There is love in holding and there is love in letting go.
Elizabeth Berg
Before she became a bestselling writer, Elizabeth Berg (born December 2, 1948) was a registered nurse, a profession that taught her much about human nature and relationships. The Chicago-based novelist, who won the 1997 New England Booksellers Award for her body of work, is the author of 26 books including Open House, Talk Before Sleep, What We Keep and The Year of Pleasures.
“Wizzlewump” by Frank Robert Dixon
(Regarding the plethora of hateful memes on social media)
which colophon appoints the page
of burning words and seething rage
the imprint of fair justice failed
or bitterness that can’t be veiled
the lines we publish tell of us
cool judgment or hot animus
our pens put forth two types of ink
one reasoned one that doesn’t think
which canon shall we leave behind
discordant rants or hymns of mind
persuasion comes a noble art
when diligence has played its part
convincing wrong of what is right
requires truth be brought to light
but outbursts of emotion die
on thoughtless pages where they lie
our book would best advance debate
when not compelled to denigrate
ad hominems will poorly brace
the argument that makes the case
last refuge of a mindless ire
paragraphs conceived in fire
rationale when laid down well
with facts will give…
View original post 3 more words
What happens when a person dies?
The body remains and the soul flies.
Flies to where?
Nobody knows……
Guesses, surmises everyone throws!
Beliefs galore that it goes to God,
Where Almighty spares not the rod!
To hell he sends the corrupted ones
Heaven’s reserved for those chosen.
“Wicked” souls abound in hell
Scream, cry, in pain they yell.
Some are hung upside down
Roasted, till they turn brown.
Some are lynched with eyes blown
Others are boiled in oil cauldron!
Heaven bound souls enjoy the bounty
Liquor and fruits and milk plenty.
“Hoors”* shower with never ending love
Massage and bathe in perfumed tubs.
Scare of hell and hope for heaven
Provides the people with enough motivation.
To curb their selfish lustful desires
And be good Samaritans till they reach pyres.
Futile rituals with body remain
Out of which the souls nothing gain.
Elaborate procedures we have designed
Dead are buried or to flames consigned.
Some embalm the mortal remains
Others create a watery grave;
Oblivious to the truth that’s all in vain
Whatever we do the truth remains;
Dust we are and to dust return
Whether we burry or whether we burn.
*Hoors—beautiful girls.
Dictionary meaning of Fascism describes it as a political regime having totalitarian aspirations, ideologically based on a relationship between business and the centralized government; business and govt. control of the marketplace, repression of criticism and opposition, a leader cult and exalting the state and/or religion above individual rights. It was originally only applied to Benito Mussolini’s Italy.
According to Wikipedia, Fascists believe that liberal democracy is obsolete and they regard the complete mobilization of society under a totalitarian one party state as necessary to prepare a nation for armed conflict to respond effectively to economic difficulties. Such a state is led by a strong leader and Fascism rejects the assertion that violence is automatically negative in nature and in fact, views political violence, war and imperialism as means of national rejuvenation! Strangely enough, most fascists don’t like to be called as such because the term has gained notoriety historically…Particularly after Hitler’s genocide of Jews.
Dr. Lawrence Britt has written an essay in the Free Inquiry magazine, Spring 2003 issue listing and entitled “Fourteen characteristics of Fascism.” This he did after studying the regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and Pinochet (Chile). These regimes have been, almost unanimously, acknowledged as being fascist and have 14 elements in common. Fascist regimes tend to have:
i. Powerful and continuing nationalism.
ii. Disdain for the recognition of Human Rights
iii. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as unifying
iv. Supremacy of the military
v. Rampant Sexism
vi. Controlled mass media.
vii. Obsession with national security
viii. Religion and government are intertwined
ix. Corporate power is protected
x. Labor power is suppressed
xi. Disdain for the in intellectuals and arts
xii. Obsession with crime and punishment
xiii. Rampant cronyism and corruption
xiv. Fraudulent Elections
Unfortunately, most of the countries tend to come under this obnoxious tag…even the world’s most powerful and populous democracies. Masses are willing to be swayed by parochial nationalistic aspirations and space and willingness for dissent is shrinking by the day! Democratic values are at the risk of being abandoned for more populist appeals. The humanity today stands at the crossroads! God be with the liberals!
We must admit that mother’s involvement with the child is totally different than the father’s. You cannot wish away the nine months of the child in the womb of the mother or the first year after birth when the child is closer to the mother than to anyone else. This develops a special bond between the mother and the child. This “umbilical chord” cannot really be snapped. So the mother does have the additional responsibility for inculcating ethical values in the child.
My Mother
If a mother tells the son to respect women ,he can never indulge in eve teasing. This role has taken a backseat in the last three four decades. And the result is for all of us to see.
jaswantsinghaman 