and stay out of trouble. Once they see that there is a better way, they would move away from drugs and from aimlessly roaming around without contributing to the good of society.
If English becomes the working language, that can open up more opportunities for our people. A class gap between those educated in English and able to take advantage of business opportunities through globalisation and others who are not fluent in English is increasing.
Since we do not have politicians with the Midas touch to solve our problems, we have to do it ourselves by educating our children and empowering our younger generation. Our government will have to spend the money on education and improve teaching of the English language to facilitate our people to communicate effectively in a globalised world just like it is doing for the infrastructure development in Hulumale'.
Without going for the nationalistic drum beat as we did when we reversed Divehi Latin writing script, let us do what will practically benefit our people. Let us urge the political parties to include 'English as our working language in addition to Divehi as the official language' as a political campaign issue for the next election so that the people can accept or reject it.
Because of the influence of the British empire, the English language has spread across the world, making it a global language widely used in communications, science, business, aviation, and entertainment.
While English is not an official language in many countries, it is currently the language most often taught as a second language around the world. Some linguists believe that it is no longer the exclusive cultural sign of "native English speakers", but is rather a language that is absorbing aspects of cultures worldwide as it continues to grow.
With a population of 3.89 million living on a small island of 640 square kilometers, about 3.5 times of the size of Washington DC, Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world.
After its independence in 1965 from the British, Singapore decided very early on to make the three native languages, Chinese, Malay and Tamil as official languages, and use English as the working language so that no race would have an advantage. All four languages are official and equal. Singapore needed to develop and promote international commerce for its survival. So the English language became critical to its success.
The status of English as a country's official language does not necessarily correlate with the number of English-speakers in that country.
When we look at our neighbour and emerging Asian superpower India, we find India, with a population of 1.1 billion, has fewer than 200,000 native speakers of English and approximately 100 million second-language English speakers (who form less than 10% of its population).
India's linguistic picture is complex. According to the Constitution of India, "Hindi in the Devanagari script" is the official language of the union and English the 'subsidiary official language'; however, English is mandated for the authoritative texts of all federal laws and Supreme Court decisions, and (along with Hindi) is one of the two languages of the Indian Parliament.
In Maldives, the rich have perpetuated an elite upper class leaving the poor to perpetuate an underclass. This situation creates intractable problems for society like abuse of drugs, poor discipline in schools, and emerging gangsters which we are seeing all around.
We have to find a way to empower our kids with the skills that can help them earn a decent living and stay out of trouble. Once they see that there is a better way, they would move away from drugs and from aimlessly roaming around without contributing to the good of society.
If English becomes the working language, that can open up more opportunities for our people. A class gap between those educated in English and able to take advantage of business opportunities through globalisation and others who are not fluent in English is increasing.
Since we do not have politicians with the Midas touch to solve our problems, we have to do it ourselves by educating our children and empowering our younger generation. Our government will have to spend the money on education and improve teaching of the English language to facilitate our people to communicate effectively in a globalised world just like it is doing for the infrastructure development in Hulumale'.
Without going for the nationalistic drum beat as we did when we reversed Divehi Latin writing script, let us do what will practically benefit our people. Let us urge the political parties to include 'English as our working language in addition to Divehi as the official language' as a political campaign issue for the next election so that the people can accept or reject it.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Secular versus Religious States
Secularity is the state of being separate from religion. Secular states attempt to remain neutral in religious matters.
Christianity and Islam are the world's two major leading religions in terms of the number of people following them.
In 1779, Thomas Jefferson, the most influential founding father of America was concerned about the power of the Church of England. He felt a guarantee of religious freedom was the best guarantee that America would avoid the religious intolerance and religiously inspired bloodshed that had marked much of the history of Europe.
Thus came the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."
You can practise any religion you want in America, the state gives equal protection to all religions. In secular states you can practise any religion you want.
In spite of this you have religious zealots on both the Christian as well as the Muslim side who use bigoted interpretations of selected verses taken out of context from their scriptures to spread fear, divisiveness and hatred. Fortunately, they remain in the minority and do not become mainstream forces.
