My Politics

Being Indian in Australia!

2009-07-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

A wonderful report by Nathasha Jog about "Being Indian in Australia!".

BRIC's First Summit

2009-06-18T03:25:00.000-07:00

I was really impressed by the article of Brazil's President Luiz Ináo Lula da Silva. It was reported in "The Hindu". A good read.. insightful.. a “time for politics”!!

Read it here.

Julia Gillard, Dyp PM, AUS on recent attacks on Indian Students

2009-06-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

A creative suggestion to improve safety of Indian students in Australia

2009-05-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is the suggestion I send today to the High Commission of India in Australia as a response to the recent violent attacks on Indian students.
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To

Mrs. Sujatha Singh
High Commissioner of India
Canberra, Australia

Sub: A creative suggestion to improve safety of Indian students in Australia - Student Settlement Services by Australian Universities.

Madam,

I represent prestigious Rajagiri group of educational institutions Kochi, Kerala, India in Australia and heads it Australian operations as the Director of “Rajagiri Australia” (www.rajagiri.com.au). Rajagiri Australia has initiated twinning programs between Rajagiri, Kochi and major Australian universities and also serves as student agent for those Australian universities in India and Australia. In the wake the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia, I got the following suggestions to make to improve safety of Indian students in Australia.

1. Insist Australian Universities to provide Student Settlement and safety-net service.

The major problem of students coming to Australia is that they don’t get any other help from universities than the CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) even after paying heavy fees. They just arrive in airport and don’t know where to go, where to settle and practically no contacts/references. In such desperation, they end up in unsafe suburbs/homes and pushed to take unsafe works and work habits, which eventually make them vulnerable targets.

The solution is to give them hospitality, settlement and reference services as they arrive to Australia. In theory the universities claim that they got these services. But in practice they just don’t have this for many reasons, like – they don’t set apart enough funds and plans for these services, they don’t have the expertise in settlement services, they simply cannot give reference services.

Agencies those have got expertise in these areas can easily provide these services. “Rajagiri Australia” is experimenting this kind of services to students coming through us in our own way. That is to provide students with airport pickup, shared accommodation facilities, availability of ongoing support through an office (presently our Melbourne office) and reference services (provide a network of people who can contact and trust).

Being a student myself, I have gone through all the troubles of student life in Australia. That is why I initiated this service. We can do it because we don’t have much monetary considerations as we are Catholic priests’ group and plan to set apart a big chunk of commission amount we get from Aus Universities(in recruiting students as an agent) to these services. But in general (for all other agencies), this is not possible. Because the commission amount is meant only for recruitment services and not enough/not meant for other additional services.

So, the suggestion is to encourage universities to provide these settlement services – for their students - which include airport pickup, accommodation services, agent office support, reference services - though their “authorized agents”. Universities should set apart a fixed amount (say 5% of first year fee) towards these services on the top of the commission to those agents. This will enable those agents to provide the above services to students.

2. Rate Australian universities and Settlement agencies to enforce higher safely for Indian students.

The Indian government should introduce separate rating/accreditation system for Australian universities and the proposed student settlement agents. Universities who provide this “Settlement services” should be given higher safely ratings by India government. It will provide better advice to prospective students to Australia. India government also shall accredit “Settlement” agencies after scrutiny.

This will give ample impetus to Australian Universities to adopt Settlement services as part of their student recruitment process and their Settlement agencies to perform well to give effective services to their student customers.

I live in Canberra. I will be very happy to give any further inputs regarding this suggestion by coming to your office. Please feel free to contact me.

With regards,

Fr Jaison Paul Mulerikkal CMI
RAJAGIRI AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
ABN: 85 128 322 761
Web: www.rajagiri.com.au

Response to Irish Church Priest Sex Scandal Report

2009-05-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was told by a young Indian Catholic youth lives in Europe, how she was shaken by the Irish Church Priest Sex Scandal Report. This was my reply:

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Its there. Its a cultural thing. That's what I think. I haven't heard of such things in such proportions in Catholic church in India or some other Asian countries. There are always exceptions, but not like this. The West liberalized too much. Families gone. The effects resonate in Church as well. If there are no good families in India, the same would happen in India too, I guess.

I dont know whether we can relate these incidents to celibacy of priests. If we can relate, then these things should not happen in families. But that's not the case, as we come to know. Priest sex abuse scandals are only tip of an iceberg. This was shared by a scholar works in this area.

But this exercise is good for Church. We have to purify first before we preach. That's good. So I accept it. I am not panicked.

An Amazingly Uplifting Story of Kamran Khan

2009-05-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

Story appeared in "The Age". About the latest Twenty20 sensation - Kamran Khan.

Read here

Or here it is:

From slumdog to cricketing hero
_________________________________________________________

NOT many in cricket-crazy India had heard of Kamran Khan when Shane Warne tossed the ball to the 18-year-old fast bowler during the final moments of an Indian Premier League match in Cape Town last week.

The batting side needed seven runs to win, and Saurav Ganguly was at the crease. Warne was clearly taking a huge gamble by entrusting a rookie seamer with the ball. But in just two overs Khan, whose family is so poor that he slept on railway platforms when he travelled as he could not afford even cheap hotels, not only ensured victory for the Rajasthan Royals but also became India's latest cricketing hero.

Khan conceded just six runs in the final over against Kolkota thanks to Warne in the field preventing what would have been a winning second run with the final delivery.

With scores tied, a Super Over was required to settle the result. Warne again turned to Khan and the rookie left-arm slinger contained the Knight Riders batsmen to ensure victory.

A drop-out from a village school, the keen-faced left-arm quick barely comprehends English.

He said Warne "speaks English so fast" he has difficulty grasping his captain's instructions. When Warne handed him the ball and gave him a pep talk in the match against the Knight Riders, one of the words Khan could decipher was "pressure". Warne was telling him to relax and bowl normally.

Khan told the Indian Express later: "I have seen several major setbacks in my life. I am used to pressure."

Khan's father was a taxi driver in Nadwa Sarai village in the Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh state. But a lung ailment kept him mostly at home, and Khan's mother took to rolling bidis (the poor Indian's cigarette) to supplement the family's meagre income. His father died five years ago, followed three years later by his mother.

"We didn't have the money for proper medical treatment for our parents," said Khan's older brother Shamshad Khan. "Father would get angry and beat Kamran if he skipped school to play cricket. He wanted Kamran to join the army so he could earn something."

But Khan was so obsessed with cricket he even chiselled his first bat himself.

"Much later, when the villagers got together and bought him a proper bat, he was very happy," his brother said.

Khan's first break came when a cricket coach from a neighbouring village took him to Mumbai two years ago. In the big city Khan began playing with a proper cricket ball for the first time, and not with the cheap tennis balls used in the village.

"He struggled really hard," said the coach, Naushad Khan, who took him into his house. "He is strong and very determined. Back home, he would play in district cricket tournaments eating just tea and biscuits, since he didn't have money to buy food."

But as with the hero of the film Slumdog Millionaire, there was to be a fairytale twist to Khan's life. Rajasthan Royals' director of coaching, Darren Berry, spotted the teenager at a Twenty20 tournament in Mumbai two months ago, and signed him for £16,000 ($A33,000). Though not tall or very well-built, Khan bowls at more than 140km/h. And he can swing the bat.

"We have one young player who's going to be very interesting," the Royals' captain predicted.

"We're tossing up now what his nickname is going to be, Wild Thing or Tornado — something like that."

But Khan's initial rueful response was that had the money come earlier, he could have paid for the treatment his mother needed.

First ever Indian series victory in New Zealand

2009-03-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sehwag Magic seal first ever Indian series victory in New Zealand.. Cudos.. Today only I noticed, I use the bat use by Sehwag - Hero Honda!

Oscar No 2 for Rehman

2009-02-22T22:56:00.000-08:00

Proud moment.. He is the real slumdog.. a choice between love and hate!

Rehman gets Oscar No 1

2009-02-22T22:54:00.000-08:00

Congrats Rehman.. A billion hearts beats for u..

Red carpet for Slumdog crew

2009-02-22T22:48:00.000-08:00

Red carpet for Slumdog crew.. I'm happy that those kids are there..

Smile Pinky gets Oscar

2009-02-22T22:46:00.001-08:00

Smile Pinky gets it.. Kudos

Rasul Pookutty accepts Oscar -

2009-02-22T22:43:00.000-08:00

U made all Mallus (those who speak Malayalam.. hihi) proud.

I love these cuties..

2009-02-22T19:15:00.001-08:00

I love these cuties.. The child actors of Slumdog Millionaire.. Who would believe that they are from Slums!!?

I love India, because it happens only in India! It was very confronting to watch that movie, as an Indian.. But in India, you can produce that movie, may not be in China! India can accept that there's poverty in India and still we are on the right track of progress - not even Australia (I've seen 'slums' terrible than Indian ones in Australian aboriginal communities in Tennant Creek. But Aussies wont accept it).

Pakistan gives in to terrorists

2009-02-16T20:52:00.000-08:00

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/campbell.brown.taliban/index.html

Sad to see this.. the mess Pak is in.. and worrying signs for the peace in the region, especially for India.

Who on earth could control Pak and its terrorists.. God alone knows.. may be ISI may have an idea!

no-secularism, no-religionism

2009-02-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

A friend suggested no-secularism, no-religionism
for India in rediff forums. Here is my reply.

----------------------------------------
Howz ur theory of no-secularism and no-religionism going to work? It is self-contradictory.. If it is secular but no-religion, it is logical. But that's what Western countries tried and trying. But they are struggling with 'kid-fathers' who claim the fatherhood of a babe from 16 yr old mother! The best option left is god-ful secularism, what India tries, without religions' extreme elements. That's what we need to concentrate and foster, I guess.

Why the face of failure is 'black or brown' in the media?

2009-02-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

There was a news about US, EU stocks plunge in today's Herald Sun. The face of the news was a black man. It's quite annoying. In the past I've hardly seen any black face along with market news, when it was winning. But now all on a sudden, the face of market becomes a black man! Media manipulation with racial bias. I condemn it. The following is the reply I posted. I dont know, whether it will get published!

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This biased and racial media coverage is condemnable. When the market was winning there were only 'smiling pictures of white man/woman' along with the news. When the market started to crumble, all 'the faces of market' suddenly became black and brown, as if they are the cause of this market melt down. A deliberate attempt to associate failure with "black and brown". Its a shame. Let the white media has the courage to take the blame as well, by putting 'white faces' along with this news.

Reply to Virginia Haussegger

2009-02-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

I wrote a reply to the article of Virginia Haussegger in Canberra Times (Time to undo the petty deal that's destroying women's lives, Feb 7, 2009) as a letter to the editor. Virginia wants Australia to lift ban on its funding for Family Planing/Abortion missions in Asia. Alas.. as usual, it was not published! Here is my letter.

To

The Editor
Canberra Times
ACT

Dear Sir/Madam,

Here I attach my response to Virginia Haussegger's article in Canberra TImes (Time to undo the petty deal that's destroying women's lives, Feb 7, 2009). Please publish it as a "letter to the editor".

Yours Truly,
Jaison Mulerikkal CMI
47 Lowe street
Quenbeyan, NSW - 2620

Email: jaisonmpaul@gmail.com
Mob: 0433893593

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I am a Catholic priest studying in Canberra from India - one of the so called "poor developing nations" in Asia. There is poverty in India, in Asia and we can slum it down at cinemas which is an Oscar stuff. No one debate about that. Poverty has to be addressed and we would welcome all men and women of good will to join us fighting it, because that is a humanitarian cause.

I felt it very sad and hypocritical to read an article by popular TV news reader and columnist Virginia Haussegger in Canberra TImes (Time to undo the petty deal that's destroying women's lives, Feb 7, 2009). The story of Meo Sot - a Burmese exile woman who jabbed her womb to force an abortion in Thailand "for she couldn't feed another hungry mouth" is really sorrowful. We need you to help Meo Sot and women like that. Our hearts and prayers are with Meo Sot. As it is clear from Virginia Haussegger's findings (and as far as I can read an Asian mind), Meo Sot would have been more than happy to bring her child up, if she had "enough to feed another hungry mouth". So, what the so called "developing nations" in Asia would want you to do is to assist us in eradicating the root cause of this social evil - poverty, which compels our women to take such unfortunate measures as described in Virginia Haussegger's article. We want you to take the shared moral responsibility of the dreadful social evil of poverty and put sufficiently enough money to eradicate poverty in Asia. As many NGOs noted in the World Economic Forum, if the so called "developed nations" had set apart a small portion of trillions of dollars of " stimulus packages" for poverty eradication, we could easily eradicate poverty in Asia (and around the world) and its negative outcomes.

That's what we expect Australia to do - to help "feed another hungry mouth" of Meo Sot. Let you keep at least 10% of the 42 billion stimulus package to eradicate poverty from Asia and help women like Meo Sot (and children and men) to come out of poverty so that terrible things can be avoided in our lives. I wish Virginia championed that issue to convince Australians to put 10% of "handouts and stimulus packages" to poverty eradication to help Meo Sot "to feed another mouth". But, if you can't do that don't preach us to kill our children. Virginia is not Mother Theresa. But we would welcome Mother Theresas into our lands who can take care of our women and children not Virginias who preach our mothers to kill our children. And Australian aid should only be set-apart to eradicate poverty which is the root cause of most evils and not to kill our children.

