Left, Right, Family, Market

I always wonder why leftist thinking is labeled anti US, when in fact every family and every woman is required to live a leftist life, and church diktates (or what is conveniently misnamed family values) are precisely about herding women into a commune life of a couple and progeny with a lifestyle of traditional nature - which is about "do what one can and receive what one needs".

Capitalism can only work in market, a woman cannot go about negotiating price of conception and childbirth to full compensation of all else she might have to forego which could include her very life, and one after all can never pay a mom for life given, except by love and respect and full equal partnership with the father of the family.

Children have to be fed and clothed and housed and educated and more by parents without any thought of how they will pay back, moreover. So it is all communism, those that can do do all they can, those that need have to receive what they can, without any payment involved.

Extending this to public life is leftism, and it is only viable with awareness beyond mind, which is not universal as of now. Hence problems.

Twilight and Magic Hour

While I can't say I am unfamiliar with the phrase magic hour someone of India mentioned, used in cinema world, I find no recollection of it being ever used in any western or Nordic country, either in talk or in literature or on television or in films. It is possible one forgets now what seems not quite so important, but searching memory produces no mention of the phrase anywhere in Europe or US. What might be possible is it is one of those phrases that seem to be of one language while not really from a country of that language.

This happens sometimes to for example French, at least one phrase I am very familiar with from English literature is completely unfamiliar as a phrase to the AF teachers of French. Another such usage which seems to be of English language but is totally made up in India is "co" instead of "in law" when a symmetric relationship through two marriages is involved. South Indians use it extensively, while in north Hindi words usually do. In English speaking lands the phrase would be sister in law or brother in law for both possibilities. In south India they would say co sister or co brother for a symmetric relationship, and if one used the other phrase, they would correct you, under the impression that they have it right.

It seems to make sense, moreover, that the magic hour is a phrase made up in India, and all the more so in cinema world of Hindi cinema of Mumbai. Sunset is very beautiful in Mumbai (east coast, not so much), and the welcome relief from heat comes only thereafter (east coast begins to cool already at noon with cool breezes from the ocean).

In Nordic lands twilight is preferred long because it delays dark, something to be not liked, rather feared - only natural when forest creatures and others are likely to have more power. Moreover where sun is not all that hot and light is dim most of the time anyway, daylight with clear sun is termed "nice day" while cloud, rain, dark and so forth are disliked. Snow is another story, welcome because it does bring more light, and not wet you, and strangely enough it is better than dry winters which are far colder and not so enjoyable.

And what is more, fairy tales that one is so familiar with originate in Nordic lands, and are not exactly the Disney happy versions most of the times - they are full of things to be feared, and those precisely are what abound in dark, whether of winter when it is dark so long or on everyday nights all through the year. So twilight is not a happy time, it is only good in being long and not so abrupt as it is in tropics where dark descends in a jiffy. Nor do people go about watching sunsets as they do in India and perhaps all through tropics or hot parts of earth. It is a time to be indoors and light up until one is ready for bed.

Most telling of course is the hour part of the phrase. It is possible that twilight is an hour in southern US, but again, culturally it is not a part of the day liked or at least established in literature and language as liked, because the European heritage continues culturally in most part, the only significant difference being of daily showers common in US (twice quite often likely), while Europe still continues the centuries traditions of preferring baths and that not so often. Heat might be enough in CA or too much in ex confederate south, but culture still prefers sunshine, and while the latter likes various options for cooling during hot days, food still is European in most part, and so on. Nights are seen as time for "night life" or for bed, and only those serious (whether amateur or otherwise) about either study or art or music or science or stargazing have other ideas of how to pass dark hours. It is unlikely that twilight is termed magic hour even in those parts, because it is a part of the evening and falling dark is not significantly liked as such but is a time for evening occupations - whether homing to dinner and more, or going out for the evening (which is a term lasting until one goes to bed).

