"Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond Tracks History Through Delectable Questioning .

"Guns, Germs, and Steel" is a very gripping and informative read! Jared Diamond won the Pulitzer for this work of non-fiction in 1998, and it’s clear why he did. He propounds a theory that ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel’ have determined ‘the fate of human society’ so far, and he sets out to prove this theory by taking the reader to various social structures in ancient times and the recent past, and then analyzing them to see why they evolved the way they did.

Diamond employs an interesting style while taking the reader on an information gathering quest. He frames some very intriguing questions within the prologue, the answers to which constitute his book. Examples would be: "Why did Europeans reach and conquer the lands of Native Americans, instead of vice-versa?" ..."Why did human development proceed at such different rates on different continents?"

Diamond divides his book into four section, the last of which has chapter headings that are again questions that keep the reader's curiosity alive right until he turns that last page. For example: "How Africa became black?"... "How did China become Chinese?" These questions from the last section of the book definitely whetted my imagination, and I wanted answers.

The questioning in the book is relentless! Diamond has numerous riveting questions interspersed in his 440 page narrative, perhaps a strategy to diffuse the monotony of a non fiction read. What reader could resist a question like "Why were Europeans rather than Africans or Native Americans the ones to end up with guns, the nastiest germs , and steel?", or, "Why among Eurasians, was it Europeans rather than Chinese or some other group that expanded?". Given the basic human need to seek rational explanations to the reality that surrounds, the following questions did just that, and could keep any reader going until he got an answer: "Why do commoners tolerate the transfer of the fruit of their hard labor to kleptocrats?"; "How did small, non-centralized, kin-based societies evolve into large centralized in which most members are not closely related to each other?...what impelled societies thus to transform themselves?". Given that we live in a world today that is so polarized along the lines of religion and national identities, a premise such as, " The combination of government and religion has thus functioned, together with germs, writing, and technology, as one of the four main sets of proximate agents leading to history's broadest pattern," would certainly grab our attention, especially if it were followed by this question, "How did government and religion arise?"

Jared Diamond has capitalized on his interrogatory skills, and has delivered a thoroughly irresistible read that expostulates his theory on human society.

"The Hurt Locker" - Kathryn Bigelow's Dispassionate Lens Captures the Impact of War

Who's 'hurting', and why inside of a 'locker'? Ms. Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" had a title that tantalized, and despite it being a 'war' movie I decided to rent it just so I could find an answer to the aforementioned question.

The movie is quite like a documentary on the US presence in Iraq during 2004 where the US soldiers were fighting a faceless enemy. There is no real story that Bigelow spins ; it is more a Cisneros style stringing together of vignettes that lay the blueprint for an analysis of what an endless war and senseless violence can do to soldiers fighting on foreign soils. The documentary features the Delta Company, a US Army unit stationed in Iraq that detects and defuses I.E.D.’s. It is made up of three very disparate individuals; Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) an overtly sensitive and self deprecatory young man who is admittedly nervous and confused about being in this violence infested place. Then there is Sgt. J. T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) who detests what he does, but is smart enough to keep himself alive so that he can get home. Staff Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner), the most interesting of the three, joins Delta after its leader is killed, and is always suspect in the eyes of his other two comrades. The reason being James' recklessness and near enjoyment of the job he does; diffusing and sometimes detonating IEDs which have the capability to blow away lives and buildings in a matter of seconds. James is the one who, in close proximity to the IED, actually clips the wires that connect to the explosive. Yet, neither his body nor his face manifest any fear of or revulsion to what he does. In fact quite the contrary; there is exhilaration and complete absorption writ large on his face when he is at work, almost like that of an artist with his creation.