Reply to Virginia Haussegger

2009-02-08T16:25:00.000-08:00

An Appeal to New Generation Atheists - Part 1

2009-02-05T12:22:00.000-08:00

An Appeal to New Generation Atheists - Part 2

2009-02-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

Holy Mass and Bible - Part 2

2009-02-05T12:19:00.000-08:00

Holy Mass and Bible - Part 1

2009-02-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

I pity you Symonds...

2009-02-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

Andrew Symonds' sad saga continues in Australia.. I find it very disturbing.. Here is the news:
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"ANDREW Symonds will have two months of intense reflection to decide whether he will become the first Australian star to choose Indian Premier League riches over a baggy green cap.
The troubled cricketer, banned from touring South Africa after his latest disciplinary dramas, will be available for Australian selection again at the time the IPL is about to start in April."
-----------------------------

Poor Symo is screwed by CA and Aussies in general.. What's the difference between "obnoxious weed" and "lump of shit". Only difference is who speaks it out.. If it's white man against brown, he can get away with it.. The whole Aus will be behind him. But if it is brown against white, they will screw him up.. Sad to see this drama.. Symonds, I pity you.. and shame on Australia.

Poor Jesus.. He is accontable for all the conflicts in the world

2009-01-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful online debate with 'c of las vegas, in the Herald Sun blog about this news. It was about a Muslim cleric urging to use minimum physical force to tame their wifes! However, as usual, the religion hates jumped into the scene and generalized and concluded that religion is the cause of all the evil in the world and they have to be banned. Poor Jesus!

Here is the debate!

--------------------------------

Hi "c of las vegas 9:42pm January 22,", You again say that "conflicts through the ages seem to have been based on religious grounds". Let your belief save you. But, as I made it clear earlier, there's no point in putting all the blame of 'conflict' on the shoulders of religion. Even before religion, nonetheless to day before Jesus, there were conflicts. Even without 'religion-less state' experiments in the near future (as I pointed out about communist Russia), there were dreadful conflicts. It's only Dawkins' style of anti-religionists that put all the conflicts in the world to religions and to 'poor Jesus'. You have to open your eyes my dear friend to see that it is human nature that make us conflict each other. Religions are meant to purify it, but some time, some vested interested people/group/culture can poison it.. like any other institution in the world. So please Jesus (God) alone.

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jaison of canberra mate ive read your second comment and i am more lost than ever. anyway i dont hate jesus, i can see you really love him though. by the way i was brought up in a religous background. That does not take from my first comment that conflicts through the ages seem to have been based on religious grounds.

Posted by: c of las vegas 9:42pm January 22, 2009
Comment 705 of 772
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Hi "c of las vegas 4:49pm", I'm sure you wouldn't understand 're communist Russia", he..he.. I've seen this kind of ignorance in almost all religion haters.. Communist Russia was a self-proclaimed religion-less state. And the ruthless cruelty produced by "your religion-less state" is very well documented. But it's only religion is accountable for "all" the tragedies of the world. poor Jesus! And again science is also exempted. There's no responsibility for science in human miseries like Nukes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.. All those scientists and engineers are saints..but Jesus.. poor Jesus!
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hey jaison of canberra i do not understand your comments re communist Russia . russia is predominately christian orthodox. or is religion a science . i just dont get ya

Posted by: c of las vegas 4:49pm January 22, 2009
----------------------------

Here comes the religion haters! They use every opportunity to tarnish the 'real, good' religion. "c of las vegas 2:12pm" wants all religion to be banned! Then what's going to happen on earth - Heaven? Dont think so. If that was the case, it would have happened in communist Russia! But that experiment was a cruel tragedy. It's not religion, but individuals/vested interested people/cultures who use religion to push their own agenda is the problem. Even science has got the same problem. That's what happened in Hiroshima. So, dont put rubbish on Jesus!

Posted by: jaison of canberra 2:48pm January 22, 2009

----------------------------
reckon Warren of Mulgrave 1:17pm is correct and its time we banned all religions. but that aint gonna happen any time soon. over the ages its religion that has caused the conflicts bettween humans. can the bosses of the various religions list out the benefits that religion provides us.

Posted by: c of las vegas 2:12pm January 22, 2009

Good luck obama

2009-01-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

GOOD LUCK OBAMA...

I am a fan of Obama.. But dont believe that he is a miracle worker, none of us are. With all the mountainous problems in front of him and with Clintons on the other side and his own inexperience in foreign policies, I dont think that he is going to deliver so much. But the symbolism he brings in - Black, young, half muslim - and the composure and compassion he has showed till to date, gives us some hope.. and hope is a good thing.

It was a terrific speech.. I wish I could do something like that one day!

Obama speech in full

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

test

2009-01-20T13:31:00.001-08:00

test

Mumbai is back!

2008-12-22T16:54:00.001-08:00

It was very painful for me.. The Mumbai Massacre! I was glued to TV for 2 days. It hurt me as an Indian. It has hurt India profoundly. It exposed the weaknesses of 'Super Power' India. It also reminded us of the terror of religious fanaticism.

Silver line:: The Muslim community in India came forward to denounce it. They didnt even bury those Islamic terrorists. E Ahmed, union minister who hails from my State Kerala lodged our protest in the UN.

We cannot afford it any more. Enough is enough! We need a full stop to terrorism. Whoever be the party, they have to ensure us - Indians - security, not rhetoric! That was reflected in the 5 state election results, I guess (3:2 - Congress, BJP). Indian voters have matured.

Good news today - Taj is back. Cheers to Ratan Tata. I wonder the way this man has transformed himself in the minds of Indians during the last few years . From a business man to something more than that - a national figure!

PS: I've got a new year resolution - I will visit Taj and spend at least a day there!

CMIs and Cash (some say, it is Cash Making Institute!)

2008-12-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

(Pic::CMIS in New York)
I got the following question from a young Catholic girl, who is my chat friend. I also add my answer to it. This is my conviction.

Why are Chirstian institutions so adamant in making money and investement?(This question was asked in the context of your congregation acha,CMI). Aren't you diverting from the cause of Jesus?

I like this question. It is very pertinent to me, as a CMI. We dont make money for the sake of making money. In reality, we are the great debtors. In my province, we got 100+ priests and it is said that every priest's head carry a debt of around 7-10 lakhs!

Yes we do have great institutions. All of them are for the benefit of humanity and for Church and its people. We are running a University in India (which is just one of the many other initiatives). It's all for good. Do we need to stop them? We can.. Then what will be the fate of those beneficiaries, which belong to all religious groups... of Church and Christians in India? The Xians still flourish and are respected in India only because of these institutions, even if they are a minority. If we abandon them, Christians will go down like the dalits or Muslims.

Now, it is my conviction that, Indian Church should make money. It is not to get 'rich'. But to stand on its own feet. In the past, we were relying of foreign money for our projects. But that is not good for Indian Church and India. If Church needs to stand on its two feet, it should be self-sufficient. Either, the Indian faithful have to contribute heavily or Church should raise it on its own. When Bl Chavara started CMI congregation, all of the initial monasteries were erected using the money from people. But, that scenario has changed. People's mentality does not support that method any more. And Church has got the capacity and human resource to do it on its own. So, it must take that responsibility than passing on it to its people. Moreover, India is in a better economic position now than in the past and so there's no point in importing money from outside. That is not social justice. On the contrary, Indian church should be able to support the missions in other poor nations around the world. That is our responsibility. We received when we were in need, now we have to give it back, when we are in a position to do that. If we are hiding away from that responsibility, we are just irresponsible. There's a danger of victim mentality (out of poverty) in our mindset, which actually hinder us from 'generously giving' to others (other poor missions world around).

If we need to be self reliant, if we need to venture into world missions, we need money. Church in India should do whatever possible in legitimate terms to amass it, so that it can keep sustain what they got in India, expand those services and to share its benefits with the Christ's mission around the world.

India emerges from obscurity as new global force!

2008-11-23T18:38:00.000-08:00

An impressive article.. first of its kind in any of the Aussie New papers, I reckon.. Even not published in other fairfax news papers... exclusive to "The Canberra Times"Read here.

Parking at ANU and Canberra Times!

2008-11-14T18:24:00.000-08:00

Canberra Times published an article regarding Fellows Oval at ANU and the parking issue titled ANU denials on paving paradise to put up a parking lot on 14th Nov 08. (read the article here: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/anu-denials-on-paving-paradise-to-put-up-a-parking-lot/1360560.aspx)

I wrote a reply. But it was NOT published! I dont know, what's wrong with these Australian Newspapers. They dont seem to accommodate any difference of opinions. Its a shame. Here you can read the reply.

----------------

ANU Parking

I am a research student at ANU. Parking in ANU is a pressing need for me and many others like me. ANU authorities have the right and duty to make sure that the staff and students get adequate parking space, so that they can pursue their academic activities with ease.

The response of the ANU staff and students as described by the article - "ANU denials on paving paradise to put up a parking lot" on 14th November is not completely true. In general, people love to save the Fellows Oval but not at the cost of acute parking shortage in the campus which is going to escalate due to the proposed construction work. As the article observes, the issue of parking came to limelight when "the opponents of the proposal" started circulating mass-emails over the last week. But when students including me send mass-emails seeking opinion about the other viable alternatives to spare Fellow's Oval, it was greeted with threats to suppress the emails by the moderators of IT department, which they allowed to "the opponents" at the very first place. And interestingly there were peaceful civil disobedience from even the staff members by hitting "reply all" button to express their concern for adequate parking in ANU.

The bottom line is ANU should be able to provide adequate parking service to its students and staff. Being a research oriented university, most of the ANU students are involved in research works whose timing cannot be restricted to office hours. That makes them and the staff members who guide them to resort to odd timings which are not supported by (infrequent and insufficient) public transport system in ACT. Moreover, Canberra is spread too much along different suburbs that ANU is not always accessible by bike or foot, unless someone is exceptionally athletic in most cases. Personally, I did my Masters in Melbourne and rode my bike to University and never own a car. I tried public transport in Canberra for first 3 months and it was horrible. Canberra has to increase its population and population density (instead of spreading too much), if it has got any good chance of providing a decent public transport system. And that is going to be a long term objective.

Till then, ANU should provide adequate parking space for its students and staff with reasonable parking fees (as we got now) to all those who want this service to keep ANU a destination for quality researchers from all around the world. If that could be achieved without Fellows Oval, we all welcome that move. But Fellows Oval should not be a hindrance to make this service available to its staff and students. The ecological cost of Fellows Oval could be off-setted by creative means like planting trees in even purchased new land.

Eco Warriors of ANU after me..

2008-11-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

It started with an email to ALL @ CECS.

One Rita (I changed name to keep her privacy), encouraged us to Save Fellows oval, which was marked by ANU-parking to turned into a new parking lot. I clicked 'reply all' button to query whether they got any alternative suggestion to provide parking lot which is a pressing need for me and others. Then came a wave of e-mails to ALL@CECS and to me personally.

They want to link Oval & Parking with sustainability. But I got some very unconventional ideas about it. The following is an excerpt from the discussion. I purge the names of people to keep save their privacy.

Rita wrote:
--------------------

Anyone who would like to keep Fellows Oval as a nice green place of recreation, send an email to
parking.feedback@anu.edu.au
(email closes in 2 days).

Cheers

--------------------
Jaison Paul wrote:

Have you got suggestion for any other place for parking? Parking is a
pressing need for me and many.

Jaison

--------------------
W J wrote:

Hi Jaison,
By making more parking area available is not solving the parking problem. This new parking area will be filled up the moment it become available and more parking area will be needed because more people will take their car to campus.
The answer is to encourage to those who can take public transport or bike to do so.
Please don't try to solve the sort term problem by causing long term problem.

--------------------
Jaison Paul wrote:

That's quite interesting.. I shared one of my genuine concerns. But I
get 'bashed'!

You did not answer nor addressed my concern. I am a research student
here who moved from Melbourne. If you are taking about public
transport system in Melbourne or Sydney, I can understand that. Where
is public transport in ACT? I depended on it for first 3 months..
HORRIBLE. Lucky that I could afford a car at last. Then about bikes..
Canberra is spread all around the place.. Not everybody, unless you
are so athletic and could bear 'cold cold' weather could resort to
biking.

So, dont be too emotional in the name of 'nature and nostalgia'. If
you dont have answers to the genuine problems of students like me.,
dont suggest anything. If you want to save oval, its good and fine.
But, WE NEED PARKING.

Jaison Paul

-----------------
J D Wrote:

Jaison,

Neither have you answered or addressed the concern in the email to which you were replying. To complain about the quality of the public transport here and then to support policies which will encourage people not to use it seems strange, to say the least.

-----------------
Jaison Paul Wrote:

This was the mail to which I replied: "Anyone who would like to keep Fellows Oval as a nice green place of recreation, send an email to parking.feedback@anu.edu.au". And my response was spot on.. Parking is a pressing need for me and many and "Fellows Oval as a nice green place of recreation" does not get more importance than that. Those who want to save it should come up with better suggestions.

I am not the person, who wants to play the "cool, nice guy" when it comes to ecology or sustainability. Here is my reply to another mail I got yesterday. That's my stand:

"I am not against saving the oval. But those who are for it should suggest means to provide Parking as well. I have also wrote article about Ecology and Sustainability in the past, when I was in India. But when I came to Australia and seeing "how we take of the planet's resources", I stopped writing it. An oval wont do any good to our status of world's worst emitters. For that we (AUS) has to shut down its coal power reactors or reduce the use of electricity to half or at least turn off half of street lights.

Best wishes in saving the planet."