So association of magic and hour with twilight is likely to be of origin in Mumbai and quite rightly so. In those parts it is. Magic seems to be so small, so very insufficient and inadequate a phrase for this phenomena one experiences in Mumbai, it could only come from relatively hurried minds seeking for a catch phrase. And what is more, magic is not always positive, as one would know very well, if one is familiar with lands of fairy tales.

More than magic, in Mumbai and in Delhi and other parts too in India (albeit not east coast so much, especially in south), it is a celebration of beauty everyday at twilight, a festival of colours that light up the western skies as dusk brings a welcome cool and fresh breeze, while stars begin to appear over the ocean and overhead, and one is forever grateful for being able to see it and experience it on so every day a basis. 

Penguins, Emperors, Polar Bears, .... Tomcats -

The little girl holidayed in the valley
Shadowed in sun by tall mountains with
Snow capped peaks, fabled in legends of the land
Gods are here, and so were their sons
A long time ago
Their footprints and their paths still legendary
One can walk in them
The little girl holidaying with her parents and a cute little sister
Frolicking in snow that fell gentle
It was early yet
Snow a novelty in the land of sun and forests,
Abode of snow and ice protecting it and standing ever awake
Sentry against winds and those that would ravage the land
Until the ravagers found a pass, and the land was ravaged for centuries

The little girl frolicked, blissfully unaware of history
Subconsciously protected by legends of sons of
Gods still present
If only one were aware and able to admit
Heavens have more than humans, living in
Blue of Divine Light

The little girl played, sang, told stories, until
One day she came, almost in tears, agitated
Asking, is it true, tomcats eat their own young?
.......................................................................................................

What could one tell her,
How protect someone on brink of growing into
Young adulthood,
Without forever making her see dark when she should see
Light and Bliss and peaks of life to come?
How does one not lie, and yet return the
Smile of a child
No joke, facing a horror at first steps of
Wonder years that were just about to begin!

One had to tread cautiously,
Tell her, held gently in arms encircling
Away from one's self, looking at one another
Directly in eyes that said,
Life is hard, but not all horror,
Return to the child the assurance of protection
Of goodness and all possibilities
Tell her about life
And yet bring her smile back.

Yes, tomcats do eat their own young, one told her
But humans are not tomcats
While some do behave like that
Everyone born is free to make one's own choice
And some go as far as to be almost
Penguins, even as good as
Emperors who protect their young
With their own substance of life
While the mommy penguins go off into ocean
They have given most of their life to bring about the little one
Still in the egg, now held in warmth of the papa penguins
Waiting for the moms to return to see the now newborn young,
Waiting in the deep Antarctic winter of  southern continent
Protected from others with deep cold, by
Mother Nature of Earth.

Humans are free to choose, and
While some do choose to go the tomcats way,
Others might ignore young like lions do
Or go south and be
Penguin fathers who care for their young
Every bit as much as their moms do.

......................................................................................................... 

The little girl's tears, one could see, were receding
She was brought back to safety of her life
And a future that was possible
Without horrors
Yet aware of horrors that abound
And one needs to avoid
So one could care for one's young and not fear
Tomcats and bears walking in human bodies.
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Wish someone had told the beautiful little girl
Who was never aware of
Various other beings in human disguise
And so she lost her life
Protecting her young as best as she could
The only admonition her own mother gave her
She had made it her own life's goal,
With no sustenance other than spirit of a mother
And this was the best she could give
The beautiful daughter who in her turn
Protected her young at the cost of
Her own being.

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Shadow Of The Moon

Shadow of The Moon



Shadow of the full moon that
She was, cooling our lives of desert heat
Fell into the lake deep in
Hidden in the cave
Lair of the wolf that
Walked among men
And pretended to be afraid of
Innocent, until they were beguiled
Only to be lured to the cave
For the duration of his play
Blinded some, only in mind sometimes, others
Hit in head and thrown to
Wolves and jackals and hyenas that roam about in
Guise of humans - gender regardless -
And were hounded for life until
Finished to the satisfaction of the werewolf
Hidden in the cave.

