Post-US World-Is it a threat or opportunity?

Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek has recently written that the USA was not prominent at the Davos Summit and other nations did not really miss it. He went on to state that if USA gives up the leadership of the world, it will result in chaos and doom so other nations should be careful in not giving offence to USA, lest it withdraw its involvement and co-operation in international affairs.
He has warned that 'But for those who have been fondly waiting for the waning of American dominance—be careful what you wish for'.

I think Fareed Zakaria need not lament so much the decline of America and issue predictions of doom and chaos. Intelligence and leadership is not the exclusive domain of Americans. China, India, Brazil etc have valid concerns that their growth is not being welcomed by the Western World and the bogey of Global Warming will be used to stunt their growth. Mr Zakaria should acknowledge that the present environmental disaster is more attributable to the rampant development in countries like USA, which still use most of the vital resources of the world like oil and which go to war to protect their supply. Having reached a level of comfortable living, they now want to retain their exclusive position at the cost of other countries. This is not a valid or acceptable position. And remember that USA still has not signed the Kyoto accord and its own leaders like Al Gore are beating the drums of environmental responsibility.

Leaders will emerge in other nations to take the place of USA, if it is ready to give up its dominance. USA has adopted an unilateral approach and definitely this is not going to be liked by other nations. Countries like India, Russia, China, Australia, and even the old powers of Europe have much to offer and contribute. It is for USA to engender an atmosphere of co-operation and use forums already in place to work with the Global community. But President Bush has taken USA in a separatist path and his nation has to face the consequences.

There is no point in smarting about the indifference to the absence of USA. USA can be as relevant as it wishes. If they are not ready to come to the party, the party won't stop. It will go on and others will have the fun and hangover too. The world does not require micro-managing by USA which anyway is not infallible as events have proved.

Don't be condescending, is what I say.

Debate about Maori Flag on the Harbour Bridge in Auckland

There is a beautiful tradition in Auckland to fly the flags of other Nations on their respective National Days over the Harbour Bridge in Auckland. This makes the people who came from those countries who presently live in New Zealand feel proud that this country is recognising their native land and feel proud to be living in New Zealand. And it is also a way of New Zealanders to project a friendly face to the World from this corner.

However a debate is currently on as to whether the Maori Flag should be allowed to fly over the Bridge on Waitangi Day. The objection seems to be based on the fact that Maori is not a separate Nation. New Zealand which started as a Maori Nation has morphed into a multi-cultural modern nation.

May be this is a good time to rethink the idea of a new flag for New Zealand incorporating some Maori design and our National symbols of Silver Fern and Kiwi.That will be a way to honour both the Maori and the Pakeha who have written the history of this country by their toils and contributions. I am sure the new migrants to this country who have since become citizens will also welcome the change.

It is high time New Zealand developed its own identity based on its history of multi-cultural migration to this 'Paradise on Earth', starting from the Maoris and continuing with the present day influx from all over the world.

Bush-Unrepentant and Stubborn as ever

President Bush has delivered his State of the Union message to a State which is not United in its approach to Iraq. Bush has again stood his ground and has spoken of 'Victory'. He has mentioned that he like everyone else, would like the 'war over and won'. It appears the operative word is not 'over' but 'won'. With this goal in mind, Bush is not going to relent. He has not yet faced up to his follies in starting the war, conducting it badly and not giving up when the conditions deteriorated. He has not experessed any regret for the destrucion to Iraq, the deaths of uncountable civilians and his major part in igniting a civil war there. Not to speak of USA's earlier support and propping of Saddam himself when it suited their policies. It is tragically funny that he is still seeing the war in terms of 'finishing with a victory for USA', whatever that may mean, only he knows.

The Democrats and the moderates in the Republican Party better see through this sham and take urgent steps to bring the war to an end at the earliest. There is no victory to be gained, only more deaths and destruction all around.

Nothing can justify the continuation of this illegal war. There is no shame in accepting the Big Mistake that was made and get the help of UN and other neutral countries to bring the war to an early end. I am sure that is what the American and Iraqi citizens want.

Hope better senses prevail soon.

Shilpa Shetty and her Big Brother Show

I am sure Shilpa is having all of us on by her stunt. It appears that the whole issue is being stage managed to give her an advantage. Yes there was initially some bitchy comments but this has been blown up and now people are hooked to this show and are looking for all offensive comments. And the participants are obliging by piling on the venom.

