This is such a funny video..To be honest, I've never had a day at work quite like this..:) :) :)..hahahhahaha..I'm still laughing after viewing this video..hope you like it too.....
Monday, February 4, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Indian business men and their evolving images..
Growing up in India, and later growing up within the framework of Indian culture, my vision of traditional heroes was limited to our freedom fighters or the movie stars. Yes, Nehru, Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, SRK, Amitabh Bachan and Salman Khan played a predominant role in my image of Indian heroes. As I grew older, and moved to Canada and noted other individuals like Bono, Lance Armstrong, Warren Buffet, Michael Dell, Bill and Melinda Gates, Oprah and so many more, I always noticed a lack of prominent Indians.
Again, let me be very clear, I am not desperate for prominent Indians on the international scene (refer back to my previous article about patriotism and Indians), rather I was seeking the presence of Indian media, businessmen or artists (who thrived on social, political, economic or business challenges) on the local/Indian stage.
Today, I found this article quite interesting, and felt the need to share it. Someone who recognizes the changing trend/need for an evolution in the image of the modern Indian businessman. Obviously, we are no longer satisfied by dreaming/idolizing movie stars or our cultural history. Rather, we look at upcoming, smart, and savvy businessman as India's future. Excellent!
Here is a brief quote from the article (love the way Amit writes!):
"Consider that earlier this year, Ratan Tata, the successor to J.R.D. Tata's empire and the chief of Tata Motors, unveiled the Nano -- a car expected to retail for approximately $2,500. Some complained about the increase in pollution that it might cause, and other worried that it would add to traffic congestion in big cities. But most of India applauded. Mr. Tata's ingenuity and vision will bring vehicle ownership within reach of millions of people who could otherwise have never dreamed of it, and it demonstrates what business does best -- improve the lives of people, and help them fulfill their dreams, all in the quest of that "dirty word," profit.
The heroes of the old India were film stars, cricket players and, perhaps, freedom fighters and politicians. The heroes of the new India include businessmen. In 2003, when MTV India held a poll among its predominantly young viewers to pick the Icon of the Year, Anil Ambani won. The people he beat included filmstar Shah Rukh Khan and cricket hero Sachin Tendulkar.
India's successful businessmen, even as they enter lists such as the one compiled by Forbes, embody the hopes of their country more than their elected government possibly can. India is finally beginning to give them their due. "
Again, let me be very clear, I am not desperate for prominent Indians on the international scene (refer back to my previous article about patriotism and Indians), rather I was seeking the presence of Indian media, businessmen or artists (who thrived on social, political, economic or business challenges) on the local/Indian stage.
Today, I found this article quite interesting, and felt the need to share it. Someone who recognizes the changing trend/need for an evolution in the image of the modern Indian businessman. Obviously, we are no longer satisfied by dreaming/idolizing movie stars or our cultural history. Rather, we look at upcoming, smart, and savvy businessman as India's future. Excellent!
Here is a brief quote from the article (love the way Amit writes!):
"Consider that earlier this year, Ratan Tata, the successor to J.R.D. Tata's empire and the chief of Tata Motors, unveiled the Nano -- a car expected to retail for approximately $2,500. Some complained about the increase in pollution that it might cause, and other worried that it would add to traffic congestion in big cities. But most of India applauded. Mr. Tata's ingenuity and vision will bring vehicle ownership within reach of millions of people who could otherwise have never dreamed of it, and it demonstrates what business does best -- improve the lives of people, and help them fulfill their dreams, all in the quest of that "dirty word," profit.
The heroes of the old India were film stars, cricket players and, perhaps, freedom fighters and politicians. The heroes of the new India include businessmen. In 2003, when MTV India held a poll among its predominantly young viewers to pick the Icon of the Year, Anil Ambani won. The people he beat included filmstar Shah Rukh Khan and cricket hero Sachin Tendulkar.
India's successful businessmen, even as they enter lists such as the one compiled by Forbes, embody the hopes of their country more than their elected government possibly can. India is finally beginning to give them their due. "
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The many faces of Patriotism
Many people, specifically Indians, may not like the fact that I love this article by Amit Varma. His article emphasizes, underlines and reiterates my feelings about India and Patriotism. This article is a must-read for everyone who screams about being Indian and patriotic..I am not being negative about India or patriotism, rather I detest people who force their view on others, and this article should be a mandatory read for those people.
Here is an excerpt from the article, they struck a chord when I read them, so I had to reproduce them here:
The other kind of patriotism involves loving certain things about one’s country. This is a personal love, different in each individual’s case, and patriots of this sort will enjoy their patriotism without demanding that others share it.