The movie presents multiple vignettes in which the trio handle missions involving bomb detection, leading to either disposal or diffusion of the bomb, and in some situations deciding on a detonation with casualties. Ms Bigelow presents war through her lens and follows the Delta squad around capturing each member's unique response to situations as they unfold. She also captures the way three interact when they are not on a mission and that is when the hurt shows; each of the three is 'hurting' as a result of the situation and it is this 'hurt' that appears to bind them. Of the three it is James who seems to realize that there is no 'out' of this situation; the 'hurting' will not go away, it is his for a lifetime, and he will not be able to share it with anyone other than with his comrades at war. They are basically confined to this 'locker' of 'hurt' for the rest of their lives because when they are not in it physically, then they carry it within their minds. They can never again lead normal lives as James has figured out, and that perhaps explains his complete immersion in and commitment to the morbid task he is assigned to.

Is Bigelow sending us a message as did many other movie makers who made movies about the US presence in Iraq and Afghanistan? There were numerous ones like Syriana that were made perhaps to bolster the morale of American soldiers fighting on foreign soils, but 'The Hurt Locker" is different as it has no hidden agenda except perhaps to capture in a matter of fact way the impact of war, both in terms of lives lost physically, and those lost mentally and permanently relegated to the confines of "The Hurt Locker".

Justices Handing Over Country to Corporations?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Corporations can spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, a landmark decision denounced by President Barack Obama for giving special interests more power."

The recent 5- to - 4 Supreme Court ruling against the Corporate Campaign Spending Limit was food for thought. President Obama called it " a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies...that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans."

In the light of the current developments, we as voters have to be even more discretionary when casting our vote. We have to now sift through heavily funded propaganda before we can see the real platform, if any at all, of candidates standing for office. Radio/ TV advertisements, bill boards, and hoardings will reach new heights as elections approach. There will no doubt be a boom in the advertising business because now, thanks to the new Supreme Court ruling, Corporations and special interest groups will be able to make or break a political candidate due to their money power. The first affected party will be President Obama who can no longer afford to antagonize insurance companies and banks if he seeks a re election in 2012. His populist agenda on Health Care Reform has ruffled many a rich feather; the insurance and pharmaceutical lobby groups are already in a hyena like stance against him, waiting to pour money into an anti Obama campaign. With the recent Supreme Court ruling these corporations and lobby groups can now easily go after him. They can now manipulate public vote through aggressive and relentless advertising, and eventually be able to manipulate the policy making of our country by sending a 'bought candidate' into office.

It doesn't stop with health care; the 'war spending' could also now be dictated by the highest campaign spender; could well be a Halliburton. Our soldiers will continue dying in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other foreign soils because the Halliburtons of this country need war/oil in order to sell their ware; after all, death is but collateral damage in the pursuit of big money. Watch the increased frequency of patriotic advertising across the country; anything to lure young blood to the front lines because 'war' must go on, and corporations such as Halliburton will ensure it does by putting enormous amounts of money into campaigns of candidates who support their cause.

Here is how the Supreme Court Justices rejection read:
"When government seeks to use its full power, including the criminal law, to command where a person may get his or her information, or what distrusted source he or she may not hear, it uses censorship to control thought...this is unlawful. The First Amendment confirms the freedom to think for ourselves." Justice Kennedy

Given that our Supreme Court Justices have placed innate faith in our ability to be an informed and discerning electorate, we voters better THINK hard, 'for ourselves', and past the voluminous and savvy media propaganda and send the right candidate to represent us.

James Cameron's "Avatar" - A Heavily Funded Docudrama From a Tech- Savy Film Maker?

"It’s an emotional story. It’s a love story. They’re not expecting that. The sci-fi/fantasy fans see the trailer and they think, Cool—battles, robots." James Cameron

I watched the much awaited "Avatar" last weekend. James Cameron's blockbuster apparently cost 230 million dollars to make and is Cameron's first film since "The Titanic". Not much of a fan of sci-fi movies or of animation flicks, my expectations from this movie were pretty low. However, the title, "Avatar", intrigued me as did the mammoth spending on the film. What would those many million dollars bring to the screen?