The problem seems to link Sustainability issue with Oval and parking. Actually there's no link between them. The real challenge of sustainability demands too much, which will really hurt us and that we dont want to talk at all. So, we pretend to be "cool, nice guys" regarding these issues just to cover up our unwillingness to take the real issue head on . Coz it will hurt us - the developed world.

If we want to offset ecological cost of Fellows oval, what we could do is to purchase some land somewhere else and plant some trees there. That shouldn't be in Aus itself, may be in any of the Pacific islands or even in Christmas island - that will give 'refugees' some job.

And about public transport.. I support it fully.. But where is it? And there's no genuine effort to make it happen. Kevin 474 could give some 6 billion to car industry in Aus - bail out, but not to increase public transport facilities.. coz, there's no money in it.. economy of surplus.. That's what matters to us dear.. sorry. If you want to save the planet, do something in that line, not the 'feel good' flashy stuff.

I arrest my case.. coz I know, I am not going to save the world, when the ones who have the responsibility to take care of it is not up to it. Btw, I am an Indian. Thanks.

Jaison

Balance of power shifts to India!

2008-11-10T14:42:00.000-08:00

That was the heading of "The Canberra Times" today. Very well said. India ends the Australian dominance in Cricket with a 2-0 series victory and retaining Boarder-Gavaskar Trophy. India outplayed Aus in every department. Congrats to Dhoni as the winning captain. The tactics were brutal and merciless. The same old medicine of Aus, but this time to them! Well deserved win.

The most gracious moment was when Dhoni asked Sourav Ganguly to take the captaincy after the 9th wicket fall. What a tribute to retiring Dada! Truely Indian attitude by Dhoni - respect the elders. Well done.

As I commented in an online newspaper, it's an Obama era. The black and brown and even the yellow will take the lead. What matters is only skills and just (not equal) opportunities.. Let's make sure that these things are taken care of.. and let the rest - the power swing according to it..

Why Australia is upfront in climate change debate?

2008-11-05T21:44:00.001-08:00

I had this question in my mind for a while.. And something which I admire Australia for. In my recent visit to Toronto and New York, I shared this view to my friends over there. Australia is really well ahead of them in ecological sustainability matters. They do really care about it and identify it as a major issue. But not the cultures of US and Canada I witnessed, the media I listened, the people I met there.

But then why Australia is well ahead?

Usually Australia goes after US.. But in this case even the government is well ahead of US.. WHY?

I think, I got a practical and may be the most reasonable answer. Australia is the one who is more prone to the negative effects of climate change. Being the driest continent on earth and already experiencing series of droughts and dwindling food basket, Australia feels the pinch of climate change already. And the political leadership can easily see it and calls the whole world to stop it - the climate change disaster! Even the people from pacific nation may have to be absorbed into Australia, which they dont want.

Now, Australia want not only US but India and China on board to tackle climate change.

Well, India and China should come on board, but with conditions. If it is basically to ensure the well off of Australia (and other "developed" countries), there should be a price attached to it. The climate change discussions in the future also should include the matter of climate change refugees (eg. from pacific islands) and immigration.

That is, India and China should come on the board with the assurance that those "developed nations" whose well being is to be ensured by climate action should be bound to accept climate change refugees. They also should open their borders for immigration from India and China, who have got the largest population on earth, because their effort is going to benefit them.

Tail piece: I listened to radio yesterday saying that the first climate change refugees from one of the pacific islands were displaced to Papua New Gunnia (PNG). Where was Australia, the champion of climate change debate? A'nt they clever? Or they may be preparing Christmas Islands for them.. lol

When is Australia going to get its first Aboriginal PM?

2008-11-05T21:27:00.000-08:00

We got a black American president. Well.. When is Australia going to get its first Aboriginal PM? 40 years from now? How will it happen, huh? Australia does not allow them to come to the mainstream of social and political life and take their rightful position.. They dont have a definite plan to educate them or a reservation policy as in India. Australia does not have a single aboriginal person in its both houses of government.

There's a loooong way to go for the Aussies white supremacy.. The signs are written very clear on the walls.. not an aboriginal, black, brown, asian face on the many online/newspapers or in television media.. If at all something is there, that is just to portray the negativity - like the Gautham Gambir event in Cricket at the moment (only exception may be Sachin who gets comparatively good comments in Aussie media). As a person live in Australia I do really feel this. There's no racism in the peripherals .. but a lack of willingness to accept the goodness in minorities - aboriginals, asian, Indians without the barrier of color.

Australia has to work hard to come out of this divisive problem...

Ironically America shows India the way!

2008-11-05T20:45:00.000-08:00

Till now I thought Indians are better than Americans in political inclusion.. India had a dalit president and got a female president at the moment. The Chief Justice is a dalit too.. But America never had a woman or black president..But Obama's presidency changes all. India never had a dalit PM nor in the near vicinity... May be Mayawathi could make it. Even then, we can only FOLLOW America! Moreover, Obama was born of a Kenyan father who is/was a Muslim. India (I dont blame all Indian, but some extremists) finds it difficult to accept an Italian lady who happened to be Catholic even if she is been elected by people to the parliament and supported by her party. WE GOT A LOOOONG WAY TO GO.. And.. ironically, America shows us the way..

My mum's sms

2008-11-04T21:25:00.001-08:00

As I watched the winning speech of Barak Obama on BBC online streaming video, I received an sms from my mum in my small village in India - "Thank God, for Obama win".

Amazing how the whole world is looking at it..

As Obama exhorted, the climb will be steep. Hope he will be able to get them (and the whole world) there...

Finally, its Obama!

2008-11-04T19:11:00.001-08:00

Finally Obama wins.. or about to win.. as I write this, the magic number of 270 has not yet come. But it is sure that he will. Not a landslide in big scale. But a reasonable landslide!

What does it mean. As somebody suggested America by-passed a civil war! If Obama weren't elected the black America would have felt cheated. That is over now. And a great PR success for America, something to be proud of in the midst of all negatives - the wars, the economy, etc, etc.

Good for World? Hopefully. As I commented earlier, the rhetoric and composure of Obama should help America to adjust themselves to the changing power shift in the emerging world order. Hopefully he will catalyze that shift. God save America and the world!

Sarah Palin

2008-09-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

What to say... I would like Obama to win (the US elections), but my vote (if I had) would go to Palin..

It's a dilemma.. Obama - as the first African American, I would like to be seen as the president of US. I dont know much about his 'change' rhetoric.. But as an alternative to 'BUSHism' it is good.

But.. Palin..

The introduction of Palin - a mother of 5 and a pro-life supporter, changes the whole scenario.. It's very hard to see those values (represented by Palin like, family, life, etc ) to be seen aloud in the public arena for quite a long time. To have 5 kids and to give birth to a babe, knowing that he would have Down's Syndrome is quite noble, challenging and heroic. And these values are essential for the survival of human race and to put themselves (at least) little higher than animal instincts.

And if those values comes into the mainstream of society, I would welcome them whole heartedly.. There's no second thought.

Sorry Obama.. unless until you don't have answer to Palin, my heart still goes for you, but not the vote!

India wins it FIRST ever individual Gold medal in Olympics!!

2008-08-10T23:37:00.000-07:00

Congrats Abhinav Bindra !!! You have made us proud.

He has won FIRST ever individual Olympic gold for India. He won gold in men's 10-metre Air Rifle event in Beijing 2008. It's only a beginning, I am sure. We are coming... may be bit behind China.. may be 10 - 20 yrs.. We'll be there!!

WYD and the Colonial hang-over

2008-08-04T04:19:00.000-07:00

One of the beautiful parts of World Youth Day final Mass was the gospel procession by the Pacific Islanders. I was there, right beside. It was really beautiful, touching (watch it here) . But,... that's a BIG BUT!

The end of the gospel precession really tasted bitter.. The symbolism! The Pacific Islanders 'entrust the Gospel' to a European convoy (at least all looked like Europeans). Then they takes it to the alter, as the Islanders passively look at it! Black and White!

Just reminded everybody of the new Cadbury ad on the TV. The Pacific Islanders wage war over coffee and the Emperor wins, only to see that European colonials came to take the throne.

Dont think that I am too critical. But there are things to be fixed up. In God, there's no race. When we do a liturgy for WYD, which is supposed to celebrate the universality of Church, these things should get right. The powerful symbolism could have all changed, if we had, at least a black or brown person among the convoy who received Gospel from the Pacific Islanders.

Tail piece: During the Saturday vigil, one of the Indian young pilgrims told me. "Look father they pray in almost every language on earth. But why not in any of Indian languages?". He was right. The representation of Indian subcontinental languages were almost nil, except for one of the prayers of the faithful during the final Mass in SriLankan Sinhalees.

I want to answer RIGHT to my fellow young pilgrims from Asia next time. After all Jesus was an Asian and Asia is the cradle of Christianity!

On US, Oil and Obama!

2008-08-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

I got a mail from Mr John D of Carnegie as a reply to my post "There's a Silver-lining everywhere man".. I post his mails and my replies with his permission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jaison, I disagree with your views on uncle sam taking possession of Iraqi oil. The truth is that right now Iraq needs American expertise to modernise and fully develop oil production but once this is achieved you should expect that this expertise will be transferred to the Iraqis themselves. There is no 'uncle sam' in Saudi Arabia, the Saudis nationalised their oil industry decades ago when the likes of Getty and Texaco were invited to leave the country. There in no 'uncle sam' in Iran, or Kuwait or the UAE and we know only too well what that caring intelligent socialist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela thinks of dear old uncle sam. Russia, which almost certainly holds the world's largest reserves of oil, is steadily squeezing out every multinational - the American were never there (what a surprise) but now Shell and BP are on the verge of throwing in the towel as the Russians move to take full control. Contrary to the popular view America's principal interest is there needs to be an unfettered world oil market and one which is not threatened by idiotic mullahs and other crazy dictators such as Libya's Kaddafi who has just banned oil exports to Switzerland because that country threw his son, Hannibal, (true) out of the country for assaulting his Filipino servants. See what I mean?

John D

Carnegie

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi John,

Good to hear from you.

I'm not pessimistic.

I do agree with you that " right now Iraq needs American expertise". But the RIGHT NOW (The situation that is been created in Iraq) seems to sit perfect into a BIG picture, which could have been very well created! This wouldn't be not only my perception. Most of the world agrees with me, in this regard (aka, Iraq war was for oil).

"There is no 'uncle sam' in Saudi Arabia".. well, something very similar to 'banana republic'!

And regarding the other big stuffs you told about Chavez of Venezuela or Russia or Libya.. I must say, I am not in a position to comment at the moment.. coz I havent really put my mind into it.

Look, I think, you have been offended (I dont know whether, you are a US citizen or hails from US, etc).. I never meant any offense. There's a lot of good things about Uncle Sam. May be the best thing happening at the moment would be "Barak Obama". And much much more.. But every one, whether persons or nations need to be refined. And I am sure that 'Uncle Sam' will also take the lead in this regard(they are always at the forefront of everything!). Let's pray for that and hope for that.

Jaison CMI

PS: If you dont mind shall I post your reply in my blog? It's a good comment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please go ahead and post my reply, if it stimulates others to join the debate so much the better.

You may be disappointed at the end of the day because, if I'm right, and I do believe I am, John McCain will win the election. I draw as a parallel the year of 1960 when the youthful charismatic John F Kennedy on just managed to defeat the dour uninspiring Richard Nixon. Why? Because Kennedy had to overcome a silent but deep-seated antipathy towards catholics and I do recall at the time catholics everywhere rejoicing that their man had managed to crawl over line.

Barack Obama has a far more daunting hurdle to clear - he is a black man, and despite current polls suggesting he is leading McCain (only just) I keep thinking of 1960 and that 'silent deep-seated antipathy'. The problem for Obama is this malaise has a habit of finally revealing itself only within the enclosed anonymity of the voting booth.

We shall see....

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's okay John... It's upto Americans to decide what they want, what image they want to give to the rest of the world.

I have published them in my Blog.

Jaison CMI

Winston Churchill won the war, but Clement Attlee was elected PM

2008-07-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

I was just reflecting about WYD!

It was great success - as an event. The government has done a wonderful job. They poured out money and support. The infrastructure - public transport, randwick, barangaroo, security - was excellent. The pilgrims were excellent - their happiness, joy and discipline were exemplary. Sydniers were so welcoming. The Church organization did a good job - the billeting, hospitality, the ceremonies - esp, the Way of the Cross and final Mass were excellent.

Only one thing failed. the PR - public relations. It was a disaster. Except the official media (particularly new corp print media), all others tired their level best to tarnish the Catholic fest, by blowing the sex scandals and atheist/liberal views out of proportion in their prime time and space. The internet was the ugliest thing. I followed it till Thursday. Hopeless.

The Church (in Aus) didn't see that it was coming. When it came, it didn't know how to address it, when it addressed, it failed miserably.

Cardinal Pell did a wonderful job in bringing and conducting WYD in Aus. But many a time he failed to reap the fruits of it, by allowing himself to be exposed to unwanted controversies. Whether it was how he dealt the "sex abuse cases of the priests" (in this case a man who died in prison before 10 years) or "more western babies" or "un-linking climate change from human activity" (what the hell on earth a Cardinal should comment on the relationship between climate change and human activity (aka pollution) during WYD. It belongs to scientists and does not belong to religions to prove or disprove it, let science do it. May be on the basis of that we could postulate moral implications!), he was a PR failure.

He is good man, with lot of convictions. He was the right person to conduct WYD (except PR could have been given to a different team).