If we were to be flippant about such grave matters, we could call these kinds of patriotism Mera Bharat Mahaan and Mera Bharat Mujhe Pasand.
I see myself as the second kind of patriot. When I think of the things I love about India, I think of concrete things in the real world, such as its food, its music, the languages that I’m fortunate to know. These don’t blind me from the many things wrong with the country - nor do I have any desire to impose my preferences on others.
The Mera Bharat Mahaan kind of patriot, on the other hand, is involved with a narrative of greatness. A key part of his identity is his Indianness. For this reason, he needs to believe that India is a great country, superior to others.
Symbols like the flag and the anthem are, thus, important to him. They represent his nationalistic fervour. Equally, a display like the Republic Day parade makes him feel proud. Its purpose is validation.
Pride
This need for validation was understandable in our early years as an independent country. We’d just gained independence after decades of being humiliatingly colonised. It was a mini-miracle that we existed, bridging such linguistic, religious and cultural divides. We needed to believe in ourselves as a nation.
And, let’s face it, there was a bit of a collective inferiority complex running through the country.
Sadly, even after 60 years of independence, that craving for validation remains. Why else do we make such a hue and cry every year about India’s entry to the Oscars, and ignore our own national awards? Why else do we rush to claim any foreign achiever with an Indian background as a national hero? (Sunita Williams, born in Ohio and raised in America, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan this year.) Why else do we go gaga with excitement when we hear of Madonna practising yoga or Gwen Stefani putting a Bindi on her head? Why else do we celebrate when Shilpa Shetty wins Big Brother, and ignore poor Rahul Roy, who won the desi version?
India has advanced leaps and bounds in the last couple of decades, but we still haven’t acquired the self-confidence that a mature democracy should have. Too many of us are still sensitive about symbols of our nationhood, and that’s a pity. We are proud, I believe, of entirely the wrong things.
As a nation that won its independence with such difficulty, if there is one thing we should be proud of, and should continue to aspire towards, it is freedom. Not just the freedom to vote, but freedom in every social and economic sense. As long as we don’t infringe on the freedom of others, we should be free to express our sexual preferences, to trade with others, to watch the films we want, to read the books we want, to say what we want. And yes, free to disrespect a flag or refuse to stand up when the anthem is played.
What’s the point of being a free country otherwise?
I tend to identify myself as Canadian, and most NRI's in North America, and Indians elsewhere are offended by it. In fact, it's commonplace to tease Indo-Canadian and Indo-American children as ABCD's or CBCD's. I do not understand the need for such pettiness.
Why is it important for everyone to screech from the roofs that they are Indian? Is it not sufficient if a child understands and honors their cultural value? Why should we prove it to others? Who should we prove it to? The people who left India and came out here to seek a 'better life' yet denounce the country they migrate to? Or those people who live in India and yearn to live elsewhere? I would call either groups of people hypocrites. The third group, would constitute people who live in India, value their culture and honor it. The third group would never force their ideas on others. Do you know why? Because one of the major tenets of Indian culture/history has been tolerance..tolerance of religion, of sexes, of sexuality and everything in between. Unfortunately, some traditionalists refuse to accept change, and others..well others are just hell-bent on being the first kind of patriots..Something, I find quite distasteful..
Oh well, to cap my ravings tonight, I believe Nationality is something a person should chose, whether I am Canadian, American, Indian or Nigerian, is something I chose to be. If it's forced upon me, it loses its value. However, my culture, that is something my parents taught me. My Indian culture is what my mom and dad taught me..being able to read, write and speak 3 regional languages; to cook a multitude of Indian dishes; appreciate the songs, the movies, the diaspora, that is what makes me proud of my culture...
Here is an excerpt from the article, they struck a chord when I read them, so I had to reproduce them here:
In my view, there are two kinds of patriotism. The first kind involves feeling that your country is, in some way or the other, greater than others. Often, self-esteem is involved. Patriots of this kind will want others to share their feelings about their country. They might feel offended if someone suggests that their country is not all they imagine it to be.
The other kind of patriotism involves loving certain things about one’s country. This is a personal love, different in each individual’s case, and patriots of this sort will enjoy their patriotism without demanding that others share it.
If we were to be flippant about such grave matters, we could call these kinds of patriotism Mera Bharat Mahaan and Mera Bharat Mujhe Pasand.
I see myself as the second kind of patriot. When I think of the things I love about India, I think of concrete things in the real world, such as its food, its music, the languages that I’m fortunate to know. These don’t blind me from the many things wrong with the country - nor do I have any desire to impose my preferences on others.
