Been A Long Time

The writers block takes a hike yet again. Between then and now managed to go through “yet another” breakup, trips across three continents, 4 countries and 5 cities. Managed to set up my company, did some industry first implementations and then of course had some major setbacks that needs to be addressed, but as the saying goes -”This too shall come to pass”

I have never felt so insecure while traveling, as I am feeling right now in Johannesburg. The city is wonderful and the weather cannot get any better, the irony however is that I cannot do anything in this city. Everyone seems to be warning me about the hazards of venturing out by myself. It sucks big time to be imprisoned in the hotel room.

The dangerous part about the famous “mugging scene” in Joburg, I am told, is that once you are robbed you are killed. I need more drama than this to die!

I am not sure if it is just me, but I think the animosity between the whites and the natives is palpable. Really feel uneasy about the whole thing. A case in point is the public transport system (if you can call it a public transport system that is). Only the natives use it, the whites drive the fanciest of cars (yeah, the Porsche, Ferrari and the top of the line BMW’s). This observation may also be biased in a way, because I am holed up in the most opulent neighborhood in the city.

Well this is not to say that my own country is free of all malice. There are places where one can be far more insecure and in danger of physical assault if one does not belong to a certain “class”. It’s the caste/tribe you are born into in the east, while it’s the color of the skin in the west. No man is foreign!

Give a man a horse, he will ride;
Give a man a boat, he will sail;
Give a man a reason, he will hate!

I also noted the stoical fanfare with which the middle-east greeted the Annapolis meet. I am sure Mr. President will come up with something more monumental that General Gaddafi’s IsraTeen. Everyone is invited for the Annapolis party but not the Hamas! The Saudis are going too

The world mulls a solution for Palestine without inviting a party that was given a mandate by the people of Palestine. While I seriously feel for the Palestinians and pray for peace in the region, the Annapolis meet seems as good as – pink elephants flying and shooting arrows. I do not approve of all that Hamas does, but the bottom-line is that unless one gives Hamas a fair chance to learn the tricks of the trade that is called democracy, it would be an exercise in futility to dismiss them. I mean a solution for Palestine without Hamas is like finding solution for Northern Ireland without the IRA!

Asia and Africa are probably cursed to deal with the scars of imperialism for one more life time.

Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called sons of God!