It was Winston Churchill who won the World War II as the PM of England. But it was Clement Attlee who succeeded him after the War. I heard that the people of England did a right thing by ditching their war hero over a moderate face. They had known that they wanted a moderate face to heal the wounds of war.

I think Rome will learn from history. I think, Pell will be taken to Vatican for greater roles in the Church. Australia (esp, Sydney) will have a new face - a moderate, happy face!

CHRIST University, India - The first ever Catholic university in India

2008-07-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here is the much awaited good news: Christ became University!! (as reported in www.cmi.in) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India, in its notification of 22 July 2008, has declared Christ College, located in Bangalore, Karnataka, as 'Deemed-to-be- University’. Christ College, till now Autonomous College, is now a University Rev. Dr. Augustine Thottakara, CMI, Rector Dharmaram College, President of the Board of Trustees of Christ College, and President of the Governing Body, has been elected as the Chancellor and President of Christ University by the Governing Body according to the directives of UGC. The Chancellor and President has appointed, according to the UGC Rules, Father Dr. Thomas C. Mathew, CMI, hitherto Principal, Christ College Autonomous, as the Vice Chancellor of the University. Other office-bearers will be elected/appointed in due course of time. Hearty Congratulations!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is my reply to cmigroup mail:

It's a great moment of pride in the history of Indian Catholics. It's a decisive moment in the history of CMI congregation. Blessed Chavara would be shedding tears of happiness in heaven! My heartfelt congratulations to all - especially Fr Chatamparmabil, the Vice-chancellor of Christ University (and not forgetting all previous and present visionaries of Christ and Dharmaram) - who worked hard to realize this dream. Well done. Let our Lord continue to bless!

Jaison Paul Mulerikkal
12 Chewings Street
Page, ACT 2614
Canberra, Australia

Globalisation of Human Resource and Climate Change

2008-07-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

Immigration must be cut to tackle climate change, says study - as reported by (Herald Sun). (IMMIGRATION must be slashed if Australia has any chance of seriously tackling climate change, says a Monash University study.)

I found that it was absurd and send a reply like this:

The term 'scientific' , 'research' and 'monash' are just decorative in this article. This is the most ABSURD thing that I have heard in the recent past. It seems that they are talking about "Australia warming" rather than "global warming"! Migration is only people moving from one part of the world to another. It's not going to affect the global warming. Or if the argument is to deprive people belonging to resource-less regions of the world (at the moment - like India or China) to confine to their regions, the policy will backfire. Then there wont be any moral ground for resource-ful countries (like Australia) to preach/persuade those countries. And those countries cannot be intimidated by economic or military pressures anymore. Like globalisation of resources, the globalisation of human resources cannot be reverted and should be continued (in a faster pace) without fail. And if we can read between these lines, there's one more thing to be done - which is the RIGHT thing to do - "Like all Australians they'll be living at twice the standard of living of current residents if the Government's predictions for per capita economic growth are correct,'' - BRING DOWN the CONSUMPTION of resources in resource-ful regions/countries of the world, because the the Globe's resources are limited.

"Convincing Victory" of India

2008-07-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

The Manmohan Singh government in India survived a confidence motion yesterday to go ahead with the Civil Nuclear Deal with US.

It was a "convincing victory"! Victory of the WILL of the people of India. We do have difference of opinions. That we have showed in the oppositions to the Deal. But in spite of our differences, as a nation, we are ready to go forward and claim our place in the history. We are determined.

The bribing allegations is only a part of the game (the BJP and Communists want to save their face). We all know that politicians receive money. In India, we call it as bribing and in the "developed world" they call it as lobbying (just makes it legal.. so no bribing..hihi). Only thing whether it was caught red-handed. But, even IBN-CNN went backward and not yet produced anything and which shows that there wont be much to come and even if something appear, its credibility will be heavily disputed. So no fuss as well. (It's time in India to stop horse trading and to find ways to find legal ways for acquiring money in politics, to support politicians to sustain).

The Singh is really King!

World Youth Day an awakening time for all Australians of goodwill

2008-07-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

The following is an article send by me to the Print Media in Australia during WYD 08 and was not published!!!
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As tens of thousands of young people from around the world flock together in Sydney for World Youth Day, it gives all Australians of goodwill to look deep into their own spiritual and religious self. As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd rightly puts it, these youngsters have come here as 'pilgrims of peace' rather than marching for a war as most youngsters have done in the past. It is really a history-making event.

As one among those young ones who is going to be in Sydney for the WYD celebrations and hosted around 70 of those young happy pilgrims in our parish, I am happy to confirm that they are proud young Catholics, who are determined to follow their leader and God - Jesus - and his Church. They got first hand experience of the Catholic Church and its teachings and they are well aware of its failures in the past too. Even then they love their God and Church. The big question before all people of goodwill in Australia would be, "What these young people have to convey to us?"

In spite of all apparent failures of Catholic Church - like the recent priest sex scandals in the Western countries and ruthless attack from various philosophies - whether it is communism or atheism or consumerism - the youth of the world comes to the beautiful realization that there are no other system or philosophy that has ever succeeded as Christ and his Church throughout the history of humankind.

Many of the allegations surfaced against Church at the wake of this great awakening of Spirit along with World Youth Day are misleading and many other stories have been allowed to explode without proportion.

Priest sex abuse scandals are very much confined to certain cultures and regions in Catholic Church and that cannot be attributed universally to Catholic Church. Church has repeatedly assured its assistance to heal the wounds of victims and is ready to refine its processes. But at the same time, since priests comes from the families, it could very well be the reflection of deep wounds within the society and those elements in the cultural psyche may have to be healed and refined to address these issues in the long run.

In almost every online newspaper bloggers and many articles in leading newspapers have alleged that Catholic Church is responsible for almost every wars in the history of mankind. When we read the history and especially when we try to read between the lines of history books, it is very clear that the wars were started by some crooked people who were cleaver enough to drag even religion into it and finally put all their blame on religions, including Catholic Church. And they just hid themselves into the deep abbeys of history as centuries pass by. Blaming Catholicism for all the wars in history is as absurd as saying that the war on Iraq was a Christian war on Muslims! But it is as clear as sunlight that it was the bloody oil greed of the West to keep enjoying their cars created Iraq war. But still after 200 years some Dan Brown could "uncover the truth" and say it was Catholic Church who put up that war, because it is the only institution, which survives the test of time (even not any state), and popularly could give the status of a "cult". It is always a fashion to blame a "cult".

I haven't heard any Catholics annoy the Mardi Gras Parade nor requesting the court to allow them to do so. But still the young Catholics who pay their way for their faith party could very well be legally annoyed in this country. Even still they are blamed for intolerance towards those people. No homosexual genes have yet been identified and the concept is not accepted unequivocally in scientific and medical circles yet. So, it may be premature to pressurize Church to make decisions on those issues. The Church is always as compassionate as Jesus - who welcomed everybody into his companionship - to those people but may reserve the right to gently remind them against their behaviour as long as it is not proved otherwise without doubt. The Catholic youth do understand the Church's position.

As many wanted to portray, Biblical God is not a jealous, murderous God. It was the understanding of the God by the humans that went on a transformation as we witness in Bible from Old Testament to New Testament. As Jesus himself made it clear he had come to perfect the law. The nature of God as a loving merciful father is been truly and perfectly revealed in Jesus and the New Testament Bible is a witness to it. There is no point in trying to understand the nature of God without reference to New Testament revelation about Jesus Christ, and every attempt to ignore it is an attempt to misguide masses by feeding half-baked truths.

Another allegation is that Catholic Church is the root cause of the whole AIDS epidemic in the world and especially in Africa. The best practice against AIDS, as everyone would agree, is committed married life as a lifelong union of both the man and woman involved in marriage. With any scientific procedure we can compare the successful rate of "committed married life" and the use of condoms against AIDS and see the conclusions (pretty well we all know what the result would be). And if Catholic Church wants to promote the best option for the Catholic youth and the youth of the world, the youth do understand and respect that stand.

World Youth Day is a wake up call, especially for the youngsters and young couples of Australia to decide in what direction they want to mould their personal life, family, society and their Church. It is a call to be inspired by Jesus and the great Catholics like Francis of Assisi - a true ecologist, Mother Theresa - a true humanitarian or the great Australian educator - Mary McKillop. It is also a call to be inspired by those thousands of cheering happy young faces around Sydney who find their meaning and peace in a loving God and his vibrant Church.

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Jaison Mulerikkal CMI is an Indian Carmelite priest, belonging to the Eastern Catholic rite of Syro-Malabar and a research student at Department of Computer Science, Australian National University. He lives in St Matthew's Parish presbytery, Page, ACT. He can be accessed at his website www.memyviews.com

WYD & Priest sex abuse in the Australain Church

2008-07-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

The Australian media has been running a vicious campaign against Catholic Church during WYD (world youth day). They dig up decades old 'priest's sex abuse' cases and trying to put Church on the back-foot. I honestly think that there's a ploy behind it... (and Church authorities have failed to foresee it too)

The Church is not unaware of the sex-scandal issues in the West. The Western church has to fight it's daemons. But what we are witnessing is systematic, biased and out-of-proportionate attempt by the Australian media (especially Fairfax media newspapers (online as well) and ABC television) to humiliate and demoralize the Church in the wake of all good things happening in Sydney. God save Australia!

Here is comment by me on one of their articles in Herald Sun online
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It seems that the media and a section of community (those who oppose Catholic Church for various other reasons) are using priest sex abuse cases as an instrument to destroy the morale of Catholic church in the wake of a great awakening in the society. We all sympathize with the victims and actions must be taken. But it has to be differentiated from what we are witnessing at Sydney at the moment. God bless Australia!

Posted by: Jaison 11:29am today (16th July 2008)
Comment 29 of 32

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/comments/0,22023,24028147-662,00.html

It's been published!

2008-07-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

The condom debate - continues

2008-07-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

to my previous post (letter to Herald Sun), Lara of Melbourne responded as follows:

HAHAHAHA...you're a "good" Catholic Jaison, of course you believe in "committed married life as a lifelong union of the man and woman involved in marriage", what we're saying is that many of your fellow Youth Day Catholics are not practicing what you are, thusly they require the extra protection afforded by common sense and CONDOMS. It's naive and stupid to think that everyone is going to behave as they should, because God knows they won't - human beings never do. Religion is outdated and science is beginning to prevail, the world is not the innocent place it used to be and sex before marriage and at disgustingly young ages is rife nowadays - Catholics have to get with the program and understand that in today's world, it's better to be SAFE than SORRY. Safe sex is not a joke, Jaison, it's probably saved a lot of people you know from unwanted pregnancies and STDs.

AND HERE IS MY RESPONSE

That's another great joke Lara of Melbourne! Almost every noble civilizations in the world does believe in that Lara - "committed married life as a lifelong union of the man and woman involved in marriage" - its not an invention of Catholic Church. That's why we call those civilizations as civilized. Please dont undermine at least your fellow-Australians. Then the word 'science'. I am not afraid of that. I myself is a research student of science. With any scientific procedure you compare the successful rate of "committed married life" and your condoms against AIDS and bring the conclusions (pretty well we all know what it would be). And if Catholic Church wants to promote the best option for the youth of the world, please respect that. And very sad to learn that you dont believe in the innocence of humanity anymore (and most probably the ideology you represent)! That would be a miserable life. I pity. My prayers

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/comments/0,22023,24003622-662,00.html

World Youth Day condom protest comic, says Catholic Church

2008-07-10T23:35:00.000-07:00

There's a World Youth Day condom protest! The Church reply was really funny!

This is my reply to that article in Herald Sun
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I agree with Bishop Fisher. It will be a comedy. I am going to WYD. But I don't really understand the logic of those people who plan to promote "health issues" (as they claim) during WYD. If they are serous about their cause, they should organize different programs or events for the same. Please dont do it at the expense of Pope! (That's the real joke!). And regarding the best practice against AIDS, I would say the best solution is committed married life as a lifelong union of both the man and woman involved in marriage. Without any doubt that would bring the best positive result against AIDS (or any other venereal diseases). The youth of the world (of course of Australia too) deserve the best. So let them distribute a replica "marriage ring" to the youth of the world (as a symbol) to give them best chances against AIDS. YesToPope!

INDIAaaaa!!

2008-07-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasant sight to see Kevin Rudd (Australian PM) moving around Manmohan Singh (Indian PM) to get attention at the G8 meeting, even though he pretends to distance himself from India at home (Australia). What a wonderful era that I am living in! (I am studying in Aus, at the moment). Aus will come to India's way (they would rather grab the opportunity) in selling Uranium in the very near future, I'm very sure!

There's a silver lining.. everywhere man!

2008-07-01T17:56:00.000-07:00

The Oil prices are sky-rocketing. Now here is a news! Iraq govt.(?) plans to open up their market for foreign oil corporations!

What a happy ending. I Think, the plan of Uncle Sam works well. The stage is perfectly set to explore (exploit) the Iraqi oil. Feeling the pinch of oil price hike NOBODY - no public, no NGOs will question the sale of Iraqi oil! The whole world has been beautifully tamed! Now, it's upto the Big corporations to get into the market and make profit! After all war is a bloody business.

And there's silver lining mate.. even in the oil price hike... The oil corportes can easily get a hold on to Iraqi oil.

I feel for the Iraqi people. They lost their cities and people, now they are going to loose their wealth as well for cheap. They say the Iraqi govt clinches the deal. Who are they.. the puppets of Uncle Sam..

What an achievement!