He had some innocents beguiled
And too the shadow of the
Moon
Reflected in the lake hidden deep in the cave
His lair
And the innocents brought in those that loved them
The moon her own love, and her shadow brought in
The one thrown far away by the wolf
One he repented not tearing to shreds
And so the shadow of the moon it was
The wolf cried to
He had lost the moon for ever.

The shadow of the moon had pity in her depths
Just as the cave has deep pockets of air
Lake deep and reflecting the heavens sometimes
So the shadow of the moon glimmered out when the
Lake flowed out - and called to the
One wandering about crying for the lost moon
Torn to shreds by the wolf and his ilk, but still living,
Not so easily lured to the cave of the
Werewolf.

Shadow of the moon called out, glimmering,
Over and over
And the innocent torn to shreds, healed,
Came yet over and over
Heeding to the call of the shadow of the moon
Torn over and over to shreds by the
Wolfpack that was mostly hyenas and jackals
Until finally thrown too far away
Finished now, the werewolf thought
Not quite, someone said from Above
Innocent yet lived, healed, just about
And this time
Closed ears and mind to the calls of the wolves
Crying to the moon - and closed eyes to the
Shadow of the moon.

Eons passed, and the word spread
Brought about by a magpie, the innocent heard it too
The wolf is no more, the pack at throats of one another,
Shadow of the moon all alone with her lonely support
Innocent melted
Fool, said magpie before flying off to lands far away, safe
Donkey, said the beleaguered
Doe eyed son of the moon - and
Shadow of the moon smiled, said,
Come home, innocent,
It is yours too -
Not the same cave any more,
It is new,
Free of the pack.

Somewhere along the way the innocent had learned
Werewolves don't die
Nor change into human for good
Tales of their sprouting hearts are but tales
Perceived absense of their fangs merely due to
Depths of cave hiding them, and the
Depths of the cave are strewn with the dead innocents

Shadow of the moon waits, bound to the
Lake flowing out from the depths of the cave
One could say, no, thus far and no further, and
See the shadow of the moon recede into the cave
One could dare step in, and see
One's love, one's life torn to shreds
Yet one more time
Else
One could wait out
One's life, held by the thread from heavens
Not stepping into where the thread might be lost
Risk the shadow of the moon recede,
Tears in her heart refusing to let her know she was
Weapon of the wolf, not the manna she wished she were
To the innocents of the world.

When one has looked yet again upon
Shadow of the moon
It isn't that easy.
...................................................................................................................

She says he had turned human
Memories say otherwise
He was good at fooling her, and others
She, good at forgetting all that was bad, forgiving,
This is how one loses when tempers are temporary flares
Forgiveness a doctrine that
Ever has evil win

That his earthly envelope is gone they say
And a death glorified
Not deserved by such as he

Never mind forgiveness or forgetting
No reparations possible when
Lives he took and destroyed are
Beyond repair
They say, aren't you happy?
Not theirs to assert
When one has lost all but a shred
And holds it against all cold winds and heat of furies
It is but a mercy from heaven
All one earned gone with the strikes over and over
By the thief that took it all and gave it away to his faithful
And left one bleeding over and over, till satisfied
One would not get up again
Provide a lesson to others who might yet wish to follow and
Be independent
Now meanings are changed
Independence is about right to lure one not yet dead to the wolf's lair
And flying off safe oneself
To Gold cages and silver chains
Forgiveness is about stepping again into the
Lair of the werewolf
Deep shadows of the cave
And only a
Shadow of the moon
Reassuring as ever
There is no wolf,
Never was one.
........................................................................................................

It was all your own stars, said the wolf
Others echo the words
Slightly rearranged or more
Laments of yore are a bore, they state flat out
One has lost a life, over and over
One merely wishes to return the
three pieces of brass square
So one's pain, one's being torn apart is
Not paid for.
This peace one shall not grant the werewolf
This little shred of one's own self
Once let go,
One could lose one's own self
For ever this time.

