The Quotation of the Week (February 9 - 15, 2020)

A quotation of Al Lopez on 'doing what
one loves best to do,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artworks © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (November 3 - 9, 2019)

A quotation of Gina Rinehart on 'doing something
to make more money,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork by Joachim Romeo D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (September 22 - 28, 2019)

A quotation of Dr. Jerome C. Harste on 'the social practices of
working-class neighbourhood schools vs. affluent neighbourhood
schools,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork by Joachim Romeo D'Costa (Toronto: 2016)

(You may click on the artwork above to read it on an enlarged format)

Fruits And Vegetables: Artwork By Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Fruits and Vegetables

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa (Toronto: 2009)

The Quotation of the Week (May 20 - 26, 2018)

A lady at the Sibbald Point Beach in Ontario, Canada 

Sketch © Joachim Romeo D'Costa (2010) 

British Prince Harry and American Actress Meghan Markle Marry

The wedding dresses of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,
as pre-conceived by our artist on the eve of their marriage (May 18, 2018)

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa (Toronto)

With royal pomp and pageantry Britain's Prince Harry -- younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana -- married American actress Meghan Markle. Millions of viewers around the globe witnessed the rare ceremony over their TV sets. 

This wedding marks a historical footmark in the long tradition and heritage of the British royalty. Meghan Markle is the first biracial lady to wed a British royal. Not only that, a black American  Episcopalian bishop, Michael Curry, preached at the wedding ceremony and a black young cellist played a music there. This wedding represented a groundbreaking openness and inclusiveness that impressed and attracted the hearts of millions of people in the world. 

For more, please click on the following:

• Royal Wedding live: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry (May 19, 2018)
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry: how their wedding day unfolded (May 19, 2018)
• Royal Wedding 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan married at Windsor (May 19, 2018)
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry in trailblazing ceremony (May 19, 2018)

Happy Bangla (Bengali) New Year 1425

Happy Bangla (Bengali) New Year 1425 To You All!

Bangla Noboborsho (Bengali New Year) designs with arts and crafts
 © Joachim Romeo D'Costa (April 14, 2018)

The Quotation of the Week (March 4 - 10, 2018)

A quotation of Martin Luther King, Jr., on 'true peace,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork (A girl at the window: 2014) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa 

The Quotation of the Week (April 3 - 9, 2016)

A quotation of Epictetus on 'wealth,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa (2010)

The Quotation of the Week (March 13 - 19, 2016)

A quotation of Joshua Jackson on 'behaving well with others,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa (2007)

The Quotation of the Week (January 24 - 30, 2016)

A quotation of Mark Twain on 'an Englishman and an American,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (August 11 - 17, 2013)

A quotation of Martin Luther King, Jr. on 'love,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork (A sketch of a hand) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Today Is Canada's Remembrance Day

Canada remembers its fallen soldiers who valiantly served or gave their lives for world peace

Painting (Toronto: November 11, 2012) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Today is Canada's Remembrance Day. Canadians observe this day every year in honour of Canadian soldiers who served and are still alive and those who died in World War I, World War II, Korean War and Afghanistan War.

The Canadian contributions to these wars have been recognized throughout the world by peace-loving people. Other Commonwealth countries and the USA also observe this day in a solemn manner. 

President Barack Obama Wins Re-election

 President Barack Obama, Democratic Party nominee, got re-elected in 2012 election

Mitt Romney, Republican Party nominee for President in 2012 election

Artworks (Toronto: Oct. 22, 2012) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

U.S. President Barack Obama in the country-wide election yesterday has been re-elected for the next four years defeating his opponent Republican nominee Mitt Romney. In the neck and neck election campaign, President Barack Obama received 303 electoral college votes and Mitt Romney 206 votes. According to the CNN, so far, the President received 60,451,292 popular votes while Mitt Romney received 57,646,397 votes.

The election came to an end after a bitter partisan fight between these two parties, a lot of acrimony, and attack advertisements in the media.

Now both the President with his democratic party and the opposition Republican party need to work together to redress the economic downturn and take the country forward. President in his victory speech promised to reach out and work together with the Republicans. Mitt Romney, conceding, defeat, also promised to work with the President and his party for the greater good of the country.

To know more about the election, you may read the following:

• 'Time for governing,' Obama's re-election puts 'forward' to the test
• Obama Promises 'Best Is Yet to Come'
• Obama Wins a Clear Victory, but Balance of Power Is Unchanged in Washington

Today Is the 41st Independence Day of Bangladesh

The above image says: "Independence '71, 26th March"

Artwork (Toronto: March 25, 2012) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Today is the 41st Independence Day of Bangladesh. This day reminds its citizens how much sacrifice was made to make this country independent in 1971. 

