I hate the world and all within
Its full of shit and full of sin
All I want to do is fly
There’s no room in my life to cry.
I hate the world and all around
Everyone wears a tear and frown
They smile at you, but they don’t care
You’re different, so they watch in fear.
I love to look at the setting sun
After a hard day of having fun
You sit back and watch light go
See darkness come with its own special glow.
I love the world of loving dreams
Where nothing is as bad as it seems
When things don’t seem to be going your way
Simply open your eyes and awake you stay.
All in all, its pretty fuked
Some things you like and some have you shocked
What can u do but go with the flow.
Till your time is up, u learn whilst you grow.
P.S. some drugs won't take no for an answer...
Sunday, 30 September 2007
The Happy Medium
From the earliest known presence of mankind in the plains of Ethiopia through the emergent civilisations of Africa, Eurasia and the Western Hemisphere, to this day, in fact, mankind has struggled to strike a balance between what is needed for survival and what would contribute to legacy. One has only to consider the diverse articulations of the Upanishads or Buddha with that of Machiavelli or Protagoras to appreciate the breadth of the spectrum of perception.
This quest for balance led to the emergence of value systems – ethical codes or guidelines for daily life – some of which we recognise as religions.
Whether we believe they were revealed through divine intervention, as is upheld in Islam and Catholicism, or rather championed by visionaries or opportunists, as is maintained in more secular schools of thought, the fact remains these systems emerged at different times and in different civilisations around the globe.
All the while, indeed, sometimes seemingly in parallel, mankind has marched on, dreaming of perfection and the evolution of superman, as was considered by Dewey, Shaw and Nietzsche. Some see the development process as linear progression, while others advocate cyclic tendencies and act accordingly.
And yet here we are today – a diverse and yet dominant species who (as identified by Sayed Ashraf) have been able to mirror the characteristics of our Creator in our understanding of ourselves, our interaction with our fellow man and even the physical environment.
Yet still, the deeper we delve the more we recognise the mastery and stunning precision of the workings of a Higher Being, as was acknowledged by Bertrand Russell and even more recent counterparts.
We run the risk, however, of undermining those very principles and beliefs we have fought so hard to define and preserve. As we move in this age from the rational to the empirical, we must strive to ensure that these values and beliefs are not only transmitted but internalised so as to foster discovery of intrinsic worth, individual speciality and thereby the unending possibility of intellectual, mental, emotional and spiritual development.
There is need for the recognition and celebration of demonstrated competence and awareness of values within a system based – not on freedom as initially conceptualised by Plato, or equality as articulated by Marx and Ingles, but of a system based on justice – the most delicate of balances between the individual and society. The happy medium as described in the Qur’an.
And was it not Rumi who said “the middle path is the way to wisdom”?
This quest for balance led to the emergence of value systems – ethical codes or guidelines for daily life – some of which we recognise as religions.
Whether we believe they were revealed through divine intervention, as is upheld in Islam and Catholicism, or rather championed by visionaries or opportunists, as is maintained in more secular schools of thought, the fact remains these systems emerged at different times and in different civilisations around the globe.
All the while, indeed, sometimes seemingly in parallel, mankind has marched on, dreaming of perfection and the evolution of superman, as was considered by Dewey, Shaw and Nietzsche. Some see the development process as linear progression, while others advocate cyclic tendencies and act accordingly.
And yet here we are today – a diverse and yet dominant species who (as identified by Sayed Ashraf) have been able to mirror the characteristics of our Creator in our understanding of ourselves, our interaction with our fellow man and even the physical environment.
Yet still, the deeper we delve the more we recognise the mastery and stunning precision of the workings of a Higher Being, as was acknowledged by Bertrand Russell and even more recent counterparts.
We run the risk, however, of undermining those very principles and beliefs we have fought so hard to define and preserve. As we move in this age from the rational to the empirical, we must strive to ensure that these values and beliefs are not only transmitted but internalised so as to foster discovery of intrinsic worth, individual speciality and thereby the unending possibility of intellectual, mental, emotional and spiritual development.