Saudi Arabia, holding one of the world's largest oil reserves has a government that is a monarchy. The Basic Law of Government adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abd Al Aziz Al Saud. The Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law Sharia.
In the recent referendum where Maldivians voted to determine the presidential or parliamentary style of governance, why was there no Muslim model of governance that we could choose from ? Since we claim to be a 100 per cent Muslim country, surely Islamic sharia must be more appropriate for us?
Instead, we wasted valuable time going through a meaningless exercise to determine presidential or parliamentary system- both of which are mainly used in secular democratic countries.
Maldives can never become a liberal democracy unless it is prepared to give its citizens religious freedom among other rights. If Maldives cannot do it or will not do it, then let us not talk about changing to a liberal democracy. If Maldives insists that it should remain among the few countries on the planet that are 100 per cent Muslims, that suggests there is an intolerance of other religions. A few years back, Maldivians would have been aghast to even talk about this subject.
Even today conservative Muslim Maldivians are very scared to have places of worship of other religions in our country. I am not advocating to have them, but I find the basis of their fear unfounded. They say that it is alright if the non-Muslim was to have a statue and pray at his home.
That means it is alright in Maldives if the non-Muslims keeps objects of worship only in their homes or their rooms. Then they are allowed to worship their faith. If the non-Muslim were to call such 'own home or room' a temple that is not acceptable and all hell would break loose.
Let's take an example. Recently there was a big brouhaha when a British millionaire celebrated his birthday on a tourist resort where some Buddhist statues were erected. We took the man's money but were not prepared to tolerate his faith.
The foundation of our faith shouldn't be so weak that by merely seeing some statues on an island, hordes of Maldivians would be changing faith.
As Muslims, we should not have objects of worship but as tolerant Muslims we should allow them for followers of other faith who need them to practise their faith. As good Muslims, we should not sell liquor. So why don't we ban selling of liquor in Maldives? There is a strong argument that we can't do it because tourists will not visit Maldives.
Therefore Maldives has become a country that will selectively choose those of the tenants of Islam that we will practise and those that we ignore according to some twisted logic.
A previous post on my blog 'Secularism versus Islam in Malaysia on 1.6.2007' explained this problem in Malaysia.
The article read " Malaysia's top civil court, the Federal Court on Wednesday rejected a woman's appeal to be recognized as a Christian, in a landmark case that tested the limits of religious freedom in this moderate Islamic country.Lina Joy, 43, was born as Azlina Jailani. She started attending church in 1990 and was baptised eight years later. She was given permission to change her name, but "Islam" remained as her religion on her identity card.
She had applied for a name change on her government identity card. The National Registration Department obliged but refused to drop Muslim from the religion column.
She appealed the decision to a civil court but was told she must take it to Islamic Shariah courts. Joy argued that she should not be bound by Shariah law because she is a Christian.
A three-judge Federal Court panel ruled by a 2-1 majority that only the Islamic Shariah Court has the power to allow her to remove the word "Islam" from the religion category on her government identity card.
"She cannot simply at her own whims enter or leave her religion," Judge Ahmad Fairuz said. "She must follow rules."
Joy remains a practising Christian and the only Islam left of her is the name 'Muslim' on her identity card which cannot be changed.
In Maldives, our politicians will not address these issues because they are not popular and we are stuck with double standards and hypocrisy.
Christianity and Islam are the world's two major leading religions in terms of the number of people following them.
In 1779, Thomas Jefferson, the most influential founding father of America was concerned about the power of the Church of England. He felt a guarantee of religious freedom was the best guarantee that America would avoid the religious intolerance and religiously inspired bloodshed that had marked much of the history of Europe.
Thus came the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."
You can practise any religion you want in America, the state gives equal protection to all religions. In secular states you can practise any religion you want.
In spite of this you have religious zealots on both the Christian as well as the Muslim side who use bigoted interpretations of selected verses taken out of context from their scriptures to spread fear, divisiveness and hatred. Fortunately, they remain in the minority and do not become mainstream forces.