This freedom also bestowed upon us a tremendous burden of responsibility. A responsibility encompassing all its citizens -- irrespective of ethnicity, religion and education -- to treat each other fairly and equally as much as possible in every sphere of life. 

We need to go back to the past and deeply look at different aspects of the independence movement that culminated in 1971 in a deadly warfare with the West Pakistani ruling junta and finally in the independence of Bangladesh.

This study and re-study will open our minds further and make us more introspective and mindful of our responsibilities. Then and then only will we be able to strive to take our country forward to greater peace and prosperity.

Today Is the Christmas Day!

Christmas in Bangali (Bengalee) style: 

St. Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus wearing Bangali dresses

Painting (Toronto: 1998) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Merry Christmas to you all! May the peace of Christ abide with you. 

To read more on the Christmas, you may visit our past blog posts: 

• Merry Christmas!

• Merry Christmas, or Happy Holiday?

• Merry Christmas!
• Christmas Sans Christ = Nochristmas
• Let's Keep Christ in Christmas
• The Meaning and Significance of Christmas
• Pitha-Pulis Play a Great Role in Bangalis' Christmas
  

Muammar Gaddafi Dies Ignominiously

Colonel Gaddafi in March of this year ignored 
the demonstrations and protests against him by claiming 
in an interview with a foreign journalist that "My people love me!"

Cartoon (Toronto: March 5, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year tyrannical rule came to end on October 20 with his ignominious death at the hands of his own people who had revolted against him. 

His hometown of Sirte in northwest Libya was a place of bitter fights between the advancing rebels and Gaddafi’s armed force personnel and supporters. As he saw the fall of Sirte imminent, he and a few of his close associates were fleeing the city in early morning in a convoy of vehicles. The NATO forces intercepted the convoy and realized that some important person or persons must have been there. American drone missile strikes destroyed a number of vehicles but Gaddafi luckily survived. He and some others left the remaining vehicles and took shelter in a nearby concrete culvert. In the meantime, the rebels nearby closed in and captured bloodied Colonel Gaddafi. 

He was captured alive and was mishandled by the captors, who were mostly ragtag rebels with no or little army training. At one point someone shot Gaddafi dead instead of handing him over to the new government of Libya for trial. 

This Type of Death of Gaddafi Is Uncalled For

Colonel Gaddafi, although a maniacal and brutal head of the state of Libya, did not deserve such a death when he was captured alive and when there were none of his men defending him by using arms. It would be a wise thing to hand him over to the new government authority for trial that would be good for the future of Libya. He should have been held accountable for the atrocious misdeeds he committed against his own people. His immediate killing deprived Libya of bringing justice to him. 

At the same time, we also need to realize that many of the Libyans were living a life of fear and sudden unjust imprisonment and death for so long under the high-handed rule of Gaddafi.  People were fed up with him, yet they could not say or act anything against him without retribution. Many of the people saw how Gaddafi’s men brutalized, imprisoned and killed their near and dear ones for no or little reason. People were so enraged and full of hatred for him that his killing came naturally when he was captured. May be the idea of sparing his life temporarily was thought of dangerous and that’s why he was done with immediately. 

So, the practice of international law of sparing lives of those captured during war for later trial is difficult to expect under such circumstances. 

Gaddafi the Tyrant

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was not only an autocratic dictator but also a tyrant. He knew how to use his power and brutality to keep people under subjugation. He was adept at using the evil side of his character to rule Libya. 

He was such an ambitious person that in 1969, at the age of only 27, he took control of the country in a bloodless coup. King Idris of Libya was sent into exile in Egypt. Then he did a lot of experiments in ruling the country and finally he imposed his own system – a mixture of capitalism and communism. 

The tyrannical aspect of his character came to the fore one year after he took over power. A group of young army officers wanted to oust him from power by a coup but failed. He became suspicious of others and became vengeful. He saw any opposition as a sign of ousting him from his position. In the 1970’s decade, he imprisoned and killed many students and their supporters who demanded freedom and human rights. Once he also killed about 1,200 unarmed prisoners for asserting their demands. There are dozens of tribal groups in Libya. He favoured his own nomadic Bedouin tribals and acted against almost all others.

Journalists call him eccentric in a nice way, but in reality his tyrannical and unremorseful behaviour is a clear proof of mental illness. He should have been removed from power a long ago. 

He was against western system of capitalism. He nationalized the Western-dominated oil industry of Libya in 1973. He exported terrorism by funding terrorist groups in Colombia, Northern Ireland, Germany and Palestine. His Libyan agents in 1986 bombed a night club in Berlin and killed two American soldiers and wounded many. His agents also placed bomb in the PanAm (American) airlines in 1988 and killed 270 people, mostly Americans. The Western countries then imposed a heavy sanction again doing business with Libya.

