After life

I have been reading a lot on religions for couple of weeks now and one thing that occurs to me is a lot of religious stuff is based on after life effect - whether good or bad as in heaven or hell or more lives etc.

But I doubt if most of us are really driven by after life effects as much as the effects in this life?
I am not talking about the overtly religious ones. Just the Average Jane?

Do you think about after life in terms of your actions, in case you are the God fearing type?

I am in two minds. Over the past couple of months, everytime a serious incident flares up, I feel like I shouldnt upset myself  more by writing about it or may be I should even stop reading these sort of news. But the another voice says this is exactly why this sort of space exists - to vent. 

A shiver ran through my spine as I recalled the killing of 12 year old son of Prabhakaran by the Srilankan Army. His face as he eats the biscuits - the innocence - I feel we are all somehow responsible for letting down the 12 year old's faith!

I dont support LTTE( god knows they have killed many more 12 year olds and that too tamils!) And I will never support terrrorist orgs but Srilankan army is one too!

Irrelevant to the current turmoil, actually even before the viswaroopam started, I have been reading up on Middle east and where they stand in terms of religious tolerance.

What surprises me there is, that the freedom that was enjoyed by Women in this country as late as 80s is deteriorated now.

I think first time I heard this was in Afghan, more than a decade ago, I have read how Women used to go out and work up until early90s and now, we all know the situation there.

This surprises me because you are used to the notion of Progressive ideas as years roll by - especially true in 20th century. Yet in some of these Islam countries even though things must have definitely improved , it deteriorated in 80s. Puzzling, right?

What I suspect is,usually there is always the intellectual group, a small group in every country. In the initial years of forming of countries, they seem to have an upper hand in the direction of the country. But eventually, the majority opinion - which could be easily leered off by fundamentalists, sets in and they take it back to stone age era.

It still puzzles me.

How is it relevant? To me the idea of these countries being this backward is disturbing, even more disturbing because they believe this is the way, the right way and want to evangelize others too.

WILL IT HAPPEN TO US TOO? ( that is the scary part).

****

Religion should have no Role in public life. There cant be any debate, whether it is hinduism/Islam/Christainity - there should be no space for it in a modern day country. I judge America for the fact that they invoke God in all their Political speeches. God bless America, it seems.

If at all I get fanatic about something, it is this idea - Countries constitution without any reference to religion whatsoever, except for the freedom in a personal space.

Fake news Bakhiri

" It was decided to change the terrorist character in Viswaroopam to Subramani, by adding the Vibhuthi in forehead and a poonal graphically.

Rahul Gandhi welcomed the move, as for a long time he had been talking about hindu terrorism without proof and he hoped this Movie would serve as a good proof of existence of hindu terrorism.

Muslim groups said it doesnt matter that there are not hindu terrorist in Afghanistan, but the movie is secular.

" -
Fake News that isnt far from reality. 

Kadal

http://youtu.be/8ddbF1PtUlo

Music is pretty awesome, especially for songs with diamond pearl's lyrics, the music just surrounds the words. On the non-diamon pearl songs, the elay keechan doesnt follow up what the opening promises and I havent really warmed up to the rest of the songs.

But movie-wise, Orey Masala feel is coming, no? 

I mean Gautham and Tulsi come across good. Note how Tulsi doesnt have the scary looking eyebrows of her sister, that alone made me breathe a sigh of relief. Arjun is such a typical villian, I think I can already predict a story line.

On the other hand,  I was fairly disappointed with Raavan. In the book, "Conversations with Maniratnam", he specifies how that is how he always wanted to make a film. Which is fine just not my cup of tea. So wasnt looking forward to Kadal as much. While this isnt that sort of movie, the trailer isnt convincing me of an exciting movie.

But in Maniratnam, we trust.

By the way, do you think Tulsi's sister's eyebrows are natural. If it is artificial, why would some one do that to their own face?

Rashomon

Indian News: India says Pakistani military* ambushed at night, attacked its soldiers and beheaded them.

Pakistani news:Pakistan says its military** didnt behead anyone and Indian soldiers killed Pakistan's soldiers.

US news: India and Pakistan have a border tussle, both have nuclear capabilities,said the report in a small corner where nobody can see.
The headlines of the day spoke of a us citizen being bitten by a Afghani mosquito so US is going to wage  a war against IROCK.( Iraq for the literates).


* seems to be independent of Pakistan Govt or any responsible institution, no?
** considering the first * how would the Pakistan government know anything about its military? 

Father of the year, no?

"All fathers should do their best to instil confidence in their daughters. They should make them independent. They should not cower behind this incident."

- that is the father of the girl who died in the delhi rape incident speaking. 


PS: this should be the last post on this incident, hopefully. I dont have it in me to read anymore on this. No parent should ever have to endure this sort of pain. I mean all the effort in bringing her up for this????? God!