The Mera Bharat Mahaan kind of patriot, on the other hand, is involved with a narrative of greatness. A key part of his identity is his Indianness. For this reason, he needs to believe that India is a great country, superior to others.
Symbols like the flag and the anthem are, thus, important to him. They represent his nationalistic fervour. Equally, a display like the Republic Day parade makes him feel proud. Its purpose is validation.
Pride
This need for validation was understandable in our early years as an independent country. We’d just gained independence after decades of being humiliatingly colonised. It was a mini-miracle that we existed, bridging such linguistic, religious and cultural divides. We needed to believe in ourselves as a nation.
And, let’s face it, there was a bit of a collective inferiority complex running through the country.
Sadly, even after 60 years of independence, that craving for validation remains. Why else do we make such a hue and cry every year about India’s entry to the Oscars, and ignore our own national awards? Why else do we rush to claim any foreign achiever with an Indian background as a national hero? (Sunita Williams, born in Ohio and raised in America, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan this year.) Why else do we go gaga with excitement when we hear of Madonna practising yoga or Gwen Stefani putting a Bindi on her head? Why else do we celebrate when Shilpa Shetty wins Big Brother, and ignore poor Rahul Roy, who won the desi version?
India has advanced leaps and bounds in the last couple of decades, but we still haven’t acquired the self-confidence that a mature democracy should have. Too many of us are still sensitive about symbols of our nationhood, and that’s a pity. We are proud, I believe, of entirely the wrong things.
As a nation that won its independence with such difficulty, if there is one thing we should be proud of, and should continue to aspire towards, it is freedom. Not just the freedom to vote, but freedom in every social and economic sense. As long as we don’t infringe on the freedom of others, we should be free to express our sexual preferences, to trade with others, to watch the films we want, to read the books we want, to say what we want. And yes, free to disrespect a flag or refuse to stand up when the anthem is played.
What’s the point of being a free country otherwise?
I tend to identify myself as Canadian, and most NRI's in North America, and Indians elsewhere are offended by it. In fact, it's commonplace to tease Indo-Canadian and Indo-American children as ABCD's or CBCD's. I do not understand the need for such pettiness.
Why is it important for everyone to screech from the roofs that they are Indian? Is it not sufficient if a child understands and honors their cultural value? Why should we prove it to others? Who should we prove it to? The people who left India and came out here to seek a 'better life' yet denounce the country they migrate to? Or those people who live in India and yearn to live elsewhere? I would call either groups of people hypocrites. The third group, would constitute people who live in India, value their culture and honor it. The third group would never force their ideas on others. Do you know why? Because one of the major tenets of Indian culture/history has been tolerance..tolerance of religion, of sexes, of sexuality and everything in between. Unfortunately, some traditionalists refuse to accept change, and others..well others are just hell-bent on being the first kind of patriots..Something, I find quite distasteful..
Oh well, to cap my ravings tonight, I believe Nationality is something a person should chose, whether I am Canadian, American, Indian or Nigerian, is something I chose to be. If it's forced upon me, it loses its value. However, my culture, that is something my parents taught me. My Indian culture is what my mom and dad taught me..being able to read, write and speak 3 regional languages; to cook a multitude of Indian dishes; appreciate the songs, the movies, the diaspora, that is what makes me proud of my culture...
Lest we forget...
Yesterday, my dad and I went to see Rambo 4 (I think), and in the movie we were taken to Burma, the civil war there, and how the army ambushes villagers, kidnaps their children, kill the men and rape the women. The movie is full of blood and gore, unsuitable for young children, but thought provoking if we question certain aspects of the movie.
I know abductions, rape, child soldiers and honor killings are a fact of life..an unpleasant fact, which most North Americans pretend to ignore. But that movie yesterday, fictional maybe, but it brought forth something important to me..Remembering those who suffer.
Today, my dad and I watched a BBC documentary on Auschwitz, and how 1.3M people were sent to that camp in 4.5 years and 1.1M were killed. Of them about 200,000 were children. A survivor was almost in tears as she recognized her aunt and 4 cousins in a photograph taken minutes before they were sent to the crematorium. The children ranged from 2 - 10.....Remembering those who are brutalized.
A few minutes ago, I read this, an article about child soldiers in Uganda, Rwanda, Columbia and other war ridden countries. The author uses a byline "Lest we forget"....something I feel is very important in counteracting these acts of crime, war, terror and inhumane brutalization.