There is need for the recognition and celebration of demonstrated competence and awareness of values within a system based – not on freedom as initially conceptualised by Plato, or equality as articulated by Marx and Ingles, but of a system based on justice – the most delicate of balances between the individual and society. The happy medium as described in the Qur’an.
And was it not Rumi who said “the middle path is the way to wisdom”?
Friday, 21 September 2007
Pursuing Individual Freedom for Collective Progress
(The following is a speech delivered to an educational institution on the occasion of Emancipation in the Caribbean - a celebration of the end of slavery. Presentations by departments featured Freedom Fighters from various continents)
We have chosen to focus on the freedom fighter – and that is admirable in its recognition of the contribution of individuals to the progression of humankind. It is also serendipitous that I am asked, having been associated with the Centre for Leadership, wherein we can appreciate the challenges in influencing the behaviour – and in many instances the will of people – to effect change.
We have heard from the various centres on the struggles of people throughout the world, and whilst it suggests that trouble; problems and challenges that we may wrestle with are common to persons on the other end of the earth, it also gives hope that in every instance there were persons with the fortitude, the drive to see things the way they should be and then go to whatever means to realise their visions – even if it costs them their lives – even, in fact, their knowing that they may never live to see the results.
But the challenges they faced are as diverse as their approaches to resolve. It is in recognition of this fact that I focus on the changes in the forms of domination over the ages of man.
Firstly there was physical control – accentuated by firstly strategies to conquer and later on developments in weaponry. But the downtrodden outnumbered the privileged, and the control was not sustainable. Then the domination evolved into political control, and took root. But the migration throughout the globe to some version of a democratic model – 1 individual:1 vote - meant that again the vastly outnumbered privileged class could not sustain their power and control.
They found infinitely more success in their economic mechanisms, and the lower classes of society were suddenly caught in conflict between castigating the opportunists and aspiring to their luxuries. The opposition has been and still is growing – but has been unable to date to effectively curb the advances made through economic penetration.
The single visionary hope of the non-aligned movement has faltered, and bi and multilateral trade has been dominated by the forces in power. Ironically, the economic mechanism on the macro level was and is still being fuelled by the economics at the micro level – individual greed and the thirst that perpetuates corruption.
Today, the mechanism of domination has emerged seemingly based on people’s aspirations to comfort – and is wielded under the banner of culture and social conformity. Today, we are barraged through the media with foreign values that appeal to the 'Id' in us all.
And this barrage has broadened in scope as it has delved in depth.
It has accompanied the media interfaces of the technological applications that have meshed into the very fabric of our lives – making us slaves to its lure. It has become distilled to almost the subconscious, leading us on to arrive at those very conclusions that would perpetuate our submission.
And how can we resist? When values and norms are in question, and the real becomes the ideal, the only avenue open to us is the power of the idea. The idea of a new ideal – one that would elevate and sustain the lives of the common man. The idea of a balance between our individual rights and responsibilities to our fellow human beings. The idea of being the pivot in the ever-changing struggle for equity and equality. Essentially, the idea of justice.
This is how we endure. We can be robbed of our liberty and our justice. We can be butchered outright or in slow, spiralling cycles. But we can never be deprived of our thoughts. Ideas. The singular infection that can override the shackles of restriction and the imposed ceilings of compliance.
The real power is the power to think. The power to choose. And action will follow. Naturally.
We have chosen to focus on the freedom fighter – and that is admirable in its recognition of the contribution of individuals to the progression of humankind. It is also serendipitous that I am asked, having been associated with the Centre for Leadership, wherein we can appreciate the challenges in influencing the behaviour – and in many instances the will of people – to effect change.
We have heard from the various centres on the struggles of people throughout the world, and whilst it suggests that trouble; problems and challenges that we may wrestle with are common to persons on the other end of the earth, it also gives hope that in every instance there were persons with the fortitude, the drive to see things the way they should be and then go to whatever means to realise their visions – even if it costs them their lives – even, in fact, their knowing that they may never live to see the results.