Well, the movie surprised me. It is a loosely spun docudrama that houses a chic lit romance that touts fable like messages. Cameron creates a world that is virgin, that is on the verge of a takeover by an alien species, the humans, who do not hold nature sacred and could exploit both the living and the inanimate to their selfish ends. They arrive on Pandora to mine and siphon out 'Unobtainium' that could fuel them on earth for generations. But, it would cost the Na'vi's, a native tribe on Pandora, their home, even their very existence. Cameron obviously had the Colonization of America and the tragic Native American saga on his mind when working on the script; the hostile takeover of a resource rich environment by a heartless people. So much for the documentary element in the movie, but that by itself could not have sustained the interest levels of the medley audience that the movie has attracted. The fairy tale romance between Jake in his 'avatar' and Neytiri, the Na'vi princess, made many hearts maudlin enough to suspend their disbelief for the entire stretch of the 2 hours 45 minute movie! Yet, there was still a part of the audience whose needs would not have been met if Cameron had not spent that 230 million and created the dream-scape that was Pandora; the 10 feet tall blue skinned avatars, the robots, the flying lizards, the barbie bodied Na'vi, the floating and luminescent flora fauna. The technical wizardry in the movie draws droves of youngsters daily to watch this film! Cameron with his 3D effects, the technical magic, and his masterful storytelling has all viewers glued to their seats; no questions asked!

As George Lucas did with his "Star Wars", Cameron too created a magical world of his own in "Avatar" and called it Pandora, amid which he spun a heart rending tale reminiscent of another from the annuls of human history. In the tale he housed an inter-species romance that tugs at your heartstrings while sending the searing message that we humans can and would destroy any planet, even our own!

I enjoyed the movie, and I would strongly recommend you see it because doubtless, Cameron would have made sure that "Avatar" has something in it for you!

"Three Idiots" - A Bollywood Block Buster that Baffles?

I watched this Bollywood movie 'Three Idiots' which apparently is currently as big of a block buster as is 'Avatar' in Hollywood.

These were some thoughts that crossed my mind while exiting the theater:

• Are Indian parents that heartless/naive to drive their children into depression?
• Do Indian youngsters never challenge their parents?
• Why is no action taken against students who cheat on exams or violate basic rules in India?
• Why was the Professor caricatured?
• Do Indians in India dislike Indians in the USA? Why is that?
• Are the Indians I see in the US a poor representation of India and Indian culture?
• Why does this movie that bashes Indian Americans so popular in the USA?
• How does a movie goer in India afford a ticket that on an average costs him Rs. 140/- (about $ 4), when the net hourly earning of an Indian is only Rs 60/- (about $ 1.5)?

I thought the male lead, Aamir Khan, is a really good actor, as were his two friends; the rest of the cast was a medley of caricatures who took away from the credibility of the story! The people around me appeared to be thoroughly entertained, in fact some of them had the songs and dialogues memorized! Apparently, the movie carries an important message to parents and teachers in India who stunt creativity and curiosity in young minds by forcing them to memorize instead of problem solving on their own. Whether this message finds it to the masses, past the slap stick humor in which it is so deeply embedded, is to be seen.

Your thoughts...

The 'Health Care Overhaul Bill' Passes in the Senate - Obama's First (amputated) Deliverable?

The Health Care Overhaul Bill was passed in the senate on a party line vote of 60 - 39, and President Obama called it “the most important piece of social legislation since the Social Security Act passed in the 1930s ......With today's vote, we are now incredibly close to making health insurance reform a reality in this country,.... Our challenge, then, is to finish the job. We can't doom another generation of Americans to soaring costs and eroding coverage and exploding deficits."

