Yet again. And as the day dawns in Mumbai the city will wake to count its dead and injured, and inevitably, as it always does, the count will rise painfully. And yet again the government of India and its members, whether on the national or state level, will make the right noises. And yet again the government will soon forget and go back to blaming each other and make political capital out of the tragedy of the ordinary citizens of India. And then back to electioneering it is. Back to political machinations and negotiating it is, with only the next elections and political power in mind.
Or maybe not this time. For this time the very bastions of the elite were attacked. The Taj and the Oberoi Hotels. Where some of the rich and powerful were caught in the cross fire. Even a delegation from the EU parliament. Maybe this time the political bosses of India will accept that a cancer of communal disharmony and terrorism is destroying the fabric of our society and we stand at the brink of the end of a society and civilization that the fathers of our Constitution dreamed of. Destroyed by the politics and politicians of our nation.
But all that does not help those who’s loved ones were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those that have lost their lives or injured. Those that were just ordinary citizens going about their daily lives expecting that the least the elected government would do is protect their lives. The war is not at our borders any more. It here at home against the forces that are trying to destroy our society from the inside.
Why are we spending all our resources fighting for an inhabitable piece of moving ice called the Siachin Glacier when our major cities are under threat ?
Yes, the people of Mumbai will once again show courage. As they have done before through floods and bombs and terrorist attacks. I just hope that the Hindu fundamentalist forces do not come out in the streets, provoked as they usually are by political powers. That is exactly what the terrorists want – a disruption of our society and fighting, killing and carnage on our streets. We need to mourn and we need to be compassionate – and when the period of mourning is over, we need to re evaluate what is happening to our society.
My thoughts and prayers are with all the community members here with family, friends and loved ones in India, you are in my prayers.
Hugs, Lily
Terrorism and the attendant "war on terrorism" are about division. Inciting division has been a political tool since the myth of Cain and Abel, a way of creating false boundaries between those who are far more the same than different. Division was used on the plantation, against indigenous people, between nations in Europe, even the sewing circle.
I believe the US election was less about Barack Obama than it was whole people's insistence on seeing the divide and conquer game for what it is. Barack Obama was simply a well-positioned symbol: a mutt, an underdog who overcame insurmountable odds because his cause was meritorious, someone who called the game of division what it is: a game. He was a signal that we are no longer mesmerized.
Chopra pointed out that there are more moslems in Indian than in the whole of Pakistan. I didn't know that. It's an important point, perhaps the most vital fact of all: because healing isn't going to occur between nations and their various armies; instead, it will occur between neighborhoods, between neighbors, between our kids at school.
I recently shared a flight with a man from Detroit, retired from one of the big three. He visits his family in Macon every year. While we were leaving our plane, we began talking about electric fuel pumps and safety mechanisms that turn them off in the event of impact. I was engrossed in the conversation. When we came off the escalator, the way my wife greeted me, you'd have thought he and I were crafting a peace accord, he, a middle-aged black guy, me, a mid-forties white guy, sharing deep secrets in front of throngs of people all watching us as they waited for their various loved-ones to eject from the escallator. But we were swapping mechanic tips.
I briefly introduced my wife, we shook hands, and parted.
You see, peace doesn't have to be a big idea. After all, what's the big idea but a billion little ones?
I give THANKS today for India and to India.
India has been the source of so much spiritual knowledge which has guided me and continues to. I can't help but think that this occurrence is part of our collective healing… Therefore I give THANKS for those who are scared and suffering and I send my LOVE and blessings for peace to those who are responsible. Let us use our collective power to manifest peace for EVERYONE. Yes we can.
Love to ALL of you!
All I have that can help, Shekhar, is a hug. I understand that pain wants to find the one who's guilty, forgetting that we all are innocent deep down. If we remember, pain will vanish, and then a new world will be inevitable. Love, aurora
Dear Shekhar,
The recent Mumbai incidents have also been a personal tragedy to me. It has also been tragic to see how it has effected so many people here at intent and around the world.
That a place that I have been welcomed has become a place of death is devastating.
In India I built a bamboo hut in a bamboo grove and enjoyed the seasons including monsoon. Having rice and dhal with papaji. So many people from different backgrounds welcoming me and telling me of wonderful places to go and people to meet.
I am grateful that so many people are coming together here at Intent, so many healing arts projects, so many people being the change. I am looking forward to seeing every ones project succeed