In our busy lives, we juggle work, families, friends, colleagues, our kids schedules, our finances, and so much more, and we think our lives are hard. Maybe our life is hard, for us, in this little world we can view. But if we look at the bigger picture, rather if we consider the gargantuan struggles faced by these individuals, children and adults alike, we look and sound like morons. Yet, what do we do when we hear about 15 year old girls abducted from their homes, raped repeatedly, forced to bear children and then fight in a civil war? We feel terribly burdened, maybe for a few hours, we feel indignant and angry, and then we go back to our normal and sane lives. In short, we do nothing. Sometimes, it's rather burdensome to even consider that you and I, ordinary people, can do something about it. Maybe we can..I am doing what seemed like an idea to me..Lest we forget...
I find that the most inhumane thing which could happen to these survivors, is being forgotten. Nothing hurts as much as being forgotten. Their struggles, their strength, their unbroken spirit, their stories - when we forget the events, their cries for help, and their courage, we are no better than the insipid idiots who were responsible for these war crimes...Lest we forget.
Tonight, I cannot forget and refuse to do so..In my own tiny way, this is my homage to those warriors who were forced to survive, and to those who gave up their lives, so that others may survive....children, men, women, jews, gypsies, asians, africans, native americans, mexicans, columbians, indians, army, navy and airforces, abused women and children, gang war victims, and everyone else I did not mention...I remember..
Lest we forget....
I know abductions, rape, child soldiers and honor killings are a fact of life..an unpleasant fact, which most North Americans pretend to ignore. But that movie yesterday, fictional maybe, but it brought forth something important to me..Remembering those who suffer.
Today, my dad and I watched a BBC documentary on Auschwitz, and how 1.3M people were sent to that camp in 4.5 years and 1.1M were killed. Of them about 200,000 were children. A survivor was almost in tears as she recognized her aunt and 4 cousins in a photograph taken minutes before they were sent to the crematorium. The children ranged from 2 - 10.....Remembering those who are brutalized.
A few minutes ago, I read this, an article about child soldiers in Uganda, Rwanda, Columbia and other war ridden countries. The author uses a byline "Lest we forget"....something I feel is very important in counteracting these acts of crime, war, terror and inhumane brutalization.
In our busy lives, we juggle work, families, friends, colleagues, our kids schedules, our finances, and so much more, and we think our lives are hard. Maybe our life is hard, for us, in this little world we can view. But if we look at the bigger picture, rather if we consider the gargantuan struggles faced by these individuals, children and adults alike, we look and sound like morons. Yet, what do we do when we hear about 15 year old girls abducted from their homes, raped repeatedly, forced to bear children and then fight in a civil war? We feel terribly burdened, maybe for a few hours, we feel indignant and angry, and then we go back to our normal and sane lives. In short, we do nothing. Sometimes, it's rather burdensome to even consider that you and I, ordinary people, can do something about it. Maybe we can..I am doing what seemed like an idea to me..Lest we forget...
I find that the most inhumane thing which could happen to these survivors, is being forgotten. Nothing hurts as much as being forgotten. Their struggles, their strength, their unbroken spirit, their stories - when we forget the events, their cries for help, and their courage, we are no better than the insipid idiots who were responsible for these war crimes...Lest we forget.
Tonight, I cannot forget and refuse to do so..In my own tiny way, this is my homage to those warriors who were forced to survive, and to those who gave up their lives, so that others may survive....children, men, women, jews, gypsies, asians, africans, native americans, mexicans, columbians, indians, army, navy and airforces, abused women and children, gang war victims, and everyone else I did not mention...I remember..
Lest we forget....
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
news bites in the New Year...
Happy New Year everyone!
I know, I know..it's almost the end of January already!! I can't believe it, I'm still in the mood to decorate the tree or eat that nice chocolate cake or wait to spend the holidays with my family..yep, I'm still in December :)! Atleast, I wish I was..I had an absolutely fantastic vacation visiting family and friends in the US, but now I've been dragged kicking and screaming into 2008 and back to Toronto...and it's good to be back...atleast that's what I have to tell myself to brave the -28deg C windchill factor for the past few days..brrrr!!
Anyway, coming back to the topic, tonight I felt I had neglected my blog long enough, and it was time to flex my mental fingers and the literal ones as well..and write something noteworthy. Alas, before I started writing something philosophical and very meaningful (I could write something like that you know..now now, don't be mean buddy..I saw that snicker!! ;) ), I came across this, James E. O’Shea's farewell remarks after he quit his job as the LA Times Editor. I particularly liked his speech - somewhat pithy, convoluted and journalistic enough that it's mindboggling in certain sections. But overall, it had some very reproducable quotes, and here are the ones I like:
"The formula for success? A small investment in new resources more than pays for itself with added revenues"
"Journalists and not accountants should seize responsibility for the financial health of our newspapers so journalists can make decisions about the size of our staffs and how much news remains in our papers and web sites. The biggest challenge we face -- journalists and dedicated newspaper folks alike – is to overcome this pervasive culture of defeat, the psychology of surrender that accepts decline as inevitable. This mindset plagues our business and threatens our newspapers and livelihoods."