It is late autumn after all,
Winter has arrived on doorstep
And no time to go forth
Gathering a life for one's own
Yet again.

Shadow of the moon
Red Riding Hood
Could she be rescued?
Hope so. Don't know.
After all, she has been known to rebel too
And demand her rights of making her own decisions.
She has survived the cave, the lair, the pack
So, perhaps, she is all right -
........................................................................................................

Civil on Internet

How does internet turn strangers into rude obnoxious marauders knocking on your door at any time they choose and demand you do this or that, not realising they are being uncivil and need to stop doing this?

How does one stop such intrusion into what one expects to be a contact page with one's acquaintances or friends, colleagues and relatives, with relevant exchanges of information and conversations?

How does one tell off a stranger it is not her or his business to ask if you are angry, or admonish you about praising someone because the praise does not fit their agenda which they have not really thought widely over?

How does one tell people it is a platform to exchange news and information, but not demand photographs or offer unwanted ones, and act as if they are your aunts or grandfathers when in reality they happen to be about two fifth of your age and obviously lack education judging from the behaviour and posts, apart from capacity to think and any semblance of civil discourse or interaction?

How does one make them stop badgering one with unwanted missives and attacks which they promise to continue no matter what one does, and execute the promise by simply attacking from another page with a false name?

Is it any different from thieves and pickpockets and common thugs, this random attacking of people they carry out?

Or should one conclude it is directed focused from a hidden source with an agenda? Should one say, flies are hard to get rid of and mosquitoes might be dangerous but pesticides seem to not work?

Should one expect humanity to behave better than pests at all, or not all of them at any rate?
...................................................................................................................



Once we suffered danger of heart attack and more, when living in a supposedly posh locality because the neighbours who thought they were posh began partying around midnight and had extremely loud noises that made it impossible to rest, what with walls shaking and more. If we went knocking on door where this "party" was taking place they would go silent, pretending there was no one there, but their own children inside were wailing and gave the pretense away. They were unwilling to stop and attacked us with garbage thrown in our balcony.

We moved to a supposedly not so posh neighbourhood for sake of peace and silence and hope it will not threaten us again. Hope.

How does one move away from marauders and attackers on internet? Or is the internet so full of beasts one can only escape by having no presence at all? Never say a thing, never post no matter who is posting obscene attacks against someone vulnerable, not protest when a murder of a scientist is being discussed and people are justifying it in name of faith?

Or does one simply take it now that life is war and one cannot run away? When facing Kaurava and co one has to do one's duty, speak out against murders of scientists and defend vulnerable young women, state truth and facts and reason, for if one stops perhaps all might and then falsehood will have won?
...........................................................................................................................

Misuse of Brand India in restaurant in Paris

Old Kashmir near Boulevard St Germain in Paris was close to where we stayed the second time we visited Paris, and we went in for dinner, pleased to see a restaurant that declared itself as Indian on the board. We went in since the restaurant described itself as Indian, and expected vegetarian food to be that, vegetarian. Instead the food had something we could not identify except as unpalatable, and likely not vegetarian.

When at the door leaving, manager asked about it, possibly owners, and we informed them truthfully about what we thought. They did not deny it, but blamed it on local populace, and promised us genuine vegetarian food the next time.

We were not about to risk that, and come to think of it the unpalatable might not have been food at all, and in all likelihood the restaurant was Indian only in name. We had been served something horrible for sake of political revenge from across the border in a place far away, and this was bad behaviour in every way.

I have to say this behaviour was unusual, and we have visited quite a few restaurants in US and in Europe that were of owners from across the border and we had very good food and very friendly and courteous treatment in all of them, and felt wonderful.

