Category: General (Page 3 of 5)

In my journey, I hope to understand these inconsistencies. If I can never reconcile religious doctrines – from any religion – with my sense of justice and fair play, then I will have to question the authenticity, see whether there is a context that I did not comprehend, seek divine revelation – or discard those beliefs.

However, I just cannot dispose of a belief in God. I can discard concepts or teachings that seem blatantly unjust or at odds with a benevolent God, but the complexity of life leaves no room in my mind for life without a Creator.

Laughter often does not flow as naturally as tears do, for life has many things to make one cry, but laughter is what compensates and keeps one wanting to continue the journey.

Collectively, we may have entered the supersonic age and become sophisticated space explorers. We may have collectively advanced intellectually, technologically, and in the fight against major diseases and in the battle against many natural and man-made catastrophes.

But in our midst there still continue to be barbarism, hatred, violence, and evil pitting groups against each other or orchestrated with a fake front using God or some other self-righteous rationale.

Take a peek at the continued hatred and violence in the Mideast, the recent history of ugly warfare in Serbia and Croatia, the violence between Hindus and Muslims in lands that once made up Old India. Remember the massacres involving the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda. And witness the heinous, vicious acts committed today in the name of God in Iraq and neighboring countries.

To be sure, historically, savagery has not resided on elements within any singular group. Almost every racial, tribal, religious, national, or other grouping of human beings has a record that is less than stellar.

It appears to be human nature among many to hate or to dislike, to fight and to acquire, to dominate and to suppress, to conquer and impose…and to use any means – including terror and barbarism – to further its ends.

The President recently made remarks comparing the present-day savagery by those using religion as a front, with barbarism committed in the name of God by adherents of another religion during the Spanish Inquisition and the notorious so-called Holy Crusades of the Middle Ages.

Indeed, such an analogy is significant in reminding us that evil exists, and has existed, among people from every corner of the planet since the beginning of recorded history.

It’s not easy to avoid getting temperamental, agitated, angry when a curve ball comes along, or to sometimes feel vanquished by the vicissitudes of life. The thing is to try to control the emotions that can create or aggravate physical or medical conditions.

Perhaps it involves simmering down when the urge is to retaliate or get angry. It might even involve applying the biblical admonition that a soft answer turns away wrath; it might mean not “winning” every argument, every fight, conceding sometimes.

Often it also means being thankful and satisfied for the blessings one already has accumulated along the way. One must stop and pause and give thanks. It’s great to be ambitious – but it’s useful too to compare one’s standing and point along the spectrum with that of peers and others who have yet to reach that mark.

The critical perspective, though, is to not get worked up emotionally and otherwise when adversity or shortfalls come along, to keep a relaxed mental state free of greed, envy, hostility, malice, turbulence, hate, and discontent.

It’s a tall order – but if it adds a few years to life or makes the rest of the journey more pleasant, and the body less impaired or sick, it will surely be worth it.

In the larger scheme of things, in the world at large, everyone – highly credentialed or not – has an awesome opportunity to make their corner of the planet a better and more enjoyable experience for as many as one comes into contact with.

By our actions, behavior, interactions with others, the impact we leave can have far-reaching effects that mean a whole lot more to more people than the possession of a string of degrees, awards, trophies, licenses, and titles.

Each day we wake up and step out into the world, we make a difference to many – neighbor, co-worker, friend, associate, cashier, fellow passenger, mailman, delivery guy, shopkeeper, doorman, guard, customer…and a host of others.

When the smoke clears and the dust settles, the little things we do each day, the courtesies we show, the kind words we say, the smile we give, the helping hand we extend – all these and many more – will do much more to make life more enjoyable, to make the world a better place, to fulfill us more, than a long list of credentials from the best institutions can ever accomplish.

We all have that power individually, whether poor or rich, humble or well to do, highly educated or not, to reach out and leave circles of brilliance and positivity that can ricochet and expand infinitely beyond our immediate radius

As a writer, I also look at the larger picture, and see myself first and foremost as a Universal Human Being. It is to this group that I give the most salutations, for it is made up of the Universal Man and the Universal Woman.

All human beings are members of this group and we all share the need for food, clothing, housing and the desire to self-actualize and to attain the maximum we can in our sojourns on this planet.

Here’s my salute to the Universal Human Being! May we all come together to make this planet the best it can be for ourselves and our progeny. May we join hands to combat the common threats we all face and to ensure a rising tide that lifts all boats, rather than a receding one that capsizes all vessels.

Growing up in Guyana, I was exposed to all kinds of music genres and to several formats – Reggae, Chutney, Asian Indian/Bollywood, American Country, Pop, Classical, solo artistes, Big Band, live performances, radio music, church choir, and a whole wide range.

People often associate some genres with specific racial, ethnic, or national backgrounds – and usually rightfully so. One must be aware, though, that a lover of good music, one who empathizes or commiserates with fellow beings around the globe, can cross boundaries and receive the story told without the limitation of time, space, or geography.

My hat’s off to all artistes who use their talent to portray life in all its manifestations – but who also are sensitive to universal standards of decorum and etiquette. As a writer myself, and an aspiring songwriter too, I do believe that while art forms and expressions must tell the tale of the human experience in all its aspects, a good artist – singer, painter, writer, musician, dancer, actor – must place self-imposed limits if they are to capture the widest range of potential listeners or readers.

May good music continue to soothe us, to liberate us, to tell the story of our struggles and victories, and sustain us as we continue the arduous journey of life.