Arming Children with Guns

Yes, you read that right. Arming children with guns. I bet you are imagining children carrying large, 'bulky' things or maybe even child soldiers! As real as that may be, I am not referring to 'this' arming of children.

What I am referring to it the toy guns that children -boys seem to be prone to this- are being gifted with plastic guns as gifts or toys. I find this, unsettling!

Let me share a small incident that led me to writing this. Yesterday, I was travelling after work, and I saw this child playing with a toy gun. Holding the gun and moving around as if trying to navigate himself away from a moving enemy. Then he began to shoot! doom! doom! doom!

It disturbed me. This-a child bearing a gun-seemed wrong, somehow. I realised that by giving a child a gun, we are making them accustomed to not only carrying a weapon, but also to violence. At a deeper level, we are teaching our children to be at war with their childhood.

I am not a saint. I too am guilty of having held a 'gun' when I was small. My brother and I had water guns, and beebee guns. When we were not targeting ourselves, we used to target our unsuspecting neighbours. And we found it thrilling. I am ashamed to say that I found joy in another's pain.

This is why I can look back and say now, that giving children 'weapons' to play with and advocating violence, is wrong. Thankfully, I don't find harming others a joy any more. But will everyone who finds joy in this, change their mind?

Please, don't tell me I am blowing things out of proportion. 

Beyond Borders’ Inspirational Dansala

What comes to mind when you think of Vesak? I am sure you’re reminded of observing sil, going to the temple and worshipping, the jathaka stories, the stories from life of Lord Buddha, the importance of the Dhamma etc. I am sure that thoughts of making Vesak koodu (lanterns) at home, of the lavishly lit thoran (pandols) and dansal will run on the fringe of your mind as well.

Whilst the religious activities continued throughout the weekend, where many visited the temples to observe sil or to engage in the Dhamma, at night, the country was up in lights and music. Throngs of people walked on the roads or got in to trucks to go see Vesak. To enjoy the massive thoran which depict stories from Lord Buddha’s life or to enjoy food from a dansala.

Speaking of Dansal, the only thing that comes to a Sri Lankan’s mind is food! Various kinds of food, be it a hot meal of rice and curry or ice cream. However, this year Beyond Borders gave the word dansala and its concept, a whole new meaning! Working on the lines of inspiring, Beyond Borders decided to have an ‘Inspiration Dansala’ whereby distributing quotes from the Dhammapada, to the general public making the people more aware of the meaning behind this religious celebrations.

Joining the people on the streets of Colombo, the guys and girls from Beyond Borders gathered near the Gangarama Temple to spread the inspiration to the people. With a few hiccups at the start, the distribution of these quotes had a lovely response with some people coming behind the energetic team asking for more sticker quotes, or asking for translations!

Even though our team was a little hesitant in getting this going, we felt welcomed by the response from the people. The overall experience was overwhelming!

The original post can be found on the Beyond Borders blog.

Reminiscing

Linger in mind, he does
Hold him or not, I know not.


In my hand your hands entwined,
Is what I see, night after night.


I had you once and I let you go,
You're back again, I shouldn't let you go.


Give more time, my mind shouts,
Take the chance, my heart screams out. 

The New Low of Fairness Creams

I came across the above advertisement promoted in India for a fairness cream. I bet you're wondering as to why I plan to write about a 'fairness cream' as many ladies these days make use of it. But what's worrying about this advertisement is that it promotes a fairness cream for the vagina! 

A detailed description of the advertisement has been written by Jazebel. As stated, this advertisement is for

"... an Indian product called Clean and Dry Intimate Wash, a (very light-skinned) couple sits down for what would have been a peaceful cup of morning coffee—if the woman’s disgusting brown vagina hadn’t ruined everything!"

The message conveyed by this advertisement says that women should have fairer vaginas. This is alarming! Fairness creams are dangerous, if not life threatening. What startles me is that the cosmetic industry produces new products such as this and molds the way society should think with regard to a woman's beauty and also forces women to think and adhere to it. Thus creating the notion that women should be fair among other societal classifications to be a 'typical pretty' woman. 

Going Global speaks of the objectification of women. Surely, us women are more than objects for men to look at, touch etc. Has society forgotten that women have an intellect and can engage in intellectual conversations? Or that we have a personality, unique to each and everyone that beats their beauty? Are women only to be thought of as 'objects' and is this what society wants? What becomes of the future of women if this were to follow? Wouldn't the outcome be scary or will women blindly follow what the advertisements produced by the cosmetic brands say?

As Indi rightly states, "... [fairness creams are] unsafe, and dangerous to peoples health". Society should put a stop to the objectification of women!We as women should and ought to play a stronger role in voicing our opinion about the negativity that is created about such horrific so-called 'beauty' products! 

Born to Fly

The special lecture by H.E. Dr. Abdul Kalam, to coincide with the
 "2012 Trilingual  Policy: of Sri Lanka

He spoke to us,
As he held our gaze.
I could feel what he said,
Because he meant everything.

I could feel that I was 'born to fly'
As he instilled belief in me again.
I realised that there are great things to achieve,
As I am a unique being.

He was humourous.
He spoke about serious things,
But he was not lecturing us.
He was simply giving us the wings,
Teaching us that our wings aren't clipped
And that we can, indeed fly.

I felt grounded and humble,
As he stood there,
A man of the world, a man of great knowledge, 
Talking to us mostly, as a friend.

I know we will all fly,
Reach greater heights,
As we have been inspired,
Inspired to be a better person, an individual,
Finally, a unique Sri Lankan.

Written in appreciation of H.E. Dr. Abdul Kalam's special lecture conducted this evening, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.