Remembrance 9/11: Reason or Irrationality

Remembrance 9/11: Reason or Irrationality - Time to Choose

I am re-posting this article of mine published in Economic and Political Weekly, immediately after the tragic event.

Some of the intellectually well-meaning criticisms of many policies of US governments have been internalised as hatred of America and Americans in the conscious or unconscious minds not only of the lunatic fringe of religious fundamentalists but also of large numbers of apparently rational people, particularly in the poorer countries. In the aftermath of the maniacal attacks of September 11 the foremost challenge will be to dispel the clouds of hatred if irrationality is not to triumph over reason

Remembrance: 9/11 (2001)Reason or Irrationality: Time to Choose

Today (12th September) as I post this, I also remember my mother, C.A. Annamma, who left us in 2006.

Comments

Feku the Fraudster on a Throne

Feku the fraudster sat on a throne Feku the fraudster pulled a fast one A masterstroke! A masterstroke! Feku the fraudster set everything afire Now, put out the fire, put out the fire Feku the fraudster laughed, yelled and cried A masterstroke! A masterstroke! Feku the fraudster laughed, yelled and cried All the fraudster’s cows and toadies Went around, in circles, in circles Couldn’t put out the engulfing fire Feku the fraudster’s tail was now afire And, all over a burning hell fire. [17-Nov-2016] The Political Economy of Demonetising High Value Notes - Jayati Ghosh

Tributes to Dr Amar Bose, founder Bose Corporation (11-Feb-1929 -- 12-Jul-2013) Dr Amar Bose, 83, died on July 12,Wayland, Massachusetts. Bose Corp. is the maker of some of the best sound systems in the world. Perhaps, Dr Bose was to acoustic engineering and design, what Steve Jobs was to computing. Very different personality. But he brought in disruptive innovation. The presence of Bose Systems was felt by the sound, not through any visual flamboyance of the product. Some of the systems were totally hidden. Understated elegance with unparalleled sound quality. They were expensive, premium products meant for those who really cared a great deal about sound quality and were willing to pay for it. Bose Corporation is a privately held company, with majority shares given to MIT, by Dr Bose. The dividends support education and research. I finally became a proud owner of a Bose system only recently, when I managed to get a modestly priced product at a Bose store. On that day ther...

‘Free Basics’ - Some Clarifications

In the discussions on my previous blog here and the posts on Facebook (as a note and posts) certain issues have cropped up: a) At least a few from outside India have misunderstood that some of those who are critical of ‘Free Basics’ are demanding totally free data. b) Some have questioned the ethics of criticising Facebook and its business from within the platform of Facebook itself. Implied is a position that it is somehow unethical and those who do not like facebook should opt out of it. c) I feel that there are quite a few important points in between all this that we need to discuss more explicitly. This note briefly touches on these. Right or Entitlement to Data Nobody in India has raised the demand (so far) for free access to data services or telecom facilities. It is Zuckerberg who is insisting on offering that! He is lobbying hard to induce 'poor Indians' into accepting what he is pushing as ‘free’ service, claiming that he is doing it to benefit the poor. ...

G1TalkShop

Search This Blog