But the challenges they faced are as diverse as their approaches to resolve. It is in recognition of this fact that I focus on the changes in the forms of domination over the ages of man.
Firstly there was physical control – accentuated by firstly strategies to conquer and later on developments in weaponry. But the downtrodden outnumbered the privileged, and the control was not sustainable. Then the domination evolved into political control, and took root. But the migration throughout the globe to some version of a democratic model – 1 individual:1 vote - meant that again the vastly outnumbered privileged class could not sustain their power and control.
They found infinitely more success in their economic mechanisms, and the lower classes of society were suddenly caught in conflict between castigating the opportunists and aspiring to their luxuries. The opposition has been and still is growing – but has been unable to date to effectively curb the advances made through economic penetration.
The single visionary hope of the non-aligned movement has faltered, and bi and multilateral trade has been dominated by the forces in power. Ironically, the economic mechanism on the macro level was and is still being fuelled by the economics at the micro level – individual greed and the thirst that perpetuates corruption.
Today, the mechanism of domination has emerged seemingly based on people’s aspirations to comfort – and is wielded under the banner of culture and social conformity. Today, we are barraged through the media with foreign values that appeal to the 'Id' in us all.
And this barrage has broadened in scope as it has delved in depth.
It has accompanied the media interfaces of the technological applications that have meshed into the very fabric of our lives – making us slaves to its lure. It has become distilled to almost the subconscious, leading us on to arrive at those very conclusions that would perpetuate our submission.
And how can we resist? When values and norms are in question, and the real becomes the ideal, the only avenue open to us is the power of the idea. The idea of a new ideal – one that would elevate and sustain the lives of the common man. The idea of a balance between our individual rights and responsibilities to our fellow human beings. The idea of being the pivot in the ever-changing struggle for equity and equality. Essentially, the idea of justice.
This is how we endure. We can be robbed of our liberty and our justice. We can be butchered outright or in slow, spiralling cycles. But we can never be deprived of our thoughts. Ideas. The singular infection that can override the shackles of restriction and the imposed ceilings of compliance.
The real power is the power to think. The power to choose. And action will follow. Naturally.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Be Yourself
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar WildeIt's quite possibly the most commonly used phrase in the history of advice: Be yourself. But it's such a vague adage. What do they really mean when they tell you to be yourself? And is it really as easy as it sounds?
Find yourself. You can't be yourself if you don't know, understand, and accept yourself first.
Stop caring about how people perceive you. The fact is, it really doesn't matter. It's impossible to be yourself when you're caught up in wondering "Do they think I'm funny? Does he think I'm fat? Does she think I'm stupid?" To be yourself, you've got to let go of these concerns and just let your behavior flow, with only your consideration of others as a filter—not their consideration of you.
Be honest and open. What have you got to hide? You're an imperfect, growing, learning human being. If you feel ashamed or insecure about any aspect of yourself—and you feel you have to hide those parts of you, whether physically or emotionally—then you have to come to terms with that and learn to convert your so-called flaws into individualistic quirks.
Relax. Stop worrying about the worst that could happen, especially in social situations. So what if you fall flat on your face? Or get spinach stuck in your teeth? Learn to laugh at yourself both when it happens and afterwards. Turn it into a funny story that you can share with others. It lets them know that you're not perfect and makes you feel more at ease, too.
Develop and express your individuality. Whether it's your sense of style, or even your manner of speaking, if your preferred way of doing something strays from the mainstream, then be proud of it.
Have a Productive Day. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and that some days, you're the statue. People might raise eyebrows and even make fun, but as long as you can shrug and say "Hey, that's just me" and leave it at that, people will ultimately respect you for it, and you'll respect yourself.