Saudi Arabia, holding one of the world's largest oil reserves has a government that is a monarchy. The Basic Law of Government adopted in 1992 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abd Al Aziz Al Saud. The Qur'an is the constitution of the country, which is governed on the basis of Islamic law Sharia.
In the recent referendum where Maldivians voted to determine the presidential or parliamentary style of governance, why was there no Muslim model of governance that we could choose from ? Since we claim to be a 100 per cent Muslim country, surely Islamic sharia must be more appropriate for us?
Instead, we wasted valuable time going through a meaningless exercise to determine presidential or parliamentary system- both of which are mainly used in secular democratic countries.
Maldives can never become a liberal democracy unless it is prepared to give its citizens religious freedom among other rights. If Maldives cannot do it or will not do it, then let us not talk about changing to a liberal democracy. If Maldives insists that it should remain among the few countries on the planet that are 100 per cent Muslims, that suggests there is an intolerance of other religions. A few years back, Maldivians would have been aghast to even talk about this subject.
Even today conservative Muslim Maldivians are very scared to have places of worship of other religions in our country. I am not advocating to have them, but I find the basis of their fear unfounded. They say that it is alright if the non-Muslim was to have a statue and pray at his home.
That means it is alright in Maldives if the non-Muslims keeps objects of worship only in their homes or their rooms. Then they are allowed to worship their faith. If the non-Muslim were to call such 'own home or room' a temple that is not acceptable and all hell would break loose.
Let's take an example. Recently there was a big brouhaha when a British millionaire celebrated his birthday on a tourist resort where some Buddhist statues were erected. We took the man's money but were not prepared to tolerate his faith.
The foundation of our faith shouldn't be so weak that by merely seeing some statues on an island, hordes of Maldivians would be changing faith.
As Muslims, we should not have objects of worship but as tolerant Muslims we should allow them for followers of other faith who need them to practise their faith. As good Muslims, we should not sell liquor. So why don't we ban selling of liquor in Maldives? There is a strong argument that we can't do it because tourists will not visit Maldives.
Therefore Maldives has become a country that will selectively choose those of the tenants of Islam that we will practise and those that we ignore according to some twisted logic.
A previous post on my blog 'Secularism versus Islam in Malaysia on 1.6.2007' explained this problem in Malaysia.
The article read " Malaysia's top civil court, the Federal Court on Wednesday rejected a woman's appeal to be recognized as a Christian, in a landmark case that tested the limits of religious freedom in this moderate Islamic country.Lina Joy, 43, was born as Azlina Jailani. She started attending church in 1990 and was baptised eight years later. She was given permission to change her name, but "Islam" remained as her religion on her identity card.
She had applied for a name change on her government identity card. The National Registration Department obliged but refused to drop Muslim from the religion column.
She appealed the decision to a civil court but was told she must take it to Islamic Shariah courts. Joy argued that she should not be bound by Shariah law because she is a Christian.
A three-judge Federal Court panel ruled by a 2-1 majority that only the Islamic Shariah Court has the power to allow her to remove the word "Islam" from the religion category on her government identity card.
"She cannot simply at her own whims enter or leave her religion," Judge Ahmad Fairuz said. "She must follow rules."
Joy remains a practising Christian and the only Islam left of her is the name 'Muslim' on her identity card which cannot be changed.
In Maldives, our politicians will not address these issues because they are not popular and we are stuck with double standards and hypocrisy.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Changing attitudes unravel India's social order
Kuldip Nayar, an eminent Indian journalist who is a former Indian High Commissioner to the UK and a former Rajya Sabha MP writes in a Gulf News Special on 'India's social order is slowly unravelling - Sept 7, 2007.'
"A four and a half year-old child dies in Shimla on the Mall because the ambulance carrying him does not reach the hospital in time. The road is blocked by a throng of protesters from the ruling Congress and the BJP.
A panchayat (village committee) in Haryana forcibly separates a newly-born boy from his parents belonging to the same clan (gotra). Upper caste members kill a dalit who is acquitted by the court in a jat murder case.
