Ramadan Mubarak.
This Ramadan has a sense of bitterness. I'm distraught by all the strange and terrible things that are taking place in our 'Ummah.' Ramadan is meant to bring me closer to the plight of others, but empathy becomes overwhelming when you have graphic pictures of Syrian homes being b!m!ed, videos of little Palestinian children being TORTURED (?!?) and arrested (?!?!?!), knowledge of drones, poverty, war, injustice all across the board.
These things you can't just shake out of your mind. I feel like a hypocrite enjoying my day, and honestly, once you are aware of genocides (Burma, anyone?), armies attacking civilians (modern 'warfare'), etc...well, you can't and shouldn't muffle that.
How much can charity help?
I remember in Alpha Bravo Charlie (desi show), a scene in which the UNICEF volunteers were donating food and domestic supplies to Bosnian families.
Their Bosnian guide, translator for the Pakistani soldiers, is standing by with a wry smile. Later she rants at the injustice and hypocrisy, about how they don't want more food from UNICEF, to simply live, only to be attacked relentlessly and destroyed at the hands of the Serbs. She is almost crazed with frustration.
'We thought when these soldiers from UNICEF came, they would help us defend ourselves and our problems would be over. Then we realized they were only there to give us food to live a little bit longer, and die the next day.'
In high school we discussed an interesting short story. I wish I remembered the title. [EDIT: I remember now--it is called The Ones Who Walk Away, and you can read it here. Plz forgive my summary below]
It describes a blissful, perfect society.
They have all they could want, the government is fair, the system is impeccable, and serves the good of all. You read about the parks, schools, happy families.
It just so happens, however, that there is a secret basement somewhere in this city. And down there, it is very dark and filthy. There lies a child, who is starved, cold, tortured, and beaten, who hasn't seen daylight.
The pain of this child is necessary, it keeps the seeming peace and order of the society. (And there is no way to get to the child or help him).
The story goes on to describe how a few people who hear of this child, simply walk away from this perfect city, this Eden. Disgusted by the brutality, they've resolved to go elsewhere, leaving behind what they are familiar with...safety, security, family.. And over time, more and more people hear about this child, and walk away from this heaven on Earth.
Most citizens manage to justify it to themselves, busy themselves with diversions, and remain. But there are always some who leave.
This Ramadan has a sense of bitterness. I'm distraught by all the strange and terrible things that are taking place in our 'Ummah.' Ramadan is meant to bring me closer to the plight of others, but empathy becomes overwhelming when you have graphic pictures of Syrian homes being b!m!ed, videos of little Palestinian children being TORTURED (?!?) and arrested (?!?!?!), knowledge of drones, poverty, war, injustice all across the board.
These things you can't just shake out of your mind. I feel like a hypocrite enjoying my day, and honestly, once you are aware of genocides (Burma, anyone?), armies attacking civilians (modern 'warfare'), etc...well, you can't and shouldn't muffle that.
How much can charity help?
I remember in Alpha Bravo Charlie (desi show), a scene in which the UNICEF volunteers were donating food and domestic supplies to Bosnian families.
Their Bosnian guide, translator for the Pakistani soldiers, is standing by with a wry smile. Later she rants at the injustice and hypocrisy, about how they don't want more food from UNICEF, to simply live, only to be attacked relentlessly and destroyed at the hands of the Serbs. She is almost crazed with frustration.
'We thought when these soldiers from UNICEF came, they would help us defend ourselves and our problems would be over. Then we realized they were only there to give us food to live a little bit longer, and die the next day.'
In high school we discussed an interesting short story. I wish I remembered the title. [EDIT: I remember now--it is called The Ones Who Walk Away, and you can read it here. Plz forgive my summary below]
It describes a blissful, perfect society.
They have all they could want, the government is fair, the system is impeccable, and serves the good of all. You read about the parks, schools, happy families.
It just so happens, however, that there is a secret basement somewhere in this city. And down there, it is very dark and filthy. There lies a child, who is starved, cold, tortured, and beaten, who hasn't seen daylight.
The pain of this child is necessary, it keeps the seeming peace and order of the society. (And there is no way to get to the child or help him).
The story goes on to describe how a few people who hear of this child, simply walk away from this perfect city, this Eden. Disgusted by the brutality, they've resolved to go elsewhere, leaving behind what they are familiar with...safety, security, family.. And over time, more and more people hear about this child, and walk away from this heaven on Earth.
Most citizens manage to justify it to themselves, busy themselves with diversions, and remain. But there are always some who leave.
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