There's a difference between being yourself and being inappropriately unrestrained. You might have your opinions, dreams, and preferences, but that doesn't mean you have to disrespect others by forcing them to acknowledge your views.
If fads or trends strike your fancy, don't avoid them! Being yourself is all about reflecting who you are inside in what you do, and what you like is what you like, no matter how trendy it is (or not trendy, for that matter)!
As the famous song goes, "Life's not worth a damn until you can say, I am what I am" - when you can sincerely say it, you will know that you can be yourself.
Just because you don't care about how people perceive you doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of it, especially in situations where being yourself might be misinterpreted. For example, you might enjoy being friendly and flirtatious, but in some cultures, that might be perceived as a sexual invitation, and you could get yourself in trouble.
Find yourself. You can't be yourself if you don't know, understand, and accept yourself first.
Stop caring about how people perceive you. The fact is, it really doesn't matter. It's impossible to be yourself when you're caught up in wondering "Do they think I'm funny? Does he think I'm fat? Does she think I'm stupid?" To be yourself, you've got to let go of these concerns and just let your behavior flow, with only your consideration of others as a filter—not their consideration of you.
Be honest and open. What have you got to hide? You're an imperfect, growing, learning human being. If you feel ashamed or insecure about any aspect of yourself—and you feel you have to hide those parts of you, whether physically or emotionally—then you have to come to terms with that and learn to convert your so-called flaws into individualistic quirks.
Relax. Stop worrying about the worst that could happen, especially in social situations. So what if you fall flat on your face? Or get spinach stuck in your teeth? Learn to laugh at yourself both when it happens and afterwards. Turn it into a funny story that you can share with others. It lets them know that you're not perfect and makes you feel more at ease, too.
Develop and express your individuality. Whether it's your sense of style, or even your manner of speaking, if your preferred way of doing something strays from the mainstream, then be proud of it.
Have a Productive Day. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and that some days, you're the statue. People might raise eyebrows and even make fun, but as long as you can shrug and say "Hey, that's just me" and leave it at that, people will ultimately respect you for it, and you'll respect yourself.
There's a difference between being yourself and being inappropriately unrestrained. You might have your opinions, dreams, and preferences, but that doesn't mean you have to disrespect others by forcing them to acknowledge your views.
If fads or trends strike your fancy, don't avoid them! Being yourself is all about reflecting who you are inside in what you do, and what you like is what you like, no matter how trendy it is (or not trendy, for that matter)!
As the famous song goes, "Life's not worth a damn until you can say, I am what I am" - when you can sincerely say it, you will know that you can be yourself.
Just because you don't care about how people perceive you doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of it, especially in situations where being yourself might be misinterpreted. For example, you might enjoy being friendly and flirtatious, but in some cultures, that might be perceived as a sexual invitation, and you could get yourself in trouble.
Find Yourself
Do not let other people influence who you are. Don't talk bad about people because other people do.
Be yourself and make sure no one Influences who you are. It will make finding yourself even harder since people are influencing who you THINK you are.
Forget about what everyone else thinks you should do. The biggest obstacle to finding yourself is feeling like you have to mould yourself to other people's expectations. While you might not want to disappoint the people close to you, remember that if they really care about you, they'll want you to be happy--and who finds happiness as a puppet? As long as you continue to exist to fulfill other people's ideas of who you should be, you'll never know who you want to be. Remember, "He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." -Raymond Hull
Find solitude. Get away from the expectations, the conversations, the noise, the media, and the pressure. Take some time each day to go for a long walk and think. Plant yourself on a park bench with a notebook and write. Take a long, thoughtful road trip. Whatever you do, move away from anything that distracts you from contemplating your life and where you want it to go.
Ask yourself every question in the book, questions that are difficult, that dare to look at the big pictures, such as:
If I had all the resources in the world - if I didn't need to make money - what would I be doing with my day to day life and why? Perhaps you'd be painting, or writing, or farming, or exploring the Amazon rainforest. Don't hold back.