The Bill at a glance:

• it will not offer the public option
• it will not offer illegal residents coverage, even if they can pay for it themselves
• it will almost certainly increase by at least 30 million the number of people covered by government and private health insurance.
• it will for the first time require most individuals to buy health insurance
• it also will offer federal subsidies to help pay premiums
• it will impose penalties on employers that do not offer workers affordable policies
• it will set up an insurance exchange where individuals can shop for coverage if they have no job-based coverage
• it will make insurance companies end practices that have made it hard for people to get coverage when they get sick or have a chronic disease by setting caps on total payments, for example, or denying coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition
• it will let young adults stay longer on their parents' health plan
• it will allow families free preventive health care such as well-baby visits and mammograms.
• it will give health care professionals incentives to provide more cost-effective care and face penalties if they do not
• it will give Americans the right to live a healthy life

Extremes

What deeps, the droves of loneliness can dig!

Can make you weep and cry for things inane.
A tearing need
a dire craving
an endless pit
an angry chasm

What chances the angst of age can augur!
Can make the sanest soul savor a life on edge.
A growing fear
a silent scream
a senseless infatuation
a one night stand

What abuse marginalization can procure!
Can make the apathetic cringe for sure.
a soundless whipping
an endless pain
a racial slur
an ire unexplained.

Support "The 'Dream Act" - A Bill Truly 'American' !

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

(Emma Lazarus' poem inscribed on the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands)

Juan came to this country when he was 10 years old. He was heartbroken to leave his grandmother behind in Honduras, his native country; she had been the sole family he had had for the first ten years of his life. His father left Honduras before Juan came into the world, and his mother left shortly after, seeking a new life in the USA. Some ten years later, Juan is told that his parents have sent for him, and he boards a plane to come to the USA to join his parents who are now illegal immigrants as their visitor VISA had expired within a few months of their arrival.

Juan joins two strangers, his parents, in a strange land and starts in a strange American Public School setting where his native language, Spanish, is of no help. He is enrolled in an ESL program, and that is the beginning of his academic career. The 11 year old gradually gets acclimatized to his new parents in the new setting, and is gladdened by the arrival of his baby brother who till date is the only one Juan considers as his real family. Within months of his arrival, Juan too becomes an illegal alien, a status he is completely oblivious of until he is in his junior year at high school and is thinking of college as his next step toward living the American dream. What is more is that Juan is now a star soccer player who has been the MVP in the county for two consecutive years scoring the highest number of goals. At the All Star Game, the recruiters all make a beeline for Juan only to lose interest when the coach tells them of Juan's undeclared legal status. In the meanwhile, Juan is slowly awakening to to the reality of his situation; he sees his team mates, who played soccer only so that they could put that on their resume, being accepted to colleges on full and partial scholarships. His high school coach tries to find Juan a spot in a community college only to find that the college cannot give Juan any money because he is undocumented. Juan's parents in the meanwhile, decide to separate, and decide that Juan will go with the father and Jose the younger would stay with the mother. Juan cannot bear the thought of separating from Jose, the one human being he feels connected with! He protests but to no avail. His father, who is a part owner in a construction business, has to relocate because of the non availability of jobs in the current recession. As a result of the financial crunch, he will also not be able to help pay for Juan's college. Juan is devastated; his dream of going to college and being able to play soccer at a college level is shattered!

Juan has since done odd jobs accompanying his father to construction sites every now and again. He plays soccer whenever he can on adult leagues that call him when they are short on players for practices. That may perhaps be only reason why Juan hasn't sunk into depression despite the hopeless situation he finds himself in.

Why should this trusting 19 year old have to pay a price this big for something he really is not responsible for? Why should Juan have to suffer for the decisions made by his parents? Why does he have to suffer the illegal alien status when the USA is the only place he recognizes as home, a home he has never been outside of since he first arrived here?

The 'Dream Act' can bring hope into Juan's life and into the lives of thousands of other Juans who live their life in fear, in a kind of limbo that they cannot find a way out of. Life is passing by for the Juans of this country, and we can change that if we support the Dream Act that will give the children of illegal immigrants their life and the opportunity to live out their American Dream!