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By Seori Autar |
In any case, I am amazed at how long it has taken for the current war on Terrorism to subside. I think all this bloodshedding and hate must not sit well with the Earth; she must be feeling very burdened. In some parts of the world, people worship the earth as a Goddess - considering her a nurturer, maintainer and provider of life, grains, water, and sustainer of life. The Atharva Veda 12.1.1 (one of the four Vedas - most ancient writings) says, "High truth, unyielding order, consecration, ardor and prayer and holy ritual uphold the earth; may she, the ruling mistress of what has been and what will come to be, for us spread wide a limitless domain" (Vedic Experience p.123.)
As it is, New Yorkers are under enough duress since September 11, 2001. Many have turned to spirituality for solace, while others have taken to the 'free sex,' drinking and revenge binge to get the stress off their mind; but some have decided to become agnostic. I don't blame anyone; it is their individual journey - which has to be taken in time. I was recently babysitting a 3-year old child, enjoying her innocent chattering and sweetness when it dawned on me that we were all sweet innocent 3-year olds at one time bereft of any hate, malice. I began to wonder, could a lack of spirituality cause discrimination? Maybe not. There are the likes of Schulz who go around addressing non-christians as Pagans, instigating desegregation (in respect to the Interfaith prayer ceremonies at the Stadium.) So much for innocence.
It's appropriate to ask - what triggers violence? Psychology 101 tells us that depression and mental illness leads to erratic behaviors and self-destructive tendencies. Accordingly, depression is caused by socio-politico elements like poverty, lack of power, suppression, low self-esteem stemming from early childhood problems. But these days, no one is exempt from the pulls of depression whether rich or poor. In fact, the rich seem to be more depressed. Even countries are depressed, especially during war.
It would seem that typical third world countries like Guyana are likely to get caught in violence since poverty and low self-esteem still persist there. But Guyana has every reason to be proud of its talented daughters and sons scattered all over the globe, shining like diamonds of the Demerara with their outstanding professional and academic achievements. Slavery and Indentureship days seem like a distant history as Guyana steps up to economic prosperity, rejuvenating its productive ties with businesses abroad and blooming export opportunities. Yet, recent ethnic group violence against Indians has reached noticeable levels in Guyana; which makes one wonder - is it possible to still be swept by the tides of hate even after 20-30 years? Instead of building the country and its self-esteem, the country is being degenerated. What is preventing the school of elite, educated and affluent Afro-Guyanese from seeking a better solution to their political grievances? What is preventing them from conducting peaceful talks and negotiations with Indo-Guyanese? Aren't these the ways of a democratic people? Are Afro-Guyanese being puppeted by other manipulative hands?
It's a similar situation at the Indian-Pakistan border - where Kashmir is getting the brunt of everyone's grievances. Acting like puppets, Pakistan keeps agitating the natural hormones of India and both countries are ready to kill each other instead of talking. They poke at each other, depending on who is pulling the puppet string. During a recent conversation, a New Yorker blurted to me, "India should just nuke Pakistan! They have prepared the weapon already. There are too many people in that part of the world."
So who will worry about the violence against Indians in Guyana? Perhaps Guyanese themselves should. Third world lives are very cheap you see. Yet the third worlders do not hesitate to abuse each other, buying into a trap that only sinks them further. Resorting to violence and disparity only pushes us further down into the abyss of economic depression. The faster we wake up and smell the curry, the better it is for us and the quicker we will wash the "Third World mentality" from our hair.
In New York, Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese compatriots seem to get along just fine as we bond together in hard work, paying those hard earned tax dollars with due diligence, pushing for our piece of the American pie. In Guyana, we were educated about Slavery and Indentureship in Primary School, so you grew up understanding your parents' struggles. But nowhere in the US education system is the history of Slavery inculcated in primary studies. Yet a portion of African-Americans have maneuvered their existence here in steady progression earning their way throughout; many Blacks are in Political Office in various American States.
Having sex in public is usually reserved for animals. Even then, animals seem to have some reservations as well these days. I wonder what sort of sophisticated outstanding achievement this is and what it is supposed to represent? What sort of Afro-Guyanese men would force an Indo-Guyanese woman to perform oral sex in public? Has Guyana regressed back to Pre-Christian times? What would Halle Berry and Opray Winfrey say to this?
It must be difficult to shake off the 'third world' mentality as old habits die hard. But we could always try. I end with the eloquent lines of Lalleshwari, a Kashmiri Poetess of the 13th Century:
The soul, like the moon,
Is new, and always new again.
And I have seen the ocean
Continuously creating.
Since I scoured my mind
And my body, I too am new,
Each moment new
-Lalleshwari (1320-1390 AD)