2008-07-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

The news from Daily Telegraph on July 02, 2008 12:00am goes like this:

THE average Australian woman has 13 different sex partners in her life, a major online survey has found.

What an achievement! As one of the readers commented, it is serial monogamy! Or may be deceptive polygamy! Or just way of life!

Global Mission of CMIs

2008-05-26T03:38:00.000-07:00

Today I have received a copy of the Report of the first session of XXXVI Ordinary General Synaxis of CMI Congregation (religious order, which I belong to).

To my great surprise, No. 10 of the report says:

In the light of the discussions and deliberations the Synaxis arrived at a consensus that there would be 4 major thrusts in our Congregation for the next 6 years.

Reorientation of our community as a spiritual movement
Global mission
To be with the marginalized always and everywhere
Affordable quality education for poor

It continues, Guided by the charism of founding fathers, this transformation will help us take new and bold initiatives in the areas of global mission.

I am really glad. This was the gist of my one-page working paper send to the General Synaxis (You read it as a post somewhere below.. My friend - Micheal's comment came as a reply to that post). With the collective will of synaxis fathers, it has been come out as a major thrust of the congregation for the next 6 years. Let CMIs surges into the world with a new mission of Christ. Jay Yesu!

Final comments to the reply by Micheal

2008-05-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

I Michael, Thanks for the reply. However, I don't want to go on for ever in an unending cycle of message-reply. Just putting my last cents.

First of all, as a human person, I have got ultimate respect for you and your views as Chirst would have. As you have mentioned earlier, we may have to agree to disagree on certain issues. That's it. Hope that wont hinder our friendship (it's an online one, I know. But that's how 'friendships' are defined these days!).

As you have agreed "..a definitive cause of homosexuality has not been found..", I think, it's premature to comment on the issues more than what I have said.

The tail piece: Who is this USA? You said "No LEGITIMATE mental health or medical association in the USA supports or agrees with NARTH's practises and claims." I didn't ask the opinion of any "medical association in the USA"? We are not in a mood to accept anything because it comes from USA. There are many associations and cultures who also reflect/research on these issues. Hope you will try to listen to them too.

Peace

Banana Republic!

2008-05-24T00:10:00.001-07:00

Today there was a shocking article in Canberra Times - Why bananas are a parable for our times by Johann Hari.

I just googled and found that it was originally published by "The Independent" (Read the story).

The story tell us the fact behind the "banana republics", the cruel intension of Western corporates (esp, United Fruit) in 'ordaining' mock governments in African nations, just to grow bananas, it's commercialization, and the awaiting death of the banana itself!

He comments: " What happened? They (the corporates) had one good entrepreneurial idea – and to squeeze every tiny drop of profit from it, they destroyed democracies, burned down rainforests, and ended up killing the fruit itself."

Shocking! .. and insightful!

With love, to Micheal

2008-05-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Micheal,

I appreciate your genuine efforts to express your views. Thanks a lot for that.

Yes, we all know that Catholicism is declining in the Western world in a fast pace. It's not only Catholicism - the other Christian denominations are the ones who loose their ground much faster. I can see that in Australia. Australia is supposed to be an Anglican fortress because of its British migrant history. Anglican and other protestant churches were the predominant churches in Australia till near past. But in spite of an overall decline in its performance, Catholic church now emerges as the single largest and most vibrant church in Australia. As far as the reports we receive, this trend is continuing around the Western world.

I just mentioned this to show that the problem of "erosion of faith" is not simply the problem of Catholic church. May be they are better positioned to tackle it.

Now about the 3 reasons you have put forward to explain the decline in Church performance.

The child-sex scandals in the Western Catholic church is a shame. We all share the shame and responsibility. That's human fault. That's what we call sin (we call a spade a spade). We accept it and repent. Necessary measures have to be taken to handle the issue. But that cannot be the reason to put whole universal community at gun-point. I always felt that Western media, the so called 'liberals' and champions of child-welfare - attacked Church with a kind of vengeance. That's not right and not acceptable. Christ gave more respect to the woman caught in adultery!

Sins of few priests won't bankrupt the moral strength of Pope Benedict or the Church. They are up and arm against Church not simply because some priests abused children, but because even in face of that humiliation, Church tried to uphold its moral stands against many other issues, which that section of the society wanted to change.

Now, the second point: homosexuality. I have never touched this area before. I didn't want to involve! Since you have raised the issue, I am putting my few cents.

Homosexuality is still a point of debate. As you claim, no one has categorically proved anything regarding homosexuality. It not like the Galilee incident where Church clinged to the notion of a earth-centric planetary system! Church is much open and progressive now. The whole argument about homosexuality (as an inborn/genetic/personality thing) is very pre-mature to comment. Those who push for homosexuality claims are going far more than the science itself (which cannot be the answer for all question, after all). Remember, science first told light is a particle, then a wave, then particle-wave and so on and so forth. Let's don't jump into conclusions.

Here are few links which deals with this issue (the last link is the public comments, it's interesting to go thru them):

http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4529843&page=1

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/comments?type=story&id=4529843

The final one. Yes, I am from India. Church is flourishing there in spite of our struggles in living in a highly pluralistic society. You may categorize it as one of the "countries with low levels of ...". I get your point, religion/church is for the poor and uneducated.

About 400 years back, when the first colonial shipmen came to India, to do trade, India controlled 23% of world's wealth (which no other country had ever done in the history). Yes, we did have our mistakes in handling those "guests" and our own infightings. We lost - a bit. But just bouncing back, with all the lessons learned from history.

I just said this to mention that the Catholicism in India has a legacy of 2000 years - from St Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus (The so called US was not even known that time) and we have seen everything - history, culture, wealth, vedas, knowledge, sastras (science), maths, exploitation, poverty, freedom, democracy, market - and survived. And we will - the Church will. I can see the contempt in that argument (typical to many of my Western friends), but you got it wrong there Micheal.

Peace!
=====================================================
PS: This is a response to the message by Mr Micheal, which can be accessed as the previous post

With love, from Michael

2008-05-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

I received the following mail from a friend in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. I quote it with his permission. My reply will be the next post
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I came across your blogs via verveearth. As a former Catholic, I was intrigued by some of your posts, especially your thoughts about re-energizing the Church in the West. From my perspective, you are battling a losing cause for a number of reasons. A recent survey showed that 10% of the U.S. Population consists of "former Catholics." In my own family, other than my elderly mother and one sister, everyone has either joined a different denomination - e.g., Lutheran or Episcopal - or no longer attends church services at all. In my own case, I have joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church where I enjoy the same mass each Sunday without the morally bankrupt and falsely sanctimonius hierarchy and non-stop anti-gay propaganda. Here are a few reasons for the Church's decline in the USA:

First, I believe until the Vatican does a thorough house cleaning of the members of the hierarchy who enabled and/or covered up sex abuse - and by house cleaning I mean complete removal from office - there will be a continued exodus of people from the Catholic Church. Simply removing the guilty priests and doing nothing to those who shuffled them from parish to parish and/or intimidated victims and there families to stay quiet will not cut it and shows from Benedict XVI on down that the hierarch is morally bankrupt and have no legitinate authority to dictate to anyone what is morally right.

Second, with the increases in medical and mental health knowledge concernig homosexuality, the Church's continued anti-gay stance will only drive away the younger generations. One study with in the last year found that 58% of those under 30 years of age viewed orthodox Christianity negatively in large part because of its homophobia.

Third, an educated population that has access to information on science and any number of other topics will not blindly swallow what the Church is peddling, particualr in light of the two previous issues. Thus, it is no surprise that the Church is growing predominately in countries with low levels of education and knowledge.

Michael

http://michael-in-norfolk.blogspot.com/

xt3.com - The WYD Social Networking Site

2008-05-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

visit my Web home

I am very happy that WYD Sydney is coming out with its social networking site - xt3.com! (Christ in 3rd Millennium).

However, I feel that the ways of God are mysterious. In the first week of May 2007, I had a meeting with Mr Paolo Damante, Assistant Project Officer, DID Melbourne as per the direction of Bishop Christopher Prowse. Since I was a postgraduate student of IT at RMIT, Bishop Christopher asked me to give some creative ideas regarding WYD website (basically his intention was to look into DID site). Since I was aware of the possibilities of an Internet virtual community along with WYD08, I shared this idea with Paolo with allpossible details at that time. But nothing heard for quite a long time.

So, I prepared a 'one-page proposal' and send it as an email to Bp Anthony Fischer, chairman of WYD committee on 16th July 2007. On reply I got the above letter. It says that they were at that time finalizing plans to establish an online catholic community.

I am happy! It has been realized...

Holy Spirit could inspire several people simultaneously with the same idea!

The War!

2008-04-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

Go to my Web Home

Lance Corporal Jason Mark, a young Australian soldier was killed in Afghanistan today (28th April 08).

Then a Habiz made a comment on Herald Sun on the story:
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well big deal millions people get kill in Iraq and Afghan! there are human too but no one has sympathy for them

Posted by: Habiz of Broadii 10:03am today
Comment 16 of 84
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Within hours the forum was filled with the following comments. It reminds me that human being, whether white or black (or brown), muslim or christian has a long way to go... to reach the perfection and peace.

Here are those comments.... (u can also see my comment at Comment 57 of 84). Have a look at the last one->dreadful!

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well big deal millions people get kill in Iraq and Afghan! there are human too but no one has sympathy for them

Posted by: Habiz of Broadii 10:03am today
Comment 16 of 84
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Habiz, i hope one day you suffer the loss of a close family member, so some weak dog can say "big deal" behind the safety of their computer screen. Have some respect for the people who risk their lives in an attempt to make this world a better place.. Only days ago im sure you enjoyed a Public Holiday... And from the sound of it, thats all it meant to you. To nearly every Australian, ANZAC day was a day to remember and honour the returned and fallen soldiers of war. Yet here you are tarnishing the death of a commited Australian solier, a father of two and a husband You, Habiz are a discrace.

Posted by: Daniel of frankson 10:26am today
Comment 20 of 84
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Have a little respect for a soldier of one of the best forces in the world. Remember these guys are sent overseas. Obviously Habiz we would not have have seen you at ANZAC day. Who says there is no sympathy for people who get killed in Iraq/Afgan, they are also killing there own there, remember that.

Posted by: Simon of Melbourne 10:31am today
Comment 22 of 84
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Habiz of Broadii: Do you stand erect or do you still walk on all fours get real mate evolve like the rest of us humans you goose

Posted by: stephen clark of st kilda 10:57am today
Comment 28 of 84
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Sincere condolences to the family of the late L/C Marks,may he he rest in peace. Habiz your comments are disrespectful and very foolish. I admit to not being an expert on the Iraq/Afghanistan war situations, perhaps some one can inform me why people are in uproar over our troops being in Iraq yet are mostly silent on them being in Afghanistan, in fact i believe more of our troops have lost their lives in Afghanistan than Iraq. Why does Rudd play up the withdrawal of troops from Iraq yet continues to leave 1000+ in Afghanistan. What is the difference?

Posted by: grumpy of north of gepps cross 11:04am today
Comment 30 of 84

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Habiz and Lyn have both made valid points. They have made rational statements that aren't driven by immediate emotion. Whilst you may not agree with their angles or views they have a right to speak their minds. Greatest sympathies to the family of the deceased soldier, but any society that can say they have only had 5 citizens die in the Afghan conflict is a lucky one. For this we can thank those soldiers and a government who seeks to protect our interests. I also doubt Habiz's name is actually that- if I wanted to stir the pot here I'd use a foreign name too.

Posted by: Wayne of Port Melb 11:43am today
Comment 39 of 84

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I am an European migrant of 55 years living in this wonderful and bountiful country (I came here with my mum when I was little) and its when I read comments like yours Habiz I know that I can be racist. For it is the likes of you and others like you that are not welcomed in this country. You come here and reap off the benefits, but you have no respect for our culture or its people. Go get lost BACK TO WHERE YOUR FROM PATHETIC MORON and let the true Australians mourn our brave serviceman, my sincerest condolences to Lance Corporal Jason Marks family may He Rest in Peace

Posted by: annie of st albans 1:23pm today
Comment 49 of 84

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Habiz you moron.....go home....what? too scared....that's right being protected by Australia.....how ironic....can't believe we protect and waste our time with low life's like you......RIP & thank you Jason Marks, my condolences to his family.....

Posted by: Love it or leave it of Australia 1:32pm today
Comment 53 of 84
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With due respect to the fallen soldier, let me say, "Habiz of Broadii", you made a very valid point. We don't want too may hypocrites in this country. We also feel for those innocent lives in the war-torn countries.

Posted by: Jaison of Canberra 1:49pm today
Comment 57 of 84
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Does anyone apart from Habiz know where Habiz was born? Why are people assuming that he wasn't born here? Is it because his opinions are offensive? Nobody has suggested that Lyn of Melbourne was born elsewhere, even though her comments are just as (stupid and) offensive. In fact at least Habiz (kind of) has a point: we do need to remember that this war has killed many people, from both sides, as well as those that don't have a side. And Amanda of Melbourne, yes you are a racist. Is that something to be proud of?

Posted by: Brendan of Melbourne 3:53pm today
Comment 64 of 84
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PEOPLE, leave habiz alone....hes from the illiterate and ignorant suburb of broadii, what do you expect???