A policeman chains with his motorcycle a poor boy who had stolen a gold ornament and drags him in public. A truck runs over four people of the minority community which retaliates by fomenting communal trouble.
On the face of it, there is nothing common in these incidents. They illustrate strong emotions. Yet what strings them together is the society's insensitivity, the authorities' nonchalant attitude and people's blind faith in the tradition which was wrong even when adopted. It also shows the other side of the society. The social order is breaking up. The value system is weakening further. The common man is losing faith in decency because of hard, insecure life."
Read his full article here.
India has a vibrant civilisation going back to 5000 years and today India is resurging as a global player with booming industrial development especially in the high technology sector.
India is the world's largest democracy and is an emerging Asian superpower, but it still has rampant poverty especially in the rural areas and the social chaos that Kuldip Nayar so eloquently describes in his article.
What this demonstrates is that a society must first have the basic fundamental rights of citizens and the rule of law accepted and respected by all its citizens in order for a democratic form of government to succeed in solving problems and reducing poverty.
Perhaps, there is a lesson here for Maldives.
"A four and a half year-old child dies in Shimla on the Mall because the ambulance carrying him does not reach the hospital in time. The road is blocked by a throng of protesters from the ruling Congress and the BJP.
A panchayat (village committee) in Haryana forcibly separates a newly-born boy from his parents belonging to the same clan (gotra). Upper caste members kill a dalit who is acquitted by the court in a jat murder case.
A policeman chains with his motorcycle a poor boy who had stolen a gold ornament and drags him in public. A truck runs over four people of the minority community which retaliates by fomenting communal trouble.
On the face of it, there is nothing common in these incidents. They illustrate strong emotions. Yet what strings them together is the society's insensitivity, the authorities' nonchalant attitude and people's blind faith in the tradition which was wrong even when adopted. It also shows the other side of the society. The social order is breaking up. The value system is weakening further. The common man is losing faith in decency because of hard, insecure life."
Read his full article here.
India has a vibrant civilisation going back to 5000 years and today India is resurging as a global player with booming industrial development especially in the high technology sector.
India is the world's largest democracy and is an emerging Asian superpower, but it still has rampant poverty especially in the rural areas and the social chaos that Kuldip Nayar so eloquently describes in his article.
What this demonstrates is that a society must first have the basic fundamental rights of citizens and the rule of law accepted and respected by all its citizens in order for a democratic form of government to succeed in solving problems and reducing poverty.
Perhaps, there is a lesson here for Maldives.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Excessive TV bad for kids
According to HealthDay news, watching more than two hours of television daily during childhood increases the likelihood of attention problems in adolescence, revealed a new study.
The research doesn't conclusively settle the ongoing debate.
Here is where the problem remain unresolved.
"I wouldn't advocate that watching TV is a good thing," said Tara Stevens, assistant professor of educational psychology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, who in 2006 published a study finding no link between television viewing and hyperactivity disorder. "I'm just not sure there's a direct relationship between having a disorder and watching TV. I don't think that's definitive. This is one important piece to the argument, but it is still not the end," she said.
While Human brains change rapidly in early life, says UCLA neuropsychologist Elizabeth Sowell, and animal research shows that stimulation can "rewire" the brain.
Things happen fast on the TV screen, so kids' brains may come to expect this pace, "making it harder to concentrate if there's less stimulation,"
Still, there are some scientists and researchers who believe that watching too much TV cannot change the stimulating pattern of the brain. So this remains an unresolved argument as far as damage to the brain is concerned.
But there are other compelling reasons why kids should not be exposed to excessive TV.
Multi-million dollar marketing budgets of big corporations promoting various types of products from toys to educational material to fast foods are targeting children.
Since most of the world has embraced capitalism after the demise of communism , today the free market economy is every where and mass marketing is huge business. Most children by the time they recognize objects and can speak, they know the 'golden arc' of the McDonald. They can recognize the affable Colonel Sanders of KFC through cartoons and adverts appealing to children.
These advertisements are promoting fast foods which nutritionists agree are not healthy balanced foods. It is not once in a way or once a week that children like to indulge in this food, but all the time.