"A dollar’s worth of smart investment is worth far more than a barrel of budget cuts."
"We must tell people what they want to know and — even more important — what they might not want to know, about war, politics, economics, schools, corruption and the thoughts and deeds of those who lead us. We need to tell readers more about Barack Obama and less about Britney Spears. We must give a voice to those who can’t afford a megaphone. And we must become more than a marketing slogan. "
I know, I know..it's almost the end of January already!! I can't believe it, I'm still in the mood to decorate the tree or eat that nice chocolate cake or wait to spend the holidays with my family..yep, I'm still in December :)! Atleast, I wish I was..I had an absolutely fantastic vacation visiting family and friends in the US, but now I've been dragged kicking and screaming into 2008 and back to Toronto...and it's good to be back...atleast that's what I have to tell myself to brave the -28deg C windchill factor for the past few days..brrrr!!
Anyway, coming back to the topic, tonight I felt I had neglected my blog long enough, and it was time to flex my mental fingers and the literal ones as well..and write something noteworthy. Alas, before I started writing something philosophical and very meaningful (I could write something like that you know..now now, don't be mean buddy..I saw that snicker!! ;) ), I came across this, James E. O’Shea's farewell remarks after he quit his job as the LA Times Editor. I particularly liked his speech - somewhat pithy, convoluted and journalistic enough that it's mindboggling in certain sections. But overall, it had some very reproducable quotes, and here are the ones I like:
"The formula for success? A small investment in new resources more than pays for itself with added revenues"
"Journalists and not accountants should seize responsibility for the financial health of our newspapers so journalists can make decisions about the size of our staffs and how much news remains in our papers and web sites. The biggest challenge we face -- journalists and dedicated newspaper folks alike – is to overcome this pervasive culture of defeat, the psychology of surrender that accepts decline as inevitable. This mindset plagues our business and threatens our newspapers and livelihoods."
"A dollar’s worth of smart investment is worth far more than a barrel of budget cuts."
"We must tell people what they want to know and — even more important — what they might not want to know, about war, politics, economics, schools, corruption and the thoughts and deeds of those who lead us. We need to tell readers more about Barack Obama and less about Britney Spears. We must give a voice to those who can’t afford a megaphone. And we must become more than a marketing slogan. "
Saturday, December 15, 2007
brutality..a new and intimate form
For the last few weeks, the headlines in Canada have been focussed on the Pickton trial, where a pig farmer kidnapped, brutalized and murdered so many women in Western Canada. He was found guilty earlier this week, and the newscast was inundated with the faces of the victim's families and their emotional response to the verdict.
Today, however, I read this story, of an Indian man brutalizing and kiling his wife. Atleast in the Pickton trial, I could say, the man was a maniac, unknown to the victims, and a psychopath. What can be said about a husband, who cuts his wife's tongue, tries to burn her, and then drags off to the crematorium to burn her alive on a pyre, while she screams and begs for water. This event does not have an ending - the polica arrived in time to rush the woman to the hospital where she died, but the man and his family, who helped him torture this innocent woman have 'absconded'. What does that mean? With the status of women and the police in India, it could well mean, that they all, somehow, managed to escape the police's clutches, or that he is a local big-wig, and everyone is covering up his crime. Injustice seems almost common and trivial when stories such as these are never heard or acknowledged.
Brutality and torture, when we experience these from those we love and trust, I would think that betrayal would be worse than anything else we can feel or imagine...
Today, however, I read this story, of an Indian man brutalizing and kiling his wife. Atleast in the Pickton trial, I could say, the man was a maniac, unknown to the victims, and a psychopath. What can be said about a husband, who cuts his wife's tongue, tries to burn her, and then drags off to the crematorium to burn her alive on a pyre, while she screams and begs for water. This event does not have an ending - the polica arrived in time to rush the woman to the hospital where she died, but the man and his family, who helped him torture this innocent woman have 'absconded'. What does that mean? With the status of women and the police in India, it could well mean, that they all, somehow, managed to escape the police's clutches, or that he is a local big-wig, and everyone is covering up his crime. Injustice seems almost common and trivial when stories such as these are never heard or acknowledged.
