Gender sensitisation for men

 

"They were discussing bra sizes" said my colleague in an astonished manner which immediately caught everyone's attention during our lunch hour.  "Girls are growing up too fast these days" he added and continued about how he chanced upon hearing a group of school girls discussing about their types of bras.  "Its the TV that's spoiling them", he said and we all nodded in agreement.  "They are gettting interested in all these too early", another colleague of mine added.  So, the next ten minutes passed on discussing about how girls are growing up too fast and the negative impact of this on the society and so on.

 I sat down to think, a little while later and simply found nothing wrong in those young girls discussion.  For starters, even we as young boys were very wary of when a boy started wearing underwear.  In fact we even went to the extent of announcing the day we commenced wearing underwear.  There were numerous discussions on the type (i.e frenchie, trunk etc) and the company - and all this was way back in 1980's itself.  So, in a way nothing has changed.  These discussions had existed before also.  Then I remembered overhearing my wife and my daughter also having a similar conversation, which made me wonder what was in it, which was so strange that made my colleague, make it a point of discussion during our lunch break.  Then it struck me - my colleague doesn't have daughters.  He just has three sons!! So, he has absolutely no clue  about  raising a daughter - so a perfectly normal sounding conversation for fathers with daughters sounded to be verging on sexy & abnormal to him.   And so was the the other colleague who promptly added that "They are getting interested in all these too early". 

These guys were simple and very very decent people and I am 200% sure that they didn't mean any harm while making those comments.  What actually made them say so was their ignorance about the wants of a young girl.  This incident had furthered my belief that family balancing is essential to enable every father/mother to have sufficient exposure of both sides to maintain a balanced and rational thought.  At the same time this doesn't mean that everyone with "only sons" is like this, but I have narrated a true incident, so we must understand that there are people with these kinda ideas also.

Well, guys my only request to them and all other similarly placed guys is that - A group of small girls having a discussion about their bras or their periods (or their lack of them) is perfectly normal.  Its just the same as you and me comparing sizes with our friends when we were small even in the good old days.  Its just harmless curiosity.  No need to get hyper about it, and above all, Please don't mistake that as coming of age signs and attempt something silly & perverse.

We really need to subtly educate all those men who are not really upto date with the needs of little girls!!!

The second coming of Jesus

"Jesus Christ", I exclaimed!!! as soon as I read the ordeal of the Indian dentist who was denied abortion in Ireland quoting catholic rules.

Jesus Christ, as we all know was a man who was so compasionate, kind and caring for his people that he bore the cross for their sins and ultimately gave up his life with a promise of a 'second coming'.

Today, as we read the paper with such disturbing news where a woman had been allowed to decay to death just because religious beliefs of a church founded by Jesus Christ, did not permit an abortion - we need the "second coming" more than ever and fast!!

For, only he can rid his followers of such beliefs and thoughts, For, only he can show some light to his billions of followers to shed those archaic thoughts and evolve with time.  Because, I am sure that Jesus himself would never advocate or ever let such a thing happen.

That is the only hope if, in the 21st century, Doctors themselves advocate that abortion cannot be carried out even in life saving emergencies (though the official rule book says that it can be carried out to save life, its a question of how and when to decide that the issue has become an emergency). Now a life has been lost and I was touched to see the outpouring of emotions against this draconian concept and in support of that poor lady.

This brutality by the hospital authorities or the administration is no lesser than the earlier reported where two parents have killed their child

http://recklessmusings.blogspot.in/2012/11/how-brutal-can-you-get.html

This is in fact even more brutal as they allowed the lady to suffer for days.  The earlier case involved some rural uneducated people  but in the present case it is a case of  well educated and sophisticated people being involved. Ireland is also a peculiar case where there are plenty of supporters for the anti-abortion lobby. 

Whatever the reasons (for anti abortion) of these protesters maybe, lives surely cannot be sacrificed just because abortion should not be done.

At the same time - I wonder if (late) Dr Savita's life could have been saved if her husband had approached the MEA for assistance or tried to move her to another country!! But these are big 'If's'. The MEA may  or may not have provided assistance or even the lady may have been in a critical position to be moved.

But, a bigger issue arises now!! The Bigger issue is - what happens to the law now? Does this unfortunate incident help in eradicating this draconian concept for the millions of the other ladies in Ireland?

A "second coming" need not only be in the form of another Jesus alone!! Even if the Lord infuses refreshing thoughts that are more in tune in with the needs of the humanity and contribute to their well being, in the minds of all his followers through the Catholic church or otherwise - that would be the real "second coming" - the one that would bring relief and succour to the whole of humanity.

(late) Dr savita

 May her soul rest in peace.

Mr Obama Congratulations!!

Mr Barack Obama is re-elected!!

This news item did not surprise me one bit, for I have taken it for granted that Mr Obama would prevail in this election.

Mr Obama reduced unemployment (even if marginally), introduced healthcare (obamacare), bailed out a few companies saving them from bankruptcy, did not raise taxes much etc etc.  all of which were pro-common man.  No wonder the corporate houses are unhappy by Mr Obamas victory (Both the S&P 500 and Dow finished yesterday’s trading session at their lowest levels since the beginning of August). In fact if the corporate houses are happy with a President, then he can never be a friend of the common man.  Apart from this, the Women and a diverse coaliation of Asians, Africans and other immigrants had also favoured him to Mr Romney.

Though I wouldn't get into the political rhetoric, Mr Barack Obama's job is quite cutout in as far as the common man is concerned.  Sure even the common people are also concerned with changing world order, terrorism, global warming etc etc but more importantly we need food to eat, a shelter on our heads and a decent living.

Its akin to what the iron lady of India (late) Mrs    Indira Gandhi had said a long time back - Roti (food), Makaan (house) and Kapda (clothes) are what the common man wants!!!   So Mr Obama, all you have to do is - provide more jobs and the health care as you promised for the under privileged.  If you can do that, your fellow countrymen would love you Coz no-one would want anything more than seeing their family in a safe and financially secure environment.        

And for you personally, Mr Obama - while you are on that job, we pray that you would continue to paint a pretty picture with your family.  The sight of you, Michele and your daughters, together, is truly adorable and we wish it to remain that way!!! 

May God be with you in all your endeavours to take your country and humanity forward!!

 You can read the previous post here

How Brutal can you get?

Parents kill a teenage girl with acid

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A mother and father in Pakistan occupied Kashmir killed their 15 year old daughter by dousing her with acid after seeing her talking to a young man, police said on thursday 

How brutal can you get? Killing a girl with acid? The news was so revulsive that i felt like throwing up on reading it.  

That Poor girl would have never imagined that her own mother and father who are supposed to protect her, would carry out such a dastardly and cruel act on her!!! I pray that both the parents get a similar death sentence.  They should not be hanged or electrocuted, they should get a similar sentence!!  But , in today's world I don't know if justice would prevail for common people like that little girl.

We have just one life and i really cannot understand why people cannot live and let live.  I request all sane thinking people to work towards making our world a better place by denouncing such incidents in whatever capacity they can.

I am posting a black flag for a week in sympathy with the sufferings of that little one and to symbolically protest such incidents. May her soul rest in peace