Every time they set their foot through the door of these fast food restaurants, they look forward to a new toy which comes with the meal or can be purchased at discounted prices with the meal. A whole collection of toys from superman to ninja turtles and various cartoon figures can get stacked at home.
A survey done by Singapore McDonald's (published on 'mind your body' which came with Straits Times of 5 Sep 2007) revealed the extent of this problem.
Hamburgers, french fries, chicken nuggets, and even milk and carrots taste better to children if they think that the came from McDonald's, the study found out.
Almost 77 per cent of the children who took a taste test felt that the McDonald's french fries tasted better when it was served in a McDonald's bag, compared to 13 per cent who liked the same fries in a plain white bag.
This kind of marketing is done for other products as well. If not precisely the same effects, Maldives too would be exposing kids to harmful effects by excessive watching of TV.
I remember, someone taking exception with me when I pointed out the negative side of religiously watching the Hindi soap operas. "Isn't it better to watch this stuff than going out on the street and get mugged or hooked on to drugs?"
I could not weigh against that argument.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Passing expletives
Instead of setting the highest standards of decorum and good conduct, our parliament is turning out to be more like a pub with a bunch of boisterous drunk men acting like fools, a behaviour they would rather forget when they wake up next morning with a heavy head.
Members in our parliament are all honourable as they address one another and their business in the chamber is telecast to the benefit of the constituents whom they represent and the citizens of the country.
The business of parliamentary debate now includes a constant barrage of points of order, even pushing and shoving in the hallways. As if that is not enough, then go court to pursue legal action.
These proceedings are as entertaining as the never-ending addictive soap operas like the Kasuati's and many others.
Even the younger generation who are familiar with the hip hop music are using words like 'bloody', 'damn', and 'shit' with ease. They are finding new inspiration from an unexpected venue, our previously revered parliament. These words that once shocked us are now standard expressions.
It's become cool to insult your opponent even in friendly circumstances. It is creative profanity and is a sign of the times we live in.
What makes our parliament to go down this road is beyond me. It is a national disgrace. How low would the honourable members go to score political points. Would it go from verbal abuse, to fist fighting , to hurling movable objects at each other? What kind of democracy is this?
Should we care about our kids swearing expletives when the moral fabric of our society is corrupt to the high heaven?
Where is our starting point to put the house in order?
Members in our parliament are all honourable as they address one another and their business in the chamber is telecast to the benefit of the constituents whom they represent and the citizens of the country.
The business of parliamentary debate now includes a constant barrage of points of order, even pushing and shoving in the hallways. As if that is not enough, then go court to pursue legal action.
These proceedings are as entertaining as the never-ending addictive soap operas like the Kasuati's and many others.
Even the younger generation who are familiar with the hip hop music are using words like 'bloody', 'damn', and 'shit' with ease. They are finding new inspiration from an unexpected venue, our previously revered parliament. These words that once shocked us are now standard expressions.
It's become cool to insult your opponent even in friendly circumstances. It is creative profanity and is a sign of the times we live in.
What makes our parliament to go down this road is beyond me. It is a national disgrace. How low would the honourable members go to score political points. Would it go from verbal abuse, to fist fighting , to hurling movable objects at each other? What kind of democracy is this?
Should we care about our kids swearing expletives when the moral fabric of our society is corrupt to the high heaven?
Where is our starting point to put the house in order?
Monday, September 03, 2007
Faithful servants replaced by knowledge workers
In any government, communication is one of the most important tools. In the earlier British Civil Service, letter writer's emotions were clear when we read the line above the signature. For example, when bureaucrats wrote letters to the public, they would end their letter with 'I beg to remain, or Sir, or your most humble and obedient servant.'
Thus civil servants who play a vital role in running the government affairs effectively are constantly reminded that they were servants of the people and their job was to serve the people, their masters.
This system that was followed by most of the English speaking countries is being changed now. It is now either 'Yours truly or Sincerely yours.'
In his book "The Post-Capitalist Society" Peter Drucker describes how every few hundred years a sharp transformation takes place and greatly affects society - its worldview, its basic values, its business and economics, and its social and political structure.