Posted by: Jeff 4:06pm today
Comment 65 of 84
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I was at a suburban Anzac Service yesterday and was one of over 150 people who listened to a speech conducted by a young Sergeant who has recently returned from Afghanistan. What he said was spine-chilling, then to hear of the death of Lance Corporal Marks todays makes the Sergeant even more chilling. Many of those in attendance, including myself, had tears in their eyes listening to this young man talk of what dangers our soldiers are in while trying to help nearby communities to the same freedom we accept as our right. Maybe Lyn and Habiz need to seek out such returned servicemen as this Sergeant and hear their story. I send my Deepest Condolences to Lance Corporal Mark's family and friends. May he rest in peace and LEST WE FORGET.

Posted by: Elayne of Melbourne 4:24pm today
Comment 72 of 84

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WAR....what is it good for.........Absolutley everything, freedom, alliance, the almighty green back and fighting for your beleifs, and the most imprtant yours and our future

Posted by: Dwayne of Melbourne 4:21pm today
Comment 70 of 84

The Olympic Torch Relay at Canberra

2008-04-24T04:30:00.000-07:00

I just witnessed the Olympic Torch relay at Canberra. (I just made it, after having a quick Thursday meeting with my supervisor - Peter Strazdins).

All were anticipating a pro-Tibetan protest during the relay. But what happened was a wave of pro-china supporters. Virtually, Canberra was in Red. Every were red Chinese flags - waved by the "Chinese students". That's what they said - students! But it appeared that there was a very systematic effort behind it - most probably orchestrated by Chinese authorities. I am a student for 3+ years in Australia. All the time with the majority of Chinese students. I never witnessed such a kind of nationalistic feeling among the Chinese students. Most of them do not know about the international politics or even their internal affairs. If they have to come in large numbers like this (nearly 5 - 6 thousands), there should be some magic!

Australia was really intimidated by the "soft-power" of China. When I was with the crowd I could feel it very clearly. They was not in favor, but felt the pressure to defy it.

When Dalai Lama comes to Australia, they flock around him in thousands. But when it matters to their "dollars" (China is their largest trade-partner), they simply keep quite - unlike many other Western countries. Reasons are quite evident: they are really small and geographically very near to China. They are the first one to be tamed by the Chinese. That's been done.

Tail piece: Australia under Mandarin speaking Kevin Rudd is keeping a great distance from India - may be under the influence of China (or India's previous adherence to Howard ministry). He is not in the good book of US too. We could even expect a rift within the Asia-Pacefic solution between Aus, US and Japan. It may depend upon how India closes in to US.

Support Tibet, but India and China should be Bhai-Bhai!

2008-04-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

Proud to be an Indian which is the home of Tibetan Exile Government and Dalai Lama. Tibetans should be grateful for what India is doing to them (nearly a million of them in India). I dont think, they want to push India into any kind of trouble with China.

Commonsense suggest that we dont want to make China unhappy either. As neighbours and the emerging world powers, India and China should come closer and work together for the betterment of both civilizations. It will be the perfect Eastern block against the West. But China should have the wisdom to understand that. So also India.

Tibetans should continue to receive the hospitality from India but their issue has to be sorted out with China by themselves or with the help of other world powers (after all we are doing the best in the world to Tibetans by giving them asylum. The Tibetan Government in exile runs from Indian soil. We practice what others even fear to preach. So, let others do the rest)

Re-Orienting CMI Mission Thrusts

2008-04-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

These are the excerpts from the paper, I have submitted to the CMI General Synaxis 2008:
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Re-Orienting Our Mission Thrusts
Position Paper Submitted to the CMI General Synaxis 2008

1. Introduction
When we put the General Synaxis 2008 in the perspective of the needs of the universal Church and the emerging importance of India in the new world order, we shall perceive an urgent need to re-orient our mission thrusts. This paper discusses the emerging need to shift our mission policy and proposes relevant suggestions to equip our selves to take up those challenges.

2. Background
• Changing World Order: Emergence of India as one of the economic super powers along with China has dramatically changed the image of India and Indians in the world scenario in the last few years. The acquisition of British and European Steel companies by Tatas and Mittal, the acquisition of luxury car brands - Land Rover and Jaguar - by Tatas and the success of Indian IT companies around the globe have triggered this movement. It is been taken up by booming Indian market index – sensex and success of Indian corporate firms and Indian CEOs around the globe. The world now believes that India and Indians can do something and no more they are considered to be ‘under-developed’.

The ripples of this booming effect are seen in the Catholic Church too. The appointment of Cardinal Ivan Dias as the prefect of Congregation for Evangelisation - for the first time by an Asian - is to be seen as a sign of growing confidence in Indians by the Catholic Church hierarchy. Very recently, a Syro-Malabar priest from Ernakulam diocese – Fr Francis Kolenchery is appointed as the Dean of the Cathedral at the capital city of Australia – Canberra.

The world is ready to accept Indian leadership in almost every realm.

• Re-evangelisation Needs of the West: Though the church was originated in Asia, it was the conversion of the West, especially Europe that gave its tremendous growth. The European Church took the needs of universal church on its shoulders for most of the time in the history. But the heavy responsibly is taking it’s own toll at the moment. The human mistakes made during this process – the failures in the Middle Ages till the recent sex scandals of Catholic priests in the West – have alienated Western Church from the main stream of the society. So, now there is great need for the re-evangelisation of those (Western) cultures. The local churches in those cultures are not able to take up leadership in this area for many reasons viz, lack of vocations, the disintegration of the institution of family in those cultures, etc. Without the re-evangelisation of the West, the future of Catholic – universal- church seems very gloomy.

• Mission Challenges in India: The mission in North India is also facing new challenges. With the apparent Hindu extremist revival, chances of direct evangelisation has hit an all time low. What we can do is to concentrate on the indirect means of evangelisation to prepare the culture till we get a breakthrough. There is a need to calm down and to go slow (It does not mean that we are giving up or retreating. It’s only a strategic reflective period).

3. Re-orientation Strategy
Church is missionary. It cannot stop preaching. The present context of the world order and the mission context in India urge us to redirect our zeal and resources to more productive and urgent areas. The re-evangelisation of the West emerges as the most impending and viable challenge for the Indian church for the time being.

This is because of the following reasons: firstly, the seeds of faith are already in Western culture and the field is getting fertile enough to re-embrace the religious and Christian values. The overheated Western culture (in terms of economy and social life) because of it consumerist and individualistic value system is looking for a break and they find it in their roots – the Christian foundations. What is challenging is the incapacity of the Western Church to take leadership in this changing time, because of its lack of vocations and the cultural baggage.

Indian church, with its 16 million Catholics, vast pool of personal and material resources and the new found acceptance in the new world order is in a very good position to take up this challenge. The Indian Church – especially Syro-Malabar Church is still youthful and does not carry a cultural baggage of inquisitions or crusades so that we can talk to the confused Western youngsters in a convincing manner. As the major religious congregation in the Syro-Malabar church, it becomes the duty and opportunity of CMI congregation to take the lead in this leadership quest.

Secondly, the re-Christianisation of the West will have the most far-reaching positive impacts for the Catholic Church. Whether it is the evangelisation of Africa or the Asian countries, a re-Christianised West will be the key to its future. A dying Western Catholic church will be an irreparable loss.

4. Practical Steps

Take up more meaningful mission tasks in the Western world, like forming CMI communities, Retreat/Spirituality centres, youth initiatives, investments in Western catholic resources, etc.
Start/Takeover educational institutions, especially in English speaking Western countries, with our expertise in educational field in India and out-side India (Most of our fathers working in those countries help running the Catholics schools along with the Parishes).
Increase the percentage of priests who can go and serve in Western countries.

5. Conclusion
What we are aiming at is the true globalisation of our mission works by which we shall serve the universal Church better. This will also provide reasonable challenges for the coming young generations to motivate them to take up CMI vocation in a dramatically changing world.

Jaison Paul Mulerikkal CMI
Email: jaisonmpaul@gmail.com
29th February 2008

World Food Crisis?

2008-04-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

Is there a world food crisis looming?

I got a gut feeling that it is... (sadly).

We can see the resonances everywhere.. Here in Australia - the rivers are disappearing, Govt buying back water-rights (given to big farmers), Food production coming down and the food prices skyrocketing.

The same is the case at my home state - Kerala (India). They have abandoned agriculture decades back (Thanks to Commies.. for their cruel unionism). They were depending on the rice from the neighboring states - esp, Tamilnadu and Andra. But due to climate change effects - their food productiton gone down and they reduced supply to Kerala. Result: food prices (esp, rice price) are skyrocketing.

These are only examples. We can hear stories from around the world - Africa, Latin America and Asia. The Western and European countries are only complaining about the escalating food prices. They don't have a crisis yet, coz, they can afford it!

I think, things are going to be worse in the coming years. A cumulative effect of climate change, continued emission of green house gases in the developed nations (along with the emerging developing world), the scarcity of fossil fuels (A recent TV debate argued that the petrol prices are set to triple or at least double within 3 years and I think is only a reasonable guess), the developing food crisis (and may be of fresh water, in the near future) may create a far more difficult world for us to live in.

It may not be as pleasant as WE lived to-date, I fear. Let my fears never be a reality. I pray that all my observations go wrong!

Obama Mania

2008-03-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

I like this man called Obama. He is black. He speaks hope... and all the more he is the opponent of another Clinton called Hillary.

Again, it will be good for America to have a visionary (at least a sensible person) like Obama, but a Hillary for emerging countries like India and China. With Obama, America MAY get rid of its doomsday, but with the likes of Clintons there's more chance for that country to come into peril. It's a gut feeling based on my readings on world affairs. With his characteristic eloquence on hope (Hope is a precious thing!), Obama may be able to divert the attention of American people from their defeats - in Iraq, economics, and so on - and to put them in the real place in the world order: an honourable position were US still be a major power but less intervening in other's matters and at the same time bringing all around the table for the common good of humanity - like climate change issues and threat of terrorism.

But with the Clitons, there could be great political laundering - and even countries like China and India may try to gain from it by even horse-trading their politicians, I fear. US can easily become the India of 16th century.

Indian Summer of Cricket in Australia

2008-03-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

It's been after long time, I am blogging. There's no real point in writing about Cricket at this time, coz, the GREAT India tour of Australia has already faded into the past. Even then, I think, I cannot start blogging without mentioning it.

It was really a GREAT series. It had everything. the fire, the power, controversy, intimidation and the victory.

The umpiring blunders of 2nd Test in Sydney started it all. Then the racism allegation! I felt that Australia was trying to use again the 'racist card' to divert attention from the the way they won the second test. But it backfired. Australia lost its moral ground, and also their confidence. On the other hand, India was thriving on their bruises. It did a magic at Perth. A win against Australia. It seemed that Kumble was happy enough to accept a draw in Adelaide; and he got it. End of Australian dominance in Cricket.

Then came the ODIs. Dhoni's young turks! Australian didn't have a clue in the finals! A complete whitewash - 2 - nil, and the Harbajan - Hayden row. It was disgusting to listen to the interview of Hayden on radio. But Baaji had the last laugh.

One who laugh last, laughs better.

Morale: End of Australian dominance in Cricket. May be not only on field, but off the field and in the Board room as well. I mean, the IPL phenomenon. The center of gravity of World cricket has been brutally shifted to the Indian subcontinent.

Cricket is only a beginning, I think. Much more to come. India and China will play big roles in the world affairs in the very near future.

Tail piece: Now, Jaguar and Land Rover are Indian brands - after their acquisition by the Tatas!

Australia has spoken!

2007-11-27T16:20:00.000-08:00

Home

Finally, Australia has spoken... They proved that they've got a heart! good.

Howard looses the general election 2007.. He may even lose his seat.

Last Question to Mr Howard - Letter to the Editor (The Age)

2007-11-21T23:37:00.000-08:00

Mr Howard says that he would not take action against Ms Chijoff even if her husband was involved in the bogus Islamic ALP pamphlet for 'her husband may have done a foolish thing, that should not automatically be visited upon her'. Good moral principle, huh (if Ms Chijoff is clean!!)!

What was your moral stand when you proudly announced the detention of Dr Mohamed Haneef only because he was the cousin of someone involved in a criminal act abroad? Morality of convenience, huh? Australia may deserve a leader not a hypocrite (but it's up to them!).

Australia Decides 2007

2007-11-17T21:12:00.001-08:00

The Australian Federal Elections are due next Saturday. I am not an astrologer to predict the winner!

Kevin Rudd's Labor has been consistently leading the opinion polls (as they did in all previous elections they lost) against Howard's Liberals. I just make an analysis of the outcome, whether it is Labor or Liberal.

Kevin seems to have a plan. He identifies the importance of education in Australia to compete with India and China. I think that's a good move. The present economic boom in Australia is supported by the mining boom alone. That will be there. But equipping young Australian with necessary skills will give them a cutting edge, no doubt. His policies on climate change and Iraq seems to be more ethical. Kevin is good for Australia.

On the other hand Howard is stuck up with his Work choices, which will give more rights to bosses for "Hire and Fire". The common people will still enjoy an apparent economic prosperity out of the economic boom sustained by 'mining or resource' industry. (The logic is simple: allow big bosses to exploit the resources - India and China will buy it. Get peanuts out of the bosses in the form of minimal taxes and share it with 20 million - not a big deal). But he will sell uranium to India! He will still support skilled migrants to support the bosses. He wont quit from Iraq and keep Australia a target of extremists well ahead of countries like India, which suffered very badly from extremism in the past. He may be good for countries like India.

PS: However the 'climate clever' tactics of Howard will not have a fare run in international arena, I guess. It's not 16th century to fool India and China to take responsibility of mess created by 'worst emitters' in the world. They are in command too.