Brutality and torture, when we experience these from those we love and trust, I would think that betrayal would be worse than anything else we can feel or imagine...
People..idiocy..moods
My blogs typically contain a modified and rather edited version of my thoughts and opinions. Today, I wish to discuss people, their idiosyncrasies and the fluctuating moods.
Personally and professionally, I have interacted with many people, and as a species, we tend to let our emotions (moods and idiosyncrasies) rule our life - how we speak, what we say, who we talk to, our topics, friends, families, everyhting is dependent predominantly on our emotions. With that being said, it's a strange balance we maintain in our lives.
As a socio-cultural anthropology student, I've studied and discussed how culture affects our thoughts, actions, life structure and even our words. However, as a student of linguistic anthropology, I've always been fascinated with and impressed by how our language shapes our lives and choices. Earlier, I said that our emotions rule our life and various aspects of it. But language is a very intricate part of that balance, and without culture and language, we will be unable to express our emotions.
For example, let's imagine, a professor has an unruly student in his course, for purpose of maturity, let's assume this is a graduate course. In such a case, the unruliness would mean disruptiveness, questioning the instructor's knowledge/authority, and other such stupid actions. Now let's talk about how this instructor would phrase an order/request to the student about submitting his assignment on time - CASE 1, wherein the emotional distance between the speaker and the audience is great, and the 'request/act' is 'threatening' the audience's 'face'.
Now, let's look at another situation, let's imagine, a husband asks his wife to remind him about an upcoming friends birthday, and when the wife calls him at work to remind him, he doesn't answer her calls. Further, he tells her that he is chatting with friends, and can't talk to her. Now let's talk about how the wife would respond to her husband - CASE 2, wherein the emotional distance between the speaker and the audience is very small, but the 'request/act' is 'threatening' the speaker's 'face' and may also 'threaten' the audience's 'face'.
There are millions of other situations which can be imagined or real, where we encounter these items - emotional distance, threatening acts, and faces. These terms might be alien to most audiences, however a lingusitic athropologist/student, would immediately recognize what I am leading to - it's a very interesting and highly debated topic - Face Threatening Acts. To simplify, it tells us that people, use acts of politeness (a.k.a. be nice to other people) based on some criteria (distance, threatening acts and faces). The faces they refer to are not the physical form, rather the socio-cultural face we present to each other.
In our daily life, we use these FTAs quite often, without ever recognizing it. However, when you recognize them, you are now capable of deciding whether the FTA you originally intended to use was appropriate or not. Of course, every situation has multiple variables which tend to influence our acts, and any subject/text can never correctly reflect all these variations. For example, I find that one of the biggest variables that affect the FTA we perform, is the time factor. Based on the incidence time (when the situation occured) to the performance time (when the FTA will occur) and the reaction time (when the audience will react to the FTA), the actual FTA gets modified quite often.
In the above situations, it's very easy to imagine the instructor being quite stern with the student about the assignment submission (FTA), immediately after the unruliness. Similarly, in case 2, the wife may be quite vocal with her disapproval(FTA) immediately after the phone call. However, in both situations, if the FTA occurs after an elapsed period of time (2 hours to 2 days or even 2 weeks), then the level of FTA would be minor compared to it's original effect. Still, I should point out, that in each of those cases, whenever the FTA occurs, the level of FTA would never be the same in both the cases, because the distance between the audience and the speaker is different in each case.
Can you see why I love and am quite intrigued with exploring culture, society, language, words and most importantly, how they affect our behavior? Everything in our lives, from health care policies, hospital administration, university educational systems, politics, families and patriotism, is underlined by this interacting and quite complicated system of words and behaviour.
Personally and professionally, I have interacted with many people, and as a species, we tend to let our emotions (moods and idiosyncrasies) rule our life - how we speak, what we say, who we talk to, our topics, friends, families, everyhting is dependent predominantly on our emotions. With that being said, it's a strange balance we maintain in our lives.
As a socio-cultural anthropology student, I've studied and discussed how culture affects our thoughts, actions, life structure and even our words. However, as a student of linguistic anthropology, I've always been fascinated with and impressed by how our language shapes our lives and choices. Earlier, I said that our emotions rule our life and various aspects of it. But language is a very intricate part of that balance, and without culture and language, we will be unable to express our emotions.
For example, let's imagine, a professor has an unruly student in his course, for purpose of maturity, let's assume this is a graduate course. In such a case, the unruliness would mean disruptiveness, questioning the instructor's knowledge/authority, and other such stupid actions. Now let's talk about how this instructor would phrase an order/request to the student about submitting his assignment on time - CASE 1, wherein the emotional distance between the speaker and the audience is great, and the 'request/act' is 'threatening' the audience's 'face'.