According to Drucker, we are right in the middle of another time of radical change, from the Age of Capitalism and the Nation-State to a Knowledge Society and a Society of Organizations.
Over the last several decades, clerical jobs, in most developed countries are vanishing since their tasks are either becoming automated or can be performed by less-expensive workers somewhere else.
Since the 1990s, the blue-collar works and their unions are facing irreversible retreat, their jobs taken over by technologists and technicians.
Some of the traditional employees liable to be transferred across departments, divisions and locations across organisational hierarchy now have the opportunity to work as consultants. A consultant normally offering professional services and is not bound by the rules of the organisation concerning rules of employment.
In most of the developed countries, the knowledge workers have become the single largest group in the population and workforce.
Education is the centre of the knowledge society and schooling has become the key institutions.
Drucker says that a strong intellectual curiosity is necessary to stay ahead in a continuous learning environment. The knowledge society demands far more competition than any other society of the past and we are redefining what is it to be an 'educated person.'
Adam Smith's factors of production- land, labour, and capital have not disappeared but they have now become secondary. They can easily be obtained, provided there is specialized knowledge. This is where the knowledge workers are coming in droves.
A knowledge society is a society of mobility. People no longer stay where they were born, in terms of geography. This mobility means people no longer have "roots."
Thus our societies are facing new challenges. We need more thinking citizens to ask searching questions to solve our problems.
The emergence of the society of organisations of the knowledge economy is also challenging the function of the government. All social tasks in the society of organisations are being done individual organisations, each created for one social task such as education or health care.
Therefore, the society of these organisations are only concerned with its particular purpose and mission.
This is a social transformation that will bring new opportunities through political turmoil and unexpected problems.
Going by Drucker's assessment , we are in the midst of a colossal transformation- one that may drive 'your obedient servants' into extinction.
Thus civil servants who play a vital role in running the government affairs effectively are constantly reminded that they were servants of the people and their job was to serve the people, their masters.
This system that was followed by most of the English speaking countries is being changed now. It is now either 'Yours truly or Sincerely yours.'
In his book "The Post-Capitalist Society" Peter Drucker describes how every few hundred years a sharp transformation takes place and greatly affects society - its worldview, its basic values, its business and economics, and its social and political structure.
According to Drucker, we are right in the middle of another time of radical change, from the Age of Capitalism and the Nation-State to a Knowledge Society and a Society of Organizations.
Over the last several decades, clerical jobs, in most developed countries are vanishing since their tasks are either becoming automated or can be performed by less-expensive workers somewhere else.
Since the 1990s, the blue-collar works and their unions are facing irreversible retreat, their jobs taken over by technologists and technicians.
Some of the traditional employees liable to be transferred across departments, divisions and locations across organisational hierarchy now have the opportunity to work as consultants. A consultant normally offering professional services and is not bound by the rules of the organisation concerning rules of employment.
In most of the developed countries, the knowledge workers have become the single largest group in the population and workforce.
Education is the centre of the knowledge society and schooling has become the key institutions.
Drucker says that a strong intellectual curiosity is necessary to stay ahead in a continuous learning environment. The knowledge society demands far more competition than any other society of the past and we are redefining what is it to be an 'educated person.'
Adam Smith's factors of production- land, labour, and capital have not disappeared but they have now become secondary. They can easily be obtained, provided there is specialized knowledge. This is where the knowledge workers are coming in droves.
A knowledge society is a society of mobility. People no longer stay where they were born, in terms of geography. This mobility means people no longer have "roots."
Thus our societies are facing new challenges. We need more thinking citizens to ask searching questions to solve our problems.
The emergence of the society of organisations of the knowledge economy is also challenging the function of the government. All social tasks in the society of organisations are being done individual organisations, each created for one social task such as education or health care.
Therefore, the society of these organisations are only concerned with its particular purpose and mission.
This is a social transformation that will bring new opportunities through political turmoil and unexpected problems.
Going by Drucker's assessment , we are in the midst of a colossal transformation- one that may drive 'your obedient servants' into extinction.
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