This sanction was too much to bear. Colonel Gaddafi, after suffering much economic loss, ultimately admitted its participation in the bombing plot the PanAm airlines and compensated millions of dollars for the death of the passengers and crew. In the first half of 2000’s, he also disavowed himself from supporting terrorism and producing weapons of mass destruction. After this, the USA and western countries began normal relations with Libya.

The Arab Spring – common people’s demonstrations and rallies – demanding freedom and democracy started in the beginning (Spring) of 2011. It became successful in ousting the president first in Tunisia and later in Egypt. Seeing their success, people in Libya also followed the same tactics but were fiercely opposed by Colonel Gaddafi and his henchmen, who vowed to flow rivers of blood in the country by attacking and killing the demonstrators. The killings gave birth to full-scale revolts in different cities of the country. The NATO countries openly supported the fledgling rebels and air-bombed Gaddafi’s forces and weakened their positions. Gradually the rebels, also aided by military weapons and advisers from the NATO countries, freed most of the country and fought the last battles in Sirte until Colonel Gaddafi’s death.

Securing the Rule of Law and Scattered Arms and Weapons Should Be the First Priority

The new government of liberated Libya must secure the rule of law and all scattered arms and ammunition in the country before any peace and stability are established for exercising democracy. 

The birth of Bangladesh in 1971 and the present birth of new Libya in 2011 have similarity. Bangladesh (former East Pakistan), in 1971, fought the war of independence against West Pakistan (now Pakistan) with the direct assistance of India and indirect support of the Soviet Union. After the country won independence in December of the same year, the new government of Bangladesh failed to secure the law and order situation and retrieve all the arms and ammunition from the freedom fighters. As a result, after some months of independence, a reign of terror started all over the country when one political group began fighting another with the loose arms, some freedom fighters resorting to robberies and blackmail and so and so forth. For more than half a decade this lawlessness persisted before matters began to settle. Similarly, Libya, with the direct intervention of the NATO countries, gained freedom  after a bitter fight with Gaddafi forces. The new Libya should take a lesson from Bangladesh's experience.

Another similarity is: Those who came to power after the independence of Bangladesh, did not have experience of holding political or administrative offices in the country due to domination of the West Pakistanis in political and economic fields. As a result, these new leaders failed miserably in running the country. In the midst of chaos and confusion, there were coups and counter-coups and killing of the President of the country, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his colleagues of his political party. If the new Libya is not careful and does not plan well,  it is very likely to face a lot of difficulties in politics, economy and society.

Artwork: A Dreaming Baby

A dreaming baby

Sketch (Toronto: February 2, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

A Mirthful Stephen Harper, Canada's Prime Minister

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Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada,
at the victory in the recent election

Cartoon (Toronto: May, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Why Osama bin Laden Got a Safe Haven in Pakistan

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Osama bin Laden killed
in the U.S. 'Operation Geronimo' in Pakistan
Cartoon (Toronto: May 5, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

“You can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” –U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Pakistan high government officials, including Presidents, and intelligence heads have been denying for the last six years or so that they know the whereabouts of the most sought-after terrorist Osama bin Laden and his closest associates. The world was fooled so far, but no longer. The killing of bin Laden in a safe house in the heart of Abbotabad garrison (military) town proved it otherwise.

Americans, in general, are very gullible people. Since they depend on reasoning and proof, they usually see things in black and white only. They fail to see things in the grey area in between the black and white. Many of the high government officials and members of the Congress, after the assassination of Osama bin Laden, were wondering aloud why Pakistan, by vowing to fight terrorism with the USA, was not totally loyal and truthful to the USA when billions of dollars worth of aid and other help have been poured into that country. The Americans took it for granted that the pouring of their money and material would buy the hundred per cent loyalty and allegiance of Pakistan. It didn’t happen. Why? Because of the grey areas.

What Are the Grey Areas?

• Deep in its heart, Pakistan considers Osama bin Laden a comrade and co-fighter during Soviet occupation of Afghanistan: Pakistan army officers and intelligent agents worked shoulder to shoulder with Talibans (Muslim fundamentalist group) of Pakistan and Afghanistan and other Afghan insurgent groups, including bin Laden’s foreign Muslim group, during the war with the Soviet Union in Afghanistan (1979-1988). Since the USA strongly believed in the “domino theory” regarding the spread of communism (that if one country becomes communist, the neighbouring countries will automatically fall to the influence of communism), it was one of the biggest donors and cooperators of Pakistan in funding and supplying funds and war material to these groups. The intention was to drive away the Soviets from Afghanistan so that pro-western neighbouring countries like Pakistan and others might not fall to communism and Soviet influence. During this time, Pakistani army officers and intelligent agents became very friendly and built up a close bond with the leaders of these insurgent groups. As a result, Pakistan had a divided loyalty and allegiance – partly to the USA, partly to these groups -- including Osama bin Laden’s group, and partly to the national interest of Pakistan. Even if the USA demanded full cooperation, Pakistan could not provide it due to these dynamics in the region. Pakistan knows it well that if it antagonizes the Talibans and Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda group, it will face total chaos when the USA and its allies leave Afghanistan.