Racism Card of Ponting - Letter send to the Editor - MX

2007-10-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Ponting accuses India of racism, wow! (MX 18th Oct). Let's dig out. As we all know, racism is discriminating against, or vilifying, a person because of his/her race. The question here to ask, "was the crowd making monkey noises being racist, or was that just harmless fun? (I am talking about the the first one at Vadhora, which spurred the whole debate).

Ponting says that the monkey's color is dark and so it is aimed at dark-skinned Symonds. What Ponting thinks of the color of the "so called" abusers. Symonds was the only person in the entire Australian team whom the spectators could easily identify with. Moreover, almost all of the West Indian players have always commanded respect from millions of Indian cricket fans for their great cricketing skills and decent behavior. Then what went wrong? As Indian officials said the Indian fans might have targeted Symonds just because of his heated exchanges with Indian bowlers Harbhajan Singh and Shantakumaran Sreesanth. It has got nothing to do with his race.

Cricket was a gentlemen's game until "some teams" made racial slurs and sledging an art and tactics in the field to intimidate their opponents to win few games. So, Ponting, we also hope that that does not happen again in any another cricket match, because it leaves bad taste to everybody's mouth. Let's play decent, good cricket, free of sledging in the field, and that will show the crowds an example. Good luck.

US Sub-prime Mortgage Crunch!

2007-09-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

We were hearing a lot about this. The sub-prime credit crunch in US causes recession in US economy (they say that its a 'global' recession).

I was just after it... just to know what really is it.

few reflections: I got the definition for sub-prime credit from Wiki. It goes like this:

Sub-prime lending, also called B-paper, near-prime, or second chance lending, is the practice of making loans to borrowers who do not qualify for the best market interest rates because of their deficient credit history.

Which means they were lending money to people who were not supposed to get it.

What does that mean? Banks had to lend money to keep the business moving. Thay had already squeezed the elite class (those had money). So they started to sell it to sub-prime class.

Now they are telling that those loans were too risky and not being paid back. In the discussion forum in BBC, a mortgage lender was saying that most of the sub-prime clients were fake! (like, show some building just to get the loan and abandon it and do not pay for it)

So now all the blame goes to the 'sub-prime' clients! The so-called poor in the society. They create the crisis! They are the thief!

It the irony. Every were the poor and weak suffer and accused for all the trouble.

BIG QUESTION is, is that those poor sub-prime clients the real culprits?

I don't think so. The answers would lie between the lines rather than on the line: sub-prime credit crunch.

What I think is this: the US economy was experiencing a kind of vacuum because of their vast spendings - the very principle of consumerism. They spend spend and spend. But the spending was backed by CREDIT rather than what they actually had. (The life and work of most of the Americans are already pledged to these mortgage/credit banks for years to come, as we all know). Further the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan also must have squeezed US reserves.

What US govt could do was just print print and print dollars. But in order to support that (support the value of money) they wanted more and more economic activity (demand for dollar. without demand no value! basic demand and supply theory). The govt along with the architects of war and US had carefully lured the 'sub-prime' clients to catch this bait. The so called poor, they caught the bait, most probably for inflated value for a piece of land or housing on a high interest rate.

But this cannot go on for ever. Now all on a sudden the market forces (which was much anticipated) realizes that the value of their assets are overestimated and to be 'adjusted'. US dollar weakens, the value of their assets gone, but the credit and the high interest rate remain the same!

Now, either the 'sub-prime' clients have to work their ass out to repay the loans or be branded as 'thiefs'.

I think, its all a new form of slavery!

Dancing with the Chinese!

2007-08-30T04:33:00.000-07:00

The other day I had beautiful trip with Lili and Gourav. We had some good moments of sharing and dance!

Dancing with the CHINESE!

I think its high time to dance with the Chinese. Both India and Chinese are great civilizations and geographical neighbours. They both are poised to become the first and the third largest economies in the world within the next 25 years.

There might have some misunderstandings in the past - some border issues! But it is not unresolvable. Both India and China should have the maturity and wisdom to solve it amicably in the wider interests of both countries.

After all, what's the point in having mistrust between two world players of the upcoming world when they have to live very next to each other?

As somebody said, "the best way to eliminate your enemy is to make him/her your friend!"

Lily (she is actually "Yao") agreed with us completely. She is a lovely gal (all the Chinese guys I met here are beautiful... I don't understand why WE didn't understand them early) . If the yellow and the brown are united, there's more chances of hope and prosperity in the world (at least in 'their part of the world'.. hi hi).

I've started to learn Chinese.

Zai Chian (bye bye)

Church Apology

2007-08-09T04:51:00.000-07:00

During a friendly chat, my beloved auxiliary bishop of Melbourne pointed out that the Church had made an official apology regarding the Cathedral event. The Church did apologize for the 'the language and remarks made by the priest'.

The text goes like this: Monsignor Tomlinson said “I apologise unreservedly for the language and remarks made by the priest. I have spoken to him and as you would imagine he is very distressed by what has taken place and deeply regrets the way in which he reacted to the behaviour of the youths.”

That is a good thing which I was not aware till date. It was in the official website of the Melbourne Archdiocese and dated 27th July. I wrote my article on 28th.

But this apology was not made public by any of the leading media groups. That's selective reporting!

However, there were no efforts from the part of Church to make clear its position by reiterating its position in the mainstream media.

I'm sorry for not reading the official response of the Church at its website. But the circumstances in which I wrote the letter remain the same - Church did not have the visibility in denouncing the remarks made by the Dean and the philosophy behind it in public.

iNdIa - ChArgeS AhEAd

2007-08-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

Here is an impressive edition of Time Magazine on India (note on all editions, except US ). It is a special report on India as it celebrates its 60th Independence Day (on August 15).

As an Indian, I feel proud of it - what is been said in the magazine. It is not that we need a compliment from a magazine to acknowledge what we are, rather it is because that they are able to see the history and spirit of India from 'corrected' point of view.

I wish the Australian media could reach there before yesterday!

The Video has been removed!

2007-07-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

I just logged in to Youtube to have a look at the video. I got the response in the picture. It has been removed by the user!

No Comments. God bless the Church!

Shameful outburst

2007-07-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

The Letter to the Editor send to The Age has been published in the daily today.

Here is the link: http://www.theage.com.au/letters/?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

Priest Kickout (Letter to the Editor send to "The Age")

2007-07-29T03:55:00.000-07:00

go to HOME

I'm an Indian Catholic priest living in Melbourne. I watched the controversial video on the Dean of Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral on Youtube. The video puts me into shame. Of course, the Dean (St Patrick’s, Melbourne) had been provoked. I feel sorry for him. But that doesn't give him excuse or right for the way he responded. I've never been taught in Canon law/Moral theology of the Catholic Church that the color of eye or hair has got any relation with the character of a person. But when Rev Dean relates them together, even in the midst of provocation, it is condemnable. I hope that the Church in Melbourne will repair the damage and reinstate its credibility through reconciliatory measures.

The Youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OLkLPWKfDM

The end of Haneef Debacle

2007-07-29T03:06:00.001-07:00

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Finally Haneef was cleared, "allowed to" go back to India, after 3 weeks of political and legal drama.

What's the balance sheet?

A smiling Haneef; good for him, his loving wife and family. He'll surely become an icon of civil liberties.
A victory of the humanitarian activists in Australia. Haneef's case aroused unprecedented support from the moderate Australians. It was evident from the "letter to the editors".
Turned out to be an evident example of the opportunistic attitudes of Australian politicians (as elsewhere!), racial discrimination and arrogance.
Diplomatic as well as political success for Manmohan Singh Govt of India. 1) Got back the goodwill of moderate Muslims of India on two accounts - the efforts of Indian Govt to support Haneef and a reminder of how well the moderate Muslims are treated in India in comparison to other parts of the world! 1) Diplomatic success of India over Australia.

40 years with Petrol... After that?

2007-07-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a small report from one of the July 07 editions of Time Magazine.

The report goes like this:

Every year BP (British Petroleum) produces a report about the status of world fossil fuel reserves. This year's report suggest that we (Earth!) have more petroleum reserves than we have thought in the past. extensive graphs are shown to corroborate the facts. Quite obviously, the largest reserves are in the middle east. U can see the skyscrapers in the picture (its inverted though). They represent the middle east petrol reserves.

Here is the tail piece. All these reserves will be enough to support the Earth's requests at the current rate for another 40 years.....

40 years...

so after 40 years?

no need to go after more reasons to know the interest of some PEOPLE in the middle east... the war, Iraq, civil war....

keep guessing... curious to know your reflections too...

Haneef and the rift between The Age and The Herald Sun

2007-07-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

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Haneef's case is becoming more n more interesting (?).

Herald Sun (It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd (HWT), a subsidiary of News Limited and owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. ) today reported that AFP has got evidences to prove that Haneef was plotting a terror attack on Australian targets. They quoted that the news were reported by some anonymous sources!

The Age (The Fairfax group) was blank about that news.

That means, The Age didn't get it! Later by the noon, I read in my mobile news from Fairfax that they acknowledge the fax that such a news has been reported by News Corporation.

Now the suspicion grows... the Haneef's lawyer denounces the allegations and ask AFP to respond to the new allegations. In an unprecedented move AFP publishes a statement by the evening saying that those allegations are baseless!

What happened to Herald Sun - the highest circulating newspaper in Australia?

Answer is simple.

If my observation is correct, Herald Sun is for Howard and The Age is for the Labor (at least for this election).

I shared it with my community few months back, when the opinion polls about the next Federal elections started to appear in the newspapers. It was always in favor of Labor, in both the papers. But the first attempt to show that Howard slicing the lead of Labor was presented by Herald Sun soon after the labor allegations about Mrs Rudd broke out, before couple of months. The enthusiasm of Herald Sun was so evident that it lead to the suspect the motives of Herald Sun. (later on, after few weeks, the suggested comeback of Howard was again reversed by The Age survey!)

Now, its clear. Howard has some kind of understandings with Murdock.

Murdock was trying to save Howard from the fallout of this case by creating a new allegation from an anonymous source. But it's too far to be expected from a responsible newspaper. After all, Herald Sun is a tabloid!

My WYD Dream!

2007-07-20T03:06:00.000-07:00

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I've submitted a proposal for a WYD Virtual Community in Internet to Bishop Anthony Fisher, the Chair of WYD 08 Sydney, last Monday 16th July on the feast of Mount Carmel. I haven't received any response yet. It's dead, I presume. But the dream is very powerful and much needed for the Church, I believe. But many a time, Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. I believe that the HS works also through Church Authorities. So, I leave it for the time being... Let Him decide. But here is my one page proposal:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Project Proposal
WYD Internet Virtual Community

What
• An Internet virtual community like www.orkut.com (of Google) or www.tagged.com for WYD.
• Half a million plus young adults who register for WYD will constitute the primary members of the proposed virtual community.
• The members can login to the community from WYD website http://www.wyd2008.org.
• The community can be opened to the public and expects exponential growth in membership by capitalizing on the primary members’ commitment and the millions of hits received by WYD website.
• Will be the first Catholic virtual community in the Net and Church will control its content.

Why
• Global database for priestly/religious vocations. The best of Catholic young adults who have the zeal to participate in WYD is given a platform to come together to form a community. Since Church controls the content of the community, different dioceses and religious groups can advertise, expose their spirituality and track down young adults who have potential priestly/religious vocation.
• The fun way of preparation for WYD. The members of the virtual community can get to know each other, communicate with each other, share their views, organize travel and accommodation and plan a lot of surprises (Eg: meet someone who became a friend through the virtual community, during WYD) before the actual event.
• WYD committee can make use of the community for orientation/faith formation of WYD participants through its discussion forums, internal community/group formation etc.
• Will be the most effective follow up program of WYD. This community will carry the spirit and its members to the following WYDs.

How
• Will develop the required software, deal with all networking issues and will launch the community in the WYD website within 90 days of the commencement of the project.
• A group of 5 software engineering graduates who have successfully completed a similar industry project is ready and willing to take part in this project under my guidance.

Fr Jaison Paul Mulerikkal CMI
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Priory
Middle Park, VIC 3206
0433 893593 (mob)
jaisonmpaul@gmail.com

Haneef and the "Clash of Civilizations"

2007-07-18T00:56:00.000-07:00

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I feel pity about Haneef, who is held in Australian detention centre on charges of 'recklessly' giving his SIM to his cousin who was involved in terrorist activities in UK (I dont know how reckless am I in giving my SIM to my mum during my last visit to India on March! AFP may charge me on those grounds at any time... I'm frightened! (ha ha ha..I'm kidding)).

He is not a terrorist, my mind says. He was one of those moderate Muslims who denounced terrorism and longed to live a peaceful life as a Muslim. Since the family values in Indian culture is still preserved, he might have just trusted his cousin and given his SIM to his cousin (It may be bit hard for an average Australian to understand this logic, for there is a great erotion of family values in this culture. To put it bluntly, the marriage unsuccessful rate in Australia is more than 50%).

However, Haneef is been punished for the 'sins of his cousins'!

This is absurd and not at all acceptable. As everybody knows, there are more political rather than legal/moral resaons behind his detention (even after a successful bail application). Howard is slipping heavily in the poll ratings for the imminent Federal elections and somehow wants to turn votes to him. As in elsewhere (in India too) he is trying to terrorise people in the pretext of terrorism!