As for the blaming on local people in Paris by this establishment, a lot of people eating around us asked for the same vegetarian food and were happy chatting with us, and the owner of the creperie next door informed us he did not have an extra pan to make vegetarian crepes for us, apologising for not being able to do so. We were overwhelmed with his finickiness about vegetarian food, and always remembered it as example of awareness in Paris. So this place blaming locals was fraudulent, although even if it were true they could have refrained from adding whatever it is they did to what they served us.

In short, one cannot trust this place.
.......................................................................... 

Discriminating Attacker

This began with an unpleasant surprise of someone pontificating about a piece I wrote in support of Preity Zinta who took action against being molested by a man with power and wealth. This woman objected to my calling her a brave woman of Rajput heritage, and demanded I remove that because it was discriminating against all other people.

This is seemingly a young woman of uncertain age but guaranteed inability to think over what she says before or after she says it, much less as she thinks. Lack of inability of thinking does not stop her from pontificating and rapping her betters with a big stick, since she respects only biological differences but not man made ones as per her declaration - she is probably correct about the former, but hypocrite at best about latter or outright lie deliberately maintained on lack of fear of someone seeing through or calling her on it.

After all it is highly unlikely she will marry a biologically desirable male or leave her husband for him, in spite of the said husband or a socially preferred suitor being of high position in society with wealth and position of power. She might be biologically inclined to, but she will then give excuse such as blaming parents or even her nation for her choice, and say that they won't allow her to choose someone she desires.

She is a fraud, racist, ignoramus and stupid who substitutes fashion for thought.

Here is the conversation which I cut short in spite of her daring me to block her, fully understanding she will continue to attack with another page.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................



 Gogona Saikia

    You have written some brilliant things. I admire that. but seriously, maybe do away with the "Rajput brave woman" part. Maybe remove the "Rajput" part only. You are severely categorising women based on their caste/whatever it is, when it comes to bravery.
...........................................................................................................................


    Today
    Jyotsna Gokhale
    11:48
    Jyotsna Gokhale

    If it were a Baangaalie I would have said someone from lands that worship Durgaa and Kaalie.

    Don't assume negatives. Saying something positive about one is not equivalent of saying negatives about all others.

    If PZ disliked her identity as Rajput she would not mention it, and if one is to say calling her Rajput is discrimination - why call her a woman in the first place, or you, or any woman? Why not force all world to adopt a dress and language that will never allow anyone to know what gender one is, and make it necessary to apply to legal channels to find out who one is attracted to? Perhaps that will come too, but meanwhile, other categorisations are minor.
.......................................

    Jyotsna Gokhale
    12:04
    Jyotsna Gokhale

    Come to think of it such removal of all identities would involve covering every face so no one knows who is from Asia, Europe or Africa - and more, no degrees or diplomas to anyone, since the mentally challenged or academically unwilling or underachievers might take it as negative - no awards, since others might take it as negative - no positions since those that do not get it are discriminated against - no children allowed to be brought up by parents, since there are orphans in the world - no marriages, since some are unable to find a match - no one should be given a salary, everyone equally beggars before world authorities - how far does removal of identity go? Those living might seem privileged to those dying, so ....? Funerals for everyone?

    Silly isn't it when one goes logical. No one questions the lack of logic underlying the assumptions of your post, not to mention the lack of whatever it needs, perhaps respect and reflection, that went into offering advice without thought.

    Unless you are my parents' generation, or older. Then free advice is not disrespectful.

    Goodbye, and please don't reply. Think if possible.
................................................................................................................................


