Wednesday, November 19, 2008

how many worlds??

the last two days have thrown at us, a series of questions and really important questions. There's been so much happening in the world, there are so many different times in the world, and I don't just mean time-zones but the state of civilizations. There were concentration camps, which were ghastly, and this could be an understatement. The atrocities that gypsies, jews, homosexuals amongst other non-Nazi or non-Fascist people went through were ofcourse macabre, but the depiction in the films that I have seen today, they seem almost inconceivable.

What is more disturbing that while so many things around us are happening, we live in such isolation with each other. Ofcourse there is a lot of fascination in thinking what must be going on in a relatively low-key geography say Nicaragua or Kazakhstan, but surely we all live in different times, because we have different problems, big and small and different insecurities, big and small to deal with.
But sometimes our daily blithe lives, with a little bit of sport and good food and lectures and assignments and trips and facebook seem so insignificant or ill-deserved and petty in front of such insufferable insults that countries and political systems and civilians and armies and children and lovers have been afflicted with.


The problem might be of too much complacency. Like Mathew says, we think we're above the system. That there are problems that can't reach us. But the more we feel less remote to them, the more sensitive we can become. I am restless, but the storms in my mind come and go. They don't cause much damage, meaning, no sooner that things touch me, than they settle. And there is little I end up doing about something that affected and overwhelmed me so completely just some time back. Not that I'm already back living it up, but I will still become more conforming than I'd liked to be.
That perhaps also makes me more hypocritical than anything else. Just hypothetically, i'd like to see how different I'd be if I were to be the things I can't contemplate being, but I defend and things that don't enjoy acceptance or tolerance in my neighbourhood. I don't think I can spell those things out here, but maybe it could make sense with more than one context.

Also the panoramic view looks vastly different from the much more closer look at life and discoveries of it. While one could try to know everything in this world, there are also the little happinesses and comforts of the family and friends that you could live for. People could come, enjoy themselves like drunks, mind their business and only their own, mix with neighbours and friends and go watch films with children and then with a lot of peace also depart.

What amazes me that everyday, I note down some things about which I'd like to go back and learn more. So there are limitless possibilities. And everyday, there are some things that are completely overpowering and sweeping. There are books and books to read, films and films to watch and art and more of it to appreciate and critique.
But i will never know enough to do anything about many things. At most I can hold views, change them every now and then but at any point of time, also hold them. But I hate to be passive. I have to respond to nature, to media, to films and to problems around me. I have to be more courageous in holding out my opinion. I also have to be much more curious. I have to be less lazy and more responsible for myself. I have to explore much more with my being, invest in my life, and 100% so. I have to stretch and stretch. And I have to also coil up in bed, reading something nice and listening perhaps to 'lay down beside me', thinking about things and people that are loved immensely.

So ofcourse there are concerns and commotions but be assured- the best is yet to be. A little bit of morning, melody, peace, sweetness and happiness every day, every place.

Later

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