March 17, 2016
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WHY?
I am always asked about my posts and articles that I write. People ask me why I live in the past so much. Why I talk about my youth and childhood, and why I always bring the Indian part of my life on to these pages.
How can I not live in the past? It is here, in my heart, always. It beats in my chest and runs in my blood. So what that I left my beautiful land and moved onto another lap of the same earth? So what if there are thousands of miles between this and that? So what that this land is called the Land of Opportunity, and wealth and opulence?
The land I came from, did not view color as the make or break of the human existence. The land I belonged to, had peace in the hearts of the people it cradled. It taught respect and genuine humility. It taught love. And love came naturally. When you look into the eyes of the people in India, you saw compassion, you saw longing to understand a different culture, you saw hospitality and you saw a mother’s and a father’s love. Men and women who ran for various Government posts, recognized their limits; I am sure there was corruption to a certain extent. But no one insulted another human being for his disability, or color or race or religion.
Today I sit here and watch the treasonous speeches by so called moguls of the nation, and I cringe. And I wonder, why did I come here? How could this land be the land of love and compassion and understanding, which I grew up with? I cannot even begin to compare the two lands. I want to go back to my land of the beautiful green paddy fields, and large shady trees, where travelers sat and rested and shared each other’s food.
Do you know now why I live in the past and write about the other land so much and so often? Come live within the four chambers of this old heart and feel what it feels, and then you will know the reasons for all the why’s of this land!
March 16th 2016.
Comments (9)
As I said elsewhere, you are a blessing and a credit to this country.
Thank you.
I enjoy your voyages of the heart. Having only known this country, I vicariously make the trip to other worlds and other times through the words you and others provide. I have to agree that the current political climate is - unsavory. I am hopeful that common sense and human decency prevail.
You, with the guidance of sage advise from your parents, and your education, are a brilliant star in this time of indecision and helplessness. I have poured my heart out on xanga and on xanga Posts on facebook, every so often, and just hope that I am far away from being disappointed. One bad fruit can certainly make other fruits in the basket go rotten. Love and hugs my dear friend.
Yes, you are right. I wonder what many people who came from totalitarian countries feel like too? It's sad and disgusting, the language and the rhetoric. Praying every day is a good thing for me. I believe with all four chambers of my heart that God is watching and there is poetic justice for everyone. Thanks for your thoughts.
Faith and prayer have helped me a lot too Miriam. I appreciate your kind words. Thank you.
I am 82. 99% of my life is passed.lol I have great stories about the past. Pearl Harbor--I was 8 years old. My best friend was a Japanese American. I was married at age 22. My best man was Iranian. We were transfered to Detroit. We spent 5 years involved with inner city Black children through our church. My best male friend was a Union organizer. My best female friend othert than my wife, was my Black secretary in Michigan. We still talk.
I was raised in a multi-cultural community--mostly Mexican. Many of our family owned businesses were Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino.
I sure enjoy hearing about the country you love. I have learned about France due to a blogging friend. I have learned about India from you and my new breathing doctor is from India. My wife spent a month in Pakistan an she learned a lot.
Like Rodney King said long ago after the L.A. Riots, ''Why can't we all just get along?'
I also look at the news world wide. Awful!
This is the worst choice of candidates in our history andit is producing violent speech and civil unrest. Personally, I think we are at risk of losing everything this country has stood for.
I love your warm loving heart, Dr. Zakiah.
Blessings
Frank
Your comment was full of sustenance for me, Frank. Thank you. I enjoyed reading it, and imagining the beauty of your youth when you helped so many people and touched so many different races. Thank you for the compassion. It is such a blessing to know you.
Yes of course you should bring your life history to bear on our understanding of the present, otherwise (said the sage) we are condemned to repeat it. Today we have prejudices based on skin pigment and geography and religion, and there are still millions here in America who simply do not understand that such prejudice is evil. What went wrong? The young are supposed to want to learn from their elders. But too often the elders appear to be unreconstructed republicans.
India has a rich literary tradition spanning many thousands of years -- and although the vestiges of caste may not always produce an egalitarian society -- violence based on skin color is never serious.
You did not use the accursed word "trump" at all in your post, though I infer that you wanted to say it. Now if you decide to move to India to avoid him -- take me with you!!
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