    Today
    Gogona Saikia
    15:51
    Gogona Saikia

    LOL. irst of all, sorry for not remembering the context of what I sent this msg about. I cam guess a general abstract of what you had said though, that made me send this msg. nd I am pretty sure I am not older to you. Maybe sameage, maybe younger in fact. Also, your replies are too long for me to want to debate pointwise. o just off the top of my head, only one observation: I was juts taking a stand against man made categories that you are born with, which are quite unfair, wouldn't you say? The ones you mentioned, some of them are BIOLOGICAL, some of them are based on INDIVIDUAL CHOICES. Not that unfair or changeable, are they? lso, aa last advice from someone younger. Do try not to take so much of offence because of a random msg from a random stranger on the internet. If I were to start getting so worked up about what people I dont even know say to me, life would become very hard indeed. ake care!
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    Jyotsna Gokhale
    15:54
    Jyotsna Gokhale

    You would force everyone to accept your categories of which discrimination is OK?

    Biological is OK for you? So men beating women to death is OK? Rape, molestation, less or no pay? Why do you want to keep the biological discrimination that makes half the world free slaves without hope, and worse?

    About the so called Mab N

    Correction - manmade - categories. That includes discrimination along lines of wealth, possessions, titles, degrees, positions, nationalities, languages, almost everything. Rajput might be more DNA at that.
..................................................

    Jyotsna Gokhale
    16:03
    Jyotsna Gokhale

    You were wrong, however idealistic you think you are. Young and eager to prove you treat everyone equally. Do you? Is a stinking drunken goon just as good a candidate as a quiet man of position and education for a bridegroom for you? Even if the former is old and the latter approved socially re age for you?
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    Jyotsna Gokhale
    16:04
    Jyotsna Gokhale

    No, discrimination is not a bad word or act, you MUST discriminate between good food and garbage, especially when feeding a child.

    As for PZ, she does inherit it the proud tradition of Rajputs.

    So does India.

    Re last your advice, you are more and more offensive. Bye don't write back.
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    Gogona Saikia
    16:21
    Gogona Saikia

    "So men beating women to death is OK? Rape, molestation, less or no pay". O god this is not about discrimination! What are you even talking about. Rape, murder are crimes! "Is a stinking drunken goon just as good a candidate as a quiet man of position and education for a bridegroom for you?" As I said, these are based on choices, not something one is born with. Once again, I don't rem the context in which I msgd you, I don't rem who "PZ" here is. "You would force everyone to accept your categories of which discrimination is OK?" No I won't. I can't. How can I force anyone to do anything acc to me?Would you say I FORCED you to not call anyone Rajput? "That includes discrimination along lines of wealth, possessions, titles, degrees, positions, nationalities, languages, almost everything. Rajput might be more DNA at that." Personally, I find any kind of man-made categorisation unfair. I am not saying someone inheriting wealth and someone inheriting nothing is okay, but some things are just too deep to be argued on when I am talking to someone for the first time! You want me to argue about everything I actually think now? And whether you agree or not, the caste system is creating more bad than good. It might have been wonderful if the whole system was efficient, but it is not! More instances of misuse hence the whole unfairness. And do stop instructing me reply or not. I will reply, or won't, acc to what I feel like. Welcome to go ahead and block if you want.
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Jyotsna Gokhale
    15:54
    Jyotsna Gokhale

I get it, you respect biology and will attack old women preferably of not blond race, and only shut up if you think you are confronting a hefty male of a race likely to smash you to smithereens - that is what your discrimination against man made but respecting biological differences come to. So you will accept anything from someone biologically desirable, however low he might be in man made differences of wealth, position, power, social respect? No you will make up some other convenient theory to suit your discrimination on man made grounds.

You are not merely racist and misogynist but are justifying it by arguing man made vs biological differences, and as long as it is not you at receiving end, will go to the length of attacking anyone you have no hope ever of approaching level of even in logic of meaning of your thinking.


What you will not stop doing is attacking me. And you dare me to block you because you will continue to attack with another page. Until what, you manage to murder me via internet? Won't be the first time.

When you comprehend the horror of your disgusting behaviour you will wish to die of shame, and deserve it. One day soon you will understand how truly you are not only misogynist and racist but goon of nazi sort. But probably you already hate yourself for being the wrong gender.

How did your parents name you so correctly Go Go Na!
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