• Local tribal mentality and culture are favourable to Osama bin Laden: To understand the mind of the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, one needs to understand the local tribal mentality, belief, culture, practice and tradition. Most of these people belong to one ethnic or tribal group or another. Their loyalty and allegiance to their own group is very important. What tribal chiefs say or do, other members have to follow the same. Betrayal is punished severely. The tribal culture demands that anybody or any group accepted as friend or guest must be treated well and, if necessary, must be protected from enemies at the cost of one’s life. Since Osama bin Laden was the guest of the Afghan Talibans when they were in power (1996-2001) in Afghanistan, the Talibans cannot just reject him or Pakistan, which is also friend and facilitator of the Talibans – both in Pakistan and Afghanistan – cannot just dump or throw its friend and guest bin Laden to the hounds.

• Many Muslims consider him a holy man and a hero: As Christians feel a kind of admiration and reverence when they hear the words ‘Jesus Christ,’ ‘Virgin Mary,’ ‘Jerusalem,’ ‘Bethlehem,’ ‘Nazareth,’ ‘Rome,’ ‘Vatican,’ ‘Pope,’ and ‘church,’ so do the Muslims when hear the words ‘Islam,’ ‘Prophet Muhammad,’ ‘Mecca,’ ‘Medina,’ ‘Saudi Arabia,’ and ‘mosque.’ When they know that Osama bin Laden is from Saudi Arabia (considered the holy land because of Prophet Muhammad’s birth and preaching of his religion and the elaborate hajj pilgrimage system) and he wants to fight the Western powers (“infidels” or unbelievers of Islam) to leave their bases from the holy land of Saudi Arabia, they consider him to be a savior of Islam and Muslims. That’s they consider him a ‘hero’ and not a terrorist. So, howsoever the Western countries try to paint bin Laden as a terrorist, many Muslims (fundamentalists, conservatives and blindly devoted ones) in the world consider him a holy man in jihad (holy war). Moreover, in South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh), the whole demeanor of Osama bin Laden, having a tall figure with calm face, soft voice, flowing beard and white turban on his head, gives an impression of a pir (Muslim holy man). As a result, they wouldn’t hesitate to protect him and give him security from U.S. surveillance and capture. This is very much proven by the fact that in spite of $27 million U.S. reward for information and capture of Osama bin Laden, no one among the Talibans and Pakistanis came forward so far to betray his whereabouts and claim the reward.

• In spite of denials, Pakistani armed forces and military intelligence will remain suspects for sheltering Osama bin Laden: Pakistan has one of the most active, efficient, powerful and pervasive military intelligence services in the world. It is said that no foreign ant, fly or mosquito can enter Pakistan without the knowledge of the military. One citizen of Pakistan’s Abbotabad town, where Osama bin Laden’s lair was attacked by the U.S. forces, mentioned in an interview with a foreign TV journalist how strict eyes are kept on persons moving about, or entering and leaving the city. The city security personnel regularly question people, check their ID card and vehicles. He said that there was no way that a foreigner, especially the high-profile personality like Osama bin Laden, could hide in the city without the knowledge of the military. In the early 1990s, a foreign (western) non-government organization (NGO) worker, after his visit to projects in Lahore area of Pakistan, mentioned in Dhaka that wherever he stayed and visited (hotel, NGO offices, village projects and market places), he was stealthily followed by army intelligence agents. All these prove how active Pakistan’s intelligence service is. Moreover, the spacious area with a large building with special security measures, including no telephone or Internet service connections, must have drawn attention of the town officials. Now, everyone is in denial of the knowledge of bin Laden’s presence there.

• It is plausible that the military hid the information of Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan from the elected politicians. From the inception of Pakistan in August, 1947, its military has been running the country from behind elected politicians. Whenever some politicians failed to listen to them, they were brushed aside and the military came to power through coups. From 1947 till 2011, Pakistan experienced military coups in 1958, 1977 and 1999. There were also other unsuccessful coup attempts in the country.

There is nothing surprising or unusual that Osama bin Laden, although considered a deadly terrorist and an enemy by the Western countries, is considered a savior of Islam and a hero by many Muslims of the world. So, giving him a secure shelter from the U.S. or NATO forces is not thought to be a crime, but a duty by devout Muslims.