Now, let's look at another situation, let's imagine, a husband asks his wife to remind him about an upcoming friends birthday, and when the wife calls him at work to remind him, he doesn't answer her calls. Further, he tells her that he is chatting with friends, and can't talk to her. Now let's talk about how the wife would respond to her husband - CASE 2, wherein the emotional distance between the speaker and the audience is very small, but the 'request/act' is 'threatening' the speaker's 'face' and may also 'threaten' the audience's 'face'.
There are millions of other situations which can be imagined or real, where we encounter these items - emotional distance, threatening acts, and faces. These terms might be alien to most audiences, however a lingusitic athropologist/student, would immediately recognize what I am leading to - it's a very interesting and highly debated topic - Face Threatening Acts. To simplify, it tells us that people, use acts of politeness (a.k.a. be nice to other people) based on some criteria (distance, threatening acts and faces). The faces they refer to are not the physical form, rather the socio-cultural face we present to each other.
In our daily life, we use these FTAs quite often, without ever recognizing it. However, when you recognize them, you are now capable of deciding whether the FTA you originally intended to use was appropriate or not. Of course, every situation has multiple variables which tend to influence our acts, and any subject/text can never correctly reflect all these variations. For example, I find that one of the biggest variables that affect the FTA we perform, is the time factor. Based on the incidence time (when the situation occured) to the performance time (when the FTA will occur) and the reaction time (when the audience will react to the FTA), the actual FTA gets modified quite often.
In the above situations, it's very easy to imagine the instructor being quite stern with the student about the assignment submission (FTA), immediately after the unruliness. Similarly, in case 2, the wife may be quite vocal with her disapproval(FTA) immediately after the phone call. However, in both situations, if the FTA occurs after an elapsed period of time (2 hours to 2 days or even 2 weeks), then the level of FTA would be minor compared to it's original effect. Still, I should point out, that in each of those cases, whenever the FTA occurs, the level of FTA would never be the same in both the cases, because the distance between the audience and the speaker is different in each case.
Can you see why I love and am quite intrigued with exploring culture, society, language, words and most importantly, how they affect our behavior? Everything in our lives, from health care policies, hospital administration, university educational systems, politics, families and patriotism, is underlined by this interacting and quite complicated system of words and behaviour.
Holiday cheer or spending frenzy?
Every year as the holiday season approaches, I love the sights, smells, rushing people, busy streets and the crazy shopping. Uh uh..before you start thinking that I am one of those crazy shoppers, let me clarify, I like looking at this frenzy from the comforts of my home..I watch the frenzy on TV, as I walk by on crowded sidewalks or as I wait for my train.
This year however, I have seen a decidedly lack of christmas cheer and spending frenzy. Instead I find people are spending more time and money on travelling to visit family and friends. Personally, that's what I'm doing this year, but I find the same true for most of my family, friends and colleagues. Instead of spending on a big gift for her mom, a friend is visiting her family for a week. I like the idea, however, I find that I miss the energy that comes from observing the holiday frenzy/cheer/spirit.
On a different note, I finally submitted all my applications, and now it feels like the waiting has begun...for the decisions, for the holiday season, for my 2 week vacation, and for so much more...Let's see what's in store....
This year however, I have seen a decidedly lack of christmas cheer and spending frenzy. Instead I find people are spending more time and money on travelling to visit family and friends. Personally, that's what I'm doing this year, but I find the same true for most of my family, friends and colleagues. Instead of spending on a big gift for her mom, a friend is visiting her family for a week. I like the idea, however, I find that I miss the energy that comes from observing the holiday frenzy/cheer/spirit.
On a different note, I finally submitted all my applications, and now it feels like the waiting has begun...for the decisions, for the holiday season, for my 2 week vacation, and for so much more...Let's see what's in store....
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Law School anyone?
This is my latest article for Golden Key's Keywords..as usual the e-version hasn't been updated yet, but you get to read the unabridged version...teeheehee.
Last week, I walked into the Second Cup at St. George and King’s College Road, expecting to meet a stereotypical law student - snooty, focused, and hyperactive. Instead, I met Shannon Neill-Sword, a rather laidback charming law student at U of T's Faculty of Law, who tells me that he is named after the River Shannon, and does not like the reference! Since I've never actually met a lawyer or one getting ready for the task, my stereotype seems a tad unfair.
