Its 3:43 pm in Melbourne and its around 38 degrees centigrade. I am sitting in the library typing these words because its currently roasting in my house. The air conditioner is down. Upon contacting the landlord and explaining to him the situation that the AC is not working and the heat is clearly unbearable,he asked, " can you fix the AC", i said that i cant, to which he told me that neither can he, so just deal with the heat, and he would try to get the AC fixed as soon as possible. ( its already been two weeks). Thankfully the Lord has listened to a poor soul's prayer ( if it was me then i would be very surprised). it so happened that few minutes ago i went to this kebab shop in my uni's center to buy some kebabs, before i entered the kebab shop its was broiling, stiffling hot, after some moments when i came out of the shop i was shocked to feel no hot wind blowing on face, no warm sun, and the formerly clear blue sky had now turned grayish with the sun showing occasionally. I checked my totem, a 10 kg book laden bag, it still weighed heavy- good i am not in a dream, but how in the hell did the weather turn so fast? I had no idea and didn't want to unravel the mystery as i had my tzatziki kebab wrap to finish.
OK now let's turn towards some somber and drab chit chat. Today at Elizabeth Street i was heading towards an underground discount mart, owned by some Chinese, to unearth some hidden cheap treasures ( nail cutter, cheap shampoos, one dollar knives, 50 cent socks etc etc etc). I was near the shop when a haggard looking white man with a scrubby beard stopped me. Waving a book at my face he told me to have a book that's written by his friend who had undergone a spiritual journey which started from Australia and ended in India ( Eat Pray Love much???). I asked him the price, to which he said that it was free although donations to his friend's cause are appreciated ( can i make spiritual journey to Vegas and then ask for donations to pay for some steamy lap dance and some fun at LUXOR ? ). I pocketed the book and told him that i only had 5 cents and since he is obviously not in the situation to accept a VISA therefore I handed 5 cents over to him which he gladly pocketed. Ross ( that man) happened to be a sincere conversationalist and soon we were chatting about the world politics, Taliban, USA and Australia. He surprised me by telling that the recent elections in Australia were rigged by Washington as Julia Gillard was the "chosen one" for the Yankees. As the leaked cables reveal that USA took a keen interest in the rise of Ms Gillard, and her migration from Labor's Socialist Left faction to the party's center. The cables note that after the ALP won government in 2007, Ms Gillard sought to alter her left-wing image, particularly in asserting her credentials as a supporter of Israel and the US alliance. So much for Aussie independence. But still only the news about Pakistani politicians and generals makes it to the TV. Very few people actually notice the almost servile attitudes of UK, Australia, Germany, Italy and South Korea. During my discussion with Ross i asked him that how much he knew about Pakistan and what did he feel about Taliban? Honestly speaking, he startled me with his knowledge of Pakistan, the corrupt government Zakat system and his hatred for THE Taliban not Islam. I advised him to seek protection from WWF as people of his type are on Washington's endangered species list, which is more in the category of Extermination Lists.
Talking to Ross made me realize a fact of human history that there are three kinds of people. First, who are driven by extreme ambition and lust for all things material, and stop at nothing to achieve the ideal of paradise on earth. Then there is a second category of people who go to extremes to oppose those ambitious people but who also are ambitious for power, fame and glory. War, resistance, freedom, struggle, anarchy thus enter our vocabulary. Thus history remembers Richard and Saladin, Tipu Sultan and Duke of Wellington, The Russian, French and American Revolutions. But then there is the third category of people who offer pacifist advise and who offer critique on the ideologies of both the warring parties. These people are then expunged from history ( somewhat unsuccessfully) so that few know their work, their beliefs and their lives. Thus William James, Patrick Henry, Kant, Ibne Rushd, Ghulam Ahmad, Ibn Taymmayah, Amadou Bamba and many others remain consigned to the dustbins of history- but for how long?
Opposing the standard and dominant ideology, idea or belief is not a bad thing, Christianity and Islam started out as heretic religions who chose to dream and differ from the oppressive and unholy atmosphere of their times, so what's wrong with those who think differently? There must be wrong with those who act against those who think differently.
Talking about thinking differently, a few days ago i had a conversation with a communist named Samantha, who had erected a shabby stand in the university center where she was handing out leaflets and stuff. After a few moments i was having a discussion with her and got to know the thought of a communist and how she perceives the capitalist world of today. She told me how the socialist/communist elements would one day rise against the capitalist monarchies and then workers would rule and every body would be equal. My question was that why did socialism fail against capitalism, and why has China opted for "market socialism" ? She began to rant about the capitalist conspiracies to undermine the rise of socialism and i was somehow reminded of my interview with the Coca Cola marketing manager, who talked about Pepsi's corruption and sabotage activities to diminish its market share in Pakistan, but failed to see the black sheep in his own farm.
Whether socialism may rise or not, whether the government owns property or not, all i know is that the basic human instinct is to be free from all shackles and the ambition to rise above others. There can be a mixed socialist and capitalist state, but a pure capitalist or communist state is neither a possibility nor is practical.
Talking about breaking the shackles, good news is finally coming from Egypt. The people have finally decided to come out on the streets and protest against the US puppet Hosni Mubarak. That of course poses a dilemma for Israel whose peace pact with Egypt is of tremendous importance to its own and subsequently USA's regional interests. But if i were an Israeli i would'nt mind the change much, as Al Baradie, the IAEA's former chief and a keen USA sympathizer, has now become the bulwark of Egyptian opposition parties. One stooge replacing another is what i expect. Although if the movement is indeed Anti USA Imperialism and Hosni Mubarak, then we might witness the rise of fundamentalist groups and this might have a similar effect in the neighboring Arab countries. Israel might feel threatened and the possibility of war can't be discounted. USA's direct physical intervention is a REAL possibility and its consequences might reach Pakistan and motivate the people to rise up against the government. But who will lead all these people? that still is a matter of mystery.
Bye
Einsjam
