Pray for peace in Korea

After 60 years of absence of war (I will not call it 'peace'), the two Koreas have once again erupted into a violent escalation of conflict that could lead to war.

On this dangerous situation, I urge all people to pray for peace. The last thing the world needs is another useless, senseless, bloody war.

Let us hope that the situation cools down without escalating into a full blown war.

President John F. Kennedy - his legacy intact 47 years after his assassination

President John F. Kennedy

November 22, 1963 - 47 years ago today, was the day that President John Fitzgerald Kennedy fell prey to the bullets of an assassin or possibly assassins in Dallas, Texas.

Several books, articles and movies (most famous being 'JFK' by Oliver Stone) have depicted this event in detail. All kinds of theories abound about where the assassin fired from and killed the beloved president. But now the more important thing to talk about, in my mind, is not who killed him, why and from where because the fact is that JFK died on that Friday afternoon in Dallas. What is important is to look at the things he said during his two years, ten months and two days as president of the United States.

President Kennedy talked about and worked towards creating a peaceful planet and his presence in the Oval Office during the thirteen crucial days in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis could possibly be the reason why civilization still exists today. His handling of the situation most certainly prevented a nuclear holocaust in 1962.

Kennedy also talked about going to the moon, exploring the stars, conquering the deserts and the oceans.  His speeches even now resonate with the deep desire burning inside hearts to live with a purpose, to do something special for humanity and to serve our nations to the best of our ability. Many of JFK quotations are famous and many of these are from his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, but the passages below are the last few paragraphs of that speech and I would like to quote them:

"Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." In particular, I like the last sentence "asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." So, today being the 47th anniversary of the day he passed on from this Earth, let us look at the things that matter. What kind of a world do we live in today? What kind of a world do we want to live in? And what can each and every one of us do to play our roles in achieving that goal?

Comments on President Barack H. Obama's address to the Indian Parliament on November 8, 2010

President Barack H. Obama

I think it takes a lot of courage and humility for a President of the USA to say that he is there as president because of Mahatma Gandhi. It was also very nice that he mentioned Dr. Ambedkar and also spoke about that India is not just an emerging power, but a power that has emerged. However, we also need to hear what he said about India being a bit docile in the international forums (this was in reference to Burma). We need to understand as Indians that if we are truly a "global power" we need to start acting like a global power and not restrict our critical foreign policy statements to Pakistan.

Documentary on Barack Obama's rise to power

Happy Diwali everyone!

President Barack Obama

Since today is Diwali, I was at home relaxing in the afternoon when I decided to watch an HBO documentary about Barack Obama called, 'By The People: The Election of Barack Obama'. (link here)

This was a very well made documentary and basically is about the people involved in Obama's campaign in his dramatic rise to prominence between 2004-2008. Anybody who doubts their own capability or thinks that because of their colour, religion, gender, etc. they cannot succeed, must watch this documentary.

It portrays the indomitable spirit of a man who despite being African-American., despite having an usual name which rhymes with Osama and has Hussein as a middle-name, despite having very little political experience, managed to capture the imagination of a nation and was elected the 44th President of the United States of America.

Irrespective of whether you are a supporter of Obama or not, who cannot remain unmoved and uninspired by his meteoric rise to power and international super-celebrity status even before he was elected president.

The show features both the highs and the lows of the campaign - the high being Iowa and the low being New Hampshire primaries and the controversy about Obama's pastor. In it you will see how a man who is determined to succeed and does not quit even in the face of the highest challenge is able to overcome all these challenges and succeed.

I would recommend this documentary. I bought it from Crossword at the Select City Walk Mall in Saket, but I am sure that it is available in many other places as well.

Interestingly, I watched this show on the eve of President Obama's arrival in India.