The producer must be laughing his way to the Bank and may be Shilpa will get a boost to her career as well as good money. Don't forget she is an actress and is quite capable of manipulating her way into or out of trouble. But her expressions belie her supposed anger and frustrations.

So may be she is not such a good actress after all.

In the words of Andy Warhol 'Shilpa has had her 15 minutes of fame (or shame).

It is a pity that many people are falling for this and waste their time in demonstrations and protests.

God and Religion

There is a debate going on here about a Bishop who has declared himself to be an Agnostic

I agree with the view that declaring oneself as an Atheist could be construed as being very arrogant. I think may be that is why many people who really don't believe in God like to take up the lable 'agnostic', which could also mean to be 'being indifferent' to the whole issue of God and Religion. It is not 'sitting on the fence', but incorporates the realisation that human beings as they are today do not fully know everything about the nature of things including as to how the brain functions, how thoughts originate, etc. We are still evolving and more discoveries about nature and human existence are being made. So it is perfectly alright for a rational person who does not believe in one single Superhuman being and who does not want to be shackled by the rituals of being religious to take the position of being Agnostic.

Having said that I should also say that the concept of God is understandable but the practice of Religion is unwarranted.

I agree with the author Steve Berry that religion has been created as a tool by men to manipulate and control other men and in the search for answers to many questions of the human mind, even those that are unanswerable, the unbelievable has become gospel.

This is my personal experience as well.

But as far as the Bishop here is concerned, I believe that once he has declared himself to be an Agnostic, he has no right to be in a religious institution whose bedrock is believing in God. It would be appropriate for the Bishop to resign his postion and seek his own truth elsewhere.

I visit several temples, churches etc and I am impressed by the effort and faith that have gone into their construction and maintainence. I can understand the passion of the adherents to raise monuments to honour their deities. I believe it enriches the culture and the architecture is simply great and mind-blowing, particularly in old Hindu temples, historical churches, etc.

How nice it would be if tolerance for each other's belief or non-belief spreads and all people can co-exist without trying to convert or force others into their way of thinking.

My final submission is that being religious or non-religious is a very personal thing and each person has to find his own way into or out of it.

Ashley X - The tragic decision for parents to make

It is sad to read and see the plight of Ashley, the disabled child whose growth is being stunted surgically so her parents can take care of her better. My heart goes out to all of them and it is really tragic for parents to be forced to take such drastic decisions for the protection of their child. But I can understand the compelling grounds which have forced them to take this step.

I think this is a decision that is best left to the parents. Depending on their circumstances including financial, they can decide how they want to care for their severely disabled children.
When parents are responsible for healthy children and decide on their upbringing and values teaching on a daily basis, why not let them decide about these severely disabled children too?

Unless governements can fund the care and assure life long abuse-free care for these children, the parents are the best persons to decide. The world has to be understanding of the plight of Ashley's parents and leave them alone to take care of Ashley in the best way they can.

Whatever we feel or say will be very inadequate.

Baghdad-Will it be George Bush's Waterloo ?

Congratulations to George Bush for turning an initial military victory into a grand failure in Iraq and particularly Baghdad. When the war was started the Coalition troops were able to roll into and capture Iraq in a matter of days because of the saturation bombing. But the situation in Baghdad now is very dire, after more than 3 years of occupation. The Americans are presently mired in a deeper civil war and are again using warplanes to re-capture Baghdad. May be George Bush should have learned the lesson from his father 'to quit when he was ahead'.

And now Bush is committing more troops especially with the mission to re-secure Baghdad. They are in for the toughest fight of their lives, in the mean streets of Baghdad. They better watch their back too, because many of their so-called Iraqi friends from the Shiite community swear allegiance to Iran, the arch-enemy of USA. George Bush could not have designed a worse hell for his troops.

There is also speculation that USA is playing out a grander plot to destabilise the Middle East and gain more influence in the oil-rich region to ensure supplies to USA. But it is a stretch to credit George Bush with authorship of this idea and more so the ability to bring this about. He is doing it all the wrong way and it is not possible to cause such a destabilisation programme with so many enemies in that area like Iran, Palestinians etc. America does not have the resources or determination or stamina to engage in such a long drawn-out scheme. Moreover the world has moved on and people have become smarter with better priorities and values. Countries like UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and even Saudi Arabia are ruled by intelligent rulers. This scheme is not going to be successful.

All that will happen is USA troops will get more entangled in the street fighting and either America will escalate the war with more aerial bombings or the Democrats and Public Opinion will force George Bush to beat a retreat and re-enact the Vietnam pull out. I am praying for the latter outcome as early as possible.