The other day,I saw a middle-aged woman crossing an intersection.Dressed in a colourful, albeit worn saree,she held several bundles of christmas hats in her arms.I felt a pang of sadness for the woman- she must be a mother too,and a wife,and she was doing her bit to earn for her family.Yet,she was not so fortunate as to be able to celebrate Yuletide in the ways we middle-class are so used to.Surely,we must all spare a thought,if not lend a helping hand, for people like them,in this season of giving.
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It's Christmas and yet,the horn of ambulances racing to save lives pierce the morning air.So tragic that on a day like this,when families should unite and make merry,people lie dying,at the mercy of God, in hospitals where there may not even be proper facilities to treat them!Like on many other occasions,I felt guilty of being able to sit on a comfortable sofa,while gobbling up breakfast and watching television.Those people out there,not just the injured,but also the scours of them who were unable to join in the festivities owing to various reasons.Why did I have all these comforts I took for granted when they were suffering?They deserve to live well as much as I do!
For years,I have had this concept of reversing roles in society.While the broadly classified 'high-class' and 'middle-class' enjoy varying levels of luxury,those in the so-called 'lower rungs' of society are damned to a life of suffering,doing the less colourful jobs.Whether they desire it or not,if they are able to pursue their true interests or not,are out of the question.How many of our cities are characterised on the outskirts by neighbourhoods we call slums?They stand in stark contrast to the high-rise buildings and suave cars of the city.They are full of dirt and squalor,of men,women and children living in eternal poverty,simply because we refuse to help them.Such children are stronger in a way - the water we pollute do not affect them as they grew up drinking the same.We,with all our resources at hand,conveniently turn a blind eye on them when we pass by their shacks on the freeway.We believe we have bigger and better things to do.And what is that,exactly?Clearing forests,more construction,depriving the poor of their rights,fooling the common man,basking in your position of power and money?I bet it feels nice,huh?Let me tell you,humans cannot exist if their fellow-beings do not cooperate with them.A very rudimentary example is that of the people we associate with in life,especially the women - if not for them who make tiny adjustments,who bite down on that feeling of hurt or bitterness and lead you on your day's work,where would you be?Nowhere.Absolute zero.
So,why don't we reverse our roles from time to time?Engineers,doctors,IT professionals,lawyers,bankers and the whole brigade of us who are assured of dinner and paycheck,can afford to take to the fields in a while.Or resort to making pots,shoes,tools,et cetera.These are items we require in life,one way or another.Learning to make a dagger or to sew is bound to come in handy someday.After all,there is always the possibility that the 'low-class' will strike back and claim what is rightly their own.Therefore,I think it is only fair that we do their jobs and they ours,from time to time.Such a practice will keep us in our places,reminding us of our insignificance in the universe and the inevitable transcience of life.Aren't vanity and money our greatest curses?We need to be humble again,to be kind,generous,empathetic,caring,and above all,to love.The one emotion that gets you through any tiring day and in the end,the one thing that makes life worthwhile.
- - - - - - - - -
It's Christmas and yet,the horn of ambulances racing to save lives pierce the morning air.So tragic that on a day like this,when families should unite and make merry,people lie dying,at the mercy of God, in hospitals where there may not even be proper facilities to treat them!Like on many other occasions,I felt guilty of being able to sit on a comfortable sofa,while gobbling up breakfast and watching television.Those people out there,not just the injured,but also the scours of them who were unable to join in the festivities owing to various reasons.Why did I have all these comforts I took for granted when they were suffering?They deserve to live well as much as I do!
For years,I have had this concept of reversing roles in society.While the broadly classified 'high-class' and 'middle-class' enjoy varying levels of luxury,those in the so-called 'lower rungs' of society are damned to a life of suffering,doing the less colourful jobs.Whether they desire it or not,if they are able to pursue their true interests or not,are out of the question.How many of our cities are characterised on the outskirts by neighbourhoods we call slums?They stand in stark contrast to the high-rise buildings and suave cars of the city.They are full of dirt and squalor,of men,women and children living in eternal poverty,simply because we refuse to help them.Such children are stronger in a way - the water we pollute do not affect them as they grew up drinking the same.We,with all our resources at hand,conveniently turn a blind eye on them when we pass by their shacks on the freeway.We believe we have bigger and better things to do.And what is that,exactly?Clearing forests,more construction,depriving the poor of their rights,fooling the common man,basking in your position of power and money?I bet it feels nice,huh?Let me tell you,humans cannot exist if their fellow-beings do not cooperate with them.A very rudimentary example is that of the people we associate with in life,especially the women - if not for them who make tiny adjustments,who bite down on that feeling of hurt or bitterness and lead you on your day's work,where would you be?Nowhere.Absolute zero.
So,why don't we reverse our roles from time to time?Engineers,doctors,IT professionals,lawyers,bankers and the whole brigade of us who are assured of dinner and paycheck,can afford to take to the fields in a while.Or resort to making pots,shoes,tools,et cetera.These are items we require in life,one way or another.Learning to make a dagger or to sew is bound to come in handy someday.After all,there is always the possibility that the 'low-class' will strike back and claim what is rightly their own.Therefore,I think it is only fair that we do their jobs and they ours,from time to time.Such a practice will keep us in our places,reminding us of our insignificance in the universe and the inevitable transcience of life.Aren't vanity and money our greatest curses?We need to be humble again,to be kind,generous,empathetic,caring,and above all,to love.The one emotion that gets you through any tiring day and in the end,the one thing that makes life worthwhile.
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