The Immortalization Of A Cause

There is a trait in our society that tends to immortalize individuals rather than a cause. The man who stood up to the tank in Tiananmen Square was remembered more than the communist rule itself. Mother Teresa became the person known for philanthropy and service, rather than the missions that she founded. Here’s a different thought: greatness is not measured by individual success, it is measured by the impact that the person has on society and its behavior.

Over the past few weeks, there has been an attempt by many organizations and people to use the heroics of a young girl in Pakistan for their individual causes. Some would like to adorn her with peace prizes, and others would like to walk around claiming the title of “I am …” Although our intentions might be genuine, we should avoid making the sacrifices of a girl into a vicarious realization of our fleeting attention. Modern social network activism is very short term. People have short attention spans and whatever captures our interest for a passing moment, arrests us. The moment a more interesting story comes along, we drop our cause or the person and move on to the other. The more successful causes are those that move beyond the admiration of an individual and more towards spearheading a cause.

Education is the fundamental promise that every child, was given by the citizens of the world. Education is the fire that crafts people into pioneers, thinkers, visionaries and is the single most successful tool towards bringing people out of poverty. The investment needed for a sound education is not small, but it is also, not that difficult. Governments around the world have the necessary funds to create an infrastructure that can push education even into its most rural areas: whether or not these funds are allocated towards education or prioritized is the challenging question.

The tragedy that happened to the 15 year old girl in Pakistan was not as a result of culture or corruption or cruelty (even though a small element of it exists); It was due to lack of education. Without a good primary or secondary education, large swaths of gentry are easily swayed by the anti-social, extremist elements in every society. In developing nations, these elements are even more powerful. Organizations such as the Human Development Foundation exist to implement a nationwide call for action. Their Education Advocacy Campaign initiates reforms in society by informing people of their rights, and helping them achieve their rights. HDF launches reformative action at the grassroots level. A petition has even been started to implement universal primary & secondary education in Pakistan: www.Causes.com/PakistanEducation

Education is supposedly a compulsory right of every child aged 5 to 16: when this right is denied, we have to recognize this as a global human rights’ issue. If we have to get to the “root cause” of the problem, then we should target the growth of education. We should hold Governments accountable and influence them towards enforcing education and take strict action against those who deny their children the opportunity to be part of the global population. This is a precarious time and real change can only happen if we support this cause, rather than getting caught up in the sensationalism of violence. After all, isn’t that what the Malala fought for, the right for education for all?

The Independent's Manifesto

We are the invisible crowd.
We do not picket for any particular party;
we do not show up at conventions to bash other Americans.
We do not question other people’s patriotism.
We don’t throw around labels like “Communist” “Socialist” or “Racist”.
We believe that people have a right to their opinion.
We believe that just because you do not agree with someone that does not make them a bad person.
We believe in the right for people to be free and not be prisoners of the political system.
We believe that Individuals have the right to make their own decision,
including the right to religion, the right to love, the right to marriage and the woman’s right to choose,
And the right to protect the sanctity of life.
We believe that the right is not always “right” and the liberal is not always liberal.
We vote to choose leaders whose rhetoric matches their actions.
We chose leaders not because they are “just like us” but because they inspire us.
We believe in not becoming a number on a statistical chart on cable news screen.
We believe that the even though the media may present a certain view, we ultimately decide our actions.
We believe that people have a right to give different names to God.
We believe in accepting someone’s right to a different God than ours.
We believe that those who do not believe in God are also believers in themselves.
We believe that America is a land of immigrants, but also believe in protecting our borders.
We believe that the Government has an obligation to provide certain services and resources to its citizens but do not believe in free services.
We believe that the money we earn is ours and we have the right to share it with other, should we choose to.
We believe certain folks have had a harder time, and need a boost to get back on their feet. We believe in ourselves.
Amidst the partisan rancor and chaos, we are the line between Right and Left.
We are the invisible, the existent, the silent majority that defines elections and shapes the fabric of the American society.
We are the Independents.

The Metamorphosis

The metamorphosis is complete,
As the second hand begins its sweep,
The hour is born from the womb,
The Aegis of the minute,
Of the day of the month of the year,
Begins dwindling and churning,
Grinding and turning,
My existence lurches still,
Not forward nor back,
Non existent, but still physical,
Searching for something,
In the cloudy eyes empty,
of all promise,
The Ghosts of the past,
return once again to haunt,
And the metamorphosis is now complete.

The Crawl

The narrow walls crawl closer

Immitating the dark corners of the mind

The ominous ticking of the clock

Inches closer to the hour at hand

As darkness creeps over the

Petulant and fertile lands still

Thawing from the frozen winter

Of discontent and disgrace

The narrow walls crawl closer still

And I become one with myself.

Skeletal Remains

Lay out the skeletal stems,

Of the flowers from this basket,

Lay them out one by one,

Each one a twig desiccated,

Each one a corpse awaiting a shroud.

The noxious aroma fiercely wafts still,

A mixture of life and death dances still,

A Mixture of want and memories remain,

Amidst the aroma of dreams regained.

Lay out the skeletal stems,

Of the relics of a forgotten past,

Wrapped around dead flower petals,

Like untold stories at a funeral mass,

Lay out the stories one by one,

Each one born in a different life,  

A wistful existence falls silent,

In these stillborn skeletal remains.

Let it Snow

Let it snow with the fury of the mighty wind,
Let it snow with the passion of the forbidden sin,
Let it fall on earth like frozen tear drops,
Let us watch as the ghostly world then stops,
Let not a leaf move,
Let there be no mortal sound,
Let there be nothing but specks of white,
Strewn over the landscape like a mad painter,
Let it snow with the fury of the mightly wind,
Let it snow with the passion of the forbidden sin.

A Frost is in the Air

The wind goes silent
As the grey sky stays on
The world feel violent
As you see the sunlight yawn.

A Frost is in the air
A world caught unaware
The tepid autumn has passed
Unleashed is the winter at last.

Barren streets in cloaks of white
Dried leaves rustling in the night
Tiny footsteps dance around trees
Dead branches quivering in the breeze.

A Frost is in the air
A world caught unaware
The tepid autumn has passed
Unleashed is the winter at last.