December 2nd, 2021. What changed in the world while we were sleeping? Lots, apparently, or nothing at all. Depends on how you look at it.
Today, I ended up reading three stories, which, in my mind, I linked to each other and to a systemic issue that I think exists. Related to our dear beloved education system. According to one report, a panel on education thinks we should study the wisdom of the Vedas in school and know our history and heritage better. We view heroes as offenders apparently. Hmmm, given that our view of history is completely clouded by dates, names of random battles and leaders, and wait, let me just throw what I remember of history. Harappa, Mohenjodaro, then it’s a hop, skip, and jump, then there’s Mahmud of Ghazni, Mohammed Ghori, Babar and the Mughals. The British, our independence, and the constitution. Wait, I forgot the dates for the Battle of Panipat, Plassey, etc. Emergency. Liberalisation. Ouch. That game of hopscotch didn’t go too well for me. That I exist in 21st century India is as clear as the nose on my face. How we got here as a people and how deep our history and heritage is, are totally unclear.
A 12th grade sociology paper made the CBSE get a nosebleed for asking under which state government the 2002 Godhra riots occurred, options being BJP, Congress, Republican, Democrats (paraphrased, but I’m serious). Apparently, the questions asked shouldn’t be social, political, communal in nature, should be class neutral, etc. Errr, national history is inherently a consequence of socio-political events? Also, in plain and simple words, sociology studies the development and functioning of human society. So how must I study society without understanding the implications of things that led to the status quo being a certain way?
Sometimes I wonder how personally newspapers take agenda setting. The report on the Sociology question was placed freakishly close to a story about the SIT findings on the very riots in question. Now, we need to exercise restraint and follow a code of ethics in our social media posts, according to the Ministry of IT? Social media networks, have, what is it, “placed journalism in the hands of citizens.” Oh, how I could go on and on about this! Thanks to the coronavirus induced lockdowns, we are all victims to the wily ways of Netflix and co. The ministries of, I think, both IT and information and broadcasting perceive a heavy “third person effect,” due to the shows both adults and kids watch on OTT platforms. Hence, the need for censorship and regulation. A third person effect is basically where you think media or a particular message influences other people more than it influences you. Something to the effect of “I don’t really care about Kim Kardashian’s go to In-n-Out order, but I think my more socially influenced friends might.”
Speaking of Kim K! She, along with estranged husband Kanye West, attended a tribute to Virgil Abloh (late American fashion designer for Louis Vuitton). In other fashion news, Zara’s founder’s daughter became chairperson of Inditex, and their share prices fell, with people comparing the move to a Spanish version of what happens in the HBO series, Succession. Why in the name of Merlin’s beard do I even know all of this?
Elsewhere around the world. Okay, so India’s trade deficit has increased considerably. Specifically, our trade deficit is $23 something billion for November. Our imports are way higher than our exports, and the deficit amounts to $122 billion from April to November 2021, with numbers from China constituting about a fourth of that deficit (I hope I remember these numbers correctly, from my reading of the Hindu newspaper). Hate to say this, but so much for #boycottchina campaigns! Which app or part of our bodies do we get rid of next? Just kidding. Phew, shake a leg. Also, this is where I actually think about why we have a trade deficit in the first place. Kay, I get it, imports are way higher than exports. But imports of what? Correct me if I’m wrong but it is mainly imports of crude oil, gold, etc. right? So technically the rise in crude oil prices have a role to play. The currency will now weaken, and imports will become more expensive. And then deficit will increase unless we do something about exports. So it’s like a dog chasing its tail. I am so sure I am missing a huge chunk of this argument but I’d like to think I got the basics right.
Oh sorry, we’re still in India. Quick scan of the world. The US, I don’t remember reading much about them today but I am sure LeBron James not being able to play for some time due to covid protocol has stirred up enough excitement for one night. Oh wait, more on an extended #MeToo movement. CNN’s Cuomo was suspended, for sugarcoating his Cuomo brother’s alleged X-rated misconduct. I wish I knew what was happening in South America, I’m drawing blanks. Across the Atlantic to Europe now. Okay, there are tensions continuing to build between the NATO and Russia. Each seems to be on tenterhooks just waiting to launch or provoke the other for no apparent reason. Or maybe just poking around is fun. Who knows. The US and Russia have mutually decided to tell some diplomats to each other’s countries to get back home.
There are issues regarding refugees, the EU, the policies, how the Polish, Belarusians, French, British, and other countries are viewing things about the influx and desperation of immigrants. Whatever happens, one lives in hope that humanity wins in the end, where the refugees are coming from and where they are headed to.
In other news, Troika! In 2022, India will take over the G20’s presidency from Indonesia, who took over from Italy this year. “Recover Together, Recover Stronger,” the G20 has said. Praise be.
Birdie. Par. Putt. Tee. That’s the extent of my golf knowledge, I’m afraid. Well, at Nassau now. Tiger Woods isn’t playing owing to his car crash earlier this year. I am just going to read the results at the end of the “Hero World Challenge” and figure out what happened. Following up on my new found love for Chess, one miss from Nepo allowed Carlsen to build a fortress. I wish I could see what went on in their minds, the way they show the protagonist in the Queen’s Gambit spend days and nights in reverie, consumed by potential moves and tactics looking up at her imaginary chess board across the ceiling.
Should these “ruminations” of mine have a label or an objective? Is this just becoming another rant?
I realized I have no idea what is happening in Africa or the far East, or Micronesian countries, or Antarctica. But I’m out of steam for the day. Peace.
P.S. Note for the easily offended and deeply conscientious.
All pictures used in these posts are from Pixabay, free for commercial use. Statistics and reports are what I remember from the Hindu. I, however, take credit for the general randomness. If/once I believe I am serious about this, I will place all attributions, links, credits, courtesies in place for every dotted i and crossed t. For now, do bear with the unbridled expression of thought without inference, reasoning, or judgment.
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