By the end of our conversation, Shannon had given me a peek into his life as a U of T Law student. Canadian students at U of T apparently pay up to 19K per year for a 3 year Law program. Comparatively, Canadians applying across the border face higher requirement standards and pay a higher tuition fee. Shannon tells me that the unwritten code for prospective U of T law students is to focus on your scores - LSATs and cGPA. A combination of 167 and 3.8 would be a shoo-in, whereas anything below 160 and 3.5 would be a hard-sell. The ranges are flexible, and extra-curricular activities are apparently weighted more than the essays.
As we spoke about Shannon’s experiences this term, it seemed rather similar to most other graduate programs. It boasted an excellent faculty, hosted varying networking events; and also housed a focused Career Services Centre for the prospective lawyers. Shannon also spoke about the Student Law Society, the hub of all student related activity at the Law School. They apparently organize a range of activity, from pub nights (they can be found every other week at Duke of York) to lunch orientation sessions (most recently about common law reasoning and studying for exams). However, one of Shannon's most exciting experiences at Law School was the First Year Trial Advocacy session, organized entirely by the Moot Court Committee (Tammy Jacobson and Anji Samarasekera, second year Law students). In this specific experience, first year students sign up to conduct an abridged process of a trial, replete with judge (a practicing professional) and witnesses. Shannon describes his participation as 'an interesting way to understand the practical use of the subject'.
On a more relaxed note, Shannon told me about a few strange legends at the Faculty. Apparently, rumor has it that one faculty member used to walk into lectures, every single class, in full robes! I would have loved to see that, nothing that exciting ever happened in my human biology seminars. Another legend has it that one professor expected all the students to be updated with their readings. He would walk into the lecture, point to a student, and ask a random question about the reading. If that unfortunate soul did not know the answer, the professor would walk out of the lecture!
Despite all the humdrum associated with being a lawyer, or a law student, Shannon focuses on the holistic approach to his subject. He tells me that most of the time, the principles and concepts you learn at school are meant to be applied, rather than analyzed. However, his approach is to integrate those skills – analysis of concepts and application of the principles; a rather concise and focused view from someone who appears very laidback. Appearances, as they, are always deceiving!
Last week, I walked into the Second Cup at St. George and King’s College Road, expecting to meet a stereotypical law student - snooty, focused, and hyperactive. Instead, I met Shannon Neill-Sword, a rather laidback charming law student at U of T's Faculty of Law, who tells me that he is named after the River Shannon, and does not like the reference! Since I've never actually met a lawyer or one getting ready for the task, my stereotype seems a tad unfair.
By the end of our conversation, Shannon had given me a peek into his life as a U of T Law student. Canadian students at U of T apparently pay up to 19K per year for a 3 year Law program. Comparatively, Canadians applying across the border face higher requirement standards and pay a higher tuition fee. Shannon tells me that the unwritten code for prospective U of T law students is to focus on your scores - LSATs and cGPA. A combination of 167 and 3.8 would be a shoo-in, whereas anything below 160 and 3.5 would be a hard-sell. The ranges are flexible, and extra-curricular activities are apparently weighted more than the essays.
As we spoke about Shannon’s experiences this term, it seemed rather similar to most other graduate programs. It boasted an excellent faculty, hosted varying networking events; and also housed a focused Career Services Centre for the prospective lawyers. Shannon also spoke about the Student Law Society, the hub of all student related activity at the Law School. They apparently organize a range of activity, from pub nights (they can be found every other week at Duke of York) to lunch orientation sessions (most recently about common law reasoning and studying for exams). However, one of Shannon's most exciting experiences at Law School was the First Year Trial Advocacy session, organized entirely by the Moot Court Committee (Tammy Jacobson and Anji Samarasekera, second year Law students). In this specific experience, first year students sign up to conduct an abridged process of a trial, replete with judge (a practicing professional) and witnesses. Shannon describes his participation as 'an interesting way to understand the practical use of the subject'.
On a more relaxed note, Shannon told me about a few strange legends at the Faculty. Apparently, rumor has it that one faculty member used to walk into lectures, every single class, in full robes! I would have loved to see that, nothing that exciting ever happened in my human biology seminars. Another legend has it that one professor expected all the students to be updated with their readings. He would walk into the lecture, point to a student, and ask a random question about the reading. If that unfortunate soul did not know the answer, the professor would walk out of the lecture!
Despite all the humdrum associated with being a lawyer, or a law student, Shannon focuses on the holistic approach to his subject. He tells me that most of the time, the principles and concepts you learn at school are meant to be applied, rather than analyzed. However, his approach is to integrate those skills – analysis of concepts and application of the principles; a rather concise and focused view from someone who appears very laidback. Appearances, as they, are always deceiving!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
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