What do I want to look back on my life and say that I never regretted? Would you regret never having traveled abroad? Would you regret never having asked that person out, even if it meant risking rejection? Would you regret not spending enough time with your family when you could? This question can be particularly difficult for some people.
If you had to choose three words to describe the kind of person you'd love to be, what would those words be? Adventurous? Loving? Open? Honest? Hilarious? Optimistic? Realistic? Motivated? Resilient? Don't be afraid to pick up a thesaurus.
Write down your answers. Beyond your time alone, it's easy for these thoughts to slip to the back of your mind and be forgotten. If you have them written down, then every time you reflect, you can review your notes and take it a step further, instead of answering the same questions all over again.
Act upon your new-found self-knowledge. Pick up those watercolors. Write a short story. Plan a trip to Fiji. Have dinner with a family member. Start cracking jokes. Open up. Tell the truth.
Whatever it is that you've decided you want to be or do, start being and doing it now.
Be ready for dead ends. Finding yourself is a journey, not a destination. A lot of it is trial and error. That's the price you pay in return for the satisfaction you receive: More often than not, you hit a bump in the road, and sometimes you fall flat on your face. Be prepared to understand and accept that this is a part of the process, and commit to getting right back up and starting over. It's not going to be easy--it never has been for anybody - but if you learn to see that as a chance to prove how much you want to find yourself, then you'll find fulfillment and security in your pursuit.
When you are yourself, then everyone will respect you more and treat you kindly.
Be yourself and make sure no one Influences who you are. It will make finding yourself even harder since people are influencing who you THINK you are.
Forget about what everyone else thinks you should do. The biggest obstacle to finding yourself is feeling like you have to mould yourself to other people's expectations. While you might not want to disappoint the people close to you, remember that if they really care about you, they'll want you to be happy--and who finds happiness as a puppet? As long as you continue to exist to fulfill other people's ideas of who you should be, you'll never know who you want to be. Remember, "He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." -Raymond Hull
Find solitude. Get away from the expectations, the conversations, the noise, the media, and the pressure. Take some time each day to go for a long walk and think. Plant yourself on a park bench with a notebook and write. Take a long, thoughtful road trip. Whatever you do, move away from anything that distracts you from contemplating your life and where you want it to go.
Ask yourself every question in the book, questions that are difficult, that dare to look at the big pictures, such as:
If I had all the resources in the world - if I didn't need to make money - what would I be doing with my day to day life and why? Perhaps you'd be painting, or writing, or farming, or exploring the Amazon rainforest. Don't hold back.
What do I want to look back on my life and say that I never regretted? Would you regret never having traveled abroad? Would you regret never having asked that person out, even if it meant risking rejection? Would you regret not spending enough time with your family when you could? This question can be particularly difficult for some people.
If you had to choose three words to describe the kind of person you'd love to be, what would those words be? Adventurous? Loving? Open? Honest? Hilarious? Optimistic? Realistic? Motivated? Resilient? Don't be afraid to pick up a thesaurus.
Write down your answers. Beyond your time alone, it's easy for these thoughts to slip to the back of your mind and be forgotten. If you have them written down, then every time you reflect, you can review your notes and take it a step further, instead of answering the same questions all over again.
Act upon your new-found self-knowledge. Pick up those watercolors. Write a short story. Plan a trip to Fiji. Have dinner with a family member. Start cracking jokes. Open up. Tell the truth.
Whatever it is that you've decided you want to be or do, start being and doing it now.
Be ready for dead ends. Finding yourself is a journey, not a destination. A lot of it is trial and error. That's the price you pay in return for the satisfaction you receive: More often than not, you hit a bump in the road, and sometimes you fall flat on your face. Be prepared to understand and accept that this is a part of the process, and commit to getting right back up and starting over. It's not going to be easy--it never has been for anybody - but if you learn to see that as a chance to prove how much you want to find yourself, then you'll find fulfillment and security in your pursuit.
When you are yourself, then everyone will respect you more and treat you kindly.
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