The funny thing: the opposition also supports this. So, its complete! Basically it cements one of my earlier convictions. The people of the West reserve a dangerous silence, when it comes to the matters that will somehow touches their interests/ego/conforts/convenience. This silence was evident during the decision to invade Iraq and Afghanistan from the part of the public. They simply shut their eyes! No question of morals/values! Then there will be moral rhetoric if things do not go as they wish.

One thing I want to point out. These decisions made by the politicians/governments of the West (Aus is not West, but shares Western values) has got nothing to do with Christianity. They are in no way compatible with Gospel values. Moreover, these States, as they claim, are SECULAR (in West, it means, no affinity to any religion).

It's not "Clash of Civilizations", if civilization of West means 'Christianity'. These actions of the politicians and States have got NO relation to Christianity.

I feel that Church hierarchy in this country should come forward to denounce these actions of Govt as religions are asked to denounce any terrorist activities in the name of religion.

Haneef, I hope you are innocent. Hope you will come out clean after all these trials (I know it's going to take years, I am sorry). You are only a powerless pawn in the hands of some powerful people in this world, who wants it more and more at any cost.

Never ever think that this is Christian culture! It's only the present day Western culture. Christianity has nothing to do with it - its not the "clash of civilizatons."

Howard wants to steal Aboriginals (once again!)

2007-07-12T03:10:00.000-07:00

Federal elections at the doorstep and the ruling Liberal party, headed by Mr John Howard is trailing behind Labor in opinion polls, there's something quite interesting (ugly!?) happening in Australian politics.

The controversial Work Place Laws and government apathy to Global Warming/Environmental issues are holding Howard back. Quite interestingly, Australian public is silent about their continuing involvement in Iraq! (it seems that they are concerned about what affect their lifestyle rather than what their govt does to avail those resources (oil in this case)).

Now Howard has opened a new frontier for election battle - the aborigines! first of all this is not at all a new frontier. The occupation of Australia (?, I've met an aboriginal man at the soup kitchen run by Mother Theresa sisters @ Melbourne. He wont agree that its Australia. He said its "Red Sand Land" in the native language) is the story of the suppression of aboriginal people. It was the basic tactics used by the foreign occupants from the very beginning of 'Australia'. It is said that some tribes in Tasmania were wiped out literally (just shot the whole tribe down). To make it more clear, Australia boast of regaining the aboriginal population to the level at the time of first occupants, this year!

Howard is just back to their original card.

The issue will appear very legitimate and sincere - child abuse in aboriginal communities. All aboriginal communities are ugly. So, send troops. Compulsory medical check up for children. Moreover, regulate their rights over their land and govt incentives unless until they rectify their problem.

But the ugly tactics behind the proposal is explained as follows (its from www.rightsatwork.com.au discussion board)

The Howard Aboriginal land grab conspiracy

First you pretend to show concern for people that you have never given a toss about before.
You can then bring in new laws to control welfare payments using the Aborigines as a test case which will spread to the general populus later on after the election.
Then you bring in the cavalary to pretend to clean up the problem.
Then you convince the general public that these people would be better off resettled amongst the general populus, just like any other refugee etc
So you move them from their land and then reclaim the land at a bargain basement price by paying off the Aboriginal Elders and offering them a deal they can't refuse. You then allocate mining rights to it, but you don't do this until after the election
Before the election you just appeal to the emotions of the voters and try and score some browny points for being sympathetic to the Aborigine and absued childrens cause. After the election you go in for the kill because the voter sentiment no longer matters, and the usual core and non-core promises start flying around again.
Task accomplished. Game set and match to Howard !!! More money for the mining industry and more trailor trash jobs for the rest of us. As well the Government can start to nobble welfare payments for anyone when they see fit. As for the aborigines it's out of sight out of mind !!!

courtesy (click)

The logic is very simple. Even if these evil intentions are exposed, the majority of general public will silently support it, because, it is a plan to steal again from the aboriginals and each and every one will get a share of it (as a job surplus). The business people are happy, coz they are the big winners - mining rights! Church wont rebel - its child abuse!

But its one of the greatest tragedies in the modern world - the plight of Aboriginals in Australia - a national shame.

God save the Aboriginals!

I'm curiously watching - whether Australian public will show slightest respect and honestly in this issue or will give their silent submission as in the case of Iraq!

Jesus the Man - the deception in the very 33rd page

2007-06-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

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I am reading 'Jesus the Man'- a 'supposed to be controversial' book by Barbara Thiering - an Australian author. I read in 'amazon.com', the reviews praising it as an authentic work with the backing of deep research which will topple down our views about Jesus and Christianity. The back cover of the book reads as follows:

"Jesus was the leader of a radical faction of Essene priests. He was not of virgin birth. He did not die on the Cross. He married Mary Magdalene, fathered a family, and later divorced. He died sometime after AD 64."

One of the critics claims that "Barbara Thiering is a supreme academic and goes to great lengths to justify her theories with much referencing, to the point where I have to admit that I probably need to re-read this immediately and I do confess to only really reading the narrative chapters at the start - which is very readable."

So, I opened the book with great expectations. It is really intriguing. The theory she proposed to explain the Qumran (and the Gospel) texts is really gripping - something very similar to Vinci Code. She introduces peshar technique - a kind of technique to unlock the 'submerged mysteries' beneath the Qumran and Gospel texts. I would say, it is original. I have never heard or someone used before.

I kept on reading expecting more. Then I came to page 33. I was completely lost... disappointed. She was giving her first example to explain pesher technique. The example she selected was the Wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine (according to Gospels!)

I put down the words of Thiering account of the miracle of Cana (God I have to type all of it.. give me patience!).

"According to a story in John's gospel, Jesus was at a wedding...When, however, a drink was drawn from them and taken to the steward of the feast, it had miraculously turned into wine. The steward's reaction was strange: he did not comment on the miracle at all, but merely complained that Jesus had saved the good wine until last, whereas it was more usual to serve the good wine first and the poor wine later."

I stopped reading there - the text in italics (the text is Thiering's but i've given italics to highlight it) - what has she done?

Because, I never ever heard that the steward "complained that Jesus had saved the good wine. " According to my memory, the gospel clearly stated that the steward didn't know about the source of the 'new wine'. Did my memory fail. I reached home and searched all available versions of Bible. I was happy that my memory still works perfect!

She was quoting 'a story in John's gospel'. In the very 33th page itself, how could she go wrong? Was she just going wrong - a human error. NO WAY. without that small twist, she could not have justified her pesher theory in that instant. That was the pivot.

But it was too much... in the very 33th page manipulating the Gospel text to prove 'a theory'. I didn't expect that. If this is the case of the very first example, what would be the case of the rest of her work... the authenticity! May be her critic would have been right "Barbara Thiering is a supreme academic and goes to great lengths to justify her theories with much referencing..." except the comments put in italics!

Anyway, I will continue to read the book, to hear her stories and theories!

ON CONVERSION AND THE CHURCH

2007-06-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

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Here is an excerpt from our discussions in DaVinci Code - Helpdesk community on Orkut.

You can go to the whole lot of discussions about DVC, Christianity and more in this community, just follow the link. You may need an Orkut ID though!

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ON CONVERSION AND THE CHURCH
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basically there r 2 issues in our discussion, i guess - the conversion and the role of Catholic Church.

As Ian pointed out, conversion is not simply changing religion. basically, its about change of heart. As Ritin puts it, it should be stimulated by the good works of Christians, themselves.

but there are some issues - if we start to do good works - people say its wrong motivated. i know, after the earth quakes in north India (specifically Gujarat) a team of brothers from our seminary with a train full of supplies (we collected it from the public in Bangalore) were not even allowed to go to those villages. people were still dying and starving. look, we were seminarians with no intention to change their religion. (finally they did help them heroically).

so, its easy to blame church, Christianity etc... but the conversion issue, esp in India - is far more complicated. its not simply about church. people are not frightened about xians, for they convert them. rather they are frightened by the religious extremists with political, economic and cast ambitions 'to hate Christians' or 'risk consequences'. it's basically a political agenda and hate campaign. it was there all through out the history. in the first 3 centuries xians were treated like animals and killed like pigs! (ritin wont like to explain those killings of xians by state, wont u). but the same state accepted xianity as their state religion after that..ha ha.. that's politics, leave it.

then the church's role.

first point, the St Thomas xians in Kerala were catholic from the very beginning. any church initiated by an apostle is considered to be catholic. but the 16th century colonial powers failed to see it.. that's also true. they did a great harm to St Thomas xians. that's why we are divided now.

Ian's observation is valuable - the church may be a communion of saints as well as sinners , but theologically its infallible. that's all.

it does not mean that whatever church does will be right. as a human entity, it may go wrong in its decisions and practice. but what its tells will be infallible - ie, without error - esp regarding the matters of faith and morals.

its a special charism, to make sure that what is good and what is wrong in this very confusing world. church exercise this with utmost care. it does not pass judgments on the realms out side its scope. it has no say in matters of science and mathematics, but of course, in its applications to human life.

i am happy that Ritin came up with the very idea that forcible conversion - in its rude meaning is not a possibility these days.. of course, we, even catholics may have to refine their means of evangelization. but a fact remains - much of the harm is done by the aggressive and unacceptable means adopted by the protestant and evangelical churches (its a great threat to catholic church in India too... why do they aggressively baptize catholics to their churches.. did Jesus tell that!).

I would strongly suggest those so called missionaries - who tries to create communal rifts in our country to stop their way of 'instant conversions'. whoever they may be, they are doing much harm to Christ and Christianity.

but at the same time, every Christian has a right and obligation to live their Christian life in its fullness and to invite others to share its beauty.

The sin of our 'Fathers'!

2007-06-24T21:09:00.001-07:00

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Yesterday we were asked to submit a new doc - working with children check certificate. All who work with children are to submit this according to the new legislation of Victoria Govt. However, it starts with priests and religious! We have to submit it before this Friday, but others - child care workers, medical persons, etc - will get another few months.

When this news was announced in the community, there was grim silence. It somehow implied 'the sins of our Fathers".

It's a good thing that we are concerned about children. We r all really concerned abt them. But I see the things take a different shape with all these kinds of 'reactions' from the State. The implication is very clear: "the state/society does not trust church/clergy anymore regarding children".

The result: The clergy and the church are getting lesser and lesser interested in child formation or in helping family (values). Here in Australia, there are no more Sunday schools or catechism classes. Some catholic schools may offer value education and religions classes, thats all. Only less than 10 percent are practicing Christians. No more child or youth associations in the parishes. Which means the next generations is coming up with almost zero religious formation and awareness.

How do their values take shape? The state provides them in the schools! (more than 50% of marriages are broken and most of the children live with single parents! We cannot expect those children to get any 'value' from their families). The state cares! what will be the 'state care'? As far as I know its 'market values'. The values driven by the market - consumerism, individualism, distorted nationalism and so on..

The Church is virtually cut off from the next generation, by all sorts of legislations (and of market forces). It seems that somebody wants it to be like that to serve their personal interests.

any way, I have submitted my doc today with other 5 priests living with me. Let's wait and see, whats going to happen. God save the state!

Men/women of Destiny

2007-06-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

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This Sunday (24th June) Church celebrates the birthday of John the Baptist, the prophet and forerunner of Jesus. Usually Church celebrates only the death of a saint. John is the only exception! Why he is special?

He was a man of destiny!

Read Luke 1:57-66 [online Bible at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Luke+1]

It's about the 'naming ceremony' of the child.. " they were going to name him Zechariah after his father". But Elizabeth, his mother wanted to give him the name JOHN. His father reiterated it even without listening to his wife (he was dump at that moment). But miraculously all came in line! What's in that name?

The name John means “God is gracious.” His name was chosen by God and communicated to his father. He was chosen by God... a man of destiny. God had a dream about him - which had gone even to its particulars - what to eat, what to wear and how to act. He just followed his destiny, cooperating with the plan of God. He was called by Jesus, “among those born of women no one is greater than John” (Luke 7:28). Church respects and acknowledges her master's voice by celebrating his feast day twice, on par with Jesus!

As we all know John's journey was not a cakewalk. From the very beginning, he had to fight against all odds. His relatives and neighbours wanted to give him his father’s name “Zachary.” They objected to his being named John because “None of your relatives has this name” (Luke 1:61). For them what a child can be is determined by what his family and lineage has been. Their dream of a wonderful future for the child is limited by his family background. But, JOHN had to grow beyond all odds... to finally embrace martyrdom!

God’s dream for us far exceeds the wildest ever dreams we had about ourselves. We all are men and women of destiny. What we need to do is to just float - float in the gracefulness of God's bounty, according to His plan.

If you wanna get the full meaning of this mystery, just immerse in the depth of this song: "The dream I have today my lord
Is only a shadow of your dreams my Lord for me"

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ONLY A SHADOW
by Rev Carey Landry

The Love I have for you my Lord
is only a shadow of your love for me
Only a shadow of your love for me
Your deep and abiding love.

My own belief in you my Lord
is only a shadow of your faith in me
Only a shadow of your faith in me
your deep and lasting faith.

My life is in your hands my Lord
My life is in your hands my lord
My love for you will grow my God
Your light in me will always shine

The dream I have today my lord
Is only a shadow of your dreams my Lord for me
Only a shadow of all that will be
if I follow you my Lord.

The joy I feel today my lord
Is only a shadow of your Joys for me.
Only a shadows of your joys for me
when we meet face to face.

courtesy: http://www.munachi.com/z/birthofjohnthebaptist.htm

The inner self is explored!

2007-06-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

Spirituality and Religion unexposed!

Its just the beginning!

2007